Doing A Naiad 2022

[Exar Essay]

Sorry I am from Ireland, regrettably not travelling over this year. But just for future reference, how do you commute from Bristol to Cheltenham then? Is there much hassle getting there or do they run buses or trains?

Hi mate. Dead easy and direct train service. Little over half an hour. We stay near the station in Bristol then half hour walk to the racecourse with a couple of refreshment stops the other end.

[OffTheBridle]

Hi mate. Dead easy and direct train service. Little over half an hour. We stay near the station in Bristol then half hour walk to the racecourse with a couple of refreshment stops the other end.

Cheers, good to know for again as direct flights to Bristol from my local airport

[Bonjers]

Anyone staying in Bristol, feel free to give me a shout for any food/drink recommendations.

[CUEMYCARD]

Bristol is packed with decent restaurants and boozers Bonjers you’ll not struggle with that mate

[Irish Rugby]

Cheltenham like a lot of the UK is well connected transport wise. For other paddys who haven't been there, flying into Birmingham or Bristol, both fine. Have also stayed in Gloucester, Stratford, Swindon, Cotswolds villages. Never had to actually stay in Cheltenham.

[Spectre]

I'm happy for Galahad Quest to win or place at Kempton. Ideally he needs a few pounds and it's a pot worth chasing on the way. The only thing that would concern me would be a poor run with no excuses. I do think this is a good race for him to take in on the way through.

As for the flat tracks comment, you only have to look at his record to know that's rubbish. Cheltenham clearly suits. He won the Finesse Hurdle there, and ran a very good race last time staying on behind a horse that was ridiculously well handicapped over a two and a half mile trip when he needs a step up to three. I can't think of anything better for him than three miles around the old course at Cheltenham. Nick Williams hasn't been getting all that course experience in by accident. If he does a u-turn now and doesn't use it I'd be shocked. Especially when he's on the same plan as his previous winner of the race to get there unexposed over three miles.

[Quevega]

I'm happy for Galahad Quest to win or place at Kempton. Ideally he needs a few pounds and it's a pot worth chasing on the way. The only thing that would concern me would be a poor run with no excuses. I do think this is a good race for him to take in on the way through.

As for the flat tracks comment, you only have to look at his record to know that's rubbish. Cheltenham clearly suits. He won the Finesse Hurdle there, and ran a very good race last time staying on behind a horse that was ridiculously well handicapped over a two and a half mile trip when he needs a step up to three. I can't think of anything better for him than three miles around the old course at Cheltenham. Nick Williams hasn't been getting all that course experience in by accident. If he does a u-turn now and doesn't use it I'd be shocked. Especially when he's on the same plan as his previous winner of the race to get there unexposed over three miles.

I think it's rubbish too.
But that kind of doesn't matter.
It's a concern the jockey has fed that back to the trainer and he's trotted it out in an interview.

Just got to hope they have a rethink on the rethink.
I'd say if they run at Kempton then the Ultima would become a nice to have, but not the main plan anymore.
It's a shame the handicap cut off doesn't quite come in time I think, as a 5lb penalty would then have made it more appealing (to run again 2 weeks later), should he have proved a lot better over three miles at Kempton.

[Spectre]

I'm not concerned about Noonan's comments at all to be honest Q.

You/'re right about timing of the Kempton race and he'll run with whatever the handicapper gives him rather than a 5lb penalty. That said you'd think even if he won well it would be no more that 7lbs which would put him up to 140 which is around where I'd want him to be to remain as keen as I am. Torn and Frayed for example went up by 8lbs for winning like the proverbial good thing. So a regular win at Kempton would probably see something like a 5lb rise to 138 anyway. Perhaps 1-3lbs for placing.

[Quevega]

I'm not concerned about Noonan's comments at all to be honest Q.

You/'re right about timing of the Kempton race and he'll run with whatever the handicapper gives him rather than a 5lb penalty. That said you'd think even if he won well it would be no more that 7lbs which would put him up to 140 which is around where I'd want him to be to remain as keen as I am. Torn and Frayed for example went up by 8lbs for winning like the proverbial good thing. So a regular win at Kempton would probably see something like a 5lb rise to 138 anyway. Perhaps 1-3lbs for placing.

The concern would be how much a specific trainer relies on jockey feedback.
Doesn't matter what we think.
Although I'm pretty sure there haven't been many jockeys come back into the enclosure and say "you need a batter jockey." - Full of shit salespeople most of the time.

The penalty he might get if he were to win a much harder looking race than the Ultima may be fine, although the value of the race quite often leads to harsher penalties I've found.

If he lines up at Kempton I think he may go off favourite as there will be a lot of people wanting to back him as a saver, for sure.
Just in case he doesn't back up, or gets hammered.

[Rooster Booster]

The concern would be how much a specific trainer relies on jockey feedback.
Doesn't matter what we think.
Although I'm pretty sure there haven't been many jockeys come back into the enclosure and say "you need a batter jockey." - Full of shit salespeople most of the time.

The penalty he might get if he were to win a much harder looking race than the Ultima may be fine, although the value of the race quite often leads to harsher penalties I've found.

If he lines up at Kempton I think he may go off favourite as there will be a lot of people wanting to back him as a saver, for sure.
Just in case he doesn't back up, or gets hammered.

I’d be more concerned about the affect of a hard race that close to the festival for a horse that has already been on the go since October. Time will reveal all.

[Quevega]

I’d be more concerned about the affect of a hard race that close to the festival for a horse that has already been on the go since October. Time will reveal all.

I'd say that's the least of the worries at the minute.
If the people with the money down antepost, get a run for their money, then all the other factors won't matter once they start.
Be a brave man to cash or lay at that point on the basis of he may not be as good/fit.

Can be sure the jockey and connections would use that as a reason after the event though

[Rooster Booster]

I'd say that's the least of the worries at the minute.
If the people with the money down antepost, get a run for their money, then all the other factors won't matter once they start.
Be a brave man to cash or lay at that point on the basis of he may not be as good/fit.

Can be sure the jockey and connections would use that as a reason after the event though

Yep fair enough. Let’s hope and pray he gets to the start of the Ultima in the best possible shape for everyone on the forum and we have no choice but to trust connections to do that.

[Dandrew99]

Paddy Power are the first firm to go single figures on the Naiad

[DenmanSacre]

Paddy Power are the first firm to go single figures on the Naiad

William Hill went 8/1 the night of the video didn't they after everyone got on?

[Dandrew99]

William Hill went 8/1 the night of the video didn't they after everyone got on?

Fair point... They arent on Oddschecker for some reason, at least not the mobile version