Originally posted by Lobos
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Willie wanting to see him over 3m on heavy ground does scream dour stayer as a statement, so I agree Lobos, the 4 miler has to come into play – but I’m not sure how much I believe the ground dependent chat. Willie specifically said post Naas on yielding/soft pre-Ballymore: “I’m not making him ground dependent at the moment anyway.” I don’t see what's changed?
My hope is he will end up being too classy for the NHC. How many 230 grand purchases that race that well in the Ballymore end up in the 4 miler? (I know Rathvinden trod that path, but he had a completely different profile). Would Donnelly want that? Would WPM want that? He said pre-Ballymore ‘to look at him you’d think it’s all about going chasing with him next year’ – is he really taking on Envoi Allen (which says a lot in itself) and buzzing about chasing for next year with a view to the 4-miler? Patrick might be, but I doubt Willie was.
What I’m seeing and hearing doesn’t compute for the 4-miler either.
I thought The Big Getaway was brilliant in the Ballymore - and actually showed quite a bit of pace. It was a slowly run race visually, and on the clock. When the pace picked up coming down the hill barring Envoi Allen, he’s galloped them all out of their comfort zone, one by one. A slow dour stayer that needs heavy ground doesn’t reach that point of a slowly run race and stretch out a field without having a bit of pace about him. Paul jumps 2 out and is looking up at the big screen thinking ‘where is he’
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The first thing bookies fav Ruby was keen to emphasise when asked about The Big Getaway this season was:
‘He’s another for the staying novice chase division, but he probably has a bit more speed than Monkfish. He’s got a huge cruising speed and fences are going to suit him’.
I started writing this thinking it really could be either race, but when I watch the Ballymore back, look at his profile, factor in everything that’s been said by a multitude of people connected to the horse, it leaves me thinking the plan will be the RSA, and the horse will do the talking from there
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I hope I’m right. I will be beyond fu*king raging if Willie pulls another Black Hercules out the bag and sends him down the Marsh route
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