The Road to the Punchestown Festival

del boy said:
Would heavy ground be a major inconvenience for Quevega?
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Given the way she won on it last year, she'll positively improve for it.
Solwhit also thrives on it, but was undoubtedly more impressive round a sharp Aintree than a stiff Cheltenham, and is no gimme to last home on it.
 
reet hard said:
Given the way she won on it last year, she'll positively improve for it.
Solwhit also thrives on it, but was undoubtedly more impressive round a sharp Aintree than a stiff Cheltenham, and is no gimme to last home on it.
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Solwhit will today demonstrate the mares true level.
 
Punchestown heavy on all tracks (10mm rain overnight) Forecast rain clearing by lunchtime, dry this afternoon, tonight and tomorrow.
 
think i'd be a layer of solwhit today. if he can emulate sprinter and win at all 3 festivals i'll duly doff my hat toward him though.

think reve de sivola, in this ground, stands to be an interesting player.
 
We need a 'fanfare' avatar for insightful and correct posts such as Benny's, here. Something with trumpets and flags.
 
this.....
“He didn’t come out of the race at Aintree as well as he did at Cheltenham which surprised me. The initial intention was not to run at Aintree and wait for Punchestown but he came out of Cheltenham so well, we decided to go.

“He had such an easy race in Aintree, we thought he would come out of it bubbling but he’s a bit flat and we will just wait for him to come alive. I am pretty hopeful that he will be OK by the weekend.
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......would also give me cause for concern

LAY
 
JamesRB said:
this.....

......would also give me cause for concern

LAY
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A more contemporary Byrnes quote:

"It's only since the weekend that Solwhit has picked up well after being a bit flat after his win at Aintree. That run seemed to take more out of him than Cheltenham although he appeared to have an easier race. I could have done with another week with him, but I'm happy enough to let him take his chance although it looks a very hot renewal."


Solwhit wasn't going to run at Cheltenham because (allegedly) he wasn't pleasing connections - him only coming to himself a handful of days before the Festival. The comparison between the pre-Cheltenham and pre-Punchestown updates from Charlie Byrnes are quite striking.

The key phrase for me is "happy enough to let him take his chance". You don't nurse a horse back for two years, only to bury him in races he isn't ready for. If he runs, Solwhit must be very close to 100%, and that will be good enough to despacth Quevega.

BACK.
 
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Grasshopper said:
A more contemporary Byrnes quote:

"It's only since the weekend that Solwhit has picked up well after being a bit flat after his win at Aintree. That run seemed to take more out of him than Cheltenham although he appeared to have an easier race. I could have done with another week with him, but I'm happy enough to let him take his chance although it looks a very hot renewal."


Solwhit wasn't going to run at Cheltenham because (allegedly) he wasn't pleasing connections - him only coming to himself a handful of days before the Festival. The comparison between the pre-Cheltenham and pre-Punchestown updates from Charlie Byrnes are quite striking.

The key phrase for me is "happy enough to let him take his chance". You don't nurse a horse back for two years, only to bury him in races he isn't ready for. If he runs, Solwhit must be very close to 100%, and that will be good enough to despacth Quevega.

BACK.
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the proof will, as ever, be in the pudding grassy. i just have a feeling they'll be going to the well one too many times here. and he has opponents ready to take advantage imo. let battle commence. :cool:
 
The opener looks like it's being contested by sub-140-horses in waiting, with the possible exception of Frawley, who is unexposed over hurdles, and whose bumper form from 3 years ago is firmly in the 'not shabby' bracket.

Market confidence isn't great (though he seems now to have steadied at around the 16/1 mark) and whilst he's clearly been hard to train, he might just have a bit of class about him, that's missing in the others.

It's a fair price to be finding out, imo.
 
Grasshopper said:
The opener looks like it's being contested by sub-140-horses in waiting, with the possible exception of Frawley, who is unexposed over hurdles, and whose bumper form from 3 years ago is firmly in the 'not shabby' bracket.

Market confidence isn't great (though he seems now to have steadied at around the 16/1 mark) and whilst he's clearly been hard to train, he might just have a bit of class about him, that's missing in the others.

It's a fair price to be finding out, imo.
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Given considerate handling throughout. :rolleyes:
 
granger said:
Love old sizing. SS is obviously a beast but at 11 to still have that ability, hats off to HDB.

Sizing would win races in Ireland next year am sure
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I'm with you on that one Granger. We talk about the great 2 milers of the past and very few realize how good a horse Sizing Europe actually is.

SE is very unlucky not to have won a Champion Hurdle having injured himself when the 2008 race looked all over bar the shouting.

His QMCC win at the age of 9 was as perfect a performances as you could ever wish to see.

He's been a model of consistency over the years.The last time he was out of the 3 was way back in his hurdling days.

He may have lost a bit of his speed but he travels so easily in his race, like you say he'll would win a few more races next season if allowed to.
 
Sizing is my favourite chaser since Moscow. Barring injury he's have won a champion hurdle, no doubts.

He is staying in training Tanlic btw
 
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Sizing europe top class horse

could have a won a Champion hurdle


as a chaser
consistent and many top performances
but not as good as Well Chief, Moscow, Azerty or Master Minded
 
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