2024 Stayers Hurdle

[Quevega]

Teahupoo had plenty of excuses with the way last years renewal was run

There s every chance he has improved from last year.

But I've watched the race several times and although he switches twice, it didn't seem to make much difference

He was in a perfect position turning for home and alongside SDB jumping the second last who also got pushed wide at the last. I don't think being held up made a lot of difference although this is hard to be sure. He seemed to creep into it perfectly well but then got outstayed in the finish. I suppose without the switch after the last he;d have been a bit closer to SDB, but would he have beat him ??

Plenty of excuses is very generous.IMO

[YoungHustler]

Teahupoo had plenty of excuses with the way last years renewal was run

I agree FF and think he's improved this year too. He's only 7 and will be in his prime. Teahupoo is my above evens Nap of the meeting and I would take him ahead of some odds on favourites. He is preferred over Irish Point by connections and I think it's a massive hint that they are considering sending IP to the Champion Hurdle to get 3rd place.

[TigerRolllllll]

I think being kept fresh will make a big difference to Teahupoo….,plus he will have Jack on board (arguably best jockey at mo), rather than an unfit Davy

Agree with Quevaga on re-watch…,,but I just feel he is still the best horse in the race ….and race is there for him

Teahupoo is proven can run high 160s….no other horse in race has shown that yet….tho couple maybe could improve enough too reach that (Irish, Cranbo & Sir Ger)

if it’s won with a low 160, then this could be a lottery

[FinalFurlong91]

There s every chance he has improved from last year.

But I've watched the race several times and although he switches twice, it didn't seem to make much difference

He was in a perfect position turning for home and alongside SDB jumping the second last who also got pushed wide at the last. I don't think being held up made a lot of difference although this is hard to be sure. He seemed to creep into it perfectly well but then got outstayed in the finish. I suppose without the switch after the last he;d have been a bit closer to SDB, but would he have beat him ??

Plenty of excuses is very generous.IMO

Being held up made a massive difference

Was a clear pace bias in the race

The 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th were ridden forward or in sire du berlais case front of midfield with ashdale bob

The horses in the hold up group finished 3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th (of 9 finishers)

Teahupoo was the only horse that was held up that got involved, he beat the other horses ridden where he was by 11 lengths +

And that was with Davy in the saddle well past his peak and struggling physically

the jockeys on teahupoo, blazing khal, klassical dream, paisley park and gold tweet gave their horses very poorly judged rides imo

You can't judge the race from what happened from turning in. Teahupoo had already run his race making up that distance on the bad ground. Have to look at the way the race was run as a whole.

[Quevega]

Being held up made a massive difference

Was a clear pace bias in the race

The 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th were ridden forward or in sire du berlais case front of midfield with ashdale bob

The horses in the hold up group finished 3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th (of 9 finishers)

Teahupoo was the only horse that was held up that got involved, he beat the other horses ridden where he was by 11 lengths +

And that was with Davy in the saddle well past his peak and struggling physically

the jockeys on teahupoo, blazing khal, klassical dream, paisley park and gold tweet gave their horses very poorly judged rides imo

You can't judge the race from what happened from turning in. Teahupoo had already run his race making up that distance on the bad ground. Have to look at the way the race was run as a whole.

Yeah, I can kind of see that, but he made the ground up steadily enough over the last circuit and was only 3 lengths of SDB jumping the third last, and SDB was getting ridden by that point.

Because he then travelled up on the bridle before starting the rise to the finish I think most would have expected more, but he didn't find as much as it looked, and got outstayed by a strong stayer.
There are a few more strong stayers in the race this year so the ride will be interesting, I'm not sure being closer to the pace will help his strength in a finish, but we'll see.

I do agree that he might not have had the best of runs, but I think I'm just not as convinced it was race costing.
However, like I said. He has every chance to be a better horse this year than last, and I think he needs to be.

Whilst the race lacks many new guns/stars especially if Irish Point defects, I think there are more old dogs of war to contend with this year as it stands.

[Lobos]

There s every chance he has improved from last year.

But I've watched the race several times and although he switches twice, it didn't seem to make much difference

He was in a perfect position turning for home and alongside SDB jumping the second last who also got pushed wide at the last. I don't think being held up made a lot of difference although this is hard to be sure. He seemed to creep into it perfectly well but then got outstayed in the finish. I suppose without the switch after the last he;d have been a bit closer to SDB, but would he have beat him ??

