2022 Championship Division

[somer1]

Have only backed EA for the Ryanair as dont think hes a Gold Cup horse. But happy if time proves me wrong.

[Faugheen_Machine]

EA needs to get back to winning ways and it would be madness to pitch him in at grade 1 after his last two efforts.

He has it all to prove now and I can't consider him for any (more) Cheltenham bets until he shows something on the track.

[Kautostar]

Down royal seems a good starting point to me, get his confidence back in a winnable race before heading back to grade 1s. That 20/1 with pp is surely on the big side

[Craigy14]

Down royal seems a good starting point to me, get his confidence back in a winnable race before heading back to grade 1s. That 20/1 with pp is surely on the big side

Great news!

Agree with that Kauto, chucked a free bet on the Gold Cup and will likely add more. Not something to part with cash at this stage.

But a decent comeback win showing his usual self in that race and he’ll be cut all over the place!

[Lobos]

Down royal seems a good starting point to me, get his confidence back in a winnable race before heading back to grade 1s. That 20/1 with pp is surely on the big side

It's huge isn't it. If he had won his last race he'd currently be trading as a strong fav for the GC. Well worth a punt

[Kautostar]

It's huge isn't it. If he had won his last race he'd currently be trading as a strong fav for the GC. Well worth a punt

I think it’s 1 of the best prices still available. I get a few things have gone wrong for him lately but are we forgetting how good he was? 20/1 on what was touted all last season as the best horse in training could look absolutely huge come next March. If you haven’t had a speculative punt on this, even if it’s just a free bet, you’re doing ante post wrong imo!

[archie]

Down royal seems a good starting point to me, get his confidence back in a winnable race before heading back to grade 1s. That 20/1 with pp is surely on the big side

It would be a good starting point but he'll be in need of box rest post op so will be going out to grass quite late. I doubt that he will be back in early enough to be ready for Down Royal. Maybe Clonmel but, in my view, even that might be pushing it.

[Saxon Warrior]

It would be a good starting point but he'll be in need of box rest post op so will be going out to grass quite late. I doubt that he will be back in early enough to be ready for Down Royal. Maybe Clonmel but, in my view, even that might be pushing it.

archie Do you think he would get a prep run in prior to Christmas?

I was thinking that the Savills would be the race for him at Christmas, but it’s a more competitive race than most mid-season Grade 1’s, so I don’t think he would run in it without a seasonal debut before.

[PresentingPercy]

archie Do you think he would get a prep run in prior to Christmas?

I was thinking that the Savills would be the race for him at Christmas, but it’s a more competitive race than most mid-season Grade 1’s, so I don’t think he would run in it without a seasonal debut before.

Minella Indo had a bit of a low key intro to second season chasing last year, running in Wexford G3 at end of Oct and Navan G2 in Nov before the Saville's. Copy and paste of that prep might be something they look at IMO to ease him back in, assuming HDB is allowed call the shots. A 75% EA in Oct should hold his own at that Wexford race and those fences are more like big hurdles.

I think the King George would be a more suitable target and possibly easier race than the Saville's, but CP may send Allaho there instead.

[archie]

archie Do you think he would get a prep run in prior to Christmas?

I was thinking that the Savills would be the race for him at Christmas, but it’s a more competitive race than most mid-season Grade 1’s, so I don’t think he would run in it without a seasonal debut before.

Hard to say, SW. I was going on the timeline for Luck Of Clover who had a similar operation just after Cheltenham. She was projected to be back in training 'early summer'. Sadly, she picked up an infection after the operation and didn't survive but I was working on the basis of about 4 weeks box rest and 4 weeks walking exercise.

If you follow that sort of process for Envoi Allen, not needing the walking bit, he could be out to grass towards the end of June. You'd imagine he'd be out for at least 2 months (end August) and it would take 10 to 12 weeks work to get him ready to race. All very individual to the horse (and trainer) and I'd say it could be anytime from mid November to end December before he'll be ready to race. Maybe the Tramore Savills is an option followed by the Irish Gold Cup.

[Lobos]

The last of the 3/1 gone on Honeysuckle now as Hills clip her to 9/4

[Eggs]

...note some EA related RaBs with Sky;

Bob O: EA & Shishkin a/r 40-1
Appreciate It: Bob O & EA a/r 50-1
Bob O: EA & Honeysuckle a/r 50-1
Shiskin: EA: Bob O & Appreciate It a/r 80-1
AI: EA: Honeysuckle & Shiskin a/r 100-1

[Lobos]

Samcro
The Irish Field


“His summer plan will be the Galway Plate. We hope he has a healthier summer and hopefully his problems, scoping bad or his sinuses, will be helped,” said Eddie O'Leary

[Lobos]

Tiger

“He’s great, getting fat out in the field as is his wont,” said O’Leary.

“He’s in great form. We were disappointed, but not surprised, the handicapper didn’t reassess him downwards after Aintree.

“The plan is he’ll have to go back to the UK for a couple of more races at the back end, which is not his time of the year, and we’ll have the same carry on with the handicapper about his ridiculous rating.


“My point is we’ve been in racing for 20 years and never queried the rating of a horse. We’ve never complained over a handicap rating ever, except Tiger Roll.

“He won’t go for the National unless he’s given a chance. We don’t want to be forced into retiring him.”

[Atlantic Viking]

I wouldn't wish to claim I understand handicapping in all its glory, but what are they meant to do with a 2 times GN winner and multiple Cheltenham festival winner?