It’s been over two weeks so I thought it might be an idea to review the race and give my comments on the other runners; I aspire to do half as good a job as the Racing Post! Here goes;
Moon Racer
I can take some comfort from the fact that he has been my pick of the English runners all year. He was slightly slowly away but took the ‘brave man’s route’ down the inside and it worked out for him. In the end, he won it well and was a deserved winner. Quotes of 5/1 for the 2016 Supreme are ludicrous in my opinion; by all accounts he’s not considered the fastest of horses and I very much doubt he will end up in the Supreme; the Neptune is much more likely.
In the short term, Pipe likes to have a few runners at Punchestown and it would be no surprise to see him in the Champion Bumper there.
Modus
I have to confess to be very surprised by his performance and it is a credit to his trainer that he ran so well. He was much slower away than the winner but, after a patient ride, his jockey made the right decision in darting to the inside rounding the bottom turn and he certainly finished very well. He is another horse who is likely to make it over to Punchestown. Longer term I wouldn’t be surprised to see him have a few spins on the flat this summer and, depending how that goes, he should go hurdling next season. He is one who may well be more suited to the Supreme
Wait For Me
He was always fairly well positioned and seemed to have every chance but just couldn’t match the finishing kick of the first two. He is apparently highly regarded and should make for an interesting novice hurdler next season. He is another who could run at Punchetown
Yanworth
He was my e/w value before the race so no surprise he finished 4th. Some people have criticized the ride he got from McCoy but I think that is ‘pocket talking’ and pretty unfair. Modus got first run on him but that happens but he finished to good effect and ran a good race. For no really logical reason I think he good prove the pick of the first four over hurdles and see him as a definite Supreme candidate.
Vigil
Ran a nice sort of race and only beaten just over 7 lengths. All the same, it still felt a little flat and, compared to Modus, didn’t really come on a lot for the experience from 2013. For me, he’s looked a little one paced in both his runs this season.
Supasundae
Up with the pace throughout and very chance turning in. he ran around a bit on the climb to the line and it’s entirely possible the stiffer course and finish was his undoing. He will be better suited to Punchestown and may well run there. He’s a big horse so I would not be expecting too much from him next season and would look forward to seeing hi over fences before not too long.
Theo’s Charm
Did really well to finish as close as he did given he was off the bit a fair way out. His trainer had also indicated that he wouldn’t run if the going was not soft enough; it was pretty dead and barely soft enough so another reason to be impressed.
Montana Belle
Another one to be kept out the back and took a fairly wide route into the straight; all the time being bustled along. When she did straighten up she went up the hill really well until tiring a little in the last 100 yards. This was a good performance and she could eb interesting in the Mares Bumper at Liverpool (if that’s on the agenda)
Bay of Freedom
See blog
Bellshill
The first of the Mullins six to finish but just an OK performance and he failed to build on his run against Vigil at Christmas. Held up, he had every chance but ran on one-paced.
General Principle
Well positioned for most of the race but failed to really pick up when asked. He had been very impressive in his first run but that was on much softer ground and may well need a faster pace and/or longer distance to be seen at his best
Ghost River
Ghost River was even more impacted by a poor start than Bay of Freedom. He was asked to make up the ground pretty quickly and, while that was not crazy given a fairly steady pace, it did appear that the effort took a lot out of him and he had nothing in reserve when they turned into the straight. All in all, a fairly promising run and he should be seen to good effect over long distance hurdles on soft ground next season.
Au Quart De Tour
Raced pretty prominently but had nothing left coming into the straight. Still a very inexperienced horse he may well come on for the race but, in all honesty, it may be worth waiting until hurdles next season with him at this stage.
Davy Doubt
It was difficult to get a handle on the quality of his Doncaster win so this may or may not have represented an improvement. He raced prominently enough but didn’t have anything left to offer after the turn in. For me, there is still a question mark over how much racing he can take – if he comes out again this season we will find out. If he does, then the flat course and good ground of the Aintree Bumper would appear the best bet.
Livelovelaugh
Just an OK performance but still managed to beat half of the Mullins team which was a surprise (at least to me) Another horse probably best kept for next season.
O O Seven
Interesting that he was the only representative from the Henderson yard. There seemed to be no excuses and this was probably s good as he is.
Always Lion
Has had a very good and consistent season so this probably has to go down as a little disappointing. He was being pushed along from a relatively early stage but not unduly knocked about when his chance had gone. Have a feeling he will leave this form well behind next season.
Up For Review
This was his chance to atone for a disappointing run at Naas when he looked very one-paced. He pulled pretty hard and was up with the pace but, once again, didn’t have the speed to cope when the pace quickened. I had been impressed with his first run but, in retrospect, the form is difficult to work out and the ground was significantly slower.
Stone Hard
The Gigginstown second string based on jockey bookings and was ultimately disappointing. Both his and General Principle’s performance fell a long way short of what Gigginstown must have been expecting; particularly after changing their policy of not having runners in the race.
Western Way
Never put into the race and always at the back
Jetstream Jack
Strange performance. He seemed to be travelling well at the top of the hill but went out like a light at the bottom and turning in. Probably best to write this performance off.
Neatly Put
See Western Way
Bordini
You have to believe that Bordini is better than this; any judgment should be reserved until his next run