Day 4 - Gold Cup Day

[opatcho]

He has had a shocker

appears Mullins peaked at DRF and put a mark on their chances here

Worrying that the GB appeared to have no novice (excl Shishkin) or bumper horses coming through, so looks like another bashing next year

[OldPersian]

appears Mullins peaked at DRF and put a mark on their chances here

Worrying that the GB appeared to have no novice (excl Shishkin) or bumper horses coming through, so looks like another bashing next year

Yeah although having said that Mullins is only 1 behind De Bromhead for winning trainer.

[Kezz94]

I'm on my knees, Colreevy wins and Min is the only loser of my 5 fold, closest I've been to such a huge winner

[Hurricane fly]

Worrying that the GB appeared to have no novice (excl Shishkin) or bumper horses coming through, so looks like another bashing next year

Incredibly worrying, and questions need to be asked of the trainers not just from the owners but also of themselves. We are all praising the big money spent in Ireland etc. And it is warranted but we should not be pretending that owners who keep horses in the UK are scrimping and saving.

Jonson is the joint most expensive horse ever, despite how much I think it’s an expensive mistake he is going to Nicky. Interconnected wasn’t exactly free at the reported ?620k he cost, and Skelton has got him out once and finished 2nd.

Almost every yard will have multiple 6 figure priced horses as you can win a 1 runner PtP and sell for that much now. Perhaps this suggests that the owners need to reevaluate who is buying them their horses? Surely Tom Malone and Harold Kirk aren’t the only 2 men in the world who can spot a decent one?


If I were the BHA I would be scrapping a fair few races and I would be reevaluating how we dish out our prize money, it seems to be that everyone - and I literally mean everyone - is more than happy to pick up good prize money for 9 months of the year, and then leave the festivals to any and all raiders. I get the impression there is such nostalgia over handicap plots that Martin Pipe used to pull off that they are almost value over grade 1s. But guess what, Elliott is better than them all at doing it.

Aintree will be interesting, with no trainers championship battle anymore, the Irish could come over and clean up that festival aswell.

If you are JP McManus after seeing Champ pulled up are you not having a conversation with Nicky about why the hell he didn’t see a race course for 11 months? In no sport in the world is the the idea that training is a good substitute for competitive fixtures? Every sport has a preseason for a reason. You also don’t get better for pummelling nothing horses for race course gallops.

Skelton missing Cheltenham with My Drogo should probably be an alarm bell. The countries best novice missing the festival to go and pick up 20k for a jaunt round Kelso. Why are we allowing a grade 1 novice 2m 8 days before our sports showcase?

It should be a warning sign that the trainer we expect to pick up the slack once Nicky and Nicholls are gone is already describing it as “just 4 days”. Are we (UK Racing) so blind to see that what will attract money is winners at THE festival. Big money owners want big time results, they want grade 1s and to be the best of the best. Not winning some poxy Grade 3
handicap in September. If this isn’t already known and isn’t a sudden realisation this sort of humiliation will be a permanent occasion.

I could rant about this forever, but anybody backing an English horse antepost needs to give their head a shake unless we see a quick and drastic change.

[Old Vic]

I'm on my knees, Colreevy wins and Min is the only loser of my 5 fold, closest I've been to such a huge winner

No point in looking bsck. Just tweak what you do - you got close so doing something right. each way and all the multiples work for me but depends on what you back.

[opatcho]

You raised some interesting and good points Fly!!!!

i didn’t want to kick off a negative conversation straight after what has been an amazing festival, but it’s so concerning right now that GB are just total shite and will be for another 1-2 years at least

I’m sure this conversation will go on over the next few weeks, but jesus, the BHA need to stake a good look at what’s happening atm

I’m so jealous of what the Irish have atm! .... and I’m 100% committed to going to the DRF, which will replace my usual annual trip to Kempton on Boxing Day and maybe some of the earlier events at Cheltenham

[Nwfb89]

You raised some interesting and good points Fly!!!!

i didn’t want to kick off a negative conversation straight after what has been an amazing festival, but it’s so concerning right now that GB are just total shite and will be for another 1-2 years at least

I’m sure this conversation will go on over the next few weeks, but jesus, the BHA need to stake a good look at what’s happening atm

I’m so jealous of what the Irish have atm! .... and I’m 100% committed to going to the DRF, which will replace my usual annual trip to Kempton on Boxing Day and maybe some of the earlier events at Cheltenham

Dublin racing Festival is a great weekend opatcho I'd definitely recommend it I went last season and absolutely top class leopardstown racecourse is top notch imo