Horse Racing Podcast: Festival Bankers

Are our team for or against the shortest-priced favourites at this year's Festival? Find out in this week's episode.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Sporting Life, not go.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
Along to the Sporting Live Racing podcast.

Speaker 3 (00:08):
David or john My Ed Tamblin, Graham Cunning Home, David
Johnson and Billy and Ash. We're going to look at
some of the festival bankers later on. Yeah, or they
and we fought or again. Some of the short is
ahead of the great Meeting which is edging ever closer.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
And add it must be edging ever closed because.

Speaker 3 (00:23):
We had it Nikki Henderson race Course gallop at Kempton,
Constitution Hill went.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
There were peers again, well this time tears of.

Speaker 1 (00:30):
Joy, Thank goodness, thank goodness. It was quite amusing.

Speaker 4 (00:33):
I'm not sure Hendo meant to let it slip Dinny
that it was going to be in public. I did chuckle.
I just wonder whether that was planned or unplanned. I
must admit I breathed the huge side of release and
moved on pretty quickly. A lot of people roll their
eyes at it, but he is such an important horse
for the week, or from an ITV point of view,

(00:54):
he you know, no offense to get a Panda shan
who we see once a year, but he is the
box office horse of the week Constitution Hill. Even though gallapander.
Shant's going for Cheltenham immortality on the Friday. Constitution Hill
being there is so so important on the Tuesday, and
if he wins, there will be tremendous scenes. But let's

(01:16):
hope everything goes smoothly between now and then and we
can move on from Tuesday.

Speaker 1 (01:20):
Thank goodness.

Speaker 5 (01:20):
It was okay, David did strike me everything you thought,
everything that's happened at the most cost Galanty in the past,
that Micky will just take him at seven.

Speaker 3 (01:31):
O'clock on a Monday morning, crowded by that and that
hasn't a click on the floodlights and nobody would be
any other wise. We you surprise it it was done
with such a fan fair.

Speaker 6 (01:40):
Again, well, I think that was what he suggested. There
was going to be the plan. But when you paid
a handy fee by a bookmaker that went to dress
you up in a nice as you lay and put
all the things on the jockeys as well, I think
maybe that might have been a factor in why it
was as public as what it was, because, yeah, in
terms of what he did, it was literally just a

(02:04):
piece of work that he could have done at home.
Couldn't he the horse he was working with the only
like one hundred and twenty five rated horses, So yeah,
they'll be pleased with what he did. He came out
of it absolutely as I would have wanted to. But
we still haven't learned anything, and it's sort of it's
continuing that thing that GC has been saying so much
of this Champion Hurdle. It is all about on perception

(02:27):
and what we feel rather than what we actually know.
So it is pretty close to the time that the
talking has to stop. We're not quite there yet, but
it is obviously a race that we mus still be
looking forward to.

Speaker 7 (02:41):
See.

Speaker 2 (02:41):
I was at Chelding yesterday, Doc, I was marking the ground.

Speaker 3 (02:44):
I thought the statue might go after your one man
protest was stopped in that last week's festival file.

Speaker 2 (02:51):
Are you still happy for them to just get it
ready just in case?

Speaker 8 (02:54):
Warning, Well, it's an exciting time, a bit of breaking news.
First of all, I think I think for a spring
ground festival in the weather forecast, yeah really big change
mind you.

Speaker 4 (03:05):
I'm not far from there now, do you see? And
it's absolutely lagging it down?

Speaker 8 (03:09):
Is it okay? But if you look for the ten
days eleven days, it's very promising, so keep that in mind. Yes, Nikki,
I wrote that piece just before I got on a
plane on Thursday, and all this forgiven. You know, you've
got to get behind the Hendo bandwagon again, the Golden Watar,
the Hale fame career. Then straight away he pulled out

(03:29):
a Lambert and Palladium from the Adonis and went went
for a racecourse gallup instead. So it's still you know,
it's still in the back pocket, the old statue campaign,
but a Constitution hill. It's very encouraging that, you know,
they seem extremely polished now. So that that has me,
that has me thinking they might have him back to

(03:50):
the level he was two years ago. I'm not going
to say he's as good as he was three years
ago when he put up that all time performance in
the Supreme Novices. But remember a couple of things. His
back his backside was cracked four times for the first
time ever, first time he'd never felt the whip on
the running in the Christmas Hurdle.

Speaker 2 (04:12):
Now he's for a long time.

Speaker 8 (04:14):
Two more things, he has had wind surgery and he
had a little colleg scare, so it's not been completely
smooth sailing over a lengthy period for that horse, and
as David says, I'm quite preferred to see constitution he'll
beat this lot, but I'm not quite sure that he's
the horse he used to be.

Speaker 4 (04:33):
Time will tell just on the statue order. I don't
know whether you've seen the spot. I've spoken to the
chairman and it's got to be a spot where he's
looking GC in the eye when he's on Racing TV.
He's going to be in the corner where where they
also ran finish, so he's absolutely staring at GC.

Speaker 8 (04:50):
You'd have to look hard to find that spot if
I if I drop any further down that bat in
order rather than bringing the drinks up.

Speaker 3 (04:59):
We we still don't know whether Right to Days Ahead
is going to be in there against constituity actually market
she's she's short enough, solid enough for the Champion Hurdle.
We went it for that white spoke, but it could
be imminent. The decision is expected this week Sport.

Speaker 9 (05:14):
If GCS bespoke but the forecaster is correct, I think
they might have another rethink because if it is a
spring grown festival, if it is quick ground, I think she'll.

Speaker 7 (05:22):
Definitely go for the Mayor's Orble. I'm still not convinced
run the champion already.

Speaker 9 (05:26):
But I think heavy ground or at least on the
you know, significant amounts after it would possibly swear them
in that direction. But if it's a spring ground festival,
I think she'll definitely turn up in the Mayor's orble.

Speaker 3 (05:39):
Wow, it's not been the perfect week fin againis in
Despite the hugs and kisses, we've lost his second jockey,
James Bowen for the past fully the presumed being read
in Palladium in the JHB Trire Federal Man, the story
that's always bubbling away? What was actual when you read
the story that he's missing the Channel festival?

Speaker 8 (05:56):
Is that for me?

Speaker 4 (05:57):
That for want of shames. He's such a nice feel
for him. I really fail for him, and he was
going to get some absolute gem rides as well. But
Nicky Henderson summed it up here we are again. Those
roles are the roles, and he screwed up. But you know,
the human in me feels very sorry for him. He's
such a good lad having another good season and this
will really really hurt.

Speaker 2 (06:17):
Yes, we won't. We was in the web. We said
we wouldn't, but that sure it could well be back
in the weeks.

Speaker 3 (06:22):
To come, Billy, Let's talk about a couple of news
lines out of Ireland.

Speaker 2 (06:26):
Michael Evigan announced his retirement.

Speaker 3 (06:29):
I mean he's been a character and a big figure
in Irish jumps race for some time.

Speaker 7 (06:34):
Certainly.

Speaker 9 (06:35):
Yeah, he's held the license for as long as I
can remember.

Speaker 7 (06:39):
Already.

Speaker 9 (06:39):
I think I heard him saying during the week that
he's been in racing since he was fourteen. He's into
his seventies now, so he's had a long, illustrious career
in racing. I suppose he's best known for his two
best horses certainly were Dorman's Pride and Beat for Salmon,
And I must admitted I did the double take yesterday
when I read that between them they had won over
fifty races. I had to up and yeah, absolutely. Drran's

(07:03):
Pride ran seventy times under rules and he won twenty
nine that's bumpers and the flat over fences at Harden's
and he also won all four starts in point of
pints and I think possibly a charity race as well
thrown into the mix. And b for Salmon won nineteen
of his fifty one runs over under rules, also won
a pint. But look Michael Horregan has been synonymous with

(07:25):
jump racing and pint of point racing in particular in
Ireland for a long long time. You know, he was
I suppose he was one of the kingpins of the
point of Pine scene when it wasn't as as sexy
as it is now for want of a better word,
you know, he was always producing top point of pint horses.
He's put a lot of good rses through his hands,
the likes of amberdy House. He be a Nashlal winner,

(07:45):
started off with Michael Harrigan and Point of Pints.

