John Durkan

[chroniclandlord]

Melon has to be one of the best horses in recent times never to have won a grade one.

 

[HawkWing]

It certainly looks like we were fooled into thinking he was back to his best when he beat a couple of trees at Down Royal

I'd disagree with that. It wasn't a test. It was heartening to see the horses go with them finish so poorly but Those who were thinking that that was him at his best, didn't quite get what made him potentially great as a novice.

Prior to the fall at Cheltenham he could be presented at any fence and was gun barrel straight and quick getting over them. At Down Royal, and even early on today, he was screwing in the air, being big at a couple (possibly looking at Allaho), and worse of all just lacking all toe when the pace picked up. There will be those who claim that it was only at cheltenham last year where it was going to be tested, and he failed that test. That's fair enough but doesn't really tell the full story. I don't think they will get him back.

 

[edgt]

Tough race on the winner Allaho, I hope he recovers as he was empty at the finish.
Asteron has the luxury of not being bottomed and may be the one to take out of the race, notwithstanding his tendency to err .

 

[granger]

Tough race on the winner Allaho, I hope he recovers as he was empty at the finish.
Asteron has the luxury of not being bottomed and may be the one to take out of the race, notwithstanding his tendency to err .

What race and trip for the quirky jumping Grey Ed?

 

[edgt]

He travels so well that 2m4f to 3 miles possible for him.
WPM would have been a head short of 1,2,3,4,5 had he stood up.
Some feat in itself so finding races for them all could be a problem.

 

[granger]

I think king George myself as he has gears and should stay. Possibly then more Aintree horse than Cheltenham

 

[Desert Orchid]

Tough race on the winner Allaho, I hope he recovers as he was empty at the finish.
Asteron has the luxury of not being bottomed and may be the one to take out of the race, notwithstanding his tendency to err .

I only caught the last three-quarters of a mile or so and this was pretty much what I thought. They were dead on their feet from three out and AF might well have won. It's a shame we don't have sectionals for Irish racing and I reckon the closing stages here might have been as slow as you'll ever see for a race of this class.

 

[granger]

I only caught the last three-quarters of a mile or so and this was pretty much what I thought. They were dead on their feet from three out and AF might well have won. It's a shame we don't have sectionals for Irish racing and I reckon the closing stages here might have been as slow as you'll ever see for a race of this class.

Imagine they didn't have to omit 3 fences