Sorry folks. Clearly going to go straight to the day-of-race market at decs. Pathetic, especially from the sponsors, on whose page (unbelievably) you even struggle to find the race. Ho hum. Have a good one.
Edit - Paddy Brennan confirmed to ride Jennys Surprise, who's guaranteed a run. But doesn't look to me like enough are going to come out to give Alfie his spin. So, taken the 50s (4 places only) for JS as 33s could be the best price with extra places and, if I only have 2 running for me, I'll top up on her and Dawson City if prices still appeal when more places offered. Hoping ground stays soft enough for mine.
Cheers, Peanuts. Put a tiny EW bet on Dawson city at 40s thanks to you, so at least i have an interest and no harm done if it loses. Have a terrific Christmas.
Otago Trail, Shanroe Santos and Bishops Road scratched at decs. Alfie misses it by one (assuming trainer declared him). Means Dawson City, Mysteree and Holly Bush Henry make the cut at the bottom. Ballyoptic declared so weights unaltered. In case you're looking to have an e/w flutter, Unibet the first to go to 6 places (1/4). For my 2 interests, at 40s I've had a top up with them on Jennys Surprise. Hoping for better from others offering the extra place(s) than their 22s to top up on Dawson City [edit - now done with Paddy at 33s (6 places 1/5)] But bet responsibly folks. Make sure you can afford to lose it.
Nice one @WelshAddick The only place he got me is on skid row ...........ugh, 1L away from profit
That was a brutal pace set by VLR et al. Quickest time for Welsh GN for 10 years. My two outpaced I'm afraid. But got to hand it to the winner, to see it out so well with 11.08. Wow. Great to see old Raz come home strong again in 5th. Sorry folks - that incarnation of my Welsh GN system for the scrap heap.
Remember this fella? 32 today 6 times a runner over the GN fences, winner and runner-up in the Becher and 5th in the big one in Rough Quest's year. Looking through his chasing career brings back memories of fantastic rivals from a variety of yards and some great steeplechasing: One Man, Deep Sensation, Dublin Flyer, Barton Bank, Garrison Savannah, Imperial Call, Master Oats, Dubacilla, The Fellow, Jodami, Docklands Express, Life Of A Lord, Unguided Missile. Man, they were good times - no better or worse than others but bloody good. Happy birthday old fella and to all our equine buddies.
Remember this fella? 32 today 6 times a runner over the GN fences, winner and runner-up in the Becher and 5th in the big one in Rough Quest's year. Looking through his chasing career brings back memories of fantastic rivals from a variety of yards and some great steeplechasing: One Man, Deep Sensation, Dublin Flyer, Barton Bank, Garrison Savannah, Imperial Call, Master Oats, Dubacilla, The Fellow, Jodami, Docklands Express, Life Of A Lord, Unguided Missile. Man, they were good times - no better or worse than others but bloody good. Happy birthday old fella and to all our equine buddies.
and a happy and prosperous 2019 to you Peanuts ((:>)
Rathvinden is the one that keeps coming up on my checklist. 33/1 generally available. Also entered in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but seems to be better suited to Aintree so i'm hoping connections decide to bypass Cheltenham.
Cheers @smiffyboy Much obliged. Bristol De Mai's participation (5lb compression if I'm not mistaken) will obviously be crucial to the chances of some in terms of weight. Time to crank things up. TTFN
If abolishonist wins this i will owe you big time Peanuts... Drunk me seems to think it is nailed on for some reason and ive topped up about 10 times
Appreciate the vote of confidence Chief but can't have all your eggs in one basket in the GN. He's a definite for my team (still got to have his Chase prep to qualify) but he won't be the only one.
If abolishonist wins this i will owe you big time Peanuts... Drunk me seems to think it is nailed on for some reason and ive topped up about 10 times
Appreciate the vote of confidence Chief but can't have all your eggs in one basket in the GN. He's a definite for my team (still got to have his Chase prep to qualify) but he won't be the only one.
I'll be backing your other picks when theyre up, dont you worry 😊
"I'll run as many as I can. I've won it before and it would be nice to win it again. Basically I'll run whatever gets in. If I can get 10 to 15 in, I'll run them all......" Gordon Elliott at the GN weights release last Tuesday. He accounts for 16 of the top 40 GN entries. If he means what he says (and it is a big "if" because he was full of the brown stuff about GN intentions last year), it could mean that the cut comes somewhat higher than we've been used to. In the last 9 years these were the lowest rated to make the cut (or run as a Reserve). The numbers are those at weights' release, which can be slightly misleading as changes in handicap prior to raceday caused, in some cases, a re-ordering of those with the same OR. But it gives you an idea:
2010: 78 (OR139, 10.05)
2011: 69 (OR132, 10.02)
2012: 72 (OR137, 10.00 5lbs o/h)
2013: 75 (OR131, 10.00 3lbs o/h)
2014: 79 (OR138, 10.01)
2015: 68 (OR139, 10.02)
2016: 58 (OR145, 10.04)
2017: 69 (OR143, 10.06)
2018: 76 (OR141, 10.05)
Abolitionist should be OK at #59~61 (with 2 others on OR145). A shame that the flu vaccination rules prevented him from having his qualifying run last Saturday but trainer reports all's well. Could head to Newbury for a popular veterans chase or Cheltenham for the Kim Muir. More anon.