Speaker 7 (07:47):
He also put a lot of very good jockeys through
his hands.

Speaker 9 (07:50):
Adrian mcgarden particular is one that stands out would have
ridden buckets of winners for him in Point of Pints
before he got his big break, the likes of Norman
Williamson in more recent times, Gavin Sheehan and as well
as his own sons Michael and Paul. So yeah, he
said a long career. I'm sure he won't be lost
to the sport. I'm sure he'll still be sticking around
because his daughter Laura still holds a license. But you know,

(08:12):
a tough task master in his time to you know,
like I said, he wasn't afraid to run his horses,
but he's he's certainly earned his retirement to know, so
you know, the best best wishes to him.

Speaker 2 (08:26):
And all of wonderful horses he trained.

Speaker 3 (08:28):
The stag starts about career runs and wins as well,
David sadly from Ireland as well.

Speaker 2 (08:34):
The delta we lost Delta work.

Speaker 3 (08:36):
It was such a staple of the major spring fashionals
in recent years.

Speaker 1 (08:40):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (08:41):
Absolutely, and yeah, so go back to his peak. He
was winning as Saddles and Irish Gold Cup and he
sort of that five to one and the Gold Cup
one year as well. So at one stage, you know,
he was one of the best chasers in Ireland and
obviously as he's got older he didn't quite have the
ability he did have, but he had that sort of

(09:03):
second career, a bit of a renaissance Didden he reinvented
as a cross country chaser and Grand National course and
two wins at the Festival in the cross countries, twice
placed in the Grand National and you know, from what
we saw in that run at Cheltenham in January, he
still had something to offer and was going to make
a decent fist of another bid in the National, I
think so.

Speaker 1 (09:23):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (09:24):
It's always a shame when buses that have done what
he done, sorry, had done what he had done do
sort of go out in the way that he has.
So yeah, it's a shame. But yeah, commiserations to Connections.

Speaker 2 (09:38):
For the day.

Speaker 8 (09:38):
When those Herberts at Cheltenham and a small number booed
him because he beat Tiger Role in the Cross, that
was a pretty low point for the Sheldon crowd, wasn't it.

Speaker 1 (09:49):
I think I might have been one of them.

Speaker 3 (09:53):
Yeah not there by this hour. Good news for shark
handling Billy. The second part of the bar has been suspended.
He is back with a license in time for Childmen.

Speaker 9 (10:04):
Yes, the shark is back, no doubt, rejuvenated after his
break and I'm sure he has done some restocking his
time off. Yeah, back for Childream. I don't know if
he's going to have many or any runners of Childream.
I think Hwick has been prepared for the Grand National obviously.
Tarla Lee Corgan has been keeping the seat warm, so
to speak, for the shark while he was absent. She
hasn't trained the winner at that time, but she's had

(10:25):
a couple of place horses. But you know, the Shark
wasn't exactly flying before before she took over, so it'll
be interesting to see. I'm sure he'll be in larger
than life as ever, but yeah, he'll be. He'll be
a working presence back on the race courses anyway.

Speaker 2 (10:39):
Already.

Speaker 8 (10:39):
It's amazing how the Trump styles has spread throughout the world. Now.
In the news piece in the Racing Post today, the
old super Shark says, the only good thing to come
out of this is that pretty much the whole world
was behind me, So I'm really hoping we.

Speaker 7 (10:55):
Have plenty of support when we come back.

Speaker 8 (11:00):
March.

Speaker 2 (11:00):
Jack, obviously.

Speaker 3 (11:03):
You're listening, and let's move on what I'm going to
do next. Bobby Joe, I was waving. I was at
the Adults National White sunt which had d house. I
was worried about the lack of depth in the Irish
Challenge this year. I was delighted therefore to say Nick
rockets go single figure prize for Willy Mullins having won
the Bobby Joe beat intense raffles too clearly truly the contenders.

(11:25):
But now I am Maximus. Will that be concerned for you?
As part of his entry prep.

Speaker 7 (11:30):
It was a pity.

Speaker 9 (11:31):
It would have been great to see him, but I
think it's only a minor infection. I think was why
he was pulled out. Really didn't seem to be too
concerned about it, so hopefully it's all systems go with him.
And he was making the point that maybe you know,
a slog and heavy grown at fairly House. It mightn't
have been a bad thing that he missed it. But
the race itself it went to Nick Rocket, who was
fully entitled to win already. The conditions of the race
were absolutely in his favor if it if it had

(11:53):
been an anticapy, who have had to give ten pounds
to intense Raffles.

Speaker 7 (11:56):
As it turned out, he was getting three, so you know,
he didn't need to improve, He didn't need to.

Speaker 9 (12:01):
Be at his best to follow up his tist his
win Intense Racids as the hardly comes out of the
race with plenty of credit, much more like the horse
we saw last year. Obviously that the couple of runs
he'd had over hurdles have have done what they were
supposed to do, and he seems to be reaching a
peek at the right time. So if you fancied him
for an entry, you would have been quite happy with
what you saw there. Capadana and Minerlica Coner third than

(12:23):
fourth are also a three possibles. Cappadano was a better
run from him, but you know it's can he reproduce
it in a more competitive field.

Speaker 7 (12:31):
You'd be concerned about that.

Speaker 9 (12:32):
And Menelica Cooner slightly dispined with him on the day,
but still I think with the entry in mind, not
a bad run. I think more of a stem and
the test that on Droyer ground is going to suit
him a lot better. So I certainly wouldn't ruin him
out of the National reckoning just yet.

Speaker 3 (12:49):
I was worried about the always got national team bump
the horses. I was in a black panic about. But
Willie Wallins has somehow found in recent weeks two horses
have cats bulled themselves to the head of the best
for the weather's champion bumper came, does it not?

Speaker 2 (13:02):
Some of the challenge though that's company facing British racing.

Speaker 3 (13:06):
One's on my head ware and the other one that's
come out on one at the weekend game of insures.
Professor kavalaist It who's got the artis with David Pipe.
She's had horses in a lot of the time. They're
and Brian Drew go to Ireland.

Speaker 2 (13:18):
They go to Willie Mullins.

Speaker 3 (13:19):
They are their chat box and they get Final Demand
and game of inchures horses that any trainer in England
will get their high team for.

Speaker 2 (13:26):
There you go.

Speaker 4 (13:26):
Yeah, we've talked about it, having me with endlessly over
the last few years that the British owners sending their
horses to Ireland.

Speaker 1 (13:33):
It's like, oh my god.

Speaker 4 (13:34):
I mean when Final Demand one of the at the
Dublin Racing Festival just days after Brian Drew said what
he did about where he wanted his horses. Oh God,
things will change, but it's not going to change in
the short term. And that horse is a massive player
in there in the bumper. There'll come plenty quick enough.
For what is He's big, isn't he? He's big and
raw And I did and Ruby's got an unbelievable record

(13:56):
in it. I did the one Sheltland preview I do
representing Welch Dodie and Ruby tipped up Coca Cabana. So
read into that what you will and be fascinating who
Patrick chooses. Maybe we'll get exclusive on that next week.

Speaker 3 (14:10):
Or we will get the exclusive on that and next week,
otherwise you won't be able to leave the arena.

