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Ha serious for once. Probably did belong in the stupid questions thread just I can't recall seeing quotes etc... specifically naming him and this race. Which isn't to say there aren't any.
edit: And yes I know he names him for the Irish Arkle above... I meant more that he has very specifically named Blue Lord for this whereas Ferny was always spoke of simply in 'novice chasing' terms.
Little article in the post suggesting the owners are keen to run blue lord in the Irish arkle
Has to be the right decision that, they can either -
a) wait until Cheltenham to find out whether he’s got the beating of Ferny or not
b) find out beforehand, have a decent prep in the process regardless of outcome, and let whatever happens decide the target at Cheltenham. If they lose, may as well have another crack at Bob a year on and over the bigger obstacles.
Daryl Jacob's column on Sporting Life also pointing towards the Arkle for Blue Lord
"BLUE LORD looked class in the novice chase at Naas and it wouldn’t have played to his strengths having all the fences dolled off. He’s maturing, he’s settling down into his work and into his races.
He jumped beautifully, they went a good even gallop and his two rivals were quite well-regarded and he’s just blown them away.
You’d have to think he’ll be a Sporting Life Arkle contender. Along with Ferny Hollow, he’s probably the one to beat in that division"
Last edited by Our_Duke; 7 January 2022, 09:30 PM.
Reason: Typo
Darling Jacob's column on Sporting Life also pointing towards the Arkle for Blue Lord
"BLUE LORD looked class in the novice chase at Naas and it wouldn’t have played to his strengths having all the fences dolled off. He’s maturing, he’s settling down into his work and into his races.
He jumped beautifully, they went a good even gallop and his two rivals were quite well-regarded and he’s just blown them away.
You’d have to think he’ll be a Sporting Life Arkle contender. Along with Ferny Hollow, he’s probably the one to beat in that division"
Got this horrible feeling Ferny could end up going to the Marsh after all...
Have a listen to the interview with Willie after Blue Lords Latest victory. He was very, very impressed with him and there's no doubt he's going Arkle.
Have a listen to the interview with Willie after Blue Lords Latest victory. He was very, very impressed with him and there's no doubt he's going Arkle.
IMO you're missing the point. Ferny is the rightful favourite based on what he's achieved so far, but Blue Lord has just run to an RPR of 160, jumped effortlessly, settled much better and looked, as Willie said, like an Arkle horse. The fact Willie holds BL in high regard actually does more to indicate they'll be separated than race against one another. People like to brush over this and say 'the owners will tell him what do do' or 'he has no choice' or 'Willie says he's an Arkle horse so he must go there as well', but these points rarely stand up to scrutiny or the test of time. We know Willie goes to great lengths to separate his best horses, thats just how he operates.
I'm guessing the season will play out as follows. Willie enters Ferny and Blue Lord in the G1 Novice Chase at the DRF. I'd love to see them clash, it would answer so many questions, but its highly unlikely. Ferny will take up that engagement and Blue Lord will run in a less competitive race elsewhere. Both will win and both will receive Arkle entries, with Willie keeping a close eye on the shape of the Turners market. If Ferny gets injured, or loses over Xmas, or is unwell, etc, then I have no doubt Blue Lord slots in as Willies number one Arkle horse. If Ferny impresses at the DRF then he will go Arkle, and providing Bob Olinger doesn't look GDC'esque in his brilliance, then Willie will easily be able to sell a more settled and less experienced Blue Lord going up in trip to Mr Bromley, and he'll end up in the Marsh. Long way to go, and I could be spectacularly wrong. Both in at double figure prices for this so let it roll!!!
I hope you guys are right - I'm heavily invested in ferny for the arkle - and I guess the other thing to note is that for all blue lord has been impressive, he's yet to race in a graded chase, let alone win one so surely he can't go to the arkle OVER ferny if he doesn't run in the DRF grade 1 (unless ferny is beaten there)
Just a very uneasy feeling I've got, but I guess that's antepost betting...
Betfair exchange never seemed particularly keen on Blue Lord running in the Turner's. If you expect him to end up there there's probably a few prices worth mopping up...
