Its a lovely place mate, especially if the weather is being kind. And good value for money. Many tracks would do well to follow their lead.
Just as a comparison between admission, there is a vast difference between the value for money track at Hexham and the "Lets screw as much out of the punters as we can" attitude of Cartmel. Dont get me wrong, Cartmel is a lovely place and a lovely track and i have always enjoyed my visits there (except for one occasion about 30 years ago when the heavens opened just before the second and torrents of water were gushing all over the spectator area and we left after the third). But their admission charges have been astronomical for years and it has got to the point where i dont want to go there any more. I remember comparing admission at Ascot and Cartmel who were racing a day apart a couple of years ago. It was £20 to get into Ascot and £26 to get into Cartmel !!!
Yup. 2m is too short for him now; it was all happening a bit quick today, wasn't it? On his Galway run last August, he's very well handicapped. 2m 4f and he'll be right there, I think, QC.
I wouldnt disagree with that mate but just watch the race again. I have watched it five times now including just a couple of minutes ago and it is currently 5.35am.
There's the rub: as you say, he didn't lose that much ground and he was playing 'catch-up' to a degree but, for me, he had to be rousted along so furiously because he doesn't have the pace. By the last, he had no more, on account of that. Having said that, you'll notice that he was staying on a little towards the line. That suggests, to me, that 2m4f or more will suit him better.I wouldnt disagree with that mate but just watch the race again. I have watched it five times now including just a couple of minutes ago and it is currently 5.35am.
The horse made a small mistake at the water jump 4 from home which cost him a length or two and a bit of momentum. He was then playing catch up but he is within a length at the last. Just watch his run from the last to the bend. If it wasnt for the mistake, or with a bit more effort, he could have found himself in front then. And then who knows................?
We both agree the day is coming. But we'll just keep that one to ourselves eh ?
As an aside, i do love the Haslam stable because it was/is an easy one to suss. I know there are a few lads on here who were on my old forum and they know this story but for those who dont, i will repeat it. As they used to say in Allo Allo, i shall say this only once.
I was watching a horse of theirs called Countister, the ex Nicky Henderson mare. She had run at a couple of festivals and had reached a high of 141 but after a few poor efforts she was packed off to Haslams yard. So of course, plan A is to get the handicap mark down. So they set about doing that in their usual way and i was watching and waiting and trying to work out when "the day" was. I had it in my head that if they got it down to a mark of around 100 they would go for it then. So it was declared at Hexham on Derby Day 2021 and we drove up there. It was well punted that day and i got involved but she never looked like winning and eventually finished ninth. I put the "gamble" down to people like myself who thought the day had come and it wasnt the stable money. But i just knew that they were lining it up and i collared Richie McLernon on the way back to the unsaddling enclosure and asked him what happened. Was she feeling something ? Did she just run flat ? And his reply was "Thats as good as she is".
Thats when i knew she was going in soon.
I cant remember why i didnt back her at Uttoxeter next time but i know she drifted like a barge and i left her alone. But i piled into her at Sedgefield at a big price and she got caught close home and she as backed down to 4/1 that day. We were all on at much bigger so made a few quid but the next run she made no mistake and absolutely sluiced in at Kelso. And it was one of the very rare occasions when i backed one shorter than 8's. although she wasnt favourite when we all got on.
Apologies for the long drawn out reply. But remembering Richie's reply that day always brings a smile to my face.
Have a good day mate.
I totally agree mate. Either 2m 4f or 2m 5f would be ideal. But what i would add is that Richie has a very unique style, apart from his bouncing up and down in the saddle, and sometimes his "rousting along" isnt necessarily "rousting along"
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Now that is a sickenerTime for a bit of torture ! For anyone who cares to get annoyed for a few minutes. And a bit of (financial) pain.
I've been talking to one of the lads on here about a horse tomorrow and i said i am not bothering. I also added that if it wins, so be it. It wont be the first time i have let one go, far from it. And it most definitely wont be the last. There have been so many in the past it would be impossible to remember them all. But a few stood out and one in particular. So i will give you my painful recollection and you can all feel free to share yours.
As some of you may have noticed, i spend a lot of time looking at horses with future races in mind. Looking for a potential plot and trying to work out where the horse is going next and when "the day" will be. And hopefully piling in that day and reaping the long awaited rewards. But sometimes it goes wrong.
This was my worst.
I had been watching a horse called Ryedale Racer who at the time had won four races and three of them were at Hexham. He had reached a high of 124 but hadnt won for 17 months and had dropped to a mark of 107. It was February and as most of you know, Hexham have their first meeting of their new season on the Thursday of Cheltenham. So i am watching the horse and convinced myself that Hexham in March was "the day". I had mentioned the horse on the old forum a month or so prior and told them that the day was coming. It was entered at Kelso in February and i thought that this would be a run to blow the cobwebs away and for it to show some sparkle in readiness for Hexham. I spoke with a couple of the old forum lads privately on the morning of the Kelso race and told them we needed to see a bit of life in the horse and then we could go all guns blazing when March and Hexham came around. At least one of the lads backed the horse that afternoon because he said he could not let it go at the price it was. I cant remember if the other lad did although i'm of the opinion he did.
And racetime came around and i watched it go to the front and said to myself at halfway that he is going really well still but he must fade. Something must come and do him..............................please
Result -
1- Ryedale Racer 80/1 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Only won by 8L.
I felt sick. Painful wasnt in it !!!
Your turn.
One of the most debated Champion Hurdles ever. In fact, one of the most debated races ever.
Paul Carberry received lots of criticism for that ride.
And people are still debating it
Its a possibility.
With some stables that would look a problem. With others, not so much. If the day has come, it has come. No matter what "form" it is in.
I dont know if you remember but it was a horse i highlighted a while ago on the old forum. Again it is a case of trying to work out "the day".
I agree, he wont get many better opportunities and good luck if you get involved. I will certainly cheer it on for you but i have decided to sit it out and watch.
