The Non-Triers Thread

Desert Orchid

Desert Orchid

Senior Jockey
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Aug 2, 2005
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This is at Slim's request (so blame him):

SlimChance said:
I'd love you to start a thread pointing out non jiggers.
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At the outset, perhaps we should make it clear that anything posted here is personal opinion rather than outright accusation, for legal reasons.

Feel free to offer your own views of what you feel are/were non-triers as they come up.

I don't plan to contribute every day since I don't watch every day but regulars will note that I often say xxx "wasn't off an inch" (based on my own interpretation of events).

The race I referred to elsewhere of being full of non-triers was the one at Sandown in which I put up Romanor as a longshot. He wasn't the only one to catch my eye. If you get the chance, re-view the race and offer your own interpretation but I'll start with Romanor.

Firstly, I was disappointed that he was weak in the betting, usually (but not always, obviously) an indicator that another day is the plan. Then he was jumped off towards the back. At that stage I wasn't sure. Was he just being held up? I thought the pace in the race was decent so wasn't too concerned, especially seeing the favourite towards the rear as well. I presumed the jockey (Daniel Sansom) was following instructions to shadow the favourite until halfway and take it from there. At about halfway the favourite was not going well and Sansom went past him, going very easily, before gradually getting on to the tail of the chasing pack. Turning out of the back he gave the horse a squeeze and it shot forward and he immediately put the brakes on. Straightening up, he edged the horse to the outside, still going very well and I thought, "Here we go..." No sooner did that occur to me than Sansom appeared to start pulling the horse back while simulating elbow movement and soon after that many of those around him appeared to start putting the brakes on. It may be that he saw the clear leader and thought, "Fvck this for a game of soldiers," and saved the horse.

But compare his riding of the winner of the bumper, his body language in the final three furlongs.

All personal opinion, as I say, but that and several others in that race yesterday looked ridiculously dodgy.
 
This is the side of the game I'm still learning. Deciding between what's a bad ride and a non trier I don't think I've got yet. Will watch this thread with great interest.
 
I would liberally use words like 'allegedly' 'reportedly' and 'opinion' as often as possible.

I'll start. I think Slim hasn't being trying a leg over on the 'Will Win' thread. Phoning it in, he is.

Allegedly.
 
The icey tentacles of JP McManus knows no bounds...


Remember the time he eletroucated Kid Cassidy to get a mark for the Grand Annual...
 
Maybe we should confine 'candidates' to those who are generally expected to run well or even win otherwise, as Colin suggests, we could be posting a hundred a day.
 
Snugsborough hall.
Ran ifirst time in a chase under O'reagan a couple of weeks ago and looked as if it was looking for a handicap mark.
Imo
 
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SlimChance said:
This is where we learn who knows what!
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There are plenty of keen eyed race observers on here but I'll be much more interested of hearing the views of people who atenttalking out of there pocket, Which non-trier accusers invariably are.
 
fonz said:
There are plenty of keen eyed race observers on here but I'll be much more interested of hearing the views of people who aren't talking out of there pocket, which non-trier accusers invariably are.
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Invariably? I'm not so sure about that.

On the odd occasion I pop into the bookies to check the RP I might stand for a couple of minutes to watch a race if it's on and wouldn't dream of having a bet without studying the form. Sometimes it's even easier to spot the non-triers when you don't have any financial involvement since you're merely observing a race and not focusing on one horse. I reckon in your average 10-12-runner midweek race at least five won't be trying.
 
Not trying too hard I think allegedly! Saved for another day! Not talking out of my pocket. Keep a close eye on this one.
 
Yeah, be careful whats written on here please guys to avoid the thread being closed ;)
'In my opinion' would be a good way to start any post :)
 
fonz said:
There are plenty of keen eyed race observers on here but I'll be much more interested of hearing the views of people who atenttalking out of there pocket, Which non-trier accusers invariably are.
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If you're going to quote my posts try saying something interesting
 
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Slim is well-known for never getting out of his scratcher before 2pm on weekdays.

Does this make him a qualifier for the thread?
 
Today was a strange days racing. So many big drifters but it was more a case of the types of races than anything not trying. That's the problem with this time of year, so many horses running over hurdles and fences for the first time. One that was completely dead in the market all day and ran like the 186 day break meant it couldn't put its best foot forward was Birch Vale in the 2.15 Ayr. Given the trainer is in good form you'd have to think this one will come on a lot for the run.
 
I've just been logging up last weekend's results with my ratings.

I should mention one that, in my opinion, was only there for a jog round as part of a longer-term preparation. It will be no stranger to the forum.

Un Temps Pour Tout

Back over hurdles for his first run since winning his second Ultima in 2017 - remember he was off because the race took so much out of him initially before he was injured - he jumped off last and in my opinion was never asked to improve his position.

Personally, I don't think he was prepping for the Ladbrokes Trophy (Hennessy). His trainer is on record as saying the horse is rubbish (that might have been the exact word) in the autumn and only comes good in the spring (by way of explaining his two Ultima wins, perhaps) so my very strong belief is that the Grand National is a very serious target.

On my figures, the horse remains ridiculously well-handicapped. For me he is a potential Gold Cup winner but whether they will want him to take that in along the road to Aintree I'm not sure. They might not want to leave his Aintree hopes behind if the Gold Cup field turns out to be above average this season. I imagine a few runs just behind the placed horses at trips over three miles or shorter in order to take another 7lbs or so off his mark will mean that if he arrives at Aintree at the top of his game only mishap can beat him.
 
Desert Orchid said:
I've just been logging up last weekend's results with my ratings.

I should mention one that, in my opinion, was only there for a jog round as part of a longer-term preparation. It will be no stranger to the forum.

Un Temps Pour Tout

Back over hurdles for his first run since winning his second Ultima in 2017 - remember he was off because the race took so much out of him initially before he was injured - he jumped off last and in my opinion was never asked to improve his position.

Personally, I don't think he was prepping for the Ladbrokes Trophy (Hennessy). His trainer is on record as saying the horse is rubbish (that might have been the exact word) in the autumn and only comes good in the spring (by way of explaining his two Ultima wins, perhaps) so my very strong belief is that the Grand National is a very serious target.

On my figures, the horse remains ridiculously well-handicapped. For me he is a potential Gold Cup winner but whether they will want him to take that in along the road to Aintree I'm not sure. They might not want to leave his Aintree hopes behind if the Gold Cup field turns out to be above average this season. I imagine a few runs just behind the placed horses at trips over three miles or shorter in order to take another 7lbs or so off his mark will mean that if he arrives at Aintree at the top of his game only mishap can beat him.
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That makes a lot of sense. To be fair to them the second Ultima was one of the best pieces of long term planning of the last few years. They landed a right touch.
 
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