Speaker 9 (14:17):
How we find that, in fact are the Willie Mullins
has a third stream to the Chapmen and boat in
recent times because he has acquired equal force ours we
spoke about on the podcast here last week of the
week before a very wide margin winner of the Mayor
of Bumper at Gordon Trained, when Michael Gunn has now
been bought by a certain JP McManus and has joined
the classon team.

Speaker 7 (14:37):
Though there's another one to add to the list.

Speaker 2 (14:40):
This this is the greatest game. How was that? Nick?

Speaker 3 (14:42):
Paul Nichols is on Monday talk about the recruitment process
and trying to get them, says, you're just you haven't
got a prayer, haven't they? They haven't got a chance of
getting their hands on these arches right now. It's just
not even on the radar. But we'll come to Paul
Nichols in a short while. We've got to get to him.
Buyer the Saudi cub that juicy you were out there.

Speaker 2 (15:01):
Right the week? What are right?

Speaker 8 (15:03):
I mean?

Speaker 2 (15:03):
That was it? And what a story?

Speaker 8 (15:05):
It almost was absolutely it was a fantastic story. Anyway,
I'm very familiar that it's shell them coming up and
get out the way people's mentality is, and sheelled them
all in. But that was a spectaculars It was the
most accomplished ter force in the world of the last
eighteen months or so. Romantic Warrior the real up and
comer from Japan, a real dirt specialist, Forever Young and

(15:29):
a hell of a due all the way up the
long Long Straight in Saudi. Twenty million dollars on the line,
and it might have been slightly different had James McDonald
just checked for a minute. And there's lots of debate
about that, but either way, I think both horses enhanced
their reputations and I think it lit the blue touch
paper for the twenty twenty five flat season. We all

(15:50):
know that last year had its eyes, but they weren't
Everest type lies, and I think David and Billy can
confirm this. The ratings allotted to both Forever Young and
Romantic Warrior one thirty one and one twenty nine on
time form, they stack up extremely well with anything that
any horse achieved on any surface in twenty twenty four,

(16:12):
So it looks like we might be in for some
fireworks on the flat this year, which is great.

Speaker 3 (16:18):
Look that you're excited to do. Try Flat editor chok
amround the connege didn't find me. These international races. They're
definitely glowing, aren't they through the winter mon so putting
more focus, more attention.

Speaker 6 (16:31):
They ah yeah, And I mean with the money that
they're going to put up, that's going to continue. I
really think I think that, and I mean forever young.
It's sort of been a bit of a slow burner,
hasn't He Obviously initially came to prominence this sound last
year when he won out in the Sadi Darby, followed
up in Dubai and ran A belts are out in

(16:52):
the Kentucky Derby as well, and obviously you're not beaten
far in the Breeders' Cup Classic, and he does look
like he's come back even better this year. And Romantic Warrior,
you know, what can you say about him that hasn't
been said before? And think of all the column inches
that were wasted on City of Troy last year talking
about whether he could be the same force on dirt

(17:12):
as what he was on turf. Well, this fellow's just
gone and done it and shown he's exactly as good,
and on a different.

Speaker 1 (17:19):
Day maybe he might even have won.

Speaker 6 (17:21):
You know, I don't want to criticize his rider because
he didn't really do anything wrong, but you do just
wonder if he had delayed it a little he just
might have gone a little bit too far clear and
not been able to have reeled him back. And just
a bit of a shame that they're not going to
rematch again in Dubai. I think a romantic warrior is
going to come back on the turf and forever. You're

(17:43):
obviously going to go for the Dubai World Cup, but
a rematch between the two somewhere it'd be, you know,
really something to save her.

Speaker 7 (17:50):
He does show you that quick catch.

Speaker 8 (17:52):
It for David Omara, who spotted extremely valuable prize when
he first in Dubai and then in Chadi. He didn't
win Epic Poye. I tipped him up as a good
value option last week. He was a bit unlucky not
to win. He didn't get the breaks at the right time.
Machine Murphy jamed him in but for finishing second in
a handicap chaps Epic Poet, who's a good horse, but
he's not a star. Trousered four hundred thousand starting four

(18:16):
hundred thousand, So you know the enterprising trainers like Omara
will continue to spot those openings. Was it was a
great weekend, but it's shelting them. I would get out
of the way.

Speaker 4 (18:27):
No, when you talk about that, you talk about that
kind of money that David O'Mara's won GC, it just
shows you the challenge we've got over here.

Speaker 2 (18:34):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (18:34):
I think of races like the King George and the
jod Won International with all their ambition, and then you
see what happens in Saudi and the money on offering
Jubui coming up. They've got their work done out because
the history and prestige of those races can only get
you so far. And you can see what Nick Smith
is thinking with that King George. They're going to have
to have eyewatering money soon to attract these sources.

Speaker 1 (18:56):
I think.

Speaker 2 (18:58):
Let's talk. Let's go from the King George.

Speaker 3 (19:00):
I's got to Paul Nichols because, as I said, I
was that you weren't on the podcast last week where
we asked the question, posed it to the panel.

Speaker 1 (19:07):
Did listened to it? I listened to it.

Speaker 4 (19:10):
Fran Berry I like I like what GC wrote about
fran Berry as well. Yeah, Brand, that was very very moving,
you did so well.

Speaker 2 (19:16):
Very lovely tribute. So we were ask Nichols be champion again.

Speaker 3 (19:20):
It was all the fact that his media day, the
Nichols media days in the Carto Star Denman, it was
incredible that you couldn't get into the yard. There were
table like trucks, but it was much much lower cused
you would expect on Monday.

Speaker 2 (19:32):
But Paul made the points.

Speaker 3 (19:33):
He made the point that he's got the same fright
makers Dan's Gelton this year's taking over nineteen percent. He's
got nearly two million quid clinked in the eye and
win the national.

Speaker 2 (19:41):
I'm giving it one all of a go.

Speaker 3 (19:42):
You never know he's got one haymaker obviously, But what
stun me yet devolve the moment of the till the
festival that you could just end visited all the ferrai
around Nichols et cetera. Caldwell, Potter whins you and obvious
handy cap checks. He's got his ear to the crowd
as silent as the doubters. Yeah, Smith's only wanted what I'll.

Speaker 4 (20:02):
Tell you what I enjoyed though cunning him against Brocklebank,
it was fantastic head to head over Nichols. It was
like cunning him against Johnson all over again.

Speaker 1 (20:09):
I loved it.

Speaker 8 (20:11):
Came out, Rubert wrote, Rupert came out and win the
big race. But the cold will Potter. I think the
weather forecast might be against them. But what what a
scene if he were to win it. The Sheldons more
and brilliant. After he came out and go be it
winsor Paul Nichols, you know, came stround and said, well
a horse like this gets me.

Speaker 7 (20:27):
Immediately.

Speaker 8 (20:28):
People on Twitter come out and say what a load
of shit, but they don't know what they're on about.

Speaker 4 (20:34):
I think I think some of them will do okay,
you know, the Kelley's to Burleighs, because some of them
haven't been quite right. At nichols is I think he
might pull out a few. But you look at the
others and the Mullins far a pound and you see
how far he is behind.

Speaker 1 (20:46):
I like his horse in the bumper. We talked about
the Mullins horses.

Speaker 4 (20:49):
That's one of the stories of the week, the Barber
horse that they share with the McNeil's No Drama descend
love that to run well in the bumper. But he's
got his work cut out already. But sport changes very,
very quickly. It wasn't so long ago the Barcelona were unbeatable,
and you know things do yet exactly things do change
and so it's not gonna happen in the immediate future.

Speaker 1 (21:09):
But with his hanger, don't rule him out.

Speaker 2 (21:13):
As Paul I wanted to get the line, it's done
a free hit for you this year.

