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Thyestes Handicap Chase.

I've decided to represent Slim during his enforced sabbatical.

"What would any of you know about the Thyestes Chase? After my recent spectacular success second-guessing 'The Great Man' in the Savills and the Lanzarote I'm considering giving you all the winner of this, but only if the majority of you campaign for my early release in the next 24 hours."

Returning to myself, if I knew Conyers Hill would relish the trip in the ground and jump round, I'd be interested at the right price, but The Baron Of Brighton and The Lord Of Leeds has some track record in races like this, so I'll defer to him.
 
Intense Raffles ( around 20/1 ) will be suited by the heavy ground. Since he won the 2024 Irish National he's run seven times with two of those being over hurdles, one over an inadequate trip, and three on going officially described as good to soft. He was pulled up in two of those at Aintree and Chepstow, but finished three-quarters of a length second to the 161 rated Nick Rockett when giving 3 pounds in last season's Bobbyjo Chase.

Trying to work out which one of Willie Mullins's contingent has the best chance looks far too difficult for me especially as nearly all of them are rated 150+ and Aintree may be their long-term targets. Shanbally Kid ( 25/1, and rated 137 ) went the long way round at Punchestown over almost four miles in the spring and still won by fifteen lengths. His sire is Presenting which may be a negative on the ground.
 
Ian_Davies said:
I've decided to represent Slim during his enforced sabbatical.

"What would any of you know about the Thyestes Chase? After my recent spectacular success second-guessing 'The Great Man' in the Savills and the Lanzarote I'm considering giving you all the winner of this, but only if the majority of you campaign for my early release in the next 24 hours."

Returning to myself, if I knew Conyers Hill would relish the trip in the ground and jump round, I'd be interested at the right price, but The Baron Of Brighton and The Lord Of Leeds has some track record in races like this, so I'll defer to him.
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Some of the worst placing you’d see by Paul Nolan. He should be going DRF handicap chase over 2m or even skipping both and going to a Grand Annual. I’m stunned he’s in this Conyers Hill.
 
Willie Mullins has won seven of the last 14 runnings, usually ridden by the stable's main jockey so my starting point would centre around Captain Cody.

I see Quai De Bourbon is declared but Hayes is a negative for one of my Grand National bets (I've backed it twice so far) but, a bit like Myretown, it needs another chase run to qualify so maybe this race - and getting a few pounds off it - is the reason foir its declaration.

I have QDB as potentially the best handicapped horse in the GN but as discussed not long ago it makes iffy jumpers look slick.
 
Logically, this will be a season target for Jordans. But, one would have hoped (expected?) to see JJ Slevin riding. And he's on Raffles (who, as already noted, appears to have a good chance on paper).
 
an capall said:
His (admittedly quirky) sense of humour was deemed to be inhospitable to new members who may be unfamiliar with his stuff. He got a week on the naughty step. I'd be surprised if we see him back again.
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Maybe someone should tell the powers that be that he brings more clicks than 20 uninhabited flat race threads. Seems to be all that matters these days. Very disappointing.
 
archie said:
Maybe someone should tell the powers that be that he brings more clicks than 20 uninhabited flat race threads. Seems to be all that matters these days. Very disappointing.
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I would never suggest it should ever be one rule for one, another for everyone else, but, when you get one of the highest-profile, edgy, U.K./Irish racing and betting operators on social media for years copping a ban for a bit of trademark industrial language off a gaffer who, for sure, has delivered and maintains a magnificent modern-functionality forum but who, with respect, is neither a UK/Irish racing man nor imo has the best handle on the cut-and-thrust punter zeitgeist here, it is faintly ludicrous.

Creating a load of new folders in the hope of seo optimisation won't necessarily grow this forum - banning a writer as edgy and entertaining as Gearoid Norris will almost certainly shrink it.
 
The power that be who decided on that course of action has been running high-trafficked gambling forums since some of us were in nappies. Much, much bigger than this one. He'll have been ultra-confident that the chosen course of action was an appropriate one, although he'll likely to be the first to admit he's not a horse (racing) specialist.

Re that stuff about the folders. In case it's unclear, that was an early attempt (I believe) to get the best structure in place that...

1. Yes, did contribute to SEO (and I know enough about that to suggest it would have been a good plan)
2. At the same time, was functionally usable for us members (and user satisfaction is actually a fundamental part of SEO).

My understanding (it could be wrong) is that he didn't get the help he was expecting.
 
I am sure most on the forum hear worse on a weekly basis, but its the way of the world to be offended on everyones behalf.
I havent been on the forum for long but he was one of the more frequent, and on the ball, contributors.
There are a handful of main contributors on the site and they, imho, are the people that make the site what it is, a site where people voice opinions and in the main tip a load of winners.
Slim did what he did, he is what he is, and a seven day ban, increased to twenty days, is unlikely to change him but is more likely to send him packing.

I am not trying to defend him as he doesnt need it, just pointing out we are all adults on the site and the ignore button is there for a reason.
 
chaumi said:
The power that be who decided on that course of action has been running high-trafficked gambling forums since some of us were in nappies. Much, much bigger than this one. He'll have been ultra-confident that the chosen course of action was an appropriate one, although he'll likely to be the first to admit he's not a horse (racing) specialist.

