Road to the Gold Cup 2011

Hamm said:
In what races has he folded? He was injured in the RSA.
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I know what Bar means. As talented as Punchestowns is (he can go with almost anything) he seems to me to have a herd mentality, content to merely keep pace with what's there. He doesn't seem to particularly want to win, even with the urgings of McCoy.
 
Bar the Bull said:
Both times against Big Buck's.
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This is surely cobblers, Bar? :cool:

Punchestowns was conceding weight the first time, and ran all the way to the line beaten under 2L the second time.............to probably the best staying hurdler we've seen in the last 20 years. To suggest he folded tamely is a nonsense.

As for his outings over fences, weight-adjusted he comes out of Newbury a better horse than Pride of Dulcote. Is PoD any good?
 
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Well that won't really work as he had 2 relatively bloodless novice chases (where he did bear Tchicos Polos easily) then got injured in the RSA. He got short headed by Pride of Dulcote at Chepstow.

Look, I don't think he's the second coming, but that at 5/2 should represent some value against a poor field.
 
Grasshopper said:
This is surely cobblers, Bar? :cool:

Punchestowns was conceding weight the first time, and ran all the way to the line beaten under 2L the second time.............to probably the best staying hurdler we've seen in the last 20 years. To suggest he folded tamely is a nonsense.

As for his outings over fences, weight-adjusted he comes out of Newbury a better horse than Pride of Dulcote. Is PoD any good?
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Folded tamely is an exaggaration. He did not continue with his effort as much as I would have liked either time. He'd be a great horse to run a great figure going down a length conceding 20lb to a horse in a handicap and then failing to reverse off levels.

Your last paragraph sums up what I am trying to say. He may always be a weight adjusted horse.

And it is just a theory.
 
Little Josh and The Tother One look of interest to me in the race, by the way. It won't take much winning (which is my way of saying that I won't admit I am wrong on Punchestowns even if he wins).

Unless he is cruising, makes a horlicks of the last and then heroically makes up 5l on Time for Rupert under a strong Geraghty drive. Then I'll admit he has a bit of heart.
 
I am never backing The Tother One again, even if he is 20/1 against a field of sub-100 rated horses.
 
Bar the Bull said:
Little Josh and The Tother One look of interest to me in the race, by the way. It won't take much winning (which is my way of saying that I won't admit I am wrong on Punchestowns even if he wins).

Unless he is cruising, makes a horlicks of the last and then heroically makes up 5l on Time for Rupert under a strong Geraghty drive. Then I'll admit he has a bit of heart.
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Your position looks bullet-proof, Bar - good work. :lol:
 
Doesn't Tidal Bay take all of the beating in the Argento though? Can't get prices or much else up at the moment. Presumably he'll be running?
 
…true, but I’ve an affinity with that. I’d fancy him off levels, but he actually receives weight!! It has to be a straightforward opportunity for him.
 
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I'd rather slam my dobber shut in a drawer, than have Tidal Bay running for me.

He is massively, massively, flattered by his BetFair Chase run, and will tail himself off before running on through beaten horses at the end, convicing many that his day is surely due soon.

He is a complete hound who should be trained for the Pardubicka.

:ninja:
 
My heart goes with what Steve said but Grasshopper has just relayed the thoughts in my head. I dearly hope my head wins this battle as it will not be money I enjoy losing.

But maybe he'll win?
 
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I'm another in the camp that thinks Tidal Bay is flattered, whilst I'd be wary of taking Mon Mome's Gold Cup effort at face value in the context of the Argento too. Dependent on him lining up, I like the idea of Little Josh going well for a long way from the front, particularly if The Sawyer goes for the handicap instead.
 
Hamm said:
My heart goes with what Steve said but Grasshopper has just relayed the thoughts in my head. I dearly hope my head wins this battle as it will not be money I enjoy losing.

But maybe he'll win?
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I've ventured out of the building to get on at 5s. Feeling uncannily confident right now.
 
davidjohnson said:
I'm another in the camp that thinks Tidal Bay is flattered, whilst I'd be wary of taking Mon Mome's Gold Cup effort at face value in the context of the Argento too. Dependent on him lining up, I like the idea of Little Josh going well for a long way from the front, particularly if The Sawyer goes for the handicap instead.
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Spoke to Graham Doyle (racing manager to Tony Bloom) straight after Little Josh's run last month, and he brushed aside any excuses for LJ - didn't think he was good enough. Not that we should listen to connections, of course.
 
SteveM said:
The problem will be with the returns… there’s only so much dirty great wodge’s of cash you can get into a Volvo Estate. ;)
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If you keep throwing money at Tidal Bay, you will soon be exchanging your Volvo Estate for a Sinclair C5. :)
 
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