Jacob getting involved also suggests he's keen to take the ride, which again makes me think Arkle.
If they were to meet before then I'd agree that it BL doesn't win he wouldn't be going to the Arkle.
Betfair exchange never seemed particularly keen on Blue Lord running in the Turner's. If you expect him to end up there there's probably a few prices worth mopping up...
Jacob getting involved also suggests he's keen to take the ride, which again makes me think Arkle.
If they were to meet before then I'd agree that it BL doesn't win he wouldn't be going to the Arkle.
Not sure it’s a good idea for both to run in Ireland a month or so before Cheltenham. I suspect both would have a hard race as it looks to me difficult to separate them in terms on who would win.
Other connections would love it, but I suspect WM wouldn’t.
One in the DRF and both in Cheltenham.
Best for all I would think.
And us Cheltenham fans!!
I hope you guys are right - I'm heavily invested in ferny for the arkle - and I guess the other thing to note is that for all blue lord has been impressive, he's yet to race in a graded chase, let alone win one so surely he can't go to the arkle OVER ferny if he doesn't run in the DRF grade 1 (unless ferny is beaten there)
Just a very uneasy feeling I've got, but I guess that's antepost betting...
Yep that’s ante post betting , but……..
Just think about that feeling you could have if FH beats BL in the Arkle after all the build up and what goes with it!!
Reckon it would top any feeling you would have if FH wins easily without the only horse that could have beaten him, or possibly watching a virtual walkover.
Got to be what Cheltenham is all about ain’t it?
The best taking on the each other.
Not sure it’s a good idea for both to run in Ireland a month or so before Cheltenham. I suspect both would have a hard race as it looks to me difficult to separate them in terms on who would win.
Other connections would love it, but I suspect WM wouldn’t.
One in the DRF and one in Cheltenham.
Best for all I would think.
And us Cheltenham fans!!
Are you suggesting/hoping WPM will skip the Arkle with Ferny even if he wins the DRF?
Being a 2 x Grade 1 winner at 2m, you think he’ll not run at Cheltenham over 2m?
Unless he’s beaten at the DRF, a meeting WPM regularly uses prior to Cheltenham for his whole army, I’d be amazed if Ferny went anywhere but the Arkle. He’ll go there strong fav. I don’t see anything troubling him should he run at the DRF unless Blue Lord shows up.
Blue Lord needs to run at the DRF imo. He’s beat nothing of note yet (well worthy of 2m), albeit very easily. I’d be worried for Blue Lord going to the Arkle with not having been tested. If he skips the DRF not sure where he could get a prep.
Both ran off the back of a 3 week break on debut, so there is no issue with running at the DRF with 5 weeks to Cheltenham after that. They will also have had a 6 and 5 week break from their Xmas/New Year exertions.
Are you suggesting/hoping WPM will skip the Arkle with Ferny even if he wins the DRF?
Being a 2 x Grade 1 winner at 2m, you think he’ll not run at Cheltenham over 2m?
Unless he’s beaten at the DRF, a meeting WPM regularly uses prior to Cheltenham for his whole army, I’d be amazed if Ferny went anywhere but the Arkle. He’ll go there strong fav. I don’t see anything troubling him should he run at the DRF unless Blue Lord shows up.
Blue Lord needs to run at the DRF imo. He’s beat nothing of note yet (well worthy of 2m), albeit very easily. I’d be worried for Blue Lord going to the Arkle with not having been tested. If he skips the DRF not sure where he could get a prep.
Both ran off the back of a 3 week break on debut, so there is no issue with running at the DRF with 5 weeks to Cheltenham after that. They will also have had a 6 and 5 week break from their Xmas/New Year exertions.
I have edited my post, as put one in Cheltenham instead of both!! Too early in the morning!!
Be far more to WM liking to not have both in Ireland imo
The way BL jumps I would have no issue with him going to Cheltenham without having met FH etc.
Aye, I don't think they'll meet before. It'd just be the easiest reason to split them at Cheltenham.
They're my only two winners in this race so I'd ideally like both to turn up here. But BL actually bigger feature in my remaining accas, so he'd get my week off to a flyer. Be very disappointing for me if he's not there.
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