Desert Orchid
Senior Jockey
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2005
- Messages
- 27,960
The same.
It's got nothing to do with O'Leary.
45 years ago they let Red Rum in with a lower weight and he hacked up. The horse has shown twice how well he acts round here and that has to be taken into account. In recent years horses that have run well in the National without winning have been on higher marks than in other races because of their form in the race. It's normal.
Even Elliott seemed to be licking his lips in anticipation when discussing TR's prospects earlier today. He gave the impression he felt the horse had been let in lightly.
Look too at last year's winner Minella Times. He went up to 159 for winning, has bombed twice since and was eased to 158 but was given 161 for this because of his course form. It's commonplace in the race.
But it works both ways. A couple of years back old Highland-whatever was allowed into the race off 148 instead of his OR of 142 or so because of his better form over the big fences.
Can you imagine how ballistic O'Leary would have gone if the handicapper had put Tiger Roll into the race on 140, claiming the horse was so badly out of form he thought he was gone at the game, leaving him with no chance of making the cut?
O'Leary is a self-serving arsehole and I would love it if the handicapper really was out to stick it right up him. He deserves it. But I honestly don't think it's the case. It would make the handicapper look petty and I don't think he can afford to put himself in that kind of situation.
It's got nothing to do with O'Leary.
45 years ago they let Red Rum in with a lower weight and he hacked up. The horse has shown twice how well he acts round here and that has to be taken into account. In recent years horses that have run well in the National without winning have been on higher marks than in other races because of their form in the race. It's normal.
Even Elliott seemed to be licking his lips in anticipation when discussing TR's prospects earlier today. He gave the impression he felt the horse had been let in lightly.
Look too at last year's winner Minella Times. He went up to 159 for winning, has bombed twice since and was eased to 158 but was given 161 for this because of his course form. It's commonplace in the race.
But it works both ways. A couple of years back old Highland-whatever was allowed into the race off 148 instead of his OR of 142 or so because of his better form over the big fences.
Can you imagine how ballistic O'Leary would have gone if the handicapper had put Tiger Roll into the race on 140, claiming the horse was so badly out of form he thought he was gone at the game, leaving him with no chance of making the cut?
O'Leary is a self-serving arsehole and I would love it if the handicapper really was out to stick it right up him. He deserves it. But I honestly don't think it's the case. It would make the handicapper look petty and I don't think he can afford to put himself in that kind of situation.
