2022 Ballymore Novices Hurdle

[kinloch brae]

Sir Gerhard is still shortening with the bookmakers. Surely we can't blame Journey With Me again?

[ZappBrannigan]

Evening All, new poster to the forum so nice to meet you all.

Been going to Cheltenham since 2002 - but this year is really wrecking my head. Simple message to trainers and owners - we are close to 2 weeks out - can we cut the guff and simply tell us which race your horse in going in? Tonight Sir G is the Fav for supreme and ballymore, the entire betting market is a joke for weeks now.

I know this is a perennial problem but this year is worse than ever.

Honestly the rules re entries need to be addressed - we might as well give up on antepost betting for races like this

That being said I have long fancied Ginto in this , mainly because I was at Navan for his wins and think he is a machine

[kinloch brae]

Evening All, new poster to the forum so nice to meet you all.

Been going to Cheltenham since 2002 - but this year is really wrecking my head. Simple message to trainers and owners - we are close to 2 weeks out - can we cut the guff and simply tell us which race your horse in going in? Tonight Sir G is the Fav for supreme and ballymore, the entire betting market is a joke for weeks now.

I know this is a perennial problem but this year is worse than ever.

Honestly the rules re entries need to be addressed - we might as well give up on antepost betting for races like this

That being said I have long fancied Ginto in this , mainly because I was at Navan for his wins and think he is a machine

Welcome.

The Supreme almost has three joint favourites, but Sir Gerhard is clear favourite for the Ballymore. I fear your plea will fall on deaf ears. The big problem being that the only criticism they get is on forums like this, and sadly it doesn't count for much more than letting off a bit of steam.

I did notice Journey For Me is now slightly longer on the exchanges for the Ballymore than the Albert Bartlett. Can't see anything but Ballymore as De Bromhead has spent the season avoiding finding out whether the horse wanted a longer trip.

[ZappBrannigan]

Welcome.

The Supreme almost has three joint favourites, but Sir Gerhard is clear favourite for the Ballymore. I fear your plea will fall on deaf ears. The big problem being that the only criticism they get is on forums like this, and sadly it doesn't count for much more than letting off a bit of steam.

I did notice Journey For Me is now slightly longer on the exchanges for the Ballymore than the Albert Bartlett. Can't see anything but Ballymore as De Bromhead has spent the season avoiding finding out whether the horse wanted a longer trip.

You are correct in all of that ! Sorry, had to get that comment off my chest

Not sure if Journey For Me has beaten that much to be honest. Ginto looked more impressive and combined with the decline in form in De Bromhead stable in recent months I would think Ginto is the value

[kinloch brae]

You are correct in all of that ! Sorry, had to get that comment off my chest

Not sure if Journey For Me has beaten that much to be honest. Ginto looked more impressive and combined with the decline in form in De Bromhead stable in recent months I would think Ginto is the value

I would agree about Journey With Me's form. It's always been about potential. That said you know he isn't another Bob Olinger. The same gears are not there, and likely never will be. Yes, at first glance the Leopardstown race looked reasonable, but the second is a bit of a plodder who might always run out of track, the third didn't stay, and the fourth has been trounced since. They then avoided what looked two perfectly reasonable Graded races over 2m6f and 3m, instead choosing to send out their 'second division' horses to those races. I would say the Naas form is around 20lbs off winning a Ballymore. So does he find that 20lbs improvement by stepping up a furlong, on a quicker track, and on likely much quicker ground? I doubt it very much. The mere fact that Minella Crooner is favourite for the Albert Bartlett, despite being comfortably brushed aside by Journey With Me, should have given them a steer, but clearly it hasn't. He beat Minella Crooner despite looking awkward and jumping poorly. He should be around 3/1 for an Albert Bartlett and double figures for a Ballymore. Everything points to the idea that he was never going Albert Bartlett at any stage. Someone may have had a tickle for the Ballymore, and it might be as simple as that. We will never know. The owner is virtually anonymous.

