June ‘23; The Roger ‘Diamond Geezer’ Hunter Yankee

[Eggs]

…I just wonder HesTheOne if Nicholls is getting his appetite back for Cheltenham. I wouldn’t readily dismiss Stage Star, Stay Away Fay (or Captain Teague) next March. I read his stable tour ahead of this years Festival and he said this about SAF;

’….he runs in the AB, there’s a lot to come from this horse. He just just lacks experience & I would like to have given him another run but it’s not worked out. I think he’s one of the best priced outsiders we have & he will make a lovely chaser next season.’

[nortonscoin200]

….that’s a positive, it gives us a chance. Just had a look through this years results, we’re probably looking at 4 from;

Marine National
El Fab
Con Hill (hurdles or fences debate)
IEP (contrasting reports whether Hurdles or fences)
The Real Whacker
Energumene
Delta Work
A Dream to Share
Stage Star
Good Time Jonny (H’cap winner but some have highlighted for Stayers)
Envoi Allen
SDB
You Wear it Well
Lossiemouth
Stay Away Fay
GDC
Premier Magic
Impervious

Eggs I reckon you've missed out an under-the-radar number 19 who is currently the juiciest price of the lot imo.

It's Maskada - just made the case in my diary.

PS: I hadn't considered her either when I posted the 4 shorties last night.

[Eggs]

…admit to skimming past Maskada nortonscoin200, be interested to know what Saxon Warrior thinks of her given how much he likes Dinoblue who finished 2nd in the Grand Annual.

[HesTheOne]

…I just wonder HesTheOne if Nicholls is getting his appetite back for Cheltenham. I wouldn’t readily dismiss Stage Star, Stay Away Fay (or Captain Teague) next March. I read his stable tour ahead of this years Festival and he said this about SAF;

’….he runs in the AB, there’s a lot to come from this horse. He just just lacks experience & I would like to have given him another run but it’s not worked out. I think he’s one of the best priced outsiders we have & he will make a lovely chaser next season.’

Yea I appreciate the point about PN having success at the festival this year just on those two returning winners specifically for this Yankee I'm not mad on either of them.

Stage Star - I think it was somewhat a poor renewal, Might Potter (rip) severely disappointed in the race. SS did just about beat Notlongtillmay and Appreciate It by a couple of lengths.. Combine that with the poor outing at Aintree and the forever possible chance PN does divert him for whatever reason its enough for me to disregard (for now of course). I do think there will be others I'll fancy more for the Ryanair which is the final nail in the coffin..

Stay Away Fay - Somewhat similar to SS - there was a few notable disappointments in the AB this year paired with the disappointing follow up run at Aintree (still only his 4th run that year.. so not exactly short of fitness or been ploughed all season..). Combined with the fact we haven't seen him jump a fence yet is again enough for me to not fancy him right now...

Open to hear thoughts that may suggest they should be considered stars at this stage or mutual agreements to stay away as i plan on doing..... I'll take my coat...

[Eggs]

Yea I appreciate the point about PN having success at the festival this year just on those two returning winners specifically for this Yankee I'm not mad on either of them.

Stage Star - I think it was somewhat a poor renewal, Might Potter (rip) severely disappointed in the race. SS did just about beat Notlongtillmay and Appreciate It by a couple of lengths.. Combine that with the poor outing at Aintree and the forever possible chance PN does divert him for whatever reason its enough for me to disregard (for now of course). I do think there will be others I'll fancy more for the Ryanair which is the final nail in the coffin..

Stay Away Fay - Somewhat similar to SS - there was a few notable disappointments in the AB this year paired with the disappointing follow up run at Aintree (still only his 4th run that year.. so not exactly short of fitness or been ploughed all season..). Combined with the fact we haven't seen him jump a fence yet is again enough for me to not fancy him right now...

Open to hear thoughts that may suggest they should be considered stars at this stage or mutual agreements to stay away as i plan on doing..... I'll take my coat...

….ha, ha. Banbridge certainly accounted for Stage Star at Aintree & SAF also came up short.

