lochgarmanabu
County: Wexford
Posts: 250

219519 I would reckon 2 favourites to oppose are Binocular - because of his price - and Diamond Harry (may not still be favourite on the day anyway). Diamond Harry won his races easily but those he beat have let the form down big time. Master of Arts won his only hurdle race easily and is a possibility for the Triumph. Ground or no groud Harchi does not like the Cheltenham hill and his chance was missed 3 years back. I get the impression the Meath supporters view their horses (mainly N Meade's) the same way as they see their football team. This can be very expensive when it comes to horses which should never be backed with the heart.



Very poor statement lad harchibalb would get up any mountain . The only problem like i said is he finds nothing of the bridle and i would not mind him looking over my stable door . He has earned alot of money won few big races so to tell me he cant come up the hill . And the comment about meath trainers tony martin the gamble king pin in england including the festival at cheltenham . Also ger lyons winning races with his horses world wide all meath trainers so your point is stupid .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 26/02/2009 22:37:30    219603

Agree with everything Dellboy has said. Who do you reckon is this year's Xenophon or Dun Doire, Dellboy? Possibly Clarified or Pires who has a big handicap in him I think? Psycho and Leg Spinner too and maybe the 2006 William Hill winner could do it again - Dun Doire??

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 26/02/2009 23:00:06    219650

Loyal2TheRoyal
County: Meath
Posts: 1552

219650 Agree with everything Dellboy has said. Who do you reckon is this year's Xenophon or Dun Doire, Dellboy? Possibly Clarified or Pires who has a big handicap in him I think? Psycho and Leg Spinner too and maybe the 2006 William Hill winner could do it again - Dun Doire??


Well i fancy psycho he is flying at the minute and unlucky the last day . And xenophon another class horse dun doire i feel is running below par . But be on psycho ..

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 26/02/2009 23:07:37    219657

while yer brown nosing each other, i stand by what i said. he should have got stuck into him before the last and more on the way home. look at mc coy and ruby, knocking lumps out of horses 2 get the last bit from them. Its one of the things that seperates them from most. ruby on board and it would have been a win.

kauto star (Sligo) - Posts: 42 - 26/02/2009 23:30:35    219676

Is there not a forum or indeed several already established forá, of this ass/mule/jenett/donkey business in Meath???

Boxtyeater (Leitrim) - Posts: 752 - 27/02/2009 00:26:19    219707

kauto star
County: Sligo
Posts: 35

219676 while yer brown nosing each other, i stand by what i said. he should have got stuck into him before the last and more on the way home. look at mc coy and ruby, knocking lumps out of horses 2 get the last bit from them. Its one of the things that seperates them from most. ruby on board and it would have been a win.


Harcibald does not like the stick like other horse and after all noel meade should know better than you . Go and train over two thousand winners and come back then . Harcibald has proven to be a great horse prize money says it all .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 27/02/2009 00:34:09    219714

Del I did not say Meath trainers were bad or anything remotely like that - my point was re how Meath supporters view the Meath trained horses. To both youself and Loyal I would totally agree Harchibald has been a tremendous horse and I have backed him a number of times including when he was 2nd in the Ch Hurdle and all owners would be thrilled to own such a good horse but that is in the past and the bookies dont take bets on races already run and now we are talking about what will happen in the future, in 11/12 days time - in fact I would be delighted if Harchi won it but I dont believe it will ever happen now. Loyal I would not even bother answering your question re other Meath trainers (Meath has been at the heart of NH racing in Ireland for many many years). I would also say that it is quite possible that I have resided in the Meath area/Meath for more years than yourself and almost definetly attended race meetings in Co Meath even before you were born (late 1950s). Anyway Loyal keep up the good work - I appreciate your kowledge of and your interest in the good sport itself and would guess that horse-racing is really your number one love - and genuinely hope all your fancies skate up the week after next. In truth it comes a long way ahead of 30 guys running after a big round yoke in the muck and wet!

lochgarmanabu (Wexford) - Posts: 1022 - 27/02/2009 01:03:17    219727

Physcho has no chance in Cheltenham. Too high in the handicap. I was delighted when martin lost out on two big pots with the horse. I remember backing him in limerick off a mark in the 80's. Some cert that day. As for Dun Doire he wouldnt win a point to point never mind a race at cheltenham nowadays. He was tailed off the day he won the william hill and he hasnt got any faster or better. In fact he has regressed massively and couldnt take advantage of a much lower mark over hurdles in the last few years. The one horse who might have a chance is that Pires. Im happy holding a docket for Aleander Severus at 10/1 for the fred winter. They showed their hand too much the last day though.