Speaker 3 (21:16):
You've gone in white hot heat in the past, and
what you're going to enjoy the fact there's no pressure
and you could just tell me hate the fact there's
no He thrived on that moment, those moments.

Speaker 8 (21:28):
He's not going a proper chance he doesn't go, does he?

Speaker 2 (21:30):
No, No, you could see why he admits it won you.

Speaker 3 (21:32):
That adrenaline, that that buzzed, that fear, whatever is you've
got on those days, he thrived on it. Now I'm
talking about adrenaline, fear and thriving under pressure. Billy and
Ash the Chell them festal wait handagap way to reveal
a lavish seremony. The lovely bowl of local venison was
offered to the hard working media who covered the event
last week we wanted sixty image I've put it down

(21:55):
to thirty. You've got half an hour and hour with it.
No billy and ash, you're going to be first. Give
it a handicapper. Who's on your radar for the Fez.

Speaker 7 (22:04):
There are a couple already.

Speaker 10 (22:05):
I'd have to say, you go looking at the waits
yesterday and they've got half blind from looking at these
ways yesterday and trying to pick out what I think
as well, Andy Captain, what isn't There were a couple
that stood out to me.

Speaker 7 (22:16):
I was I've been keeping an eye on what sort
of a mark Black in the morning we'll get for
the County Hurdle. He's in off one three too, which
is only ten pounds hurd and he won the Fred
Winter last year.

Speaker 9 (22:24):
And I think he's been let's say minded for this race,
so he's still on my radar, as is another Joseph
Brienhurst in the Jack Richards Nurburg Green, who if you
look at his chase farm is not well andy capped
at all, but he's got a mark of more than
forty two. You want to go with hurdle off one
three nine over hurdles, you'd have to think that this

(22:45):
has been the long term plan with nurburg Green, so
you know, judged on that, I think he's he's potentially
nicely treated in that race there. I think our chasers
are probably better off than the orders and a lot
of races that seems to be the case. That tends
to be the case most years when you look at
the ways that the hurdlers are being do look to

(23:06):
be better off or the chase will do look to
be better off than some of the hurdlers. I think
a couple of Garden Elliot horses in the plate firefox
and touched me not if he was to run them
there rather than the article would be very interesting. But
I'm going to give you one dark one for the
Martin Pipe or the ron had finished. Had a horse
finished second in the race last year, got Walterford whispers

(23:28):
for JP. He's got a very similar type this year
called Raglan Road, who gets in off a mark of
one hundred and twenty nine. He won and made an
hurdle last year and he's only had one run this year,
but he shaped very much like an arst that was
going to come on from it. I think he's been
put aside with this race in mind, a mark of
onndred and twenty nine looks perfectly fair to me and

(23:48):
if he got into the market pipe off that he'd
certainly be on my short list. But the one other
arse that did catch my attention who is not now
trained in Ireland for the County Hurdle is petrol Head.
Remember petrol Head, the horse that was not a load
run in the Galway Ordinal and trained by Katie Brown,
has no giant obviously he's synonymous with Ronald McNelly who's

(24:09):
to train him.

Speaker 7 (24:09):
In the past.

Speaker 9 (24:10):
He's no giant Neil Mulholland. So wouldn't that be interesting
if petrol Head torn up and won the country? Horrible
interesting interview.

Speaker 1 (24:17):
For you there, Ed, Thanks, look forward to that one.

Speaker 8 (24:20):
Billy, Can I ask a quick question on this subject.
It's a more general subject and it's a quote from
yesterday's event. Martin Greenwood, former Time Form colleague of various
people here and now the key handicapper over jumps for
the BHA talking about now is the Hour who seems
to have been prepped quite nicely for the National Hunt
Chase by Gavin Cromwell. And Martin's talking about this horse

(24:44):
and says now is the hour is the most interesting
horse in the National Hunt Chase. Said Greenwood, there was
a bit of controversy in that last run which caught
the eye of a lot of people personally. If that's
the only Irish race you've ever watched and you thought
there was a problem with the running and riding, then
you don't wan you know Irish racing.

Speaker 9 (25:01):
What's he suggesting, Well, I thought the interesting part on
you you didn't. There was a little snippet of that
quote as well, GC where he said some people suggest
that he.

Speaker 7 (25:10):
Shouldn't give the horse some mark.

Speaker 9 (25:12):
Now I'd love to know who these people were that
they said he shouldn't get a mark for after the
run the last time, because he.

Speaker 7 (25:19):
Quite clearly he was. You know, that was his fourth
start over fences at Navin the last day, so he
was entitled to a mark anyway. And it's it.

Speaker 9 (25:28):
Just goes to show how bizarre these new rules are,
because I mean, he could have run over fences. He
could have got a handicap mark over offenses in Ireland
without running over fences. He's he he's entitled to run
a handicap chase in Ireland off his Hurdle's mark if
Gavin wanted to do that. But the fact that some
people are suggesting that Martin Greenwood shouldn't give him a
handicap mark just because they thought he was considerately handled

(25:50):
the last day, I think is absolutely bizarre.

Speaker 8 (25:52):
Popular also with mentioning that looks a proper mudlock as well.

Speaker 9 (25:57):
All his farm is on he's only ever run once
on good and all his best forums on TV. Groaned, Yeah,
so that is what bearing in mind, do you know?

Speaker 2 (26:06):
In terms of the Pressbury Cup channel, I was just
like this dry out, shouldn't it? Don't don't put any
water if we've got to drought.

Speaker 3 (26:12):
Let's have a good firm playing places festival it's coming,
it's coming on.

Speaker 8 (26:16):
We will records broken all over the show.

Speaker 4 (26:18):
Yeah, well, well we'll have in John Pullin's ere I
bet you, oh what a da like?

Speaker 3 (26:24):
Well, the biggest price winner of the day, Billy having
a British hand the capital follow at the festival.

Speaker 2 (26:29):
DJ, what was on your VAIDA for the festival handicaps?

Speaker 6 (26:33):
I'd be lying if I said I went through the
fine toothcombe that Billy appears to have done. But just
when we were talking about Paul Nichols, and the mark
for Ginny's destiny is beginning to look pretty damn appealing now.
And I think he's down to one hundred and forty nine,
but when you think he was three so one f
for the penny power off one hundred and fifty five,

(26:54):
it's certainly roomed something over there.

Speaker 1 (26:56):
And just gc talking.

Speaker 6 (26:57):
About the ground potentially being on the quicker side or
at least not sort of really testing. I think that
might be in his favor, and thank you. If he
was sixteen to one for the place or something on
the day, I'd find it pretty difficult not to keep
him on side. But this, in my opinion, this isn't
the time to be betting in the handicaps. So let's

(27:18):
wait for the day that the races are just priced
so uncompetitive. At the moment, you've only got the standard
each way terms as well, so just be patient. I
think it'd be my take from what we've seen over
the last couple of days, you.

Speaker 2 (27:36):
Know what you could move for John Joorne.

Speaker 3 (27:37):
We had a media visit there yesterday doing the pass
and every single horse he had no opinion where it
was running, never the time, never the time, the stable
tour never appeared. There was literally not a single running
plan for any horse in place.

Speaker 2 (27:49):
It sort of makes sense, Geo.

Speaker 3 (27:51):
I know it's not the time to bet, but is
there a horse on your radar in the fat handicaps?

Speaker 8 (27:55):
It's not a bit ard one, Dave, but I'll be
really surprised if Pencil is not going to go really
close in the Boodle's Thread Winter Juvenile Handicap on day one.
We'll come onto the horus who beat him East India
Dock a bit later on, perhaps, but I genuinely think
that East India Dock is a very very strong Triumpherdal contender.

