The Road to the Queen Mother

granger

granger

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Henry de Bromhead is looking forward to giving Sizing Europe his first run of the season at Gowran Park on Saturday week.

The Queen Mother Champion Champion Chase winner is to begin the new campaign in the Grade Two Gowran Park Champion Chase over two and a half miles.

What happens in that race is likely to help De Bromhead decide on plans for the winter.

"Hopefully we'll start him off in Gowran next Saturday," the County Waterford handler told At The Races.

"He seems in good form and he's schooling well, so we'll start him off in the Grade Two two-and-a-half-mile chase there.

"We'll see how we get on there and make plans from there.

"We'll keep all our options open. We'll start in Gowran, see how we get on there, and then progress from there.

"He's a very adaptable horse."
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Let's hope Mr Potts is not being silly again
 
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There was an article on the sportinglife website suggesting the Gold Cup route again.

What's wrong with having a champion chaser?!!!! The horse will never win a gold cup.
 
Spare us the bloody " Road to " please ! The season is not just about Cheltenham .

I agree about Sizing Europe - Mr Potts should look at the career of Iris's Gift as a salutary lesson- don't put a square peg in a round hole
 
granger said:
Sizing evens with Boylesports tomorrow. 1.76 on the machine. HDB won the opener well today, evens is too tempting for me to turn away
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Luke's info horse was very impressive - I got stuck into SE fto last year when China Rock emptied him on what would be similar ground. I'd be watching him tomorrow and I like the skinny ones!:ninja:
 
I got stuck in last year and it hurt.The horse today was fancied like mad and they think it's good enough for Cheltenham in November yet was allowed to start at a decent price.
I wouldn't dream of laying him tomorrow but I don't know if I could back him.
 
Ardross said:
Spare us the bloody " Road to " please ! The season is not just about Cheltenham .

I agree about Sizing Europe - Mr Potts should look at the career of Iris's Gift as a salutary lesson- don't put a square peg in a round hole
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I was having a nose through some of the old "Road To" threads just earlier today, Ardross. There is ample evidence in them to suggest that the excitement is largely about the journey itself, with the destination merely bringing a satisying conclusion to a most enjoyable trip.

This whole "season is not just about Cheltenham" indignation has transmogrified into pomposity, imo.

The suggestion was originally spawned in response to C4 Racings unhealthy fascination with the meeting, and their apparent need to tie every televised result into a potential Festival target - regardless of its relevance. But this has since been adopted as a kind of flagship retort by those who view any pre-emptive discussion of the following March as somehow crass.

I don't get it. In fact, I find such an attitude a little bit aloof, elitist and unnecessary myself. I mean? Why wouldn't you?

IMO, not only do the "Road To..." threads have their place merely by dint of their topic matter, they are everything a good thread should be - illuminating and entertaining (especially that Grasshopper - he's a judge! :D).

For my money, the 2011 threads should be moved to Forum Gold in order that we can get the 2012 threads properly up and running. Have a look at the old threads for yourself - you might change your mind. :cool:
 
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Grasshopper said:
I was having a nose through some of the old "Road To" threads just earlier today, Ardross. There is ample evidence in them to suggest that the excitement is largely about the journey itself, with the destination merely bringing a satisying conclusion to a most enjoyable trip.

This whole "season is not just about Cheltenham" indignation has transmogrified into pomposity, imo.

The suggestion was originally spawned in response to C4 Racings unhealthy fascination with the meeting, and their apparent need to tie every televised result into a potential Festival target - regardless of its relevance. But this has since been adopted by some as a kind of flagship retort by those who view any pre-emptive discussion of the following March as somehow crass.

I find this attitude a little bit aloof, elitist and unnecessary myself, I have to say. Not only do the "Road To..." threads have their place merely by dint of their topic matter, they are what every good thread should be - illuminating and entertaining (especially that Grasshopper - he's a judge! :D).

For my money, the 2011 threads should be moved to Forum Gold in order that we can get the 2012 threads properly up and running. Have a look at the old threads for yourself - you might change your mind. :cool:
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Really nice post Grassy
 
His FTO record has never been that great, Granger. We'll see a different horse next time I expect.
 
Grasshopper said:
His FTO record has never been that great, Granger. We'll see a different horse next time I expect.
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Correct but I couldn't resist the evens.

Lord only knows what Mr Potts wants from him but if he were mine, I would send him to Sandown for the Tingle Creek. Imaging him jumping over the railway fences

Anyone, possibly Cantoris heard any word on plans for Big Zeb?
 
granger said:
.........if he were mine, I would send him to Sandown for the Tingle Creek. Imaging him jumping over the railway fences
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Dunno. If the ground was soft, I'm not convinced he'd find them all that straightforward. He didn't jump with any real fluency today, and Sandown is a stern enough test.
 
I can't remember him ever touching a twig in his career to be honest but I take your point on conditions maybe being against him

I have a gut feeling they will send him to Kempton
 
granger said:
I can't remember him ever touching a twig in his career to be honest but I take your point on conditions maybe being against him

I have a gut feeling they will send him to Kempton
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Take a look at him over the first two today, Granger.....and he didn't exactly ping the remainder.

Granted, it's early in the season, but still. He just doesn't look the same horse on soft ground, which is bizarre given he clearly goes on it. Maybe he just isn't quite so good jumping out of soft/tacky ground than quicker ground? Certainly, his record would generally tend to suggest that's the case. He'd be an interesting runner at Kempton, but I have to have him as a non-stayer at beyond 3m. A Gold Cup campaign would make little sense to me.
 
If they want to test him over 3m surely a left-handed track like Haydock would be the way to go - he's taking on Long Run and Kauto Star as he'd have to at Kempton but goes there with a race under his belt and with a distinct advantage on that front. Would still leave plenty of time to drop back to 2m or 2 1/2m if he doesn't come up to scratch or keep him over 3m if he does.

Martin
 
Guess that would be the thinking Granger but it falls right in the middle of the season - would have thought they'd be keen to find out sooner rather than later where they stand with him.
 
It's Deja Vu all over again.... what's wrong with being a champion chaser? He is not a Gold Cup horse, he would not stay 3m 2f around Cheltenham if Lynch carried him for a cicuit and he is at least a stone and a half better on good ground due to fact his jumping is electric on good ground and pretty average on worse. I think we have all seen enough of this horse to draw these conclusions.
 
Agree OTB.

I'm not entirely convinced he would get home in a King George, let alone a Gold Cup. Better a Champion Chaser than a bit-part-player in a Gold Cup.
 
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