BET OF THE MEETING:
Whiteoak if she goes for the mares race.

LAY OF THE MEETING:
Chomba Womba. She doesnt saty a properly run 2 1/2 Miles.

kauto (Carlow) - Posts: 18 - 27/02/2009 09:28:50    219787

Going to do a treble for a bit of craic, Mullins first three at Dundalk. Would fancy it far more if not on dirt.

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 27/02/2009 09:30:00    219788

Well thanks very much lochgormanabu, I'm sorry to have doubted you earlier. You are obviously quite up to speed with all things racing too. I agree about Harchibald, he probably won't win but that is mainly because of the ground. If it was fairly quick, then he'd be hard stopped and as is apparant from all the messages on here would have a lot of supporters roaring him up the hill. After that we can agree to disagree. GAA remains number one, by the way!

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 27/02/2009 09:59:37    219825

kauto star
County: Sligo
Posts: 35

219676 while yer brown nosing each other, i stand by what i said. he should have got stuck into him before the last and more on the way home. look at mc coy and ruby, knocking lumps out of horses 2 get the last bit from them. Its one of the things that seperates them from most. ruby on board and it would have been a win.

All I'll say in response to this message is that the good jockeys are not the best because they "knock lumps out of horses". If you think that is the case, then you may go back to the basics. Look at the race again and you will see how untrue what you are really saying is. Ruby or no Ruby, Tatenen would not have won.

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 27/02/2009 10:03:29    219829

I dont doubt that Harchibald has been a great servant to racing. Its horses that like Harchi that set NH apart from Flat in that the top horses stay in training longer, providing great entertainment and generating great excitement. All Ive said is that Harchis best days are behind him after a lot of tough battles, and that although he has performed well at Cheltenham, prehaps in the Champion Hurdle and the pace that it is run at with the steep climb to the finish, his stamina is stretched too much. I believe he gives his all on the bridle and doesnt keep anything in reserve. It seems popular to say just because a horse responds to pressure that he is a great battler but very often it requires a jockey to be very tough on the horse to get that bit extra. Not every horse keeps something in reserve, some are very genuine and give it their all before it gets to this point. Horses are like humans they are all different and have their own quirks and personalities, especially throughbreds. We buy foals and sell them on as 3 and 4 year olds and it is true to say not one of them are exactly the same temperment wise. Its the nature of the animal.

I cant wait for the festival, there is nothing like the feeling you get when you look out at the track and the Cotswolds before the Supreme waiting for the tapes to go up and the huge roar from the crowd. I am not that confident at the Irishs horses chances in the handicaps as the British handicapper has been brutal in his assessment e.g Alexander Severus 20 lb higher than his Irish rating even if it is 4 yo hcap that hes running in. Our best chances will be the bumper (I have to study the race yet) and cross country (between L'ami and Garde) as usual and the supreme novices where I think we might actually have the first three, Cousin Vinny, Kempes and meades horse. I wont study the Foxhunters until the entries have been finalised but I'll probably side with an up and coming point to pointer than a older hunter chaser.

