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The goods and the bads from this week

jinnyj

jinnyj

Senior Jockey
Joined
Jan 8, 2004
Messages
4,916
Well because we always need a little thread about it

My goods:
11 winners over the week and I just feel better about the week. I returned after a year off on Tuesday and it did feel better to me.
Jeremy Scott was my highlight. If you knew him as I do, you'd really get it. He is one of the nicest, funniest, most self- depreciating guys you could ever meet. He even appeared as the narrator in a pantomime I ran, dressed up as a green fairy - how many other trainers would do that? (I told him I wouldn't put it on unless he agreed.)

The Michael O'Sulivan pair - literally you could not have written in - had I been there, my waterprood mascara would have been tested.

Bobbbbbbbb!!! Love the bones of this horse and the perfect Rachel ride.

Caldwell Potter - wish I'd had more on but I was convinced Nicholls had been putting us away over this horse's trip and ground. I think he wanted to give a young, talented horse every chance of winning at the Festival without bottoming him in one of the better races.

Wodhood - beautiful mare and beautifully placed to remain unbeaten.

Paddock spotting Jimmy du Seuil and also Myretown, Putyrhandstogther and Inothewayurthinkin (he was goose-stepping and looked incredible)

Fact to File - got his day in the sun after playing the bridesmaid to GdC and he's one for further improvement

Course form and Festival form should be followed pretty religiously.

My bads:
Losing any horse and both (hopefully not more?) were really lovely talented horses. Corbetts was such a visually awful fall too.

I'm going to upset a few and say the Mullins factor - it isn't good for racing long-term. Sure he is exceptional. But the cycle keeps going - when the races are not so competitive, he fields so many and wins so many, so the owners keep sending him the horses and so it will go on. I know that's the nature of the sport but it just aint healthy, IMO.

IT was a shame that GdC wasn't on top form but three Gold Cups has always been virtually impossible and several have tried and failed before him.
 
My goods:

The drama, I loved Tuesday even though I lost on day 1 and I do generally like it when shorties get beat anyway.

Marine Nationale and The New Lion on Wednesday. My only real proper winners all week.

The general way it went, the poor jumping, the strange rides.....I can think of a few angles I'm gonna look into for next year, I've already had two bets for '26 and there will be more - William Munny apart I had no ante-post bets lined up for this Festival before the winter which was unusual.

My bads:

The starts were terrible as everyone knows. Sixandahalf and William Munny 2nds were annoying but if you're a half decent punter seconds will always happen a lot.

Corbett's Cross and Springwell Bay. RIP
 
Good:

This is the first Cheltenham I think I've properly enjoyed throughout, ever. I was mad into racing a few years ago and slowly lost interest, to the point I didn't really watch the last couple of years, but this year has been brilliant. A few winners helped, naturally, but just enjoying the event and reading some of the excellent contributions on here was so refreshing. The buzz is definitely back.

The stories of the week were just fantastic. Marine Nationale being the stand out for Michael O'Sullivan.

Bob Olinger. Say no more.

Bad:

The loss of Corbetts Cross and Springwell Bay, never gets any easier to watch or hear the subsequent news. RIP both.

GDC losing his crown. He didn't really have any excuses, and the winner, was superb, but 3x Gold Cups would've been incredible to witness.

‐----------‐----------‐----------

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable week. Thanks to all of you for keeping me entertained and informed - some way better judges than I could ever hope to be! Thanks too to jinny for running the competition 👍
 
Marine Nationale who i had at 18s. Bit of a cliff horse for me but saw his original bumper and glad of the payoff.

Dinoblue was as close to a certainty bet, I've had in years.

Always enjoy everything novice related.

Hated the State Man fall, purely for racing reasons.

Had hoped for history with GDC, I was young in my racing career for best man and didn't warm to him in any case really.
 
Good

Great to see Golden Ace win the Champion Hurdle, even though it was a real shame for both Constitution Hill and State Man. Love Lossiemouth so really enjoyed her win and nice to see The New Lion and Caldwell Potter win too. Wednesday and the wins for Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty were really special and emotional (as was Caldwell Potter). Doddiethegreat and Bob Olinger on Thursday too. Happy for Gavin Cromwell with Inothewayurthinkin who seems a lovely horse (although the rest of the Gold Cup goes in my bad list!)

Bad

Springwell Bay and Corbetts Cross - RIP
Shame that Galopin Des Champs couldn't do the three timer
 
The New Lion, Bambino Fever and Wodhooh were notebook horses, so that was very satisfying. Equally, following the money pouring in for Bob Olinger and Jagwar was a lucky break. On the bad side I had a big ticket for Constitution Hill @ 4/1 and I was really stupid not to cover the bet.

The racing was great. Sad for Corbetts Cross and Springwell Bay and pretty angry about the chaotic starts where the chances of several horses were ruined by a starter seemingly unable to control the start.
 
Good: thoroughly enjoyed the 4 days. Went Wed and Friday and watched on TV Tues & Thu.
On course it was so quiet compared to the past which was so much more bearable. It was possible to get a place by the rail in Club near to the off. Such great racing with amazing stories too. Weather was kind.

Bad: Can’t stand the blaring music as the winner comes in to the winner’s enclosure. Totally ruins it for me. Maybe I’m old now!
Starts were dreadful first 3 days but ok today. Loss of any horse is always tragic. Booze in tatts bookies was a no. Lots of wasted people later roaming around.
 
I did notice on Tuesday that the music was only for the winners coming in whereas when I went two years ago it was constant and you couldn’t hear yourself think let alone have a conversation with someone. I did email them about that and the reply was “they wanted people to enjoy the atmosphere and entertain them in between races”....I then replied it was a race meeting for horses which had far more sensitive hearing than humans so perhaps they should consider that. And I think they have...so brownie points me!

