2024 Handicaps

[JackieMoon33]

St Felicien won that cosy enough.
14-1 Plate betvictor looks worth taking.
Although working out what mark this horse gets is not easy, but if Gordon runs him in the race with Kennedy aboard, then he doesn't go off 14-1, that's for sure.

Price gone, but now 16-1 Hills specials.

The other one for Gordon in the plate is Firm Footings. Been campaigned over inadequate trips against good opposition this season and the step up is where he should improve a fair bit. 6th in the Martin Pipe last year which is decent enough form now. Has siblings who’ve improved for fences and a trip so I can see him being competitive off his current mark. Having course and big field experience helps the cause too. Gordon also went to 330k to keep him in the yard.

[DenmanSacre]

The other one for Gordon in the plate is Firm Footings. Been campaigned over inadequate trips against good opposition this season and the step up is where he should improve a fair bit. 6th in the Martin Pipe last year which is decent enough form now. Has siblings who’ve improved for fences and a trip so I can see him being competitive off his current mark. Having course and big field experience helps the cause too. Gordon also went to 330k to keep him in the yard.

I'm not sure if he stays at 2m and Sa Fureur goes the plate. Could be either race for them but think they'll be split. I think he got a UK rating of 142(?) a few weeks back.

[BigChaang]

Could Henry's Friend & Kilbeg King be Ultima players after today? Still might have some in hand if they don't get stung.

A.T.Races ... Ben Pauling said he didn't think Henry's friend would go to Cheltenham .

[Quevega]

I'm not sure if he stays at 2m and Sa Fureur goes the plate. Could be either race for them but think they'll be split. I think he got a UK rating of 142(?) a few weeks back.

He mentioned Sa Fureur might go GA or plate and said Firm footings could turn up somewhere ?
So those two split across the 2 races sounds like the plan at the minute.

[Atlantic Viking]

A.T.Races ... Ben Pauling said he didn't think Henry's friend would go to Cheltenham .

He's already got Twig for the Ultima

[JackieMoon33]

I'm not sure if he stays at 2m and Sa Fureur goes the plate. Could be either race for them but think they'll be split. I think he got a UK rating of 142(?) a few weeks back.

I’d only be interested in Firm Footings over further. They’ve always spoken about him going up in trip and being a stayer and galloper. I think the campaign over 2m this season has been deliberate. Even Gordon mentioned him in that light towards the start of the season but proceeded over 2m…


27Oct23 Sligo (17.5Sft, RPR 134)


Firm Footings is a good, solid horse with a great attitude and he dug deep. When he steps up in trip down the line, he should develop into a nice staying chaser - Gordon Elliott, trainer.

[Quevega]

I’d only be interested in Firm Footings over further. They’ve always spoken about him going up in trip and being a stayer and galloper. I think the campaign over 2m this season has been deliberate. Even Gordon mentioned him in that light towards the start of the season but proceeded over 2m…


27Oct23 Sligo (17.5Sft, RPR 134)


Firm Footings is a good, solid horse with a great attitude and he dug deep. When he steps up in trip down the line, he should develop into a nice staying chaser - Gordon Elliott, trainer.

Yep, he said turn up somewhere so he may even go up further with him than the 2 and a half.

[Jrow]

Id be really interested in Golden Son in the plate if he gets entered. He jumped brilliantly against Iroko on debut for Nicholls and just beaten by a much better horse but also after a 556 day break and coming back from injury. He then ran in bottomless ground at Aintree and hated it, got pulled up. Interestingly, it was bottomless again at Newbury and nicholls stated in his betfair column that if it was bottomless he wont run. But he did and got pulled up again

“The ground was so deep at Aintree last time that when they went too hard from the start he couldn't handle it and was soon pulled up. So if the going comes up testing at Newbury he will not run”

Hes been dropped 7lbs to 135 and should get in at the bottom, and hopefully with better ground comes an improved performance.

[BigChaang]

He's already got Twig for the Ultima

Twig will need good ground ( not too soft ) . according to Ben , so he told me at ascot in november.
Always gives it 110 % though . general thoughts , nothing about ultima .
I was asking him coz i'd backed Twig for the Coral gold Cup at newbury at the time.

[doctorwu]

You wouldn't think Skelton is teeing up Le Milos for the Pertemps having already qualified? Nice run out the back yesterday should get him 7lbs back, judging by what they normally give Skelton handicappers ;-)) Got some really nice chase form and could be well-in. Skelton getting a reputation for readying one in a fez handicap.

[Quevega]

You wouldn't think Skelton is teeing up Le Milos for the Pertemps having already qualified? Nice run out the back yesterday should get him 7lbs back, judging by what they normally give Skelton handicappers ;-)) Got some really nice chase form and could be well-in. Skelton getting a reputation for readying one in a fez handicap.

When he's entered in the Ultima, we'll also know his weight.

[Eggs]

You wouldn't think Skelton is teeing up Le Milos for the Pertemps having already qualified? Nice run out the back yesterday should get him 7lbs back, judging by what they normally give Skelton handicappers ;-)) Got some really nice chase form and could be well-in. Skelton getting a reputation for readying one in a fez handicap.

….i hinted at similar in the ‘under the radar’ thread a few days ago. In his recent stable tour, Skelton also mentioned the Ultima and I wondered if he was running him over hurdles for a reason. I think he’s rated 151 over fences.

[doctorwu]

….i hinted at similar in the ‘under the radar’ thread a few days ago. In his recent stable tour, Skelton also mentioned the Ultima and I wondered if he was running him over hurdles for a reason. I think he’s rated 151 over fences.

Thanks Eggs. Can't think he's good enough to win an Ultima off a mark 151. Could have easily got a few pounds back in a couple of chase runs if that was the desired route. Just think getting him qualified tells us the route? 36/1 (boosted, nrmb) seems worth a punt. Time will tell.

[doctorwu]

When he's entered in the Ultima, we'll also know his weight.

You could well be right. Wouldn't be of any interest to me in The Ultima off that mark.

[Odin]

Completely agree with this - think the last run is a tell-tale though. Either winning a small scale race (Saint Roi/State Man) or being overpriced in a Graded race (Galopin). Willie has so many who just fall short of the 4 runs this year in that regard. The only "qualifiers" that I'm currently aware of are Sa Majeste and Absurde, but both have been found out in the market.

Gold Dancer, Jit Langy and Daddy Long Legs would all have qualified for me if the rule was still 3 runs.

If Willie has a horse in the same mould as Galopin Des Champs (i.e. running poorly in Graded race before the festival), is it Lombron today? Went off 5/2 in Moscow Flyer. 4th run in a hurdle today so expecting massive price to be available. Could be a County Hurdle horse? Could also just not be that good?