Lexus Chase

The disparity in price between FL and his other market rivals amuses me.

Nichols like him or not has done a tremendous job with the winner.

Whether he fully stayed or not, bit disappointing that Flemo didn't beat a horse turning 12.

Great race today, super finish. Flem landed a bit flat footed at the last, long run in was not his friend thereafter.
 
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Flight Lieutenant seemed to have half a thought that he rather wouldn't start, and didn't really travel until a good jump at the 3rd where Midnight Chase made a clanger left him on the heels of the leader. Probably not a major, but betting ante post is enough of a challenge without having possibilies of the horse acting up when you get there.
 
Im shocked that after the race that Flemenstar (or Sir Des Champs) to a lesser extent are still labelled hype horses. I think both have shown themselves still to be top class contenders, especially when conditiions in their favour.

Both might end up in the King George next year.
 
I'm dissapointed that Andy Lynch learnt nothing from sending on Aupcharlie at the home turn past an out and out stayer. He went and did the same thing again when pushing Flemenstar clear of FL. Why couldn't he just wait. He rode a perfect race to two out. Ruby said after the race that its a long run in on that ground. Can't believe Lynch made the same mistake in two grade 1's today. He only had to wait a hundred yards and he would have won on both.
 
Cantoris said:
I'm dissapointed that Andy Lynch learnt nothing from sending on Aupcharlie at the home turn past an out and out stayer. He went and did the same thing again when pushing Flemenstar clear of FL. Why couldn't he just wait. He rode a perfect race to two out. Ruby said after the race that its a long run in on that ground. Can't believe Lynch made the same mistake in two grade 1's today. He only had to wait a hundred yards and he would have won on both.
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Like Lynch but agree with you here
 
yes, flemenstar for me had far more ability than the others in the race. If they get him to settle and let others do the donkey work he will win Grp 1s over that trip.
 
Grasshopper said:
In a big field in a Gold Cup SDC's jumping might fall apart again.

Some said the same about Tidal Bay before this race, which is over 2f shorter on a flatter track.
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Who the hell was that, then?:D
I'll hold my hand up; Tidal Bay only made a couple of errors today, and his jumping seems transformed. Whether that's the Nicholls' or Walsh influence, it's difficult to say, but I'd dearly love to see either (or both) given the same chance with Long Run.
Flemenstar absolutely oozes class, and was by some way the best jumper in the field today. He didn't stay though, even off a modest enough pace, and any 3m aspirations may be limited to pot-hunting in Ireland. He'd be a cracking bet for the RyanAir though, and only the barmy would suggest double figure prices.:p
 
I backed TB the other night at 32 for the GC so I'm delighted with his win today but while Flemenstar looked a bit classy until hitting the wall, I thought Sir Des Champs ran a superb trial. Although he didn't win, he reminded me of See More Business in the Charlie Hall before his win in the GC. He clouted every other fence the whole way round yet still came there looking likely to win. If they can eliminated even just half his jumping errors, he could be the 180 horse I've been crying out for in the run up to the big race.
 
JamesRB said:
sacre would kill him
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Have to agree with this. I'm a big fan of Flemenstar but there is no way he's got the speed to compete with Sprinter Sacre over 2m, to be honest I'd also expect Sizing Europe to beat him. 2.5 looks his optimal trip and I'm hopeful he'll still get 3m in time.
 
Just saw this on the RP. Whether he's good enough or not we're unlikely to see them meet beforehand which sets up a mouthwatering clash on the day and a relentless debate on here until that day arrives :)
 
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A pleasure to be there today. That was an amazing race. I was on a Flemenstar wagon but in a classic case of aftertiming I also had a decent saver on First Lieutenant who settled today better than he has in a while. On decent ground, he's still a fair tool and one who, in my view, is a certainty to finish in the first three come Cheltenham. I do agree with the positive view of SDC and Mullins was chuffed with him after..but if they go a fair clip in early stages of Gold Cup and he hits a few like he did today then he'll be out of the race.
 
A great race and an atmosphere at Leopardstown as good as I've seen at an Irish racecourse in a long time.

I was impressed with First Lieutenant and I'll be very surprised if he doesn't run in the Gold Cup.

Some of Flemenstar's jumping was superb and it was a pity he didn't get home. He was unsettled enough in the pre-parade ring though and that couldn't have helped.

As for Tidal Bay, you just have to love him. Almost 12 and winning a Grade 1 with the best performance of his career.
 
Grasshopper said:
My initial thoughts.

Actually a shame Flemenstar didn't get home because he travelled like a dream. Another crack at the trip isn't necessarily tilting at windmills, though I fear that the Gold Cup trip is almost certainly going to prove beyond him at this stage of his career.

Otherwise, it's hard to see how the adjusted market can have SDC at 7/1 and both Tidal Bay and First Lieutenant at around 16/1. Whilst SDC wasn't stopping at the end today, the last two furlongs at Cheltenham are uphill, and it's altogether much sterner a stamina test than even today's race.

Neither FL or TB have any such stamina concerns, and given the Hennessy form looks rock-solid, both horses represent a fair bit of value, imo.