Re that stuff about the folders. In case it's unclear, that was an early attempt (I believe) to get the best structure in place that...

1. Yes, did contribute to SEO (and I know enough about that to suggest it would have been a good plan)
2. At the same time, was functionally usable for us members (and user satisfaction is actually a fundamental part of SEO).

My understanding (it could be wrong) is that he didn't get the help he was expecting.
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I'd say that that is the technical equivalent of knowing the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
 
chaumi said:
functionally usable for us members (and user satisfaction is actually a fundamental part of SEO).

he didn't get the help he was expecting.
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Chaumi, you wonderful fellow (and I hope you remembered what I told you about Lucas Murphy before Chaddesley at Leicester today) the above is a contradiction in terms if ever there was one.

Functionally usable?

I, for one, will never post in any of those new folders because General Racing Topics is the beating heart of this forum which draws the biggest audience.

It (new folders) isn't getting any "help" because I don't think anyone asked for this - it's not anyone's JOB to get on board with seo notions about growing this forum, we all do what suits us individually.

Knowing so little about your forumites that you ban the Joe Rogan of Irish racing because he chucked an expletive or two around is a rank bad decision if you're on a mission to grow a forum - FACT.
 
an capall said:
His (admittedly quirky) sense of humour was deemed to be inhospitable to new members who may be unfamiliar with his stuff. He got a week on the naughty step. I'd be surprised if we see him back again.
Click to expand...
Ian_Davies said:
Chaumi, you wonderful fellow (and I hope you remembered what I told you about Lucas Murphy before Chaddesley at Leicester today) the above is a contradiction in terms if ever there was one.

Functionally usable?

I, for one, will never post in any of those new folders because General Racing Topics is the beating heart of this forum which draws the biggest audience.

It (new folders) isn't getting any "help" because I don't think anyone asked for this - it's not anyone's JOB to get on board with seo notions about growing this forum, we all do what suits us individually.

Knowing so little about your forumites that you ban the Joe Rogan of Irish racing because he chucked an expletive or two around is a rank bad decision if you're on a mission to grow a forum - FACT.
Click to expand...
What a way to run a railway,FFS.
 
Ian_Davies said:
Chaumi, you wonderful fellow (and I hope you remembered what I told you about Lucas Murphy before Chaddesley at Leicester today) the above is a contradiction in terms if ever there was one.

Functionally usable?

I, for one, will never post in any of those new folders because General Racing Topics is the beating heart of this forum which draws the biggest audience.

It (new folders) isn't getting any "help" because I don't think anyone asked for this - it's not anyone's JOB to get on board with seo notions about growing this forum, we all do what suits us individually.

Knowing so little about your forumites that you ban the Joe Rogan of Irish racing because he chucked an expletive or two around is a rank bad decision if you're on a mission to grow a forum - FACT.
Click to expand...

Yes, ofc I had a small interest on Queenie on the back of that, ty. :-) But the real interest was on Subtle Fortune first 4. Was dead and buried 3 or 4 out and looked like a pulled up candidate, but somehow got back up for the 4th place. One to watch over 3 miles, particularly if heavy.

Yeah, I'm not arguing any of this. And fwiw I personally don't think the Slim ban was the right thing to do. Kind of irrelevant what I think, though.

The point with the 'help' wasn't supposed to be on general membership. A proper restructure (and appropriate communication/consultation) would have been the answer to all of it. No point in boring everyone with details, but, with thought, the whole lot could have been consolidated in such a way that would still have met everyone's needs.

'My theory is that the 'help' was expected (and maybe even offered) from specific quarters, and then didn't materalize.
 
I'm in favour of Slim's sanction.

You don't allow Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi off with yellow/red cards because they are superstar players.

It can't be one rule for mortals and another for superheroes.

I'm trying to be consistent in my position that just because it is a forum doesn't mean that people should get away with transgressions.

The forum is very light-handed where bad language is concerned but once it is directed at another individual it crosses a line, imo.

I look forward to Slim's return in the same way that I would look forward to a return from suspension of a football hero.
 
I wasn't aware of the actual offence but have seen plenty of unsavoury stuff go unsanctioned to accept the ref's decision was justified with no need for VAR.

I should maybe also add that I would understand if he stayed away. I played football at Primary, Secondary, Boys' Guild, university league and Saturday morning/Sunday afternoon Scottish Amateur League level (I peaked when I got to play for the Bordeaux Uni second XI) and virtually retired on the spot after being booked for the first time in my life when I was about 28/29. It completely shattered me.

But I reckon Slim is made of sterner stuff.
 
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It's probably worth noting...and may add some illustrative understanding to the situation...the current forum manager does it for nothing. It just costs time, and for nowt return that I can see. And he almost certainly has zero interest in horse racing, so he doesn't even get the satisfaction that someone like you - dear reader - or I might get from managing it.

Without that 'takeover', this forum likely wouldn't exist now...or it would have been sold to someone who had to make a financial return, and they would have completely restructured it anyway.
 
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