Channel 4 Racing

Judgemental said:
I agree. I am sure Alistair will in the fulness of time, rank with 'the greats' of racing commentary such as Peter O'Sullivan.

Thought the Foxhunters was an outstanding race.

Do I put money on Long Run and Sam Whaley-Cohen on Saturday...........thinks.............?
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Wasn't it great to see no horse falls in the Foxhunters. Lets hope this is because of the latest modifications to the National fences. The horses who made mistakes were able to stay on their feet rather than somersaulting over. I am a great lover of the sport but worry about the future of a race with such a poor safety record for horses.
 
It is all most satisfactory.

However in my humble opinion I don't think Owners,Trainers or Jockeys like being interviewed in the Paddock just before the bell goes.

The period when the horses come into the Paddock and the jockeys mount, should be entirely private.

Having sombody darting about with a microphone it not welcome and as a viewer, I find it embarrising.

All parties are mentally 'hyped up' and don't need to have the hassel of having to give a soundbite.

By all means get as many soundbites as possible after the race.

I noted that Claire tried to get a sound bite from The Presidents of both Oxford and Cambridge crews, whilst they were traditionally lined up, just before the start of the boat race.

Did she get a sound bite or comment. NO and it was obvious they did not welcome her intrusion!
 
Its Scottish National day! We run 3 and whilst it would be wonderful for Lie Forrit to win I prefer Green Flags chances.

But the big question is - Will Battle Group start today or not?!?
 
Any horse, Battle Group or not, who wont jump off at the start should be left behind, and barred from any future racing. It simply isn't fare on the rest of the field. It's like flat horses which wont load, why should others have to stand in the stalls and be wound up, whilst they wait?

If B_G wont start, shoot the bloody thing.

Alec.
 
Battle Group decided not to bother today again. He was lucky to be given a second chance by the starter, and they did eventually get him to canter half a circuit, without jumping anything, but he joins the great characters of Chaninbar and Mad Moose being sent to the naughty step at the BHA
 
The starter was told beforehand not to allow Battle Group a second chance. If he didn't go first time don't recall and wait for him. But the starter still did anyway ... Bad Hammy Hamster! He'll get a ban from the BHA now I suspect and as much as I love the wee toerag it would be well deserved.

Our horses didn't stay simples. Slightly disappointed in Green Flag but he is a young horse who has plenty of years and big races in him.
 
I though Green flag ran a good race till the end when he tired rapidly, didn't think he would make it over the final fence!!

Very impressed with the winner who also ran yesterday! Have never known that before, is it common practice?
 
Just flicked up the full results - the wee monkey did go in the end but was miles behind, jumped 8 fences then pulled up. They should send him back up here to me :D
 
3beasties - it was La Bacardy who won the race before the Scottish National that ran yesterday and was second. Al Co hasn't run since December.
 
A rather poor alternative I accept, but do you suppose, that with a fresh approach, he might take to Eventing? He is as you say, a wee monkey!

There's obviously a huge resistance and he really doesn't want to, and wont, race. It must be so frustrating for his owners, his trainer and their staff.

Alec.
 
Alec Swan said:
A rather poor alternative I accept, but do you suppose, that with a fresh approach, he might take to Eventing? He is as you say, a wee monkey!

There's obviously a huge resistance and he really doesn't want to, and wont, race. It must be so frustrating for his owners, his trainer and their staff.

Alec.
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In all honesty - no, I don't think he would event. He is a complete tearaway at home, always has been. If he went round an xc course I doubt you would have the greatest steering. Team Chasing on the other hand I do think he would enjoy to an extent. But he really is proof that no matter what you think or what you try you can't make a horse race that doesn't want to.
 
EKW said:
Just flicked up the full results - the wee monkey did go in the end but was miles behind, jumped 8 fences then pulled up. They should send him back up here to me :D
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I didn't think he jumped anything. When the camera on C4 happened to have him in shot, he was cantering down the side of the course at the far rail.

EKW - I thought Green Flag went well. He clearly tired quickly, but then so did a few others I thought would have got round. Maybe the brisk wind played a factor, and the winner's time was slow

Battle Group may just have to become a celebrity like Mad Moose and get his own Twitter page
 
To be fair GF ran a cracking race, another year older, another year stronger and we will see a different horse. When you work with them everyday you kind of half refuse to see the obvious with them. He has been working great, schoolibg great, and his lad has the biggest gob and ego of the whole yard so GF is all you hear about lol!
 
Regandal said:
I hate seeing them whipped home. It would be great if they implemented the suggestion by AP McCoy - no whip after the final fence.
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Good Lord! Radical? Possibly, but would all NH racing benefit from such a ruling? I rather fancy giving it a trial run. Will those who set the rules of racing listen to those who ride? Not a ****ing chance!!

Alec.

EKW, what do you suppose would be the reaction to such a ruling? It has some appeal, I suspect.
 
I think if they banned backhanders after the last and only allowed showing and down the shoulder slaps to keep the horse straight if it's drifting jockeys would give it a shot. But then again a lot of races are won and lost after the last so it probably wouldn't be well received by many. It would also depend on the track - some have longer run ins than others. What happens if the last is omited? Or the last 2 fences are omitted? Do you take it from the last fence you jumped or from when you go past the actual last fence?

It would be interesting to see a trial of it - but then we have Hands and Heels races for conditionals so you could actually see that it could work in principle.
 
bonny said:
I imagine retired before he was banned !
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Aye and before he got himself hurt. He's won over 100k so he owes no one anything and I know his owners are big gamblers so will have won plenty on him over the years. I'll not say how much they won when he won his first Bumper at Perth ... If I remember rightly he would have 2 more chances to race before being banned.
 
I don't think that's right, today could well have been his last chance....academic if he's been retired but judging on today's performance he wouldn't have raced again anyway, he meant what he was saying !
 
bonny said:
....... he wouldn't have raced again anyway, he meant what he was saying !
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Correct. He wasn't having it, and that was that! Period, End-of, Full Stop, attach what you like to it, the horse has a mind of his own. I could summon up a bit of respect, for that!!

As a matter of minor importance EKW, do you know how old the horse is? A question of minor importance, you understand! :wink3:

Alec.
 
Alec Swan said:
Will those who set the rules of racing listen to those who ride? Not a ****ing chance!!

Alec.
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This was put forward at a meeting of all 'interested' parties prior to the whip rule changes. Jockeys were there, along with welfare group representatives. I think it was reported in H & H.
 
He's only 9 but has come under starters orders 44 times - 4 times he refused to race and there were another 1 or 2 that I can remember that he wouldn't leave the collecting area so technically didn't come under starters orders and thus goes down as a non-runner lol!
 
bonny said:
He's 9
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That's no age at all, were he placed in the right hands. That's not showing a disrespect to his current trainers, just a suggestion that there may be those who would take him on, and approach the animal from another direction.

There's another way of looking at this; Retired? At 9 years of age? Honestly? I had a bash at early retirement when I was 34 years old. It didn't work, I was bored witless.

Alec.
 
You never know - we may see him in the Foxhunters next year! He may have retired from Rules racing but there's nothing to say they won't attempt (Could be interesting!) to take him hunting and then pointing? He might like having a wee amateur to take the mick out of!
 
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