St James’s Palace Hunters Chase

[Leman14]

Have to be against Porlock Bay after today as well. Form of the winner hardly stands up to much - including when pulled up in the Foxhunters last year.

Is it gonna be Third Time Lucki for Billaway?

Interesting "related" double there.....

[Istabraq]

Its Not great tbh... Gina has the pick of 3.. and last I knew latenightpass was going straight to Aintree, so you never know... but be weary on those without NRNB etc...

OK thanks.
I appreciate the third is 13 but some horses still go strong at that age and he did win a handicap chase at Worcester last Summer so clearly retained some ability, but it's the runner up, Normfromthenorth, that I can't gauge the form of whatsoever as there is no form I can find after March 2019, if he was/is a 135 rated chaser then Fumet Doudaries might well be that improving hunter I thought he might be...

[The Tank]

Have to be against Porlock Bay after today as well. Form of the winner hardly stands up to much - including when pulled up in the Foxhunters last year.

Is it gonna be Third Time Lucki for Billaway?

6 of the last 10 winners of this didnt win their race prior to winning the Foxhunters. So on a trends basis, Porlock Bay not winning would suggest you should fancy him more? It's not a race like the Supreme for example where you are generally looking for something unbeaten all season.

In addition, in the 10 years before Porlock Bay won last year, 3 out of 5 first time winners returning the following year successfully retained their title, a 60% hit rate. Salsify, On The Fringe & Pascha Du Polder successfully retained. It Came To Pass and Hazel Hill were unsuccessful, though Hazel Hill was 13 by the time of his second run which is getting on even by Foxhunter standards. Zemsky and Tammy's Hill didn't come back the following year to defend.

I'd suggest the 16/1 offered about Porlock is a big price based on recent trends.

[Liammet]

Happy enough with Billaway there
short enough now though considering he has just fallen short the last 2 years
Really promising run from the 6 year old Good Bye Sam
Not one for this year but think he can be a player in this code over the next few years

[Spectre]

I think Willie will probably run both. Billaway looked much sharper and jumped better in the cheekpieces. I still wonder whether he's as effective in big fields though.

Good Bye Sam looked as though he'd really come on for that, and given he wasn't that far behind Billaway, and stuffed some decent hunters senseless he deserves to be on the boat. He can run a decent race and get some valuable experience for next season.

[Liammet]

I think Willie will probably run both. Billaway looked much sharper and jumped better in the cheekpieces. I still wonder whether he's as effective in big fields though.

Good Bye Sam looked as though he'd really come on for that, and given he wasn't that far behind Billaway, and stuffed some decent hunters senseless he deserves to be on the boat. He can run a decent race and get some valuable experience for next season.

Will he not require another run to qualify spectre ?
He was only second in his p2p

[Spectre]

Will he not require another run to qualify spectre ?
He was only second in his p2p

First or second in two Hunter Chases to qualify which he's done, so he qualified yesterday Liam.

[Liammet]

First or second in two Hunter Chases to qualify which he's done, so he qualified yesterday Liam.

Doe’s a race in France count @Spectre

I only see a second in a p2p and a second in a hunters chase yesterday

[Irish Rugby]

Surprising comments attributed to Will Biddick, while it's not a total refusal about Cheltenham, he does make some reservations.


'Will Biddick has revealed his Cheltenham Festival hero Porlock Bay could skip a defence of his St James’s Place Hunters’ Chase title and instead be aimed at the Aintree equivalent.

The 11-year-old’s hard-fought victory over Billaway last March was one of the few bright moments of a testing Festival for the home team.

But he is not certain to return to Prestbury Park next month after being beaten by Philip Rowley’s Salvatore on his return under rules at Bangor last week.

Biddick said: “I was disappointed with him at Bangor. For me, as a rider, he ran below par – he should have done better. For some reason he didn’t really stay, so there’s something we’ve got to iron out.

“We’re still assessing him and it’ll be either Cheltenham or Liverpool next, but we’re giving him a good look over and we might swerve Cheltenham.”

It was Lorcan Williams who steered Porlock Bay to Festival glory last year, with Covid protocols meaning amateur jockeys were barred from riding.

However, Biddick, who is a decorated jockey in his own right, is looking forward to being in the saddle for one of the spring festivals, with the challenge of tackling Aintree’s Grand National fences an exciting one.

“He’d be suited to it (Aintree) – he jumps, he travels and stays three miles,” he added.

“I wouldn’t change last year for the world, but he’s still got another big race in him and we’ll have a go and see what happens.”

[Quevega]

Surprising comments attributed to Will Biddick, while it's not a total refusal about Cheltenham, he does make some reservations.


'Will Biddick has revealed his Cheltenham Festival hero Porlock Bay could skip a defence of his St James’s Place Hunters’ Chase title and instead be aimed at the Aintree equivalent.

The 11-year-old’s hard-fought victory over Billaway last March was one of the few bright moments of a testing Festival for the home team.

But he is not certain to return to Prestbury Park next month after being beaten by Philip Rowley’s Salvatore on his return under rules at Bangor last week.

Biddick said: “I was disappointed with him at Bangor. For me, as a rider, he ran below par – he should have done better. For some reason he didn’t really stay, so there’s something we’ve got to iron out.

“We’re still assessing him and it’ll be either Cheltenham or Liverpool next, but we’re giving him a good look over and we might swerve Cheltenham.”

It was Lorcan Williams who steered Porlock Bay to Festival glory last year, with Covid protocols meaning amateur jockeys were barred from riding.

However, Biddick, who is a decorated jockey in his own right, is looking forward to being in the saddle for one of the spring festivals, with the challenge of tackling Aintree’s Grand National fences an exciting one.

“He’d be suited to it (Aintree) – he jumps, he travels and stays three miles,” he added.

“I wouldn’t change last year for the world, but he’s still got another big race in him and we’ll have a go and see what happens.”

Some people are nuts aren't they ??
Go and try and win a race you've won previously.
Or try and win a race on a course your 11 year old horse may be suited too, but has never ran there ?

Penis.
Not backed him by the way.
But feel for those that have, having to read shit like this.
Obviously he's just chatting away and musing though, and I'd imagine when he gets a bump on the head or a clip off someone senior to him he'll realise he's talking bollocks.

[Lobos]

Yep. Two really poor/flat runs from Porlock Bay this season. Maybe last year's race took it right out of him. He's not been the same horse for whatever reason. Does sound like Cheltenham is a no go.

[Goldentouch]

Cash out gone on B365. They aren’t taking any chances this year

[Shergar]

Cashout greyed out on B365 for any of my multiples involving Porlock Bay.

[Quevega]

Jesus.
The guy was only mouthing off and is not sure the horse is in the same form so may wait till he's happier with him.
But still four weeks till Cheltenham anyway.
They must have got someone specifically employed at B365 for this job this year.

[Kevloaf]

They must have got someone specifically employed at B365 for this job this year.

I reckon they already had someone employed, and they've now got extra responsibility but no additional pay for it.

As if that was a job, I'd have seen it advertised and have taken it.

I'd never reveal it though, I'd be the perfect mole for a bookie actually. If you're lurking Denise, I'm open to offers.