Bobs Worth backers entitled to be happy at this stage though.
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Couldn't agree with you more Grassy. If they rerun that race tomorrow and rode Flemenstar like a horse who gets 3 miles instead of restraining him 1/2 a yard more than he wanted to go for 80% of the race he'd most like win.

We see this time and time again when they win race after race allowing the horse to do things at his natural cruising speed then they get this stupid idea of holding them up to get the trip. Al they achieve is to have the horse expending energy unnecessarily.

No doubt about it he's a calls above any of them but as you say the Gold Cup looks out of the question.

Someone suggested he'll go for the QMCC and take on Sprinter Sacre......He have more chance of winning the Epsom Derby than beating him.

He looks all over a Ryanair Horse then he just has to go King George ground permitting next year when he should be that little bit stronger.
 
granger said:
From reading Casey's sons comments in the RP, the Ryanair will not even be considered and they will take on the aeroplane
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Talk is cheap.........Daddy might have something to say about that. When they sit down and think about it they will sh!t their pants and go Ryanair is my bet.

Racing is about winning and I can't see them throwing away a chance to win atop race at the festival to watch Sprinter's backside going up the Cheltenham Hill.

You'll be lucky if there's 4 horses take on Sprinter Sacre and he'll go off around 1/8 for the race
 
reet hard said:
Who the hell was that, then?:D
I'll hold my hand up; Tidal Bay only made a couple of errors today, and his jumping seems transformed. Whether that's the Nicholls' or Walsh influence, it's difficult to say, but I'd dearly love to see either (or both) given the same chance with Long Run.
Flemenstar absolutely oozes class, and was by some way the best jumper in the field today. He didn't stay though, even off a modest enough pace, and any 3m aspirations may be limited to pot-hunting in Ireland. He'd be a cracking bet for the RyanAir though, and only the barmy would suggest double figure prices.:p
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I don't think you were wrong at all about Tidal Bay Reet, not from the point of view the track wouldn't suit him and he was definitely was being a bit of a lad unlike at Newbury........That was beyond a shadow of a doubt one of the best rides Ruby has ever given a horse in his life and if anyone else had been on board your prediction of him not finishing in the first 3 would have been spot on. IMO

Can't see PN doing anything with Long Run than Nicky couldn't do or has done but obviously Ruby riding him could make that length or twp difference but it's not going to happen.

I was listening to Capatin Chris's owner after the race and he said he never though anyone could beat Richard Johnson in a finish from there and he praised Sammy Wally Cohen to the rooftops saying he is a fantastic jockey.

The thing is it's not only him that thinks that apparently the boys in the weighing room think very highly of him as well and it's only daft punters who think he's some sort of useless pesky amateur.

To be honest I just laugh when people knock him.....bad jockeys don't win 2 King George's and a Gold Cup no matter how good the horse is.

I honestly don't think SWC has ever lost a race on Long Run he should have won but I'm not saying he's great just capable.

As far as style goes he's got none but neither did Paddy Broderick and look how Night Nurse ran for him.

I'd love to see Barry Geharty ride Long Run just once but wonder if it came to the point where he had the choice in the Gold Cup if he'dwant to.
 
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Cantoris said:
I'm dissapointed that Andy Lynch learnt nothing from sending on Aupcharlie at the home turn past an out and out stayer. He went and did the same thing again when pushing Flemenstar clear of FL. Why couldn't he just wait. He rode a perfect race to two out. Ruby said after the race that its a long run in on that ground. Can't believe Lynch made the same mistake in two grade 1's today. He only had to wait a hundred yards and he would have won on both.
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Good point. Not sure what ground is but it seems very, very hard to get home.
 
Cantoris said:
I'm dissapointed that Andy Lynch learnt nothing from sending on Aupcharlie at the home turn past an out and out stayer. He went and did the same thing again when pushing Flemenstar clear of FL. Why couldn't he just wait. He rode a perfect race to two out. Ruby said after the race that its a long run in on that ground. Can't believe Lynch made the same mistake in two grade 1's today. He only had to wait a hundred yards and he would have won on both.
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I see it completely different
The horse should have been sent earlier
the horse gains so much ground in the jumps, that restricting him makes you lose ground and he would have put the other in trouble coming earlier and could have made some mistakes

Flemenstar was a non stayer but to see if the horse stays you have to be positive and try to profit from his top jumping
 
Not sure I see the logic that the horse would get 3m if allowed to run freer. He reminds me of kicking king. People had him down as a non stayer too. If they can get him to relax and allow him to take his time he will get most trips.
 
he is not a keen horse
he enjoys and race with enthusiasm but why make him pull and not to gain the ground on the fences
 
i think Flemenstar is possibly capable of getting 3 miles on a flatter track..but it was obvious yesterday that he didn't get home..he was travelling all over them from 2 out until he landed after the last...then he battled and kept going without delivering what he looked full of before the last...he was gutsy for sure but was out of his comfort zone in the last 150 yards.

when you look how easy he was going you would expect him to have cantered all over them..if he wanted that extra distance
 
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