2022 Championship Division

[Quevega]

My own opinion of last seasons QMCC renewal was that it was average.

I do feel PTKO is primed for the festival and absolutely loves the track (clearly as she is 4 from 4 at the course and 2 from 2 at the festival), and in Chacun Pour Soi you have a horse who had coasted through the season, beating barely anything (based on form of the majority of those since), and not having to get into a battle, to suddenly have to fight in a stiff finish, and for me, that didn't suit him at all. For me, the two times he's actually come across horses from different stables where he's actually had to knuckle down he has folded.

As Quevega has said, the track might not be the issue, he won at Leopardstown, however the races at Leopardstown he's been able to win with the minimum of fuss because of the opposition, IMO. Worth remembering he has also lost at Leopardstown, albeit off the back of a fair break, to A Plus Tard when needing to battle.

Whatever the case, both PTKO & CPS have a whole lot more on their cases this time around anyway!

He’s demolished some good horse in the grade 1s he’s won. A lot of poetry is required to diminish that form

[Odin]

I didn’t have a fancy Schloer ticket on PTKO.
I didn’t have a single on her on the day.
I thought she had no chance.
I think she has no chance this year.

So ner ner, ner ner, ner

I thought this was what internet forums were all about... did I read the wrong brochure before I signed up?!

[ComplyOrDie]

He’s demolished some good horse in the grade 1s he’s won. A lot of poetry is required to diminish that form

Notebook - Average
Annamix - Handicapper at best
Fakir D'Oudairies - Needed to step up in trip to be seen to best effect
Tornado Flyer - Didn't win all season. Some OK efforts, but just not good enough at that level
Allaho - Needs further than the minimum, as clearly campaigned and shown previously
Put The Kettle On - Very clearly at her best at Cheltenham, can take everything else with a pinch of salt, IMO
Nube Negra - Not sure what happened at Punchestown??

Tell me which of them horses, with the exception of PTKO, are open Grade 1 level over 2m?

IMO, he's lucky Energumene is with the same trainer, otherwise I imagine he'd be facing off against him throughout the season before we get to the festival. I think Energumene will prove to be better than CPS though.

[Quevega]

Notebook - Average
Annamix - Handicapper at best
Fakir D'Oudairies - Needed to step up in trip to be seen to best effect
Tornado Flyer - Didn't win all season. Some OK efforts, but just not good enough at that level
Allaho - Needs further than the minimum, as clearly campaigned and shown previously
Put The Kettle On - Very clearly at her best at Cheltenham, can take everything else with a pinch of salt, IMO
Nube Negra - Not sure what happened at Punchestown??

Tell me which of them horses, with the exception of PTKO, are open Grade 1 level over 2m?

IMO, he's lucky Energumene is with the same trainer, otherwise I imagine he'd be facing off against him throughout the season before we get to the festival. I think Energumene will prove to be better than CPS though.

Nice poem
you forgot the line including Min

[ComplyOrDie]

Nice poem
you forgot the line including Min

Got pulled up against him due to a bad mistake, then got PU in the Ryanair. Really inspiring.

Too old anyway, I said this all last season, but as the reigning champ he was defended against my opinion.

I was team Min against Altior, when they were younger, so I know plenty about being wrong about the horse too

[Quevega]

Got pulled up against him due to a bad mistake, then got PU in the Ryanair. Really inspiring.

Too old anyway, I said this all last season, but as the reigning champ he was defended against my opinion.

I was team Min against Altior, when they were younger, so I know plenty about being wrong about the horse too

He’s raced min twice

[Quevega]

The there’s defi also
who had some good form at one point

[Quevega]

And obviously
agree with it or not
Chacun is the highest rated national hunt horse in training ATM

[ComplyOrDie]

He’s raced min twice

Yeah, and the year he beat him Min was upped in trip for the festival and beyond, that season. I'm pretty sure if you go back through posts that season you'll see plenty about Min being up in trip prior to him having to race back over 2m against CPS , on here. But beating a stablemate and under the same ownership is hardly new though is it. Nearly as obvious as them cocktails the horses are given

Going back to your original post though, you are correct, beyond all this, I didn't believe PTKO would beat CPS, but this was based on their one run against each other and nothing else. Now though, based on Cheltenham form as well, at the prices, I'd rather back PTKO.