(28:15):
And although I think he was beaten ten lengths in
the end, in relation to the rest of a reasonable field,
he just looked a useful horse. Now we have to
remember the same connections and owner JP McManus, George and
Zetterholm gave us Milantino last year, who had finished third
to Segino on Bdett Road in the Triumpherdal trial. He
went off I think one hundreds to thirty favorite and

(28:37):
he ran okay, but he wasn't quite good enough. I
think Stencil is is cut from an altogether more athletic
speedier and nimbler cloth and I've had a look at
the I've not gone through all the field, but I'll
be amazed if through the more than one or two
horses who can cope with Stencil on day one.

Speaker 1 (28:56):
Not like you said anything on your Vadar Stencil.

Speaker 4 (29:00):
I love Stencil, but I think I'd rather get the
points out for him to win the Arcle next year
TC than the thread Winter this year.

Speaker 1 (29:07):
He is a chaser in making, He's a stunner. Stencil
love him. I'm in the DJ camp of waiting.

Speaker 4 (29:14):
It looks so different on the day and Skybett paying
sixteen places in some of these races, but Klif the burleigh.

Speaker 1 (29:20):
Is interesting in the Grand Annual.

Speaker 4 (29:22):
I mean, there's so many cargese in the County Hurdle,
there are so many audio but I will be sitting
still until the day.

Speaker 2 (29:29):
I got one of the greatest response I've ad to
a question interviewed Mike.

Speaker 8 (29:33):
Mike, I'll have the.

Speaker 3 (29:33):
VHA Hurdles at the head of the hurdles team and
him yesterday in Sanahmand was it to come up with
the mark for Corpec and me?

Speaker 2 (29:40):
Who was the big boss?

Speaker 3 (29:41):
Offs?

Speaker 2 (29:41):
Is that very easy? You just time the friends whore
waiting by two. Thank you move on next.

Speaker 1 (29:48):
So there he really gets to Venison.

Speaker 2 (29:50):
Ye you could choose on your hand. There's a little
bowl bowls available.

Speaker 8 (29:55):
In a pie or just as a steak.

Speaker 2 (29:57):
No, it was it was a sort of hattole Venison
cast all that. It was very nice, very tasty.

Speaker 3 (30:02):
That wasn't quite the glory years where you've to tow
the copsworld in the Edward glastpiehavor have Cotswold food scattered
around the room because you could take taking a the
great gravy trains not what it used to me, which
I'm sure we'll have set a lot of people, but
we we we we plunder them on. We plumbed it
onto the festival Bankers GT touched on this in last
week's Festival File Don't forget. The latest one will be

(30:23):
on Sporting Life this Saturday. Four again sees good things.
Billy the FASTI majarity of Irish you be staking to
know and there's the great one in there. I'm going
to start Billy with you with corpector board because we're
going to get this beat. Have we one piece of
flims the evidence at the DRM f it's innate for you.

Speaker 9 (30:41):
It's a year from me or be surprised to hear.
And part of the reason is I'm not particular. I'm
not sure this is a very deep race. I don't
particularly fancy Romeo Cunio. I think he's better than Salvator Monday,
and even though will your Money that I was impressive
the other day, I think from what I've seen, all
the evidence would suggest copeck the board as the best
horse in this race.

Speaker 7 (31:00):
He's certainly a y from.

Speaker 8 (31:02):
D Yeah, to ask you about William Money, that was
a very different William Money we saw last week at
pinches Stan different jockey, much smoother jumping technique and it
looks like he's coming good at the right time, isn't it.

Speaker 9 (31:13):
Tactics I think were probably the key the day that
kW boomb cowle boom Get, who unfortunately will miss the festival,
beat him the time before. He went very hard from
the front and couldn't quite last home. But they hand
him up the last day and like you said, jumped
a lot better. Another horse who would think possibly soft
ground is important to him, he does seem to handle
it really well. But yeah, that was an improved performance

(31:35):
and he does seem to be coming right at the
right time, so I wouldn't put anybody off him. He
should be a nice price in there.

Speaker 3 (31:40):
Is he plade the chaps off pulling it evidently clear?
Can you say anything they see? They's a pre favor
taking him on.

Speaker 4 (31:48):
Well, he's he's hot headed, isn't he. So the prelims
are going to be very very interesting and see what
they do. Mighty wear a hood. I don't know, but
I wouldn't be backing him now for so many different
reasons because he's going to be a bigger price on
the day. For one and two, I just want to
see him before the race. Yeah, and he didn't settle
at the DRS and still went easy. I'm not sure
he can get away with that in a race as
good as the Supreme.

Speaker 8 (32:08):
I think keep pulling like that in the medium term
and you will run into problems somewhere. But his ability
is tremendous. I think work Ahead deserves a mention. Now.
We haven't seen him since Christmas and it was only
I think it was a maiden hurdle, but he beat
William Money and he jumped really well. He jumped really
well on the speed and he just looked a good athletes.
So all these sources have a lot to find on

(32:29):
form with Copeck de May, but I think I think
worker had has that potential to take a big jump
forward the board already.

Speaker 1 (32:40):
I need we need to brom Head back in business
really for the fairs.

Speaker 8 (32:45):
Better signs Billy at the moment.

Speaker 9 (32:47):
Yeah, they seemed to be coming back into in the form.
Certainly the green shilts are there, so I wouldn't be
worried about that too much.

Speaker 3 (32:54):
Good one thing that one thing DJ that stuck me
about Copec the models, the potentially free going can take
a talk tel Can Salvat or Monday.

Speaker 2 (33:03):
But I mean, i'd imagine the Mundys might be.

Speaker 3 (33:05):
Slightly concern that they could have two authors two hurdles
clear after after they jump the third in disapproval one
of them, one of them to drop him.

Speaker 1 (33:14):
Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 6 (33:16):
Do you remember Dicetart Dynamo in Constitution Hills race, So
it be interested if we got something like that.

Speaker 1 (33:23):
But yeah, I've been really impressed with Copector boards.

Speaker 6 (33:26):
Obviously he's jumping was a lot better, wasn't it at
Leopardstown in the Brave Inca And that race is just
such a good trial to the Cheltenham novice hurdles. Would
be very surprised if he's beaten, even accounting for his
free going nature.

Speaker 8 (33:42):
I think that's improvement in copt the boards jumping from
start one to two. I think that'll be reflected with
Salvatore Monday. They're really good trainers. They tend to, you know,
to get that improvement when it matters. More So, I
wouldn't be worried about Salvator Monday's jumping. I'm just not
quite sure how good.

Speaker 3 (33:59):
Also another an another W Pemellins ban case madra in
sadly as a gene now less arcle.

Speaker 2 (34:09):
But Billy, I think it was you said there's no
way he went an arcle jumping like you did at
the day. If I'm sure it was you said that, ritic.

Speaker 7 (34:15):
You must have been the station.

Speaker 11 (34:17):
It was.

Speaker 9 (34:18):
Again again for similar reasons to Copeck the Board. I'm
just not convinced about the strength and depth of the
opposition here. Lodis is a very good horse, but I
think Magira has a bit more class than him, and
provided he's he's jumping holds up and he I thought
he was fine at Lepardsop being spectacular. I think he's
the best horse in the race and I wouldn't bet

(34:39):
against him anyway.

Speaker 2 (34:41):
Hey, J you're going to take this one on.

Speaker 6 (34:44):
I'm not inclined to know Loadus looks to be the
pick of the British and that form and last time.

Speaker 1 (34:54):
Was Warwick, wasn't it.

Speaker 6 (34:57):
Yeah, with the firm you could arguably say it was
boosted at the weekend, but perhaps not that by that much.
I'd just be very surprised. Madgeburg just looks a better
horse and he's jumping his fine. To me, I think
he's going to be ridden in very straightforward fashion. He'll
just go out similar to how we did in I
think the last time, and I think he'll be very

(35:17):
hard to peg back.

