Newbury Hurdle entries.

It didn't go unnoticed [by me anyway] but I reckon it was their way of getting 33/1 for yesterday. Sam Thomas is a brilliant target trainer. Take Joyeuse out of the equation and Lump Sum would have been a very impressive winner. The form is shit hot.
 
Another thing I noticed yesterday...

Before the race I'd said I noted that Joyeuse managed to get a mark without having run in three hurdles races (two plus a bumper in France) and that Hendo had got her that low mark by winning a very weak race, a mares-only, if memory serves. It was a brilliant bit of targeting (as per). Then when pressed on the Coral Cup he replied, quick as a flash, that they need five hurdles runs to get a mark in the Cheltenham handicaps. I wasn't aware of that. It's something to bear in mind.

I'll try and find a replay of it (the brother will have recorded it) to check if he said five handicap hurdles races since that's another thing altogether.
Navajo Indy and Secret Squirrel with really smart handicap form were laughed at by two proper jobs who are clearly Graded level. Lump Sum was more exposed, being top weight, but obviously still had a very lenient mark protected by his campaign.
 
Tanlic said:
Navajo Indy was so far behind turning for home how he got placed is amazing..he really must have some engine
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Yes, that's why I said (in post #149 above) he might be a Coral Cup type. If he couldn't go what wasn't an over-fast early pace he might just need further.
 
I totally get the Coral Cup thing.

I would still be interested to see if they can apply headgear though, something to get him in a rhythm.

Yes, he's got a huge engine somewhere. We all agree on that.

But not one to put the mortgage on, knowing what we know about how he races.

He could be my selection on the day, sort of thing, but confidence would be enhanced if I saw some headgear, tongue tie, or alike.
 
Marb said:
I totally get the Coral Cup thing.

I would still be interested to see if they can apply headgear though, something to get him in a rhythm.

Yes, he's got a huge engine somewhere. We all agree on that.

But not one to put the mortgage on, knowing what we know about how he races.

He could be my selection on the day, sort of thing, but confidence would be enhanced if I saw some headgear, tongue tie, or alike.
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Funnily enough, having checked just now, it appears he was wearing cheek pieces for the first time yesterday.

That's very interesting, and fits into my theory, that they are trying to find ways to get him racing more fluently.

The extra distance in the Coral Cup would give him a wee bit more time to catch up I suppose.
 
Joyeuse has been raised 15lbs for the win. That's quite a hike but deserved. It's an indication of the minimum amount she was well in at the weights on the day. (And a reminder of the type to look out for next year.)

Runner-up Lump Sum has gone up 3lbs, which I think will leave him very competitive going forward. I think he maybe made up too much ground too quickly early in the straight and can probably be rated the winner of a 'normal' valuable Saturday handicap hurdle.

Secret Squirrel has been raised 1lb. That's interesting because TPD reckon he would have been second based on their data. He'll also remain very competitive in the big handicaps.

I'd worry about the Cheltenham handicaps for these three, though. They'll be up against bandits from Ireland (McLaurey-style) as well as from Skelton (probably) and from within their own yards!
 
Secret Squirrel looks an ideal type for the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock in May
Desert Orchid said:
Joyeuse has been raised 15lbs for the win. That's quite a hike but deserved. It's an indication of the minimum amount she was well in at the weights on the day. (And a reminder of the type to look out for next year.)

Runner-up Lump Sum has gone up 3lbs, which I think will leave him very competitive going forward. I think he maybe made up too much ground too quickly early in the straight and can probably be rated the winner of a 'normal' valuable Saturday handicap hurdle.

Secret Squirrel has been raised 1lb. That's interesting because TPD reckon he would have been second based on their data. He'll also remain very competitive in the big handicaps.

I'd worry about the Cheltenham handicaps for these three, though. They'll be up against bandits from Ireland (McLaurey-style) as well as from Skelton (probably) and from within their own yards!
Click to expand...
 
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