General Chat

[Ice]

Went on live chat and got mine back, same on Sky

Nice one mate, I'll give that a whirl.

[Kautostar]

Nice one mate, I'll give that a whirl.

Kicked off with paddy power about free bet refunds they refused to refund on them. After a while they gave me a one time offer for a lower amount than I had been voided. Had to accept it as they wouldn’t budge. Might depend on who you get to speak to.

[Kautostar]

Still no refunds from Unibet

[SeanRock]

With the Turners out of the picture surely Gidleigh Park is targeted at the BANC if he’s up to it, at 50/1 (PP) he is well worth a swing. Very much built & bred for a fence.

[Guinness Village]

News has just taken the wind out of my sails. I can understand the decision making process, I think, but it opens so more possibilities with novice hurdlers. Will we see a few more staying hurdling than going novice chasing? If Willie really targets another uk championship this season will his tactics change as well?
bugger knows. Guinness calls

[Guinness Village]

This season I’ve decided to go all iron man and go for 4 days. Accommodation booked. Pacing strategy needed

[YoungHustler]

The main reason I favour Ballyburn for the Arkle is because Willie doesn't have any other major standout for that race unless there's massive improvement from the likes of Tulleyhill and Mirazur West and Co. IEP could be the one but he has looked better over longer and the owners also have Mistergif and It's For Me.
Willie puts his horses where he has the best chance of winning so Ballyburn not going for the Arkle greatly reduces his chance of winning the Arkle whereas i don't think it is the same case for the BANC where he could run at least 10 horses(with not huge differences in ability imo).

[Lobos]

News has just taken the wind out of my sails. I can understand the decision making process, I think, but it opens so more possibilities with novice hurdlers. Will we see a few more staying hurdling than going novice chasing? If Willie really targets another uk championship this season will his tactics change as well?
bugger knows. Guinness calls

Still lots of races to go round and the strong possibility of more of Willies skipping Cheltenham altogether for nice pots elsewhere. I do agree though that very likely a few more will stay Hurdling and head to the Stayers and CH.

[Atlantic Viking]

The main reason I favour Ballyburn for the Arkle is because Willie doesn't have any other major standout for that race unless there's massive improvement from the likes of Tulleyhill and Mirazur West and Co. IEP could be the one but he has looked better over longer and the owners also have Mistergif and It's For Me.
Willie puts his horses where he has the best chance of winning so Ballyburn not going for the Arkle greatly reduces his chance of winning the Arkle whereas i don't think it is the same case for the BANC where he could run at least 10 horses(with not huge differences in ability imo).

Marjborough has to at least enter the chat for the Arkle. Won a Triumph that's started to look half decent, even as a 4yo he looks like a chaser that was given a go over hurdles. You have to rewind 20yrs for a 5yo winner but he just screams fences and if that's the way they go you'd assume they'll start him off over the minimum.

[Craigy14]

I might be wrong but after Impaire Et Passe’s win at Sandown, did WPM not mention something about a possible step up in trip for him? Tried to find post race interview but can only find PT’s.

His wins last season he seems to do it all very easily over 2m5f so another 3f wouldn’t be out of the question imo. He’s 6 going 7 and another summer on his back to strengthen up I’d possibly favour that than going down to 2m where he was beat twice last season.

[Odin]

"I'd say the trip has been a big help for him this year"

Hadn't seen that quote, but I like it in the context of this discussion. Less so with respect to me being balls deep on Dancing City for the RSA though

https://www.racingandsports.co.uk/news/international/uk-ire-and-europe/2024-04-28/impaire-et-passe-all-class-at-sandown/651325

[IstabraqBarRegular]

This season I’ve decided to go all iron man and go for 4 days. Accommodation booked. Pacing strategy needed

I've always struggled to stay the trip !!

[ComplyOrDie]

I might be wrong but after Impaire Et Passe’s win at Sandown, did WPM not mention something about a possible step up in trip for him? Tried to find post race interview but can only find PT’s.

His wins last season he seems to do it all very easily over 2m5f so another 3f wouldn’t be out of the question imo. He’s 6 going 7 and another summer on his back to strengthen up I’d possibly favour that than going down to 2m where he was beat twice last season.

Whilst factually correct, I think it's incredibly harsh to slam IEP for being beat over 2m, not just yourself, but seen many mention it (probably even myself at some point), when the real fact is he's been beat twice by our current Champion Hurdler, a horse who has been beat just once (by an absolute freak) since his debut fall for Willie back in 2021.

IEP looks better over the intermediate trip because of the horses he is facing, IMO. He's beat the inconsistent (better last season) Bob Olinger, and 'I'm only ready to race in Spring', Langer Dan. He's beat little of note in comparison to losing to State Man.

I'd look at IEP's first run over 2m against State Man as his true running, beat only by 3 1/4 lengths. The second race they tried different tactics to try and get State Man beat, it didn't work and he ended up losing by further.

IF IEP went to the Arkle and Ballyburn didn't he'd be the highest rated hurdler doing so, by a fair way. His State Man form has him well ahead of the rest. I think Willie can do what he likes with the pair of them and probably have little to worry about.

I believe a few have noted on here previous that both need covering for either race, although the prices have somewhat crumbled since the news of the Turners being turned into a handicap, which isn't ideal.

A big conundrum though, nevertheless, and one that will probably roll on for a few more weeks yet.

[Craigy14]

Whilst factually correct, I think it's incredibly harsh to slam IEP for being beat over 2m, not just yourself, but seen many mention it (probably even myself at some point), when the real fact is he's been beat twice by our current Champion Hurdler, a horse who has been beat just once (by an absolute freak) since his debut fall for Willie back in 2021.

IEP looks better over the intermediate trip because of the horses he is facing, IMO. He's beat the inconsistent (better last season) Bob Olinger, and 'I'm only ready to race in Spring', Langer Dan. He's beat little of note in comparison to losing to State Man.

I'd look at IEP's first run over 2m against State Man as his true running, beat only by 3 1/4 lengths. The second race they tried different tactics to try and get State Man beat, it didn't work and he ended up losing by further.

IF IEP went to the Arkle and Ballyburn didn't he'd be the highest rated hurdler doing so, by a fair way. His State Man form has him well ahead of the rest. I think Willie can do what he likes with the pair of them and probably have little to worry about.

I believe a few have noted on here previous that both need covering for either race, although the prices have somewhat crumbled since the news of the Turners being turned into a handicap, which isn't ideal.

A big conundrum though, nevertheless, and one that will probably roll on for a few more weeks yet.

I completely agree, probably should have expanded on what I’d said but was trying to get out the door

Being beaten by state man twice is no bad number as you say.

[Craigy14]

"I'd say the trip has been a big help for him this year"

Hadn't seen that quote, but I like it in the context of this discussion. Less so with respect to me being balls deep on Dancing City for the RSA though
https://www.racingandsports.co.uk/ne...sandown/651325

I’ve possibly got it wrong Odin to be honest haha!

Knew it was something about the trip. He seems to relish the intermediate trip that’s for sure so he’s one that is certainly impacted by the change most imo.