Speaker 2 (35:20):
Don't strike me JC that they don't really.

Speaker 3 (35:22):
They're excited boy mad with the mull and Steve he's
one that really likes that fire. I don't think they
know where his ceiling is, what a strip is, what,
but they just know he's a bloody good rasource and
very short space of time.

Speaker 8 (35:32):
Possibly, Yeah, he's come a long way in a short
space of time. We're just looking at us. But my
two questions would be, are you likely to back Magic
at four to seven. I think most people on this
podcast would say no. And I've extended by saying, do
you know anyone who's likely to punt him at four
to seven? And I think most people are saying, well,
probably not. I think Lord of Suddy is an interesting

(35:54):
rival here. I agree with Billy that I don't think
there's a massive depth beyond the front two or three
in the market. It What I would like to see
is for Harry Skelton to get into his ribs early
on Magebra's ribs and make it a test of accurate jumping,
because they're both forward going horses. Load of sud. To me,

(36:15):
I've been really impressed with his jumping, and the time
form ratings are one fifty nine p mage Bra one
fifty six pre load of sud. It's not really indicative
of a fall to seven chance, but Magsbro has all
those ones against his name, so there's load of third
fur from four other fencers. So at four to seven
and is it ninety two five to one for looking,

(36:38):
I think I would be. I would be tempted because
you know, with coping Aboard, with final demand, with magis Bra,
all horses have they all have floors if you raise
them often enough. Dave coming in off two runs, you know,
two runs or is it two or three for Mageborough
other fencers two? Just two, you know, copy the board

(37:01):
to final demand to keep raising them, they will show floors.
And if Harry Skelton makes it a real aggressive you know,
no holds bold test of jumping. I think Lord of
sid can give Magebur a right shake to.

Speaker 1 (37:14):
Which you make the points as well. Just each way.

Speaker 6 (37:17):
Wise that taking on these price these short priced horses
with the three places, mathematically you're in a pretty good
place regardless if you take them all on anyway.

Speaker 8 (37:28):
I should bring out that all start though it's only
three years old. But in grade ones will he's had
fourteen runners at six to four, a shorter twelve and
twelve one and the other two were Gallopan when he
tipped up at the last about to win by a
street in the turners and the cement Footadel Fabiolo at
two to nine in last year's championships. So he doesn't

(37:48):
miss many when the tights in the group ones. Oh
we're hoping Nick doesn't miss with many.

Speaker 3 (37:54):
I mean, I know your portfolios in shreds Yvotogino, you
pass out on the you're punching my chamberlin, you're on
your knees, you're getting.

Speaker 2 (38:04):
It all back. Are You're walking up to the rails
on the Tuesday to get it all back on Constitution Hill?

Speaker 1 (38:09):
Absolutely hopeless. I am listen.

Speaker 4 (38:12):
He's the big horse of the week for me in
my TV capacity, and I'm I'm I take on board
everything GC said. But I've been a believer since day one.
I've never doubted him. That Newbery the day worked with Gino.
As you know, Gino was a flipping airplane. If he
couldn't have beaten Masbro over two miles, I'd have given
up the game, I think. And Constitution Hill that day

(38:33):
was as fat as me at Newbury, goes to Kempton
the Paddock and I'm still thinking he's fat. Not quite
as fat as me, but he's still pretty fat. I
know needed those cracks GC, but he was. He was
mightily impressive. And then you see him at Kempton and
he looks like freaking Constitution Hill again. He looks like
a lean machine. And I'm a total believer. I've never
doubted him. I think he's a freak. I know In

(38:56):
normal years, these mayor's getting seven pounds can be deadly,
but Constitution Hill.

Speaker 1 (39:01):
Is something completely different and I just cannot wait they
come down the hill.

Speaker 4 (39:05):
I hope Mark Johnson's on commentary for all my mates
who are going, and Mark Johnson says Nico hasn't moved
a muscle on Constitution Hill, the place will go absolutely ballistic.
And what it was like with twenty nineteen dead, Oh,
I'll be magic, it'd be heaven. That's what my my
friends who are sports, that's that's what they love. I know,
racing people roll their eyes. Yeah, but that is the

(39:26):
theater of Cheltenham and nothing beats it. Back in the
day when anything Ruby was riding, when Ruby hadn't moved
a muscle, the place just rowed.

Speaker 1 (39:33):
It's theater.

Speaker 4 (39:34):
That's what you're going to play to when you're the
race course commentator. But order you saw what it was
like with nineteen was it twenty thousand people there with
Constitution Hill on trial's day? Imagine what that's going to
be like with sixty five thousand people. And I think
he'll deliver.

Speaker 1 (39:47):
I'm a believer, Dick.

Speaker 3 (39:49):
It's put us if it's put us to feet in
the Presbury Cup as well, and good to firm ground there.

Speaker 2 (39:54):
The players will be absolutely it'd be like quick to them.
We are sorts of songs.

Speaker 8 (39:58):
Ricky's on track record, the one he smashed three years
on the Supreme.

Speaker 3 (40:03):
The tatup could be there, couldn't it If they run
part to Day's Ahead, She's got a pace maker the
tank along. It's the same setup that we explode off
in the Supreme. But GC, who made the point a
number of times, is all about field with this source
of the bit of the concrete evidence is then on
the ground.

Speaker 8 (40:17):
The problem is it's all about Field with a few others.
Do you feel that Brighton Day's Ahead will run. Do
you think that Lossy Mouth will recover from a very
very heavy fall that she suffered at Leopards Down? And
do you feel that state Man is fully over whatever
ailed him at Christmas because he was left with walking
day in the Irish Champion Hurdles. So it's a tremendous

(40:41):
race to have a look for all that. I'm skeptical
about how to analyze the Jolly Constitutional is ten from ten,
Brighton Days is seventh from eight and should be eight
from h RT Caught in a Dordal at last year's festival.
State Man is thirteen from eighteen and Lossy Mouth is
nine from twelve. So it's a legitimate, high quality race

(41:02):
and it all depends, as David said, on how you
feel about the favorite and one or two others. I
think Gordon Elliott and call Mike just delay this Brighter
Days Ahead decision now and and wait very carefully on
the weather. I think Billy sunded up well.

Speaker 2 (41:16):
There, David.

Speaker 3 (41:19):
We spent last time people albums ago. We're getting ready
for the greatest hurdle of ever. We had all the graphics,
very she was got that go past night. He was
going to go past night, and.

Speaker 2 (41:27):
Nurse we're hoping with Constitution Hill didn't come around. You
happy to sit and watch well?

Speaker 6 (41:32):
I mean people who listen to the puddle know that
I've already backed Brighter Days Ahead back to you know,
before she did what she did at Christmas and remained fourteen's.
I think, so well, if she doesn't run, it doesn't
look quite so good, but it's a great.

Speaker 3 (41:53):
You know.

Speaker 6 (41:54):
I think if she runs, she'll give him a real race,
and I think she'll beat him. If she doesn't, I
think Constitution Hill beat the rest pretty easy. It's that
straightforward as far as I'm concerned.

Speaker 2 (42:06):
Nash, want one word from you? Saw no constitution Hill? Yes,
luck at.

Speaker 1 (42:16):
Them pain and very earlier I praised him. He was
brilliant last week.

Speaker 4 (42:21):
Go back and listen to that twaddle he spoke before
Christmas about Constitution Hill. I hope he's changed too.

Speaker 3 (42:27):
I'm moving on to final demand. That word and I've
got to say kind of you for everybody's messages. Could
you mentioned that model about Christmas and we all get
our horses for twenty twenty five at the end of
that and I put up a horse called Willie Mullins
and it just won at Limerick because I've never heard
Willy speak like it.

