2022 Stayers Hurdle

[Istabraq]

For my own sanity I checked the race history to make sure I hadn’t got it confused but today's race has been one of the premium trials for many years, the likes of Big Bucks, Cole Harden, Thistlecrack, Paisley Park as well as several places Stayers horses have used this race on their way to the Stayers.
And in todays world of Irish domination the Stayers is one race where the UK has been competitive, right now they have Flooring Porter and Klassical Dream, one needs to bounce back and the other needs to stay fit, of course if they both line up come March they will be have serious chances but there are a few UK horses who are in the mis at the very least.
It seems every year this race looks a poor relation championship race, there's enough talent out there but so many have questions to answer…

[Spectre]

I've posted this on the Stayers podcast thread given my comments on the pod, but it should really be discussed here if anyone thinks it has any merit:

An comment overnight from Willie prior to the Hattons Grace has prompted me to add Saldier to my book before Sunday's race.

'He’s looked like he’s needed a trip as he gets older so we’re running over further this year.'

As I said in an earlier post I'm prepared to ignore Punchestown as he was never right all season, and I prefer to judge him on what he's done before last season and since.

20/1 is a shade tighter than I'd like but he won't get any shorter, and it's with cash out.

I'm adding him to the other three now because I think he will be somewhere close on Sunday, so the bookies will take the opportunity to trim him given Willie has now said he goes up in trip.

[Spectre]

For my own sanity I checked the race history to make sure I hadn’t got it confused but today's race has been one of the premium trials for many years, the likes of Big Bucks, Cole Harden, Thistlecrack, Paisley Park as well as several places Stayers horses have used this race on their way to the Stayers.
And in todays world of Irish domination the Stayers is one race where the UK has been competitive, right now they have Flooring Porter and Klassical Dream, one needs to bounce back and the other needs to stay fit, of course if they both line up come March they will be have serious chances but there are a few UK horses who are in the mis at the very least.
It seems every year this race looks a poor relation championship race, there's enough talent out there but so many have questions to answer…

Cole Harden didn't, but certainly the others all won it. The problem is for every Big Bucks there's a Beer Goggles, and for every Thistlecrack there's a Medinas, an dit felt a bit like that, so I can see where FF and others are coming from.

However a rejuvenated Thomas Darby is not to be sniffed at. 2nd in Klassical Dream's Supreme tells you how much ability he has. He's got a bit lost since his failed chasing camaign, and it's pretty much taken until yesterday for him to come good. Plenty of top horses have placed in Supremes, and sometimes a horse like Thomas Darby just needs time and age to develop his stamina.

Do I think he's the winner of the Stayers Hurdle. No. Will I back him at his revised quote of 16/1. No. But then again I took the same position against Flooring Porter all last season, and it was only because I take a book approach that I was forced to back him. And thank god I did, otherwise the race would have been a disaster for me.

Essentially I'll be watching him very closely to see what he does if he comes up against the likes of Buzz or Thyme Hill next time. I certainly won't be writing yesterday's race off until I have evidence that ties him to other possible winners of the race, which yesterdays opponents weren't. FWIW though my instincts are that he's run pretty much the same race he ran at Aintree in April but done it against inferior or regressing opponents.

On that note, as I suspected I think we can put Mrs Milner to bed as not good enough. Based on last years Pertemps/Stayers comparison she had too much improvement to make and so it proved. I do believe she has gone forward, and can perhaps improve again. But I'm confident it's too big a gap to bridge, and I'm happy to write her off.

[Istabraq]

Spectre I don't disagree with any of that, writing off the form is fraught with danger, on paper it had the look of a decent G2, it's clear one or two are regressing but it would be very dangerous I think to say that everything underperformed and the winner can be dismissed.
He's a fairly unexposed stayer, and given the mad decision to send him to the Coral Cup we can't be sure his trainer will get him the right prep but he shouldn't be totally dismissed. I agree at 12/1 he doesn't appeal but it's a division full of horses who have questions to answer, in fact it's been that sort of race since the days of Big Bucks.
Time will tell...

[callhimgamblor]

Hell of a race in fairyhouse tomorrow. My little Abracadabras shaped candle is still flicking lightly....

[Spectre]

I think with Aba, Saldier, and Latest Exhibition, all connections will be happy being within 5-10 lengths of Honeysuckle. Anything better is a bonus. That kind of distance gives plenty of hope for improvement up in trip, and pretty much provides assurances for us that they go that way.

[Saxon Warrior]

Patrick Mullins interviewed on Racing TV today.

asked about Klassical Dream's absence tomorrow.

"All fine with. He just wasn't working, the way you'd like him to be working.

We'd probably look to Christmas I'd imagine.

I sat on him there last week and he just wasn't the same Klassical Dream I sat on the week before Punchestown so Willie decided caution was the best option"

[Stormez]

Patrick Mullins interviewed on Racing TV today.

asked about Klassical Dream's absence tomorrow.

"All fine with. He just wasn't working, the way you'd like him to be working.

We'd probably look to Christmas I'd imagine.

I sat on him there last week and he just wasn't the same Klassical Dream I sat on the week before Punchestown so Willie decided caution was the best option"

Sounds like he’s trolling Nicky

[Carnage at Taunton]

Sounds like he’s trolling Nicky

I wonder if he will get the same reaction on here as Nicky did?

[Rooster Booster]

I wonder if he will get the same reaction on here as Nicky did?

Personally I find all the trainer slagging really tedious. I understand I may be in a minority and misery tends to love company but my personal preference would be to house all such comments in the general chat thread or have a thread of its own as it does have a tendency to distract various threads from their main purpose ...just a personal view as I say

[Odin]

Cash out any latest exhibition bets if you can, gone wrong sadly

[Joleg]

Cash out any latest exhibition bets if you can, gone wrong sadly

They're way too quick for me

[DenmanSacre]

Didn't really learn anything from Aba for this race as Davy didn't put him in it. Hopefully steps up to 3m at Xmas and gives him a chance.

[Irish Rugby]

That was Abacadabras pipe owner, going well towards the business end. Happy enough if you have this at good odds for the Stayers. There was zero interest in trying to beat Honeysuckle.

[Eggs]

…Abacadabras out to 33-1 for this with PP.