Arkle

[Posts: 6403Joined: 31 May 2004, 16:52Location: Ubiquitous]

Aye, that was curious, Friggo, wasn't it! I presume he just thought the gelding was already ready for action, though in all honesty there were other 2m novices' chases in the programme only a day or two either side.

gc

[Posts: 2040Joined: 30 Sep 2007, 13:16Location: Lincs]

I see Straw Bear is making his chasing debut in the 3.10 at Exeter tomorrow, will be interesting to see how he goes.

Really cant think of the horse as a chaser, but he is a horse i like, so hope he does well.

[Posts: 3847Joined: 31 Aug 2007, 23:42Location: derby]

I assume I'msingintheblues was down to run at Uttoxeter because Neptune Collonges was parading at the course before racing, and I that Mr Hales was probably going that day [didn't he plan to start Nevada Royale there last year as well but the weather turned against him, so maybe he starts a lot of his novices there..I'm only guessing..]

[Posts: 6403Joined: 31 May 2004, 16:52Location: Ubiquitous]

Aha, yes, Certainly Neptune's parading rings a bell. That might just have been it, then!

gc

[Posts: 19Joined: 26 Nov 2007, 12:38]

If you liked Imsingingtheblues don't neglect Oumeyade who was just as impressive at Kempton.
He ran the same time carrying 6lb more and, according to the Post is eligible for novice chases.

[Posts: 6403Joined: 31 May 2004, 16:52Location: Ubiquitous]

I think he might also be on a comparatively decent hurdles mark, too. I know he got whacked up for his Exeter win off 102 in May, but not as far as into yesterday's 137, surely? Maybe someone out there can confirm, ta.

gc

[Posts: 116Joined: 21 Sep 2008, 02:08Location: Sunderland]

Oumeyade would almost certainly have had another victory to his name if poor Sam Thomas hadn't taken the wrong course on him at Fakenham. I would imagine he surprised all at Ditcheat with his transformation in form as they seemed to be keen to make a lot of use of him during the summer. He did have a breathing operation in the spring of 2008, and this has to be one of the major contributing factors to his turn about in form since joining Paul Nicholls from Hen Knight.

He is still eligible for novice chases.He has run twice over hurdles since going to Ditcheat. On his first run for Paul Nicholls,he won a class 3 handicap hurdle off a mark of 102 on April 27th at Ludlow. He fell next time out at Exeter on May 6th in another class 3 hurdle off 109,under the 7lbs penalty. That was his last run over hurdles.He is currently rated 130 over hurdles. He remains a very interesting prospect.

[Posts: 1334Joined: 22 Jul 2008, 21:03]

I would have thought that the move from Henrietta Knight was reason enough for Oumeyade's recent improvement!

[Posts: 116Joined: 21 Sep 2008, 02:08Location: Sunderland]

By the way that Jim Lewis moved the rest of his horses to Ditcheat, you may well be right Equitrack.

[Posts: 3038Joined: 21 Oct 2007, 23:13]

What a brilliant introduction to chasing McCoy gave Straw Bear. He will come on a ton for that.

The fact the horse blew up and wasn't off a yard would drive a few people crazy if they backed him right enough

Talk about schooling in public!!!!

McCoy kept him well away from everything and gave him a great view at every fence and while he was far from spectacular he jumped really economically.

Had that been a lesser horse you can rest assured McCoy would have been up there fighting for the lead from 3 out but he just let the horse come home in his own good time.

Definately one for the note book and you can bet your life he will start a hot favourite next time out and win.

[Posts: 2040Joined: 30 Sep 2007, 13:16Location: Lincs]

Tatenen put in a good round of jumping at Aintree yesterday, seems to get over his fences very quickly and efficiently, nice jumping style he has got there.

Not sure about cutting his odds to 5-6/1 for the Arkle already though, was a good enough performance yesterday but he was recieving weight all round and won like a 4/7 shot should do.

[Posts: 1630Joined: 19 Mar 2007, 17:02Location: Halifax]

Tatenen's race fell apart for him a little IMO. Quotes of 5/1 for the Arkle are little short of ridiculous.

[Posts: 1197Joined: 26 Apr 2008, 10:28]

What a brilliant introduction to chasing McCoy gave Straw Bear. He will come on a ton for that.

The fact the horse blew up and wasn't off a yard would drive a few people crazy if they backed him right enough

Talk about schooling in public!!!!

McCoy kept him well away from everything and gave him a great view at every fence and while he was far from spectacular he jumped really economically.

Had that been a lesser horse you can rest assured McCoy would have been up there fighting for the lead from 3 out but he just let the horse come home in his own good time.

Definately one for the note book and you can bet your life he will start a hot favourite next time out and win.

Fist this praise is naughty you are correct about the ride McCoy gave Straw Bear but he should get a heavy ban for it it is totally against the rules of racing as he did not bust a gut to achieve the horses optimum placing - the horse was schooled in public. I have a problem with this as it is so obviously and clearly in breach of the rules yet nothing is done about it, the stewards just conveniently accept McCoy's reasoning.

Yes it happens it has always happened but that doesn't excuse it or make it right it is illegal according to the rules of racing.

Contrast McCoy's Straw Bear ride with the one he gave Wichita Lineman yesterday, that was literally the real McCoy.

[Posts: 3038Joined: 21 Oct 2007, 23:13]

I understand how you feel but my background in racing perhaps affords me a different view from many others.

I am a great believer in giving novices a run or two if you think they need time to adjust. Call it schooling in public as it's as good a name as any but a good jockey/trainer would call it common sense and caring for your horses.

McCoy could have won that race easily the way it turned out, but all he wanted to do is get a very good horse home safely and not take any stupid risks.

Unfortunately the winner did not go through with his run and stopped after the last which made it look worse than it was.

Had the winner ran on strongly McCoy would have had to knock lumps out of Straw Bear to win as he definately did blow up. I doubt if that had been the case if Straw Bear would have won without having a mega hard race which would have done horse no good.

I know it's not fair to the punter but anone who thinks racing is run for the punter is 2 sandwiches short of a picnic.

I think the Stewards on duty made the right decision and took the front horse stopping into consideration.

[Posts: 2429Joined: 08 Sep 2005, 16:31]

The Novice chaser I will be following this year is Forpadydeplasterer. I think he looked a ready made chaser last year. He could well end up in the Arkle.