Speaker 7 (42:42):
It was final demand.

Speaker 2 (42:44):
He was that the same point where yes it was,
Yes it was La Lambert was short enough.

Speaker 1 (42:54):
He was thirty three to one.

Speaker 3 (42:56):
Final Demand was thirty threes for the albut battlet and
the turners eyes said, I thought he was one of
the pay listers. Again, thanks for the messages I received
none and I back think they album battlet.

Speaker 2 (43:06):
Ah Me the cruelest of games.

Speaker 3 (43:13):
Bill enough finally, man, he'say enough evidence to say he's
a turn as banker, possibly not enough.

Speaker 9 (43:21):
To say he's a banker like everybody else. I was
massively impressed by what I thought at leopardsone. He looks
he really does look the real deal. I think he's
going to be a tremendous chaser in twelve months time.
But unlike the Supreme, I think this is possibly a
really competitive noviice hurdle with the likes of the New
Line and Potter's chairman a few more in their couple
of other Irish ones as well. I won't be batting

(43:43):
against final demand, but I certainly wouldn't be lumping into
him at Cordentdads.

Speaker 7 (43:48):
He may well win already. I wouldn't be at all
surprised if he did.

Speaker 9 (43:51):
But I just think this is a very very good race,
and the fact that like the Natange Lacy that he
won has a terrible record of using Cheldam winners, the
channel order that the New Line one has a terrible
record of producing Cheldam winners. But something's got to give
and I'm just a little bit undefensi about him. I
think he's a smashing prospect, but I'm not sure what

(44:12):
to back him with those.

Speaker 8 (44:13):
Ads, really does the Yellow Clay go here? Or will you?

Speaker 7 (44:16):
Will you go all with that's the plan, Yeah, that's
the plan. No, he's in the outer Pact as well.
But he the original plan all along.

Speaker 2 (44:22):
Was the run this race.

Speaker 8 (44:23):
It's it's terrible for me to be baging on about
the ground at this point. But the Yellow Clay handle
really deep ground when he won the Lawless of Nace.
Final Demand clearly handles soft ground. Well. I would imagine
that the new Lion, with that high cruising speed and
that catlike jumping would be would be really nicely suited
by spring conditions at Sheldon. What do you think I

(44:45):
would agree?

Speaker 9 (44:46):
Yeah, yeah, I think if all the three of them,
certainly he'd be the one that would prefer dryer ground.

Speaker 2 (44:51):
I think definitely, I'd agree.

Speaker 3 (44:54):
Well, Art think about it. If it is like good ground,
I'd look to stretch Final Demand out. I think I
think you might find a speed test or two and
after well, he's still in the Albert Bartler will I
I I think that there's a definite option there to
go over the three.

Speaker 8 (45:08):
He could be rained by the Fridays.

Speaker 7 (45:09):
Will they.

Speaker 2 (45:11):
Which possibly canning to give your conditions?

Speaker 6 (45:15):
Will he looked horrified at the thought of going through miles,
didn't he When he was interviewed by Nicolas on Racing
TV on the Sunday.

Speaker 2 (45:23):
A poll into appall him. It was all fueled by
van Berry.

Speaker 3 (45:28):
Was also back to Albert Bartler only who was trying
to plant the seed, but it was it was tossed
to one side. But the good guys will get their
day one day. I'm quite sure bally Burn, b J.
I'm going to start with you on bally Burn. He
came to Campton at Christmas. He then won stepped up
in trip at the dr F. Did you see enough

(45:49):
there to s Jeff? He doesn't want to take on
in the Brown advisory.

Speaker 6 (45:53):
I'm a little bit on the sense with him at
the moment. I'm not convinced he's definitely a Thorought day
and three miles or suit and he just sort of
tend to go pretty freely, doesn't he. And I just
wonder if his strength at the finish the other day
was a little bit over egg by crop Park not

(46:15):
being a Thorost dayer himself, so I don't know. I
really got loads of time for bally Burn, and I
think he's a horse of serious potential obviously, but it's
just a shame that they got rid of that turns.

Speaker 1 (46:30):
That's where Magine would be running. We wouldn't even have
magic in the ark.

Speaker 3 (46:34):
No he might have had the wouldn't un him and
bally Burn running the two and a half. I mean
they don't have to keep those two apart. But see
what whatever you with Ballyburn, it's your way for evidence
is bank of material to you.

Speaker 8 (46:48):
Take you back way back to a bumper of punches
down April twenty three, Ballyburn won it. Dancing City was
second and Slate Steel was there. That was handy bumper.
I'm a massive fan of Dancing City, but I would
prefer it to be soft to heavy. I think he's

(47:09):
I think he's just an admirable horse. He got better
and better over hurdles. His technique over hurdles was always
a little too high and careful to get the very
best out of him. But he excelled at three festivals
and I think he's made a very bright start over fences.
But you look at the Willie quotes slads he's a
four wheel drive.

Speaker 7 (47:29):
He laziest sin.

Speaker 8 (47:30):
But I do think this is the exact exactly right
race for him and on good to softer, soft ground,
I think he would. I think bally Burn would have
his hands full over more than three miles at Cheltenham.
I'll wait on the ground. I'm a bally Burn fan.
I think he's a tremendous athlete and I do think
he'll he'll stay the trip. He was so strong close

(47:51):
home a Leopards down. But if there was given the ground,
I'd be mighty, mighty keen to sort of have a
really strong play bet on Dancing City and maybe a
bit to win as well. Brog Park's in there. Billy
can tell us about better days ahead and Stellar Story.
I would have been filthy if I'd Backstellar Story at

(48:11):
NAVN last time. I would have been filthy.

Speaker 7 (48:14):
You talk about.

Speaker 8 (48:15):
Horses, you know who might have won, who didn't win.
And there's another a Valuabilly's opinion on if it is
going to get dried up Henry Horse who's not been
seen for ages, called gorgeous Tom, who's a big, big
price at the moment. But if it turned into a
proper spring ground festival, he'd be very well suited by it.
What do you think I wouldn't disagree. Gorge's Tom was

(48:37):
probably unlucky not to win the drin More at Fairy
House last time. He was rattling home at the end
of it. That was over two and a half.

Speaker 9 (48:44):
But he had done his winning during the the early
part of the season, So yeah, I wouldn't I wouldn't disagree.
I think he's he's certainly a heart on the up
and like you said, he's probably been forgotten the small
but totally agree with your bugstellar story absolutely should have
eaten better than ahead now on the last day, but
both of them will struggle to match bally Borne. In

(49:05):
my opinion, I think I think bally Bourne is a
classic part I wouldn't be too concerned about him getting
the trip, to be honest, he's absolutely bred to get it.
If you want to have a look back at the
day he wants pint to point he came from no
man's lend to win a pint of pint and was
flying home to finish. Yeah, I just think he's a
class apart, and I think Willie's got a really strong
hand in this race. He could run up to five

(49:26):
in this He's got Dancing City, he's got Lecky Watson,
he's got Key de Bourbon, high class hero, but there's
absolutely no doubt who the number one in the race
is there.

Speaker 7 (49:34):
They're all about bally Bourne. I think he'll get the
trip and I think he'll win.

Speaker 2 (49:40):
Thank g Blaine, John Bond, Championshchase, British Banker.

Speaker 4 (49:44):
I actually agree and I think I'm gonna have to
go after this one order you'll be pleased to hit.

Speaker 1 (49:50):
He's the one that could be backable on the day.

Speaker 4 (49:51):
John Bond, don't do anything now because I think it's
going to be the wise one to take on. I
think a lot of people are going to want to
take on John Bond with him not have one the
big one at Cheltenham, with his Cheltenham record, and hopefully
that'll play into John bond fans hands because I think
he'll win.

