2022 Ballymore Novices Hurdle

[Benjy23]

Not particularly impressive for the Ballymore but don't think it'll lean them towards AB either!

[Imperial Commander]

Surely a staying performance!

[opatcho]

Rubbish race
JVM did what he had to do. Imagine ballymore bound now
O'Toole looks well under cooked

[Odin]

Happy to have him covered for Ballymore, but he doesn't win it with a performance like that.

[Atlantic Viking]

Thought that was decent enough given the early part of the race was at a snails pace, wasn't run to suit JWM at all.

[opatcho]

Champion hurdle, National bound

[The Fellow]

doesn't scream Ballymore winner , think about Ginto and Sir G or DD being in the field , jeez your not thinking your the winner surely

[darlojim]

He won't see which way Sir Gerhard/DD goes on that showing imo.

[Zachx02]

Dysart Dynamo eats him alive if he runs to form like that in the ballymore

[Brooksie]

Snails pace for the first 4 furlongs, still quick enough. 2 mile 5 will be fine for him, Rachel should just let him go hard from the front.

[opatcho]

Thought that was decent enough given the early part of the race was at a snails pace, wasn't run to suit JWM at all.

Yeah. agree
Shockingly slow pace... thats what you get for running in a race like this
I prefer to see horses having a decent race going into the festival. JVM previous race was more than decent. This one... rubbish

[Quevega]

They went so slow early on it's hard to be too confident/sure, as a faster pace may stretch him out better.
But he's a big dopey chaser to my eye and is up against it for a ballymore.
I'll be reducing my stakes at some point I reckon.

[nortonscoin200]

I think we can rule out the Arc next October.

But why on earth didn't Rachel take it up earlier?

Will connections have learned anything from this race?

1. That he's not a speed horse - he's a grinder, if they didn't know already.

2. That he's possibly not as good as everyone thought last season - although the jury should still be out on that score because because they aren't running him over far enough.

But I'm sure they can spin today's performance to convince themselves to stick with the Ballymore where I'd be surprised if he makes the frame, let alone win.

Moving swiftly on....

[Silverbirch]

Henry is deluded if he thinks JWM can win a ballymore.
Hes got zero turn of foot. He's a galloper, his strengths are travelling. The only positives are the Ballymore, at this point, doesn't look strong (this will change).

[jrjr]

Not really sure what that told us. I guess he won but wouldn't be backing him to win the Ballymore based on that. Still fancy he'd go v close in the Bartlett though. Not sure what Henry is seeing that makes him think the Ballymore is a better option.