Coming soon Chief. Can't disagree about Tiger Roll, especially if BDM runs, and despite the 9lb higher OR. 45 years since Rummy did it but it's nearly happened before. Of the 7 winners since 2005 to run the following year, we've had 2 runners-up and a 3rd, the closest being Hedgehunter (OR +12) with topweight, just 6L off it in 2006 and only 3 weeks after a mighty 2nd in the Gold Cup. TR's obviously in good heart and health and a worthy favourite (at least for the moment).
Comments
Pathetic, especially from the sponsors, on whose page (unbelievably) you even struggle to find the race.
Ho hum.
Have a good one.
Edit - Paddy Brennan confirmed to ride Jennys Surprise, who's guaranteed a run. But doesn't look to me like enough are going to come out to give Alfie his spin.
So, taken the 50s (4 places only) for JS as 33s could be the best price with extra places and, if I only have 2 running for me, I'll top up on her and Dawson City if prices still appeal when more places offered.
Hoping ground stays soft enough for mine.
Have a terrific Christmas.
Means Dawson City, Mysteree and Holly Bush Henry make the cut at the bottom.
Ballyoptic declared so weights unaltered.
In case you're looking to have an e/w flutter, Unibet the first to go to 6 places (1/4).
For my 2 interests, at 40s I've had a top up with them on Jennys Surprise. Hoping for better from others offering the extra place(s) than their 22s to top up on Dawson City [edit - now done with Paddy at 33s (6 places 1/5)]
But bet responsibly folks. Make sure you can afford to lose it.
Cash out on my 40/1 is still only the stake, miserable feckers.
The only place he got me is on skid row
That was a brutal pace set by VLR et al. Quickest time for Welsh GN for 10 years. My two outpaced I'm afraid. But got to hand it to the winner, to see it out so well with 11.08. Wow.
Great to see old Raz come home strong again in 5th.
Sorry folks - that incarnation of my Welsh GN system for the scrap heap.
Remember this fella? 32 today
6 times a runner over the GN fences, winner and runner-up in the Becher and 5th in the big one in Rough Quest's year.
Looking through his chasing career brings back memories of fantastic rivals from a variety of yards and some great steeplechasing:
One Man, Deep Sensation, Dublin Flyer, Barton Bank, Garrison Savannah, Imperial Call, Master Oats, Dubacilla, The Fellow, Jodami, Docklands Express, Life Of A Lord, Unguided Missile.
Man, they were good times - no better or worse than others but bloody good.
Happy birthday old fella and to all our equine buddies.
Bit surprised to see a few of the names that are there. Shattered Love is one that confuses me, for instance.
Much obliged.
Bristol De Mai's participation (5lb compression if I'm not mistaken) will obviously be crucial to the chances of some in terms of weight.
Time to crank things up.
TTFN
He accounts for 16 of the top 40 GN entries. If he means what he says (and it is a big "if" because he was full of the brown stuff about GN intentions last year), it could mean that the cut comes somewhat higher than we've been used to.
In the last 9 years these were the lowest rated to make the cut (or run as a Reserve). The numbers are those at weights' release, which can be slightly misleading as changes in handicap prior to raceday caused, in some cases, a re-ordering of those with the same OR. But it gives you an idea:
- 2010: 78 (OR139, 10.05)
- 2011: 69 (OR132, 10.02)
- 2012: 72 (OR137, 10.00 5lbs o/h)
- 2013: 75 (OR131, 10.00 3lbs o/h)
- 2014: 79 (OR138, 10.01)
- 2015: 68 (OR139, 10.02)
- 2016: 58 (OR145, 10.04)
- 2017: 69 (OR143, 10.06)
- 2018: 76 (OR141, 10.05)
Abolitionist should be OK at #59~61 (with 2 others on OR145). A shame that the flu vaccination rules prevented him from having his qualifying run last Saturday but trainer reports all's well. Could head to Newbury for a popular veterans chase or Cheltenham for the Kim Muir.More anon.
I can't make head nor tail of it this year, bar an "obvious" Tiger Roll argument, and I suspect the flu rules are making it a tad more difficult.
Can't disagree about Tiger Roll, especially if BDM runs, and despite the 9lb higher OR.
45 years since Rummy did it but it's nearly happened before. Of the 7 winners since 2005 to run the following year, we've had 2 runners-up and a 3rd, the closest being Hedgehunter (OR +12) with topweight, just 6L off it in 2006 and only 3 weeks after a mighty 2nd in the Gold Cup.
TR's obviously in good heart and health and a worthy favourite (at least for the moment).