Plenty of excuses is very generous.IMO

Agree with this. No excuse for not beating SDB as he was level with him 2 out and travelling really well. I just don't think he truly stays in top company in a truly run 3 miler. He's looked superb over the mid trip and has had his two best performances over that trip. 3m is still questionable for him imo .

[FinalFurlong91]

Whether the ground was made up steadily or not is not really a factor is it?

The fact is he had to use energy to make up the ground that was given away

Energy needed for the finish, energy that sire du berlais wasn't using at that point in the race

And what the other horses held up did shows how tough doing that was

[Lobos]

His only win over 3m was a very poor quality race and it was run at a snails pace. The time of the race was virtually the same as the following Handicap chase fully 1 minute slower than standard. It wasn't a true test of stamina.

[That Horse]

Whether the ground was made up steadily or not is not really a factor is it?

The fact is he had to use energy to make up the ground that was given away

Energy needed for the finish, energy that sire du berlais wasn't using at that point in the race

And what the other horses held up did shows how tough doing that was

Any issue with the jockey last year? Davy Russell didn't have the best of weeks, I was pretty annoyed at him with the weak finish on Pied Piper last year (pocket talking obviously ) but don't know if that may have played a part in the stayers as I haven't watched it back.

[Quevega]

Whether the ground was made up steadily or not is not really a factor is it?

The fact is he had to use energy to make up the ground that was given away

Energy needed for the finish, energy that sire du berlais wasn't using at that point in the race

And what the other horses held up did shows how tough doing that was

Of course it's a factor.
The horses in front, especially the three who sprinted to the first hurdle. will have had to use more energy than Teahupoo to get there in the first instance.
Being successful in a competitive horse race is more often than not determined by racing efficiently so making ground steadily is considered to be a more efficient tactic in a staying race, for most people.
As regards the other horses, it's guesswork as to who ran to form but I do accept the general view that it was probably better to be nearer the pace.
But I'd be amazed if the race was classed as a slow gallop sprint finish type, as how did SDB win a race like that ?
I think the time guys had it as pretty quick in the mid section of the race. It was a proper stayers test I think with a slowish finish, So being held up should not have been too big an issue normally.

If you're looking for unlucky horses in the race then Home by the Lee is probably ahead of Teahupoo in that regard.
Up with the pace early on, made a massive mistake and lost a lot of ground 4-6 lengths plus momentum, regained position to be second jumping the second last and was staying on fine up the rail when he had to pull in behind a tiring Flooring Porter and sit and suffer, only to run on again after the last and only beaten just under 4 lengths.

[Rooster Booster]

His only win over 3m was a very poor quality race and it was run at a snails pace. The time of the race was virtually the same as the following Handicap chase fully 1 minute slower than standard. It wasn't a true test of stamina.

And yet you like irish point for this?

[FinalFurlong91]

Any issue with the jockey last year? Davy Russell didn't have the best of weeks, I was pretty annoyed at him with the weak finish on Pied Piper last year (pocket talking obviously ) but don't know if that may have played a part in the stayers as I haven't watched it back.

He pretty much fell off pied piper that should've won

that was a shocker

Davys zig zagging won't have helped teahupoo but personally I'd say it was having him so far back that cost him the race

Had he sat right on the tail of sire du berlais and ashdale bob teahupoo wins that race imo, likely easily

[Lobos]

And yet you like irish point for this?

Yep. He looks to have everything going for him. Big improver over the last year. Effective on any ground. Got some very good form in the book over shorter distances but really came into his own when stepped up last time in what I believe was the best Stayers trial of the season. He won with real authority and was really strong through the line. He's the one to beat IMO. Talk of him going CH is absolutely nonsense. He'll run in the Stayers.

[Rooster Booster]

Yep. He looks to have everything going for him. Big improver over the last year. Effective on any ground. Got some very good form in the book over shorter distances but really came into his own when stepped up last time in what I believe was the best Stayers trial of the season. He won with real authority and was really strong through the line. He's the one to beat IMO. Talk of him going CH is absolutely nonsense. He'll run in the Stayers.

What’s the bloody point. Serves me right. As you were

[Lobos]

What’s the bloody point. Serves me right. As you were

Better quality race and horses than what Teahupoo beat over 3m and of course it was IP first try at 3 so obviously they rode him patiently as they were unsure he'd get the trip. He certainly showed no signs of stopping!

Thought I'd throw that in for good measure