General Chat

[Hurricane fly]

I more meant to decide in the summer and go for it next year.

Start to really go for it, he could bring Vauban or one of this years novices over for races like the International. Especially if CH goes over fences he can mop up the hurdles division for starters.

Smash in another 10 winners at Cheltenham and then see where the land lies for Aintree and Sandown.

[Kevloaf]

I more meant to decide in the summer and go for it next year.

Start to really go for it, he could bring Vauban or one of this years novices over for races like the International. Especially if CH goes over fences he can mop up the hurdles division for starters.

Smash in another 10 winners at Cheltenham and then see where the land lies for Aintree and Sandown.

Whilst I think he could.... I just don't think he would....

The prize money all year wouldn't be worth the hassle, when if he nailed Cheltenham he gets pretty close anyway

....and with the Grand National being so influencial to it?



Would love to see it though, totally agree he could.



Might depend how quickly Elliott looks to be bouncing back. The DRF just highlighted how easy it is for him in Ireland at the moment. GE will be back though

[Hurricane fly]

Yeah Ireland being an easy win is the key which is why I'd like to see it next year as even if he's improved i don't think Gordon will be close enough for concern.

The year he got close he only had 27 winners in GB and if Vautour hadn't fallen in the Melling Chase would have won it! Targeted raids then pillage the spring festivals.

To paraphrase Kevin Keegan; I would love it. And hopefully when Willie reads the forum tonight this has stoked a fire

[Kevloaf]

Yeah Ireland being an easy win is the key which is why I'd like to see it next year as even if he's improved i don't think Gordon will be close enough for concern.

The year he got close he only had 27 winners in GB and if Vautour hadn't fallen in the Melling Chase would have won it! Targeted raids then pillage the spring festivals.

To paraphrase Kevin Keegan; I would love it. And hopefully when Willie reads the forum tonight this has stoked a fire

Nicholls chatting shit could stoke the fire.


I do love Nicholls to be fair..... if it came down to the wire, I'd want Nicholls to 'do him' ....



I think the Irish care about beating the English, as an Englishman I just don't care if they do... it's a one-way rivalry IMO

[riccirich]

Yeah Ireland being an easy win is the key which is why I'd like to see it next year as even if he's improved i don't think Gordon will be close enough for concern.

The year he got close he only had 27 winners in GB and if Vautour hadn't fallen in the Melling Chase would have won it! Targeted raids then pillage the spring festivals.

To paraphrase Kevin Keegan; I would love it. And hopefully when Willie reads the forum tonight this has stoked a fire

If he just targeted handicap chases at cheltenham and aintree that could be the only change needed to win it.

every year he’s passing up wins in those races when he has the ammo imo. Could have won the grand annual last year with gentleman de mee on route to aintree. This year he could target the likes of flame bearer, adamantly chosen, I am Maximus etc at those type of races, but they are usually also rans in the grade 1s or kept for races in Ireland.

if he really wanted to go after it then a small change of tactics like this could make all the difference.

[Hurricane fly]

Nicholls chatting shit could stoke the fire.


I do love Nicholls to be fair..... if it came down to the wire, I'd want Nicholls to 'do him' ....



I think the Irish care about beating the English, as an Englishman I just don't care if they do... it's a one-way rivalry IMO

I'm English but Nicholls and Henderson wind me up when they get all bullish about a horse who we know will get slapped down when they face the Tier 1 Irish. (to honest, it's actually the fact that every year on the bus trip to Cheltenham someone would bleat on about TNO beating Faugheen/Annie Power etc. and it did my head in to the point it still annoys me now)

You never know though, it might need something like that for the powers that be to realise the current calendar just isn't fit for purpose.

[ComplyOrDie]

I think the record for DRF winners rolling over to Cheltenham Festival winners is a bit sketchy, and I suspect some of them results from this weekend will be turned on their head.

I, of course, will sit on the fence and say I don't know for sure which ones will hold up and which ones won't, however, the one I think I'd be most sure about is Facile Vega.

That ride today was far more suicidal than the Dysart Dynamo ride in the Arkle, IMO. FV has already beat Il Etait Temps and he'll do it again in the Supreme, for me, if he's ridden 'properly'.

[That Horse]

I think the Irish care about beating the English, as an Englishman I just don't care if they do... it's a one-way rivalry IMO

In other sports, yes. Nothing funnier than seeing England fail when they think they're onto a winner. Is it coming home? Is it fuck.

I suppose it'd be different in racing if the horses were a bit more patriotic but they seem a bit nonplussed about the whole thing unless there's a carrot or sugar lump involved.