I am going to email the CEO after his open letter as he’s clearly open to communication from the attending public which is positive so I urge you to do the same. Change won’t happen if they don’t know what they should change.
 
Good : The Michael O'Sullivan double, Lossiemouth (even if it annoyed many she was in the mares race) and Fact to File performances. Jody Townend's reaction to winning the bumper.

Bad : Good horses making mistakes/tipping up. None moreso than Consitutation Hill. The many issues at the start. Galopin coming up short for the 3 timer.

Not a great festival compared to recent years for me but still some enjoyable stories & moments.
 
For me the good things were
SkyBet renaming the Supreme in memory of Michael O’Sullivan
The reception given to Jeremy Scott after the Champion Hurdle
The Marine Nationale/Jazzy Marty double on Wednesday
Ruby Walsh’s insightful analysis on ITV. I particularly enjoyed the way he rubbished Nico de Boinville’s indignation about the QMCC start by pointing out it was actually Nico’s fault Jonbon got a slap in the face from the starting tape

The bad
Thursday and Friday were punting disasters for me (a heavy cold didn’t help) wiping out gains on Tuesday and Wednesday and more. I finished with a paltry 5 winners which is my lowest since 2014 with 3 of these at 3/1 or less. Defeats for Constitution Hill, Majborough, Jonbon, and Galopín sealed my fate and a good lesson learned (how many times do I have to learn it?) not to take good AP positions for granted and to think a bit more about what could go wrong
 
jinnyj said:
I did notice on Tuesday that the music was only for the winners coming in whereas when I went two years ago it was constant and you couldn’t hear yourself think let alone have a conversation with someone. I did email them about that and the reply was “they wanted people to enjoy the atmosphere and entertain them in between races”....I then replied it was a race meeting for horses which had far more sensitive hearing than humans so perhaps they should consider that. And I think they have...so brownie points me!

I am going to email the CEO after his open letter as he’s clearly open to communication from the attending public which is positive so I urge you to do the same. Change won’t happen if they don’t know what they should change.
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Except when Laura Wright was screeching the Final Countdown in the winner’s enclosure when the runners for the Triumph were entering the paddock !
 
I have been every day since the 2002 GC day . I thought this year was miles better than last year .

Highlights

Bob and Rachael’s double
The thriller of an Arkle
Golden Ace
The New Lion
Marine Nationale
Stumptown ( game as they come)
Caldwell Potter
Kargese
Wodhooh

Downers

The CH falls
Workahead bombing
Corbetts Cross and Springwell Bay RIP
Aly Vance
The Final Countdown farrago

I thought the music when bringing the horses in was better than last year when it seemed some random teenager had chosen the playlist . Lovely touch though to play Wonderwall after he won the Foxhunters .
 
I think the "downer" this year was the absence of the greatly missed Grasshopper. Does anybody keep in touch with him and know how he is? Also, good to see harry post again.
 
Good - the most dramatic CH you’ll ever see. I only say that, because both the fallers were ok after their falls.

Bad - any fatal fall. And GDC coming up just short in this hat-trick bid.
 
Saw someone at the point to point I was covering today. Apparently the Cheltenham CEO doubles as a fence steward at another couple of point to points I cover in a few weeks time. IF he's still doing same, I shall make myself acquainted with him and will go armed with thoughts from the Forum!
 
jinnyj said:
Paddock spotting Jimmy du Seuil and also Myretown, Putyrhandstogther and Inothewayurthinkin (he was goose-stepping and looked incredible)
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I’m from the school of thought that there is no such thing as a stupid question. That said I have on more than one occasion asked myself what should I be looking for when viewing in the paddock that might support or put me off an intended wager?

Any pointers or pearls of wisdom Jinny?

NB I can goose-step and look incredible but not come anywhere close to winning the 2.30 at Plumpton, more the reality being that I am incredibly Plumpton and waddle like a duck!

Apologies too for going off topic.
 
Attended it every day and enjoyed it everyday.
Might be controversial but I'd reduce the daily capacity to 50,000.
I do worry that the racegoer ITV seems to be trying to attract are precisely the reason some core racing fans have started voting with their feet.
 
Chunky Monkey said:
I’m from the school of thought that there is no such thing as a stupid question. That said I have on more than one occasion asked myself what should I be looking for when viewing in the paddock that might support or put me off an intended wager?

Any pointers or pearls of wisdom Jinny?

NB I can goose-step and look incredible but not come anywhere close to winning the 2.30 at Plumpton, more the reality being that I am incredibly Plumpton and waddle like a duck!

Apologies too for going off topic.
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You probably need to come and stand next to me when horses go round the paddock!!

I find it very worthwhile looking at them and sometimes a horse will jump out. It's why I can back plenty of winners when I am point to pointing especially early in the season. In fact on Sunday I went to Buckfastleigh point to point and spotted a horse in the paddock that looked awful. It was like an emaciated greyhound and walked round with its head on the floor. Yet because of who trained it, it was odds-on favourite. I went to speak to my bookie and said no way will that win. So he pushed the price right out and punters steamed in. It lead from flag fall and I was quietly bricking it but it stopped with two to jump and could hardly raise a canter. Bookie was well happy and gave me two free bets (both of which then duly won!)

I think you need to look at the condition of the coat primarily. If it looks shiny (the shinier the better) the horse is well. If the coat appears to have "dapples" on the neck and down the hind quarters - its super well. You should be able to see some ribs (about 4 or 5 but no more) and there is often a line that appears along the bottom of the stomach when the horse is really fit. It should look muscular but not fat. Look as the horse is walking away from you and it should have good definition of the muscles down the bottom by the tail. If its a little "sloppy" in its musculature, then its unlikely to be fit enough yet.
 


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