[Stormez]

I would agree about Journey With Me's form. It's always been about potential. That said you know he isn't another Bob Olinger. The same gears are not there, and likely never will be. Yes, at first glance the Leopardstown race looked reasonable, but the second is a bit of a plodder who might always run out of track, the third didn't stay, and the fourth has been trounced since. They then avoided what looked two perfectly reasonable Graded races over 2m6f and 3m, instead choosing to send out their 'second division' horses to those races. I would say the Naas form is around 20lbs off winning a Ballymore. So does he find that 20lbs improvement by stepping up a furlong, on a quicker track, and on likely much quicker ground? I doubt it very much. The mere fact that Minella Crooner is favourite for the Albert Bartlett, despite being comfortably brushed aside by Journey With Me, should have given them a steer, but clearly it hasn't. He beat Minella Crooner despite looking awkward and jumping poorly. He should be around 3/1 for an Albert Bartlett and double figures for a Ballymore. Everything points to the idea that he was never going Albert Bartlett at any stage. Someone may have had a tickle for the Ballymore, and it might be as simple as that. We will never know. The owner is virtually anonymous.

The owner is pretty open & approachable on Twitter to be fair. He is a typical ‘leave it to the trainer’ type though.

[kinloch brae]

The owner is pretty open & approachable on Twitter to be fair. He is a typical ‘leave it to the trainer’ type though.

I have looked at Twitter, because there is nothing else, and all I see are posts congratulating his winners. It's like copy and paste stuff. Unless I am looking in the wrong place there is zero additional information, and he doesn't enter into any 'conversation'. Hence there are not many replies. I am not on Twitter, but I wonder if I would get a reply to the question as to why they have never entertained the Albert Bartlett route?

[Ray]

I have looked at Twitter, because there is nothing else, and all I see are posts congratulating his winners. It's like copy and paste stuff. Unless I am looking in the wrong place there is zero additional information, and he doesn't enter into any 'conversation'. Hence there are not many replies. I am not on Twitter, but I wonder if I would get a reply to the question as to why they have never entertained the Albert Bartlett route?

I found on twitter when i signed up to just follow all horse related content there was either alot of bum licking or alot of horrible people! So i deleted it and stayed on here!

[callhimgamblor]

Reading between the lines of Willie's latest interview I am more confident of DD coming here. The suggestion was that if Paul thinks he will settle then the Ballymore is the trip and that was certainly implied earlier in the same interview.

[ToniC]

You are correct in all of that ! Sorry, had to get that comment off my chest

Not sure if Journey For Me has beaten that much to be honest. Ginto looked more impressive and combined with the decline in form in De Bromhead stable in recent months I would think Ginto is the value

They’re back in flying form now!

[Lobos]

They’re back in flying form now!

Yep, smashing the winners in again. Bang on the right time.

[ZappBrannigan]

They’re back in flying form now!

In fairness that is true! Big turn around.

Still thinking Ginto is the best value if he actually runs in this

[KevMc]

Latest quotes on Ginto via RP (can’t see him not coming here) -

“Elliott also revealed no final decision had been made on whether Grade 1 winner Ginto would tackle the Ballymore or Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, with ground conditions set to play a part in the big-race call.

He said: "Everyone's saying he's a three-miler but I don't think he's a slow as they're suggesting. His maiden hurdle and two Graded wins have come over two and a half miles, and it wasn't ideal making the running last time."

[ZappBrannigan]

Latest quotes on Ginto via RP (can’t see him not coming here) -

“Elliott also revealed no final decision had been made on whether Grade 1 winner Ginto would tackle the Ballymore or Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, with ground conditions set to play a part in the big-race call.

He said: "Everyone's saying he's a three-miler but I don't think he's a slow as they're suggesting. His maiden hurdle and two Graded wins have come over two and a half miles, and it wasn't ideal making the running last time."

Interesting

Two weeks out, this type of "will he - won't he" stuff is starting to wreck my head. Connections just need to call it! Come on lads

Anyway, I'm sticking with Ginto , a tough horse, should make the frame as a minimum - this ground conditions comment is confusing ? Looking at his record in various conditions he seems consistent regardless, or am I missing something?

[Lobos]

So Soft and Ginto goes Ballymore and Good/Soft and he goes Albert. Is that how we see it??

Forecast suggests Good/Soft Festival