Is there anybody else from here going?

gianfranco (Offaly) - Posts: 100 - 27/02/2009 14:16:39    220292

del i didnt disagree with what u said

kauto star (Sligo) - Posts: 42 - 27/02/2009 15:13:01    220390

loyal fair enough u have u view i have mine, we just differ

kauto star (Sligo) - Posts: 42 - 27/02/2009 15:14:29    220393

Hope to get there for the four days but realistically it is always very difficult and the real winners are the bookies. Some of the races are a lottery especially the handicaps. Ok if you click for one of them you are made for the meeting but.... Ferdy Murphy was once asked about his successes at the festival and while I cant remember his exact words he answered the question by outlining the odds of his winners which were all close to 33/1 shots - in effect meaning he was not very confident about them either. One is definitely best sticking with those who have proved their liking for and can jump the course and there are many many repeat winners of the championship races. The bumper is difficult. Take last year we had Corkskeagh, Apt Approach, Zaarito and Cousin Vinny. It was impossible to separate them and since Cousin Vinny took a walk in the market on the day the Mullins camp must have fancied Apt the more. I hope I dont back anything in it this year but might be tempted towards Rite Of Passage. The Triumph was a terrible race for years but has changed and the winner normally has form. The RSA novice chase can be a terrible slog especially if the going is heavy and many of the winners are never seen again to any effect (Denman an exception but he did not have a hard race as those behind them relatively poor/one paced). It is possible to pick the winners of the novice hurdles but many of the hot pots get turned over too. All in all it is a most enjoyable pilgrimage but one would need the stamina of a horse and preferably that of an Inglis Drever type! We all have a problem here in that we see the Irish horses through rose-tinted glasses and even when we get it right something like Silver Jaro comes along and effs it all up - yes I had Psy... too! Anyway best of luck to everyone and if you are debating whether you travel or not just go.

lochgarmanabu (Wexford) - Posts: 1022 - 27/02/2009 15:58:52    220471

A group of primary school infants, accompanied by two female teachers,
went on a field trip to Cheltenham races to see and learn about
race horses.

When it was time to take the children to the toilet, it was decided
that the girls would go with one teacher and the boys would go with
the other.

The teacher assigned to the boys was waiting outside the men's toilet
when one of the boys came out and told her that none of them could
reach the urinal

Having no choice, she went inside, helped the boys with their pants,
and began hoisting the boys up, one by one.

As she lifted one, she couldn't help but notice that he was unusully well endowed. Trying not to show that she was staring, the teacher said, 'You must be in year four.'

'No, madam,' he replied. 'I'm riding Silver Arrow in the 2.15.'

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 27/02/2009 21:49:16    220730

Flat Jockeys to show Ruby, AP, Paul, Barry and co. how its done????

Pat Smullen and Seamie Heffernan both look set to ride in the bumper. On AtTheRaces tonight, the Offaly man said he would be looking for his trainer Dermot Weld to put him up on of his horses at Cheltenham. Later Seamie said he would likely be following Smullen over. I had heard from a source that Heffo would be riding in it but not on the horse he hinted at riding tonight.

Jamie Spencer and Hayley Turner could also get rides over there.

Very exciting, would love to see a Flat jockey win it again.

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 27/02/2009 22:55:46    220776

A doubt about whether or not Paul Carberry will particapate at Cheltenham. He missed the festival in 2007, surely he won't suffer the same fate again.

Also Hairy Molly is 50/1 for The Plate and 50/1 for The William Hill. His jumping improved massively the last day on ground he would have hated. Better ground and a mark incredibly low on a course he is proven on mean he is an exceptionally big price. I think the Plate is the race for him as stamina would be an issue in the longer one. Only thing is he runs tomorrow at Leopardstown. Hopefully a good run there.

And speaking of Leopardstown, Missed That flew up the gallops in 2005 before landing a gamble at Cheltenham and then in 2006, Skys The Limit did an excellent piece of work and won the Coral Cup 10 days later. Who will be the next Missed That or Skys The Limit? All to be revealed tomorrow.

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 28/02/2009 19:08:11    221025

what ever mccoy is riding have a few quid on top jockey at this meeting for years also he has all mick fitz's rides this year for Henderson

gabby01 (Antrim) - Posts: 78 - 28/02/2009 20:28:04    221080

Think i may have found one in one of the big handicaps, Cailin Alainn in the WH on the 1st day, 16/1 at the minute .. In my lucky 31 anyway..

HongKongPhooey (Antrim) - Posts: 93 - 01/03/2009 00:41:37    221192