I did google 'Prestbury Cup' to see if there was an image of a trophy and can't find one. I bet it's still nicer than that silly little ashes urn

[Kevloaf]

I'm English but Nicholls and Henderson wind me up when they get all bullish about a horse who we know will get slapped down when they face the Tier 1 Irish. (to honest, it's actually the fact that every year on the bus trip to Cheltenham someone would bleat on about TNO beating Faugheen/Annie Power etc. and it did my head in to the point it still annoys me now)

You never know though, it might need something like that for the powers that be to realise the current calendar just isn't fit for purpose.

Yeah, I'd be anti-English as a general rule.



I actually hate that people likme Lewis Hamilton 'because he's British' .... as if that fucking matters

Just because someone was born on the same clump of land I was, doesn't mean I need to follow them tribally surely?!


Imagine that, not liking Roger Federer because he isn't British, so you have to support Murray instead (great guy BTW)


It's a fucking nonsense though.




I remember watching F1 with my Dad as a kid, loved Damon Hill, and when Schumacher(spelling) knocked him off my Dad went mental.... in hindsight, that's just bananas.




Nothing to be proud about being English, unfortunately.


Xenophobia is my favourite thing to call people out on though. Come at me bitches.

[Kevloaf]

In other sports, yes. Nothing funnier than seeing England fail when they think they're onto a winner. Is it coming home? Is it fuck.

I suppose it'd be different in racing if the horses were a bit more patriotic but they seem a bit nonplussed about the whole thing unless there's a carrot or sugar lump involved.

I did google 'Prestbury Cup' to see if there was an image of a trophy and can't find one. I bet it's still nicer than that silly little ashes urn

Watched a documentary on Amazon recently, G.Swann was talking about lifting the ashes urn.... said it was an amazing moment and when he lifted it, it had the sticker from the 'club shop' or something with 8.99 on the bottom or something..... hilarous

[That Horse]

Watched a documentary on Amazon recently, G.Swann was talking about lifting the ashes urn.... said it was an amazing moment and when he lifted it, it had the sticker from the 'club shop' or something with 8.99 on the bottom or something..... hilarous

I'm not into cricket (being from Northern Ireland) but I did get caught up in ashes fever in 2005 when I witnessed the greatest test series ever. What a fucking let down when Michael Vaughn was presented with that little turd after not winning it for so many years

[darlojim]

I think the record for DRF winners rolling over to Cheltenham Festival winners is a bit sketchy, and I suspect some of them results from this weekend will be turned on their head.

I, of course, will sit on the fence and say I don't know for sure which ones will hold up and which ones won't, however, the one I think I'd be most sure about is Facile Vega.

That ride today was far more suicidal than the Dysart Dynamo ride in the Arkle, IMO. FV has already beat Il Etait Temps and he'll do it again in the Supreme, for me, if he's ridden 'properly'.

Definitely so Cod, the 6/1 bottles dangled was huge imo. FWIW, I received a msg yesterday morning from a usually reliable source saying that Vega wouldn't be 100% ready this weekend and that Willie wouldn't be shocked if he was beaten but that it wouldn't be the end of the world and that he would have him fully tuned for March.

Obviously the suicidal pace didn't help his performance at all but like Paul said, he was still beaten too far for that to be his true running.

[FinalFurlong91]

Looking forward to hearing johnny dineen on Tuesday discussing Paul's ride on facile

[HesTheOne]

Just catching up with the day after an inopportune late lunch was booked on my behalf …

In respect of the racing, in the words of John Locke, Ill need to see that again.

The interviews were bloody telling though. Willie clearly unhappy with Paul’s ride on FV. Paul gets off Gaelic Warrior and has a face like thunder and you can hear the upset in his voice. In my view, there’s clearly some upset in the camp.

I do have some sympathy for Paul though. I found it very odd that Willie publicly criticised Paul in the middle of the card yesterday. Can’t do much for his confidence. Also, to slate a rider for trying to win a Grade One was very odd.

Paul is on the money re Facile Vega too. The early speed might’ve ruined his chance of the win, but doesn’t explain him getting beat that far. Also, if he’s the second coming, as Willie has told us he is, he should be able to race at that speed.

All a bit odd to me.

Yea it stinks abit from Willie, something clearly amiss with PT and the public criticism over the 2 days from Mullins surely doesn’t help the confidence. The lashing he got for Lossiemouth was out of order he was within every right to try win the race when riding the fav. Facile Vega run was disappointing, horse was wild in the parade ring and start, then set off at a million miles an hour and blew up.

PT still took home some prize money for the Mullins camp you’d expect better team support and less public scoldings

Danny is a class act at the moment too

[Kevloaf]

Definitely so Cod, the 6/1 bottles dangled was huge imo. FWIW, I received a msg yesterday morning from a usually reliable source saying that Vega wouldn't be 100% ready this weekend and that Willie wouldn't be shocked if he was beaten but that it wouldn't be the end of the world and that he would have him fully tuned for March.

Obviously the suicidal pace didn't help his performance at all but like Paul said, he was still beaten too far for that to be his true running.

Not sharing that on here beforehand is not really acceptable