Mares Novice Hurdle 2021

[Energumene]

Firstly, welcome, but i've a feeling you know this site well already..

Royal Kahala isn't even certain to go here anyway, but from what i've seen so far, Gauloise would need to improve a fair bit.

that goes to show we shouldnt trust our feelings too much as they could misguide us

appreciate the welcome though

[Lobos]

She wouldnt lay a glove on Gauloise at 2 miles imo, different species, she didnt fit the profile for the race and I was never considering her for it, I just dont think shes in the same class in any aspect of the 2 mile game, jumping, tactical speed, acceleration, Gauloise is better in every department, at 2m4+ on heavy ground thats a different ball game but ultimately im not convinced that Shewaersitwell is top class, im actually pretty confident she isnt after seeing her driven for dear life to pass Bonarc 2 out at Sligo.

Royal Kahala will no doubt be 2nd favourite, at 2m2 on heavy she maybe has a chance of getting a brief metnion from Gerry Hannon, but Gauloise will leave her standing still and she has no chance of winning at Cheltenham. The 2m4 fairyhouse race looks the target for her.

Elegantly put.

[Can't Catch Me]

Elegant Energumene would have worked well.

[Energumene]

Ive uploaded her last run from a specific point to show something that I liked about her, the rest of the race is included for those who just want to enjoy the show.

Going into that hurdle she was a length behind Place Des Vosges who made a slight mistake, at the other side she was a half length up and holding a position like it was nothing, 2nd run over hurdles, 2 miles and the tempo just increasing, thats a Cheltenham horse. It looks inconsequential because Place Des Vosges still has plenty left and is back up on her outside, but I dont think thats normal what she did there, I think that was the mark of a class animal, like when I saw the way Treve went through that gap in the Diane, you just dont see it every day.

[nortonscoin200]

I am surprised that people dont think there is a standout for this. There has been 5 runnings of the race, Mullins has won all 5, all with French recruits, 4 of them 5yo, the exception being Concertista who finished 2nd as 5yo and won as a 6yo, beating a Mullins French 5yo into 2nd. There surely cant be a bigger trend at the whole festival, you want a Mullins trained 5yo French import, and Gauloise is my bet of the meeting. Dont want to aftertime prices in my first post but shes one of a couple who would easily make the meeting for me.

I think she screams quality, in her 2 runs Townend has been having to hold on to her, with her tactical speed and slick jumping you can go where you want on her, and I think she even surprised him with her turn of foot, probably went too soon on her the last day and she showed plenty of samina at the end. She has everything and I dont think shes the typical mares hurdle type, shes a real 2 miler and shes my Champion Hurdle horse for next season. I think some will be surprised how good she really is when they see her on decent ground at 2 miles in mares novice, and when shes the finished article next season it will take something special to give her 7 pounds.

At the current 5/1 I think she is still the best bet available and ill be backing her for the final time before the Solerina.

Wishing you a warm welcome Energumene.

I like Gauloise a lot too and it will be fascinating to see if she becomes a Champion Hurdle contender next season.

My one concern after her latest run is the possibility that she could get outstayed by something in the MNH if it comes up soft at the Festival this year.

I don't think she wanted any further at Thurles.

But, as you say, she is such a slick hurdler and has terrific tactical speed so Paul will hopefully be able to hold onto her until fairly late in the race.

Just hope she doesn't find herself in front by default.

Good to soft would also help.

Agree 5-1 is better value than most of the current favourites but it doesn't exactly scream "put the shirt on" in my book.

[Energumene]

Wishing you a warm welcome Energumene.

I like Gauloise a lot too and it will be fascinating to see if she becomes a Champion Hurdle contender next season.

My one concern after her latest run is the possibility that she could get outstayed by something in the MNH if it comes up soft at the Festival this year.

I don't think she wanted any further at Thurles.

But, as you say, she is such a slick hurdler and has terrific tactical speed so Paul will hopefully be able to hold onto her until fairly late in the race.

Just hope she doesn't find herself in front by default.

Good to soft would also help.

Agree 5-1 is better value than most of the current favourites but it doesn't exactly scream "put the shirt on" in my book.

Thanks. I agree that the minimum trip is ideal for her and the more of a speed test it is the better so a real heavy ground slog wouldnt be in her favour, but I do think her speed is a massive asset and hopefully its just decent good to soft ground. The time of her Thurles win is right in the range of the mares novice hurdle times so as long as its not extreme ground I dont have any concern about stamina, the main concern would be class which is what decides most top level races. When you are making claims about unproven horses and their potential, there are always doubts and concerns, and maybe shes not as good as I think she is. For years my main focus on the game has been studying 2yo maidens, looking for good horses who are not yet established, building a shortlist and following their development at 3 and beyond, for every Golden Horn and Taghrooda there are many who go the wrong way, dont develop or just werent as good as you hoped, but you definitely get better at filtering with every iteration. At the start you might get put away by Ralph Becketts backend impressive 2yos, takes a couple of years to find out they rarely deliver on the promise at 3.

[Middle_Of_March]

Firstly, welcome, but i've a feeling you know this site well already..

We share the same suspicions here bud.

I would quite like to ask about the graphs.. and another old elegant poster from here from last season. Although the latter is still about anyway..

[Energumene]

I guessed with the strange sign up process for this forum that there might be some interesting history.

I dont know who you think I am and I dont want to get caught in a trap that I cant walk out of, but ive never been on here before, hopefully that will be clear in due course. If you cant see what youre doing to me with these thinly veiled accusations, if you dont believe a word I say maybe we cant go on together.

[FinalFurlong91]

Feel like I'm the only person that wasn't that impressed by gauloise

Feel like from what she's achieved on the track shes an awful price at 5/1

If she wasn't a mullins horse she'd be double or triple the price she is

[FinalFurlong91]

Just watched the race again

mighty blue has jumped very poorly and pulled like a train all the way round and still got within 2 or 3 lengths

not sure how strong that form is at all

[Kevloaf]

I guessed with the strange sign up process for this forum that there might be some interesting history.

I dont know who you think I am and I dont want to get caught in a trap that I cant walk out of, but ive never been on here before, hopefully that will be clear in due course. If you cant see what youre doing to me with these thinly veiled accusations, if you dont believe a word I say maybe we cant go on together.

The sign up process is because we used to get 'bots' that would post about passports and spam the site with them and it was tedious deleting them.

I don't think that's strange personally, doesn't seem to stop people signing up.

[Energumene]

Feel like I'm the only person that wasn't that impressed by gauloise

Feel like from what she's achieved on the track shes an awful price at 5/1

If she wasn't a mullins horse she'd be double or triple the price she is

Ive got double the price but must be christmas come early for you, have you laid much at 5/1?

[Energumene]

The sign up process is because we used to get 'bots' that would post about passports and spam the site with them and it was tedious deleting them.

I don't think that's strange personally, doesn't seem to stop people signing up.

Strange maybe the wrong word kev, just never seen it before. Captcha is normally used to stop bot sign ups, that catches the 99% of them not using paid solver services.

[FinalFurlong91]

Ive got double the price but must be christmas come early for you, have you laid much at 5/1?

I apologise i wasnt aware I needed to lay a horse to give a negative opinion on it

Noted

[Kevloaf]

Strange maybe the wrong word kev, just never seen it before. Captcha is normally used to stop bot sign ups, that catches the 99% of them not using paid solver services.

These Russian bots we had got through reCaptcha... Might have been because out back end system was so old, which it's not anymore... maybe not.

I'm used to it now anyway, I like people to have to put a bit of effort in to joining the community here, I don't think it's a lot to ask really.