Speaker 1 (50:08):
And nick I've said there's so much about this in
the past. Nico de Boyneville's the key to this horse.

Speaker 4 (50:12):
As long as Nicko's there on Champion Chase day, I
think he's much the best in a weak division really.

Speaker 2 (50:18):
And thank you partly to your meeting with the chaplain.
Big wisouldn't reveal that, but yeah, Prestbury Parker.

Speaker 1 (50:27):
Who was not Venison's due.

Speaker 2 (50:34):
Thoughly reheated.

Speaker 3 (50:35):
If it is, if that's something GC if we talked
about John Bond, the argument that people are putting up
is he isn't the same horse Cheltenham as he is
away from Pressbury Park.

Speaker 2 (50:45):
Is there any evidence for that for you?

Speaker 8 (50:47):
I can't find it. I think it's it's high up
on my list of crack for theories that are going around.
Sometimes you just say I don't really like the price,
so I'm going for X instead. But I just don't
believe that that holds water. And in terms of from
a fan point of view, the horse doesn't care either way.
But in terms of wanting a horse to win one

(51:09):
of the big ones, I would really like for him
to win because he is as very good. He's been
super consistent and see he's been industrious, Dave. I think
he has run more in the last three seasons than
any of the other cracks. I stand to be corrected
on that, but he's been a little bit busier than

(51:30):
the vast majority of the stars, so I think he
can win. But I don't think it's a cakewalk, and
I think it's fiery because of solness and Matata possibly
one or two others. I don't know whether else Theabiolo
will run, but it's only two runs since he started
two to nine for this race last year and ergumine

(51:51):
if it was a bog, that seems unlikely. Gaelic Warrior
interested to hear what the lads think, but I don't
know what to make of him at the moment. I'm
dead against solness. I don't think you can park him
out in lane eight like they've been doing at Leopardstown
and hope to thrive at Cheltenham. And then we've got
Marie Nationale and a couple of long shots. But no,
I'm not in a mood to oppose John Bourne because

(52:14):
he's got the best recent form in the race, and
b because I just like him to win this time around.

Speaker 2 (52:20):
Definitely an element to this, isn't there.

Speaker 3 (52:22):
I think you feel John More will be a thoroughly
deserved champion in the championships.

Speaker 1 (52:27):
Yeah, he absolutely would.

Speaker 6 (52:29):
It's hard to believe that a horse has done everything
that he's done and he's still to win. At the
Chapman Festival, he had the misfortune, obviously to run into
Constitution Hill in the Novice.

Speaker 1 (52:38):
Hurdle and el Sabiola was very much on aging day.

Speaker 6 (52:42):
In the Arcle, and he had obviously the issue with
the stable last year, so he's not always had Lady
Look on his side, and he's shown more than enough
to suggest that he'd be a worthy winner, even if,
like GC says, I don't think it will necessarily be
a cake walk, because there's a few others you couldn't
necessarily rely on in the same way as you can

(53:02):
jump on. But they're not a million miles behind him
in terms of ability that if there on a going day,
they could just put it all together and make him
really have a battle on his hands. But yeah, I
hope he wins because he does deserved it.

Speaker 3 (53:17):
We're running out of time and it's in a bowl
two for the face of one. You factor file in
the Ryan ad Ta Poo in the stay as.

Speaker 7 (53:26):
Fighting the Ryan.

Speaker 11 (53:27):
There, I think ye, I certainly, No, it's not absolutely
certain he's going to run unto this yet, but if
he turns up on it, you know, yes, he'll be
up against.

Speaker 9 (53:37):
The lights of protector at and whatever. But I do
think he's going to be the one to beat him.
That to Gouba is hardly really want to take on
the Stairs hurdle. Certainly, if the grun comes up dry,
I'd be very inclined to take him on. I think
he's really short already. If you look back at the
race last year, he beat a whole pile of veterans.
It wasn't a strong division, but it's not much stronger

(53:58):
this year. There are a couple of delights a Lucky
Place maybe Rockies Diamond that are emerging in that division.
I'm just not sure where we are but too but
he got beaten in the Heddon's Grace. We haven't seen
him since. If the ground does dry out, he's.

Speaker 7 (54:11):
Too sharp for me. I'd be happy to take him hand.

Speaker 2 (54:14):
We see them till.

Speaker 7 (54:17):
For third.

Speaker 2 (54:18):
Succepted Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, Jac you'll go first? Where
are you with him?

Speaker 8 (54:23):
Very hard to oppose. Don't be surprised if the factor
File Gold Cup conversation extends if it stays dry. Don't
be surprised if Factor File, wherever he goes, jumps quite
sharply right early on. I think that's been a forgotten
thing about his performance at Cheltenham last year. But no,
I'm going to Gold Cup day. I'm not working, but

(54:43):
I can't not be there for a horse who's highly
likely to win a third Gold Cup, and it's it's
very difficult to find any any flows. Bambridge would be
obviously well suited if it stayed dry back to fire.
We don't know where he's going to go. Grange Claire
West is also I think he's coming good again at

(55:05):
the right time. But no, it's a case of randomness.
I think you're looking for randomness to intervene if the
shortest price favorite of the week is going to get
turned over, that's what it is.

Speaker 3 (55:16):
It's a charged price of the week in the big
race of the week. Are you Are you expecting the combination.

Speaker 1 (55:24):
That's to you d J apologies apologies.

Speaker 6 (55:27):
Yeah, I think he's very hard to be He's seen,
you know, his CV is chopped full of really good efforts,
particularly at Chel and then there's no reason why he
shouldn't be able to give his running again under these conditions.
And just having a quick look at the time form ranges,
it's likely to be nine pounds clear of Bambridge and
then I think there's another six pounds back to Grange

(55:50):
Claire West. In terms of who's likely to take him
on and it's just going to be very, very difficult
to be And like GC says, you look into things
out of the ordinary to get him beta thing.

Speaker 3 (56:02):
Final word to you on this week's podcast, will he
want to say it be his finest achievement, his finest training? Now,
if Gallapini Shop was to win him the third Gold
CuPy it matters a lot.

Speaker 2 (56:10):
Is he going to get that moment?

Speaker 8 (56:11):
You think?

Speaker 7 (56:13):
I think he is.

Speaker 9 (56:14):
I like the others, I find it impossible to appause him.
I just can't see what's going to beat him unless
something unforeseen happens. He's the best heart in the race
and he just keeps on turning up and doing it.
So fingers crossed.

Speaker 8 (56:26):
You know.

Speaker 9 (56:26):
GC said he'd love to see John Bond win the championshapse, Well,
I'd love to see gallup underhamp wins three Gold Cups
because they think he deserves us.

Speaker 8 (56:33):
Just for the record. Arkle when he won his third
was ten to one on in a small field and
won it by offence. The best mate went for his third,
he was eight to eleven and he scrambled home by
half a length from serem Brand. So it's not always
quite as plain singing as the script suggests.

Speaker 3 (56:53):
That day very well who joined us earlier when he
only just dropped off at the end to the beast majority.

Speaker 2 (56:58):
But you see, Billy and David will be back recording
in person next week.

Speaker 3 (57:03):
It's not under We're joined by Patrick Mullins to take
a look ahead of channel. We'll only be a week
out then we'll get the inside track on some of
the close.

Speaker 7 (57:10):
Up and horses.

Speaker 3 (57:11):
Any ones you want to just to ask about getting
touch comment on the YouTube video. We'll ask Patrick for
any horses that you want him to be quizzed on
next week, but before then, thank you very.

Speaker 2 (57:21):
Much for listening.

Speaker 4 (57:24):
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