I still think it is mostly irrelevant, as Energumene and Shishkin have come to play as well.

[ComplyOrDie]

The there’s defi also
who had some good form at one point

Defi

Not sure how many times I've posted about him having it easy over 2m over here, and him beating a 12 year old Un De Sceaux doesn't make him good.

Defi needs an intermediate trip to be seen at his best, IMO, and finally the penny has dropped for Hobbs who is debating going that way this coming season. Just need him priced up for the Ryanair now!

[Quevega]

Yeah, and the year he beat him Min was upped in trip for the festival and beyond, that season. I'm pretty sure if you go back through posts that season you'll see plenty about Min being up in trip prior to him having to race back over 2m against CPS , on here. But beating a stablemate and under the same ownership is hardly new though is it. Nearly as obvious as them cocktails the horses are given

Going back to your original post though, you are correct, beyond all this, I didn't believe PTKO would beat CPS, but this was based on their one run against each other and nothing else. Now though, based on Cheltenham form as well, at the prices, I'd rather back PTKO.

I still think it is mostly irrelevant, as Energumene and Shishkin have come to play as well.

Yep, I'll be backing neither of them for the champion any time soon.

Think the downplaying of the form has gone a bit too far though COD. FFS.
You sound like a fucking politician, and a bad one at that.

[ComplyOrDie]

Yep, I'll be backing neither of them for the champion any time soon.

Think the downplaying of the form has gone a bit too far though COD. FFS.
You sound like a fucking politician, and a bad one at that.

Clearly we have differing opinions of form. Happy to leave it at that!

[Quevega]

Clearly we have differing opinions of form. Happy to leave it at that!

Let's let the UK & Irish handicapper decide then

It's one thing to not be a religious follower of ratings, but you're making him sound like an average handicapper and not a 6 time grade one winner.
On form he has to be the highest rated chaser ATM.
So you're right, I'm not sure we do interpret the form the same.

[ComplyOrDie]

Let's let the UK & Irish handicapper decide then

It's one thing to not be a religious follower of ratings, but you're making him sound like an average handicapper and not a 6 time grade one winner.
On form he has to be the highest rated chaser ATM.
So you're right, I'm not sure we do interpret the form the same.

At what point am I saying he's a handicapper? I'm saying he had it easy up until the festival, and I don't retract that. I also said I didn't expect PTKO to beat him at Cheltenham based on their one meeting we had as actual evidence prior to the QMCC. My opinion remains the same on him about his festival run. He couldn't knuckle down at a stiff track when things got tough.

I've actually just realised he'll be 10 come this years festival. Wonder if they might try him out in trip at some point throughout the season with a view to Aintree, same sort of route as Min went.

[Quevega]

At what point am I saying he's a handicapper? I'm saying he had it easy up until the festival, and I don't retract that. I also said I didn't expect PTKO to beat him at Cheltenham based on their one meeting we had as actual evidence prior to the QMCC. My opinion remains the same on him about his festival run. He couldn't knuckle down at a stiff track when things got tough.

I've actually just realised he'll be 10 come this years festival. Wonder if they might try him out in trip at some point throughout the season with a view to Aintree, same sort of route as Min went.

Surely it's more logical as a starting point to excuse him this one, based on his other performances being so dominant.
You seem to be saying this is him, and for a variety of reasons, all his other form amounts to not very much.
Which I find bizarre.

What you said is actually indisputable for his run that day and I agree 100%, but I would be inclined to forgive that run having looked at his overall form, and not poke holes in all his other races.
You can go on forever like that.
Bit like what we're doing here
Let's just say for argument's sake that I win