[HesTheOne]

….ha, ha. Banbridge certainly accounted for Stage Star at Aintree & SAF also came up short.

Outside of this yankee, i do like Banbridge as an option for the Ryanair. The ground dependency is one thing holding me back.. maybe it’s not such a big factor

[Eggs]

Outside of this yankee, i do like Banbridge as an option for the Ryanair. The ground dependency is one thing holding me back.. maybe it’s not such a big factor

…I do too. It might come with some risk of him turning up but the 16-1 on offer is very decent.

[Ice]

…I do too. It might come with some risk of him turning up but the 16-1 on offer is very decent.

The risk of him not turning up is more than fairly factored into his price, totally agree 16/1 is decent.

[Istabraq]

I know the numbers back up the chances of Gaelic Warrior but there has to be value down the list in the form of Shoot First and Good Time Jonny.
Shoot First was a short price for the Pertemps before he got injured and was being talked up for the Stayers by plenty.
Good Time Jonny put clear daylight between himself and the field in his Pertemps win and could easily be another late developer with further improvement to come.
I’ve backed them both already, 50s and 33s, but at 33s and 25s they’re both still plenty big enough, may be worth considering with the pair very likely to head for the Stayers…

[BigChaang]

Outside of this yankee, i do like Banbridge as an option for the Ryanair. The ground dependency is one thing holding me back.. maybe it’s not such a big factor

Got burnt by Banbridge this year - Non Runner .... .. But already snaffled the early prices for the Ryanair chs. . .

[Odin]

Shoot First was a short price for the Pertemps before he got injured and was being talked up for the Stayers by plenty.

Given his mark and his trainer, would Shoot First not be more likely to jig jog around a Pertemps qualifier and go back there for the plot to be completed? I suspect this is a less of a risk for Good Time Jonny given he won the Pertemps last year and his mark reflects that

[Spectre]

…admit to skimming past Maskada nortonscoin200, be interested to know what Saxon Warrior thinks of her given how much he likes Dinoblue who finished 2nd in the Grand Annual.

I've got Maskada in my book, alongside Dinoblue already, because I'm also of the view that Impervious will go to the Ryanair this season. I know initially Colm Murphy was quite keen to go to the Turners, but they took the cautious view. I don't think they will this time, and I'd be fairly confident she will be campaigned accordingly.

On Maskada specifically I'm of the view that Dinoblue's mistake cost her, but there would have been very little between the two horses. The only doubt I have is whether she'll end up being a bang two miler, whereas Dinoblue's way of racing suggests a step up in trip won't be a problem. At the prices and with enough doubt around eveyything else in the market I think she's an easy bet to make.

[Istabraq]

Given his mark and his trainer, would Shoot First not be more likely to jig jog around a Pertemps qualifier and go back there for the plot to be completed? I suspect this is a less of a risk for Good Time Jonny given he won the Pertemps last year and his mark reflects that

Possibly, but it’s not a deep division and Shoot First will be 8 come March, not impossible they go the handicap route but a shot at a championship has to appeal….

[callhimgamblor]

Before I hail Mary into Maskada, is there any other option target wise? 2 miles 4 seems a small step up from the 2m Grand Annual for an animal a year older and wiser and wholly reasonable and she would be HDBs main arrow in the race from what I can see. Seems to be a slam dunk no-brainer at 25/1...

[Eggs]

I know the numbers back up the chances of Gaelic Warrior but there has to be value down the list in the form of Shoot First and Good Time Jonny.
Shoot First was a short price for the Pertemps before he got injured and was being talked up for the Stayers by plenty.
Good Time Jonny put clear daylight between himself and the field in his Pertemps win and could easily be another late developer with further improvement to come.
I’ve backed them both already, 50s and 33s, but at 33s and 25s they’re both still plenty big enough, may be worth considering with the pair very likely to head for the Stayers…

…I also have GTJ in my book but have to give a shout out to West Balboa who beat him convincingly at Aintree, albeit in a handicap. West Balboa might rock up in the Mares Hurdle but that was her first try at 3m & she really improved for the step-up. 33-1 Stayers is worthy of consideration.