Dublin Racing Festival 2021

[FinalFurlong91]

1:05 sat stattler 5/1

this will surely be a a bit of a slog and stamina test so think he could outbattle them

ICH Saint roi 7/1

Going to give him one more go at the prices, don't like honeysuckles jumping, don't like sharjah on this ground

Arkle Captain Guinness 8/1

Loads of tear aways in the Irish arkle, hoping he can pick up the pieces

Will wait for the day to commit to a handicap bet


Elsewhere it looks like now or never for le breiul in the Edinburgh national

[Lobos]

Do you think the small field will help him?

I'd have thought the opposite.... I think he wants a big field (or at least, a strong pace and plenty of cover) and arrive late....

Agree. Same Saint Roi. If it did come up heavy maybe they will pull Aba as well ? Sounds like its being handed on a plate to Honeysuckle.

[Kevloaf]

Agree. Same Saint Roi. If it did come up heavy maybe they will pull Aba as well ? Sounds like its being handed on a plate to Honeysuckle.

I'm hoping she is the pace.... and gets done...

May the best horse win though, you've fancied her for this from a long way out, and I've said I think she'll get beat from a long way out

Have to say, I'm nervous!

[FinalFurlong91]

Petit mouchoir and honeysuckle will hopefully make it a properly run race

Id think petit mouchoir will make it, Rachel will sit just in behind and look to commit 2 out but hope not to fluff the last 2 hurdles

Shes the likeliest winner but can't get that finishing speed saint roi showed in the county hurdle out of my head and willing to take a chance despite him having it all to prove

If he bolted up at that price I'd be gutted I had nothing on but also delighted for my ante post bets

[opatcho]

I'm another one who things she'll get done for pace, but the race this weekend is starting to tilt into her favour

- small field, tactical
- soft/heavy ground should low the pace down, help with her jumping


Wonder if Mullins is send one out push the pace forward? If they allow Petite and Honeysuckle to settle and set the pace up front, then it will be a repeat of last year with Honeysuckle winning this

[Lobos]

I'm hoping she is the pace.... and gets done...

May the best horse win though, you've fancied her for this from a long way out, and I've said I think she'll get beat from a long way out

Have to say, I'm nervous!

I'm not sure she'll make the pace. If they are going to take Epatante on then they have to be confident she has the pace to win over 2 miles. For me, she has shown more speed in her last two races so they can sit in behind now if they want to. If she does get beat then please let it be by Saint Roi. I'd settle for that and I think you would too !

[Lobos]

Keeps amazing me how people keep going on about her jumping. Apart from last year's ICH, where in all honesty it wasn't actually that bad apart from the last, her jumping has been very good and in fact, has been impeccable in her last two where she has jumped quickly, low and accurate in both. I find it strange how she can be knocked as much as she is with her unblemished record but Envoi is put on a pedestal. Envoi is a superstar in the making...... Honeysuckle is no different.

[FinalFurlong91]

Keeps amazing me how people keep going on about her jumping. Apart from last year's ICH, where in all honesty it wasn't actually that bad apart from the last, her jumping has been very good and in fact, has been impeccable in her last two where she has jumped quickly, low and accurate in both. I find it strange how she can be knocked as much as she is with her unblemished record but Envoi is put on a pedestal. Envoi is a superstar in the making...... Honeysuckle is no different.

She jumped 4 of the 8 obstacles slowly

It amazes me that you keep pretending that didn't happen

She jumped better the last twice because the races were over further at a slower pace

Really like the horse and would happily watch her bolt up but at the prices she's not a bet for the weekend

Id be tempted by a small play on the 22/1 for her to win this and the champion hurdle, because if she can jump better she'd be clear second fav

[Lobos]

She jumped 4 of the 8 obstacles slowly

It amazes me that you keep pretending that didn't happen

Really like the horse and would happily watch her bolt up but at the prices she's not a bet

Id be tempted by a small play on the 22/1 for her to win this and the champion hurdle, because if she can jump better she'd be clear second fav

But she can and she has......that's my point. Henry and co have said the same recently. Any horse can be excused a few awkward jumps in one race. Epatante jumped really poorly last time. Honeysuckle has won 10 jumping races not 3 or 4.

[FinalFurlong91]

But she can and she has......that's my point. Henry and co have said the same recently. Any horse can be excused a few awkward jumps in one race. Epatante jumped really poorly last time. Honeysuckle has won 10 jumping races not 3 or 4.

