Cheltenham Bumper 2018

[squiggsy68]

Denman wasn't trying to win a rough big field race over 2m........

[Kevloaf]

Are we seriously talking about how big a horse physically is having an impact of whether it wins at Cheltenham?

We can't be....?


The size of a horse VS ability to run fast are NOT a direct correlation

If it was even remotely useable as a guide, they'd pop it on the racecard?

They're measured in "hands" for goodness sake.

[Scooby91]

Are we seriously talking about how big a horse physically is having an impact of whether it wins at Cheltenham?

We can't be....?


The size of a horse VS ability to run fast are NOT a direct correlation

If it was even remotely useable as a guide, they'd pop it on the racecard?

They're measured in "hands" for goodness sake.

Who's the biggest horse?
Supasundae? He's a fine specimen.

Pallasator and American Tom are sizable.


Aparrently size matters

[Scooby91]

Big Bucks

Big Zeb

BIG orange would go well in a ballymore.

[Kevloaf]

Who's the biggest horse?
Supasundae? He's a fine specimen.

Pallasator and American Tom are sizable.


Aparrently size matters

Mengli Khan is 17 hands isn't he?

but wasn't Hurricane Fly only 15 hands?

must have been VERY poor years when Hurricane Fly was knocking about

[Scooby91]

Mengli Khan is 17 hands isn't he?

but wasn't Hurricane Fly only 15 hands?

must have been VERY poor years when Hurricane Fly was knocking about

Good point on MK.

American Tom is the one, sceau royal and top notch would give him a sound beating.

Don Cossack was a fine beast too tbf. Took him plenty of time to fill out his frame, as supasundae is doing now I believe.

[squiggsy68]

Ah - I was just saying (badly) that Denman probably wasn't the best example to use when talking about the bumper.

But when you think about it - we try to take so many things into account when coming up with selections that considering whether the size of the hose might make it more or less effective on a sharp, undulating track isn't that unreasonable - though I wouldn't make it the no.1 factor.

Ability to act on track though, that does bother me. I'm put off On The Blind Side regardless of how great Sandown was purely because to me he didn't come down the hill at all at Chelt and not sure you'll get away with that in a Grade 1.

[Kevloaf]

Yes I see your point squigsy.

Rather than call it size, it is more ability to handle the track, which might be related to how big a horse is, but the actual size isn't the variable.

Do they have the size of a horse in Hong Kong (I know they have the weight)...

[Scooby91]

Ah - I was just saying (badly) that Denman probably wasn't the best example to use when talking about the bumper.

But when you think about it - we try to take so many things into account when coming up with selections that considering whether the size of the hose might make it more or less effective on a sharp, undulating track isn't that unreasonable - though I wouldn't make it the no.1 factor.

Ability to act on track though, that does bother me. I'm put off On The Blind Side regardless of how great Sandown was purely because to me he didn't come down the hill at all at Chelt and not sure you'll get away with that in a Grade 1.

Depends if your inclined to believe NJH on the sore shins of OTBS. at the time of running at chelt.

[squiggsy68]

Depends if your inclined to believe NJH on the sore shins of OTBS. at the time of running at chelt.

I'd missed him saying that - I guess sore shins isn't going to help at all, but he did look unbalanced to me (like the front and back legs weren't quite in sync) which seemed to resolve once he hit rising ground.

[Quevega]

Ah - I was just saying (badly) that Denman probably wasn't the best example to use when talking about the bumper.

But when you think about it - we try to take so many things into account when coming up with selections that considering whether the size of the hose might make it more or less effective on a sharp, undulating track isn't that unreasonable - though I wouldn't make it the no.1 factor.

Ability to act on track though, that does bother me. I'm put off On The Blind Side regardless of how great Sandown was purely because to me he didn't come down the hill at all at Chelt and not sure you'll get away with that in a Grade 1.

if you're outpaced going down the hill, which a few are, it don;t matter if you're good enough to catch them up the hill and go past them. Which on the blind side did quite easily.
Ask Brave Inca, Inglis Drever and Big Bucks (to a lesser extent). That;s just famous hurdlers.
Chasers = see Synchronised, Bob's Worth, Lord Windermere etc
some of the most successful cheltenham horses got outpaced down the hill

[squiggsy68]

Absolutely agree, I'm not saying it's impossible and you take it into account.

Just that in this instance, on what I've seen to date, OTBS isn't for me in a Grade 1 at Cheltenham - beating Poetic Rhythm under 3 lengths when getting 5lbs doesn't suggest there's a huge amount in hand to play with in what will undoubtedly be a better class race.

Just my opinion of course (and going off topic in the bumper thread really - sorry) - I could easily be wrong come the day.

[kinloch brae]

Gifford appearing to wave something of a white flag before they start. I always felt he had the horse with most speed but always a possibility he could get outstayed up the hill. Soft ground will increase the likelihood of that happening.

Hard to be confident about him now so have added Seddon at big odds. He got a very favourable mention from Adrian Heskin at the Unibet preview. Hopefully, one of the few things worth listening to. It is obviously a million miles from an impressive win in a Musselburgh bumper but clearly they think a bit of him and Cue Card went via what was probably a pretty ordinary Fontwell bumper.

[Bayoffreedom]

Gifford appearing to wave something of a white flag before they start. I always felt he had the horse with most speed but always a possibility he could get outstayed up the hill. Soft ground will increase the likelihood of that happening.

Hard to be confident about him now so have added Seddon at big odds. He got a very favourable mention from Adrian Heskin at the Unibet preview. Hopefully, one of the few things worth listening to. It is obviously a million miles from an impressive win in a Musselburgh bumper but clearly they think a bit of him and Cue Card went via what was probably a pretty ordinary Fontwell bumper.

I think this is typical Gifford; he said something similar about Theo's Charm not running if it wasn't soft ground in 2015 and then he goes out to finish 7th on good ground at 100/1 and ran his best ever Bumper race. What is more likely is that he really thinks Didtheyleaveuoutto can win this and is a little disappointed that there is a chance of soft ground or worse. It's pre-Cheltenham nerves and if it's anywhere near good to soft or better on Wednesday, he will be my biggest bet of the week.

[Kevloaf]

I think this is typical Gifford; he said something similar about Theo's Charm not running if it wasn't soft ground in 2015 and then he goes out to finish 7th on good ground at 100/1 and ran his best ever Bumper race. What is more likely is that he really thinks Didtheyleaveuoutto can win this and is a little disappointed that there is a chance of soft ground or worse. It's pre-Cheltenham nerves and if it's anywhere near good to soft or better on Wednesday, he will be my biggest bet of the week.

Biggest bet on the week in the BUMPER.

Peas and carrots