The Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle

Diamond Geezer

Diamond Geezer

Gone But Not Forgotten
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May 2, 2003
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The Fighting Fifth Hurdle


Bygones Of Brid
Cotton Mill
Duke Of Navan
Grumeti
Ifandbutwhynot
Melodic Rendezvous
My Tent Or Yours
Rock Relief
Puffin Billy
Stormy Weather
Cockney Sparrow
Prima Porta

Incidentally Geraghty is on At Fishers Cross at Newbury on Saturday as McCoy comes here to ride My Tent Or Yours
 
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I see what you mean Granger..just checked all 43 years

Comedy Of Errors... FF 1973/CH 1974
Night Nurse...75/76
Kribensis 89/90
Punjabi 08/09

4 in 43 years..thanks for the tip;)..i won't be backing the winner of this at Cheltenham..you'd have to be daft wouldn't you?
 
I backed the 5/4 MTOY before the news about TNO going to the Bula came out. I will be amazed if he's any bigger than 1/2 on the day - he could pick this lot up and carry them.
 
Would the form of the Henderson string concern you at all Grasshopper? Few running well below expectations. Also, whenever Binocular ran in this he was half cooked, so these two negatives coupled are enough to put me off him at odds on. If they get an rain I'll probably back Melodic Rendezvous.
 
Grasshopper said:
I backed the 5/4 MTOY before the news about TNO going to the Bula came out. I will be amazed if he's any bigger than 1/2 on the day - he could pick this lot up and carry them.
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he was 2/1 around a week ago. and even then it was pretty common knowledge TNO was going to the bula instead of this.

think MR is to be respected if there's any cut in the ground. he's had the benefit of a run as well.
 
They could tie MTOY's back legs together and I'd still make him odds-on against the likely oppsition.

Also, I don't think Henderson's are running particularly poorly - they're just consistently overbet, and go off shorter than their form merits.
 
JamesRB said:
he was 2/1 around a week ago. and even then it was pretty common knowledge TNO was going to the bula instead of this.
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Anyone on who has taken 2/1 is well on. Those on Betfair who have taken 2/1+ has themselves a knocking bet.

think MR is to be respected if there's any cut in the ground. he's had the benefit of a run as well.
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MRs form looks less rosy after the weekend. I'm unconcerned - MTOY has too much class.
 
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Although the trainer did announce on his website last week the Fighting Fifth was the preferred option to the Coral Hurdle , I note Melodic Rendevous has an entry at Newbury on Thursday as well.
 
it really does look optimum conditions for MTOY but a bit of a question mark over how some of hendo's are running lately would slightly put me off steaming into the 4/5 (if i didn't already have a 2/1 antepost docket)

but i could easily see that looking like it should have been a max bet job come tomorrow evening
 
Anyone worried about AP taking it easy on MTOY like he did when Chatterbox beat him in the Betfred Hurdle last year?????
 
In a grade 1? No chance. That was a bad ride anyway. Geraghty got the jump on him in bad conditions.
 
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Different horse but Binocular beaten at 5/4,5/6 & 4/5 with AP on board in this race, it really wouldn't be a shock if MTOY's got turned over, although there is little to face.

It seems the FF is now a G1 that fails to appeal to the top trainers now.
 
A decentish race really. A race that lacks pace..which is against MTOY..its also on a stiff track..also against MTOY..FTO..is also against MTOY in a race that isn't a main target for him..but will be a champion hurdle for a couple here

I can see Henderson afterwards using the pace and track as a reason for getting beat..the track mainly

a couple in here are still improving and are race fit..and will want the win more than MTOY

I'll be dutching cockney sparrow+grumeti..Melodic is an improver but the price doesn't tempt
 
EC1 said:
A decentish race really. A race that lacks pace..which is against MTOY..its also on a stiff track..also against MTOY..FTO..is also against MTOY in a race that isn't a main target for him..but will be a champion hurdle for a couple here
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It's not that stiff a track. And if Harchibald could win a FF I'm pretty sure MTOY can. Nailed on.
 
Nicky's used the race as a warm-up in the past, but MTOY has never needed much preparing. He's always been a speed horse too, and shown a change of gear whatever the pace (the only time he didn't, when not knocked about on heavy ground in a race he was almost withdrawn from).
I'm with Grassy here, he should be at least 2's on, and I'll be amazed if he doesn't win like it.
 
Euronymous said:
It's not that stiff a track. And if Harchibald could win a FF I'm pretty sure MTOY can. Nailed on.
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i never said it was that stiff..but its stiffer than any flat track..its uphill the length of the straight and then climbs from just before the last to the finish..decent run from the last as well

can't see what Harchibald winning has any relevance tbh

good luck with it anyway
 
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the pace in the supreme was even..in fact textbook..it wasn't stop start

i just don't think he likes an uphill finish...which is why he flattened out in the supreme imo...he needs a flat finish..doesn't get that today.

if we just judge each race on which is the best horse...and ignore every other factor that goes into making it the best horse..under the conditions.. then i think about 50% of the picture is looked at.

its easy to just back the highest rated horse in each race...i used to do that when i first got into racing..i think there is a bit more to it than that
 
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His stride visibly shortened halfway up the Cheltenham run in, owing to lack of stamina. He certainly had no problem with Ascot, which would be a piece stiffer finish than Newcastle.
 
reet hard said:
His stride visibly shortened halfway up the Cheltenham run in, owing to lack of stamina. He certainly had no problem with Ascot, which would be a piece stiffer finish than Newcastle.
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he meets better horses here than he beat at Ascot though

like i said..i'll wish you all well with your bets...not for me personally though..i just don't get a good vibe off this run
 
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