She hasn't though

Shes run once over 2 miles at a high level and jumped poorly

We arent talking about her jumping over 2m4f at a slower pace that has no bearing for saturday

[Lobos]

She hasn't though

Shes run once over 2 miles at a high level and jumped poorly

We arent talking about her jumping over 2m4f at a slower pace that has no bearing for saturday

I'll just have to let the girl do the talking on Saturday. Hope she doesn't let me down !

[opatcho]

Honeysuckle will jump 1-2 slowly, but she'll be able to get away with that in this field and across this going

She'll win this

[charlie]

Honeysuckle will jump 1-2 slowly, but she'll be able to get away with that in this field and across this going

She'll win this

Do you think this years field is easier than last years?
Do you think Honeysuckle was more impressive in this seasons Hatton's Grace or last seasons?

For me this years race is clearly much better, and she hasn't looked as good this year as she did last year (splitting hairs I know). Given her very narrow victory last year and seasonal debut v Ronald Pump, for me its an off-putting 11/8 shot. I don't actually think Honeysuckle will finish in the top 2.

[jack1092]

Do you think this years field is easier than last years?
Do you think Honeysuckle was more impressive in this seasons Hatton's Grace or last seasons?

For me this years race is clearly much better, and she hasn't looked as good this year as she did last year (splitting hairs I know). Given her very narrow victory last year and seasonal debut v Ronald Pump, for me its an off-putting 11/8 shot. I don't actually think Honeysuckle will finish in the top 2.

She had a prep last year to be fair for the HG so to compare them directly is a bit unfair.

This years field is probably stronger, but i wouldn't say by much. Sharjah will still go off 2nd fav. Aba hasn't looked tip top neither has Saint Roi.

Darver Star ran well in the Champion afterwards last year.

How is this years race clearly much better?

She's ran once lol

[opatcho]

Do you think this years field is easier than last years?

I think this will be an easier race for Honeysuckle to win, and thats not necessary because of the field its become the race conditions are bang-on for Honeysuckle

1) limited pace, you have a 10 years old going off from the front on ground thats softer than last year
2) smaller field, again contributing towards #1
3) the going will suit her more than others

My biggest concern in last years renewal was that the going (yielding) would catch here out. It didnt. The going this year should be spot on

- Aba, I've think his no better than a high 150 horse. Limited scope
- Saint Roi had his chance to prove his claims LTO, and didnt have anything
- PM is becoming a decent benchmark, and has a chance of placing
- Saldier, I'd rather leave. Weak across the ICH + CH atm. Difficult to keep on brining these horses back from a long break/injury
- Sharjah needs strong pace, and is so fussy with his race conditions. Makes him difficult to get on a going day

Do you think Honeysuckle was more impressive in this seasons Hatton's Grace or last seasons?

For me this years race is clearly much better, and she hasn't looked as good this year as she did last year (splitting hairs I know). Given her very narrow victory last year and seasonal debut v Ronald Pump, for me its an off-putting 11/8 shot. I don't actually think Honeysuckle will finish in the top 2.

I dont think it's 'clearly' better.

I'd say she was 4-5 lbs off her performance in last year. Why? dont know. She could have regressed, but unlikely for her age. Yard may have had her 80% fit for it, saving her for the bigger ones this side of xmas. Dunno.

Yeah, finishing a head of a 3 miler and a Beacons Edge who's been spanked recently doesnt fill me with the level confidence I had last season for her. I actually came into this race trying to get honey beat because of this. However, she won which is more I can say for some of her opposition.

- Aba, fell out the back of the tele LTO. Narrowly beat Saint Roi on his only win, the ride on Saint Roi was shocking. Has been beaten by Aspire Tower twice! and I'm sure Henry has Honeysuckle ahead of Aspire Towel at the moment
- Saint Roi, work some prep race at the start of the season (beat a 133, and two 143 who have gone nothing since). Beaten twice since by horse in this field. Struggling to see form being reversed
- PM, the warrior will run a decent race. I'm tempted to back PM w/o fav
- Saldier, starting to become of those horses now. Gamble whether he's going to come back to best
- Sharjah, better horse this year. But if your moaning about 11/8 for Honeysuckle then I'm struggling how you would be jumping on the 2/1 for Sharjah - a horse that struggles to string wins together

Dont get me wrong, Honeysuckles a picky one aswell. A dash of soft/heavy in the going, with sprinkle of weak pace will suit her well

For me, this is a match bet between Honeysuckle and Sharjah.... and out of the two I'm siding with the one are likely to go better in conditions and thats the mare