Desert Orchid
Senior Jockey
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2005
- Messages
- 25,024
Jonbon's ratings is based on the novice form. So does 155 mean 155 when the novices were ran over in the Betfair? I could argure both are massively overrated and Dysart Dynamo will be a level above.
This is the tricky part.
I think the idea of 10-year standards is a double-edged sword.
If the original ratings are accurate then they can be a useful guide to the level of a renewal of a race for which the standards exist (nearly every race, as it happens). But do they allow for a duff year? Two duff years in a row?
If there are flaws in the ratings I think they will exaggerate the flaws going down the line.
However, I do think nowadays the standards among the top novices are looking solid. I remember years ago being enthused at the idea of a Supreme winner hitting a rating of 155. Now they're smashing 160 every other year. That might make Jonbon and/or Constitution Hill look relatively moderate on ratings in the mid-high 140s.
But I also think the MO these days among the top trainers is not to have their horses 110% until it matters - the festival. I think even the DRF winners are probably still only at 95% at the top level. I also can't help thinking the likes of DD skipped the DRF because the yard had Sir Gerhard there as a marker.
That's kind of why I wonder if CH and FS took in the big handicap the other day. Were they acting as markers for CH and Jonbon? Will Hendo be pleased or disappointed with their performances?
I imagine much will depend upon the feedback from the respective riders. If they come back and report that the pace was strong, they thought at one point they had a good chance but the others were just even better then that might reassure Hendo. If they say it didn't ride like that good a race and their own horses weren't really that good then how might that reflect on the esteem in which the 'superior' novices are held?
Again, just the kind of thing that intrigues me and has me ending up writing ******* essays when I could be watching TV :lol: