The King George on Boxing Day.

KautoStar1 said:
To be fair to DJ, he saw a stride asked the horse for it and the horse put down on him. I don't think he could have done much more.
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I don't think even Mick Fitzgerald saw that stride, he said there wasn't one. It was a totall balls up, IMO. I do accept I am not a professional jockey but I think those who are being paid to do it should know when to tug and when to kick.
 
Hi sorry to say that i did read somewhere that Eduard did have a fatal injury in that race at ascot,i love racing but its so hard to see the falls,Might Bite yesterday.. i screamed out as well... as he was going so well and they were saying how impressive he was, thinking he had all but won it when that happened,you could see how upset Nicky Henderson was when they asked him about it,and Thistlecrack i could hardly watch,he is an amazing jumper but scary to watch,when he puts a long one in my heart is in my mouth that he is going to reach the other side,the thrill Tom Scu must have had to ride round there like that with all that pressure and expectation i think the emotion was the relief and knowing that was something very special.beautiful horse who looks a pleasure to look after and be around.
Also sad to see the end of channel 4 racing today,it will be greatly missed.
 
TelH said:
Coneygree was taken out, Vatour is sadly no longer with us, Al Ferof (3rd for the past 2 seasons) is now retired, Don Cossack is still out of action, Djakadam is entered in the Lexus in Ireland on the 28th, as is Don Poli; Vroum Vroum Mag might have been an interesting runner but she was taken out and goes in the Christmas Hurdle instead.
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I was going to ask why there were so few runners in the big races. Pretty empty fields!
 
SusannaF said:
I was going to ask why there were so few runners in the big races. Pretty empty fields!
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There is a shortage of good chasers at the moment. The grounds to quick for many for the time of year. Nobody wanted to take on CTs two yesterday. Many reasons plus there is no incentive for the Irish to send over horses as in real terms to them our prize money has dropped by 15-20% and I am sure several horses from this side will be going to ireland over the holidays for the contrary reason.
 
Not much makes me close my eyes but the Might Bite fall did!! Ive watched it back several times now and I honestly cant decide whether DJ cocked it up completely or the horse just took over, either way, they were both incredibly lucky to walk away. Myis gut feeling was that the jockey was in the wrong but now Im not quite so sure, Ive more of a feeling that it was a miscommunication and the horse just took matters into his own hooves. Lets hope he doesnt suffer any lasting effects because he looks a cracking prospect. CC and TC, well, just a fantastic race, watching TC jump just makes you want to be on him, must be the most amazing feeling, almost like flying when he stands off one. However, if he gets it wrong at any point, he is in the market for one hell of a pearler, I really hope that never happens.
 
I too have watched it back and IMO the horse would easily have taken the fence where he was asked to pick up from. Born out by the fact he ended up in the birch trying to take off . What we are forgetting in the equation is the noise from the crowd causing a distraction and the horses inexperience .
 
Popsdosh, Im sure NH referred to the horse as being a bit "spooky" in an after race interview on RUK, so it may well have been crowd noise, cameras etc adding to the miscommunication.
 
Might Bite was bl...dy lucky not to break his neck. I think it was actually the speed he was going meant that he flipped over rather than his full weight on his neck. Sometimes horses make mistakes too.

I well remember a King George years ago when the leader was miles ahead and fell at the last. I don't think the jockey ever really recovered, I don't mean physically as he wasn't hurt, but he faded away afterwards.

As for Thistlecrack - wow, what a lovely horse. It wasn't a big field so he wasn't under pressure over the last couple of fences and had time to jump, but he certainly had the look of a champion. As CT said, he isn't a young horse, he is at his peak, so why not go for it, although I wondered if it was the right decision. Still, as I have observed for many, many years, with what ever sort of horse you have - in showing, eventing, racing - if they are in form, go for it, as next year may be different. Coneygree went for the Gold Cup and won, which was a brave decision which paid off.
 
I think the Daryl Jacob comment was a little out of order - one bad ride does not make a bad jockey, as I keep telling OH every time he bangs on about Richie McLernon, although as time goes on it would appear it's more than one bad ride. I've a soft spot for DJ as well after he managed to push Neptune Collonges around Aintree from start to finish and get him home in one piece...

Tom Scudamore is that person for me though. He annoys the hell out of me and I sat through the King George screaming 'WHY DIDN'T YOU RIDE GRAND CRUS LIKE THAT AT CHELTENHAM?!' over and over. Because that was on two separate occasions, and most races at other courses, therefore not one bad ride ;) Thistlecrack was impressive, a little green at times and very keen but (as much as it pains me to say it) he was ridden well despite this. As I know from experience with one of mine, you can't fight with a forward-going horse and expect to win (the fight or the race).
 
Before the horse fell I was just thinking that Daryl Jacob had given him a wonderful ride. Had the horse managed to get over the fence somehow and won, we would all be singing his praises. That's racing I guess.
 
http://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/video/20161226/2653582/15861862

I have watched this numerous times and Might Bite just did not pick up over that fence, I dont believe it was jockey error, NH said there were a lot of people/photographers at that fence, so maybe he was distracted.

The King George was an electric performance from Thistlecrack who is head and shoulders above everything else this side of the Irish Sea and we will have to wait until Cheltenham to see if he really is the best around, exciting times ahead. Incidentally there is talk of Cue Card going for the Ryan Air now.
 
Anyone know how Sire de Grugy (sp?) is?? After losing his jockey he went on to complete but C4 said he had bleeding from his mouth and nose. Maybe just bit his tongue? Jockey got a cut to the side of his eye too.
 
suffolkmare said:
Anyone know how Sire de Grugy (sp?) is?? After losing his jockey he went on to complete but C4 said he had bleeding from his mouth and nose. Maybe just bit his tongue? Jockey got a cut to the side of his eye too.
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He probably did bite his tongue and a nosebleed to a racehorse is nothing new, especially if they have banged their heads.
 
suffolkmare said:
Anyone know how Sire de Grugy (sp?) is?? After losing his jockey he went on to complete but C4 said he had bleeding from his mouth and nose. Maybe just bit his tongue? Jockey got a cut to the side of his eye too.
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I read that Jamie Moore had two teeth knocked out, as well as a cut head. I felt so sorry for him, it was just so unfortunate.

As a big Cue Card fan I felt sad that he was beaten by his stablemate, but I thought he was valiant in defeat. Thistlecrack was superb, what a beautiful sight to see him flying those fences.

My heart however is still with Cue Card, and I rather hope he has his revenge in the Gold Cup ( although Racing Post reports they might send him to the Ryanair instead). I really like the Tizzards and I'm so pleased they are having success :)
 
I think they'll put Cue Card in the Ryanair. I also adore Cue Card and have followed him since his Champion Bumper win and whilst my heart would love him to reverse the result my head tells me he won't beat Thistlecrack. For me, if Thistlecrack stands up he wins it, can't see anything else having the beating of him. People love to crab the really good ones but he looks absolutely awesome. Granted he's a bit bloody brave but he gets better with every run and I imagine he'll have another run before the festival

Altior was superb also and is a fantastic jumper - the one to beat in the Arkle. Exciting that we have some class horses to take on the Irish in 2017!
 
TeamChaser said:
I think they'll put Cue Card in the Ryanair. I also adore Cue Card and have followed him since his Champion Bumper win and whilst my heart would love him to reverse the result my head tells me he won't beat Thistlecrack. For me, if Thistlecrack stands up he wins it, can't see anything else having the beating of him. People love to crab the really good ones but he looks absolutely awesome. Granted he's a bit bloody brave but he gets better with every run and I imagine he'll have another run before the festival

Altior was superb also and is a fantastic jumper - the one to beat in the Arkle. Exciting that we have some class horses to take on the Irish in 2017!
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Not enough class horses though, I can see the festival being a Mullins/Walsh benefit.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Not enough class horses though, I can see the festival being a Mullins/Walsh benefit.
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I'm not so sure. Very sadly lost Vautour, Faugheen and Annie Power have yet to run, Altior has the beating of Min. Douvan is a class horse as is Vroum Vroum Mag but they won't have it all their own way I don't think. Gordon Elliott will have a strong team with a number of the Gigginstown horses
 
I think Gordon Elliot may have something to say about a Mullins white wash ;) he got Applesjade back to beat Vroum Vroum Mag and I sincerely hope she does so again.

It will be interesting to see where Don Cossack goes first and to see how he fairs these days but his run will be a while off yet, if he even gets a prep run before defending his crown.

Altior will beat Min in the Arkle, Cue Card will win the Ryanair. If Thistlecrack stays on his feet he has the Gold Cup at his mercy.

Now the one that is interesting me, which many have wrongly over looked, is Native River. Only a 6yo but has already bagged the Hennessy and now the Welsh National. Another Tizzard long distance chaser! But where will he go at the Festival? Will he take on Cue Card in the Ryanair or will they pit stable mate against stable mate in the Gold Cup?!

Oh what many trainers would give to have 1 Gold Cup prospect let alone 4! I include Theatre Guide in this as I do think he is worthy of the line up and bringing some money home too!
 
Yes! Love Theatre Guide! He always runs well, and was not at all disgraced at Chepstow behind Native River, it didn't look like he was enjoying the soggy going! If he is in the mix he's got as good a chance as most of them, plus he does love that Cheltenham hill doesnt he!
 
I getting so excited for cheltenham already with all these lovely horses,will be hard to decide which day to go...it usually depends which horses i really want to see,went champion hurdle day this year,did gold cup year before...mmmm.....cant wait !!!
 
horselover2 said:
I getting so excited for cheltenham already with all these lovely horses,will be hard to decide which day to go...it usually depends which horses i really want to see,went champion hurdle day this year,did gold cup year before...mmmm.....cant wait !!!
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If I was going it would have to be for the Queen Mother...ever since One Man won it it's been my favourite of all the major races, closely followed by the GC. Not a massive hurdles fan I have to admit, can't seem to get over that no matter how hard I try!
 
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