Horse Racing Podcast: DRF and Trials Day Reflections

Our panel look back on a big weekend at Cheltenham and ahead to a mouthwatering one at the Dublin Racing Festival…

This is Sporting Life well welcome along to the Sporting Life racing podcast a busy one this week we might have a bit of breaking news we’ve definitely got a look back at chelham last weekend and a look ahead to the drf or the dubling racing festival for those those who who prefer the the

Longer title I’m going to start straight away with chelt last Saturday Ed you and I were there and we had a bit of a wow factor with the performance of lossy mouth yes we did I mean I don’t know what it was like for you audio I left I

I was so drained by it all I you had the lot thrown at you let alone what was happening at Donnie and elsewhere but at cheltonham you had I mean the Heartbreak of Paisley Park getting beat in what was probably the race of the Season you had

The disaster of losing that’s all right Gino and then you just had wow performances I I was down at the final flight Audi recording my opener when Serino sort of hesitated into the final flight and then I’ve never seen well I can’t remember a horse taking off quite

Like he did he made a royal aset winner look positively pedestrian up the run and sigo honestly is is he looked like an airplane that day and then lossy mouth she was she was brilliant in what was a slowly Run Race you came to the

Last it looked like it was going to be a three-way go up the hill but not a bit of it she scooted clear didn’t she very impressively um and that’s triggered the debate about where she will and where she should go I thought Joe chambers’s answer on the day was brilliant you’ll

See her on the the first day of the Shelton Festival um and you’ll remember this time last year we were boning the fact that honeysucker wasn’t going for the champion hurdle we were all in agreement I think and looking for Solutions of of what should happen and

Should there be a May’s hurdle but then the way it played out a I’ve I’ve gone quiet on that because honey sucker in the May’s race was one of the Great chelham Festival moments of all time and if there wasn’t a May’s race that wouldn’t have happened or a different

Style mayor’s race that wouldn’t have happened so I’m a bit quieter on it this time around but it was was a day that threw everything at us wasn’t it absolutely was GC as Ed said it’s SP the mayor’s hurdle debate Ben ly’s come up with two ideas about chelam over the

Years a protemps Chase series which then director of racing Simon clay couldn’t hide his contempt for the idea but then He suggests we move the mayor’s hurdle to April get it out the festival put it on in April let those who want to r at the festival run there then they’ve got

That coming I mean might ruin punches town as well but is this going to put the spotlight on these additional vors at the festival do we need a May’s hdle or is it just just is there and we just embrace it yeah quite hadn’t heard that

Second idea of Ben that seems to have some Merit you have to try to find a way of funneling the best horses into the best races it’s not a new debate as we all know um going back to Annie power Etc and Ed’s dead right you can’t say um

Give me the top Ms in the champion hurdle but don’t take away my honey sule moment whatever you do you can’t have both both so I’m not as um um as uh exercised as as some about this debate um I think we know how this ends that

That that ly mouth who was tremendous on the day the way she just LED through that race I know they weren’t superstars who she beat but she absolutely demolished them and she has that very very deceptively powerful style easy power it’s a bit like me when I’m

Playing golf against Joe Chambers and my driver is just killing him and and Hole by hole he’s he’s thinking of surrendering now he won’t have any say in where lossy mouth goes it’ll be a w Mullins project all the way and I expect as Joseph says we will see her in day

One but not in the big one David Patrick Mullins on get suck in yes I made the point that she still got plenty to find if you look at the numbers cun numbers plenty to find to get to the levels of State man and imper pass let alone

Constitution Hill is that right if you done anything on Saturday would put a closer to that that Trio well on the time foone figures even taking account of the 7even pound mayow which should have 16 pound to find with Constitution Hill but it’s not anything like as much

As that with statan who should have six pound to find and only a pound within per a pass so you know obviously Constitution Hill he sets this standard that by the modern era most horses can’t be compared against but in terms of what she would bring to a champ ion hurdle

You know she she isn’t far off the class that suggests that you know she’d be well up to you know finishing in the first three or four and she would give greater depth to the race but equally it’s not hard to fully see where connections are coming from in that you

Know she would be around an even money chance for a mayor’s hurdle she’d probably only be about five or six to one maybe bigger than that if impero pass and statan took on Constitution Hill as well so given that the race is there you can’t

Blame them for looking at it even if one of the things that hasn’t really been touched on about whether she goes there or not is are we confident that two and a half mile will suit her quite as well as what two miles does given how much speed she shows so that’s something

Speedly bre as the one thing I would add to this is since we recorded last week’s tremendous podcast Smash It by all accounts we’ve lost alaho from the rer the favorite and we’ve lost French favorite from the st’s hurdle so two of the four main Championship races have lost a favorite

In the last week alone so you know heaven forbid problem for constitution Hill or even a problem for Statesman could switch the thinking for lossy mouth so there will be drama as we as we move in towards the festival because of injuries Etc and and you can’t rule it

Out but the mass race looks heavy odds on Billy it does David touched on it the stamina she’s got that to prove in a couple of hours earlier an hour and a half earlier up at donc cast at ashro Diamond dotted in in a mer turdle of her

Own Patrick’s made the point she’s only been beaten six time by six AR over hurles all six geldings all six grade one winners even if ly mouth turns up there she a big danger to other St mate well I’m not surprised that Patrick is making the case for lassi moot to run in

The mayor’s hurdle because if she does he gets to right ashro Diamond um who will have a serious chance herself now yeah the the trip issue is a big one um lyot looked a very fast Philly last year um and the step up to two and a halfish

At cheltam is is a question mark but you’d have to say galam Maro the Philly who she beat in the Triumph hurdle last year was very free over hurdles I didn’t think she’d have any chance of staying that sort of trip she went in one over

Two three in a Tha later on the season and the thing about lass OT at the weekend was how relaxed she was during the race uh she was quite Keen last year I thought she switched off lovely for Paul um at the weekend and finished out her race really strongly so I think

She’s got a chance of getting it it’s not guaranteed ashro diamond we know will definitely get it and the way she performed at the weekend she’s a major player in the race as well what about galam maso Billy galam maso was giving a few pounds to ashro Diamond and she

Hadn’t had a run she hadn’t and the fact is she was so strong the market would have led to suggest that they expected her to win but she ran like a Philly that needed the run to my eye at least um I thought she traveled well enough

Through the race but just looked like she emptied out a bit so yeah I think she’ll come on a good bit for it and you certainly couldn’t rule her to the equation either interesting Willie just as before he left Barbados for his column so he thought that gamas I mean

He might have been had a good lunch but without class as Diamond was what he put in the column he thought that she was potentially different G didn’t turn out that way Ed I want to talk Noble Yates to you don’t often get Grand National winners they tend to go into the public

Consciousness don’t they they get a following they’re very rarely Party Poopers but at chelam on Saturday that’s definitely the that’s definitely what he was Noble Yates they they don’t often win more races do they you come out with stats in the last few years of grand national

Winners that go on to do very little so it’s a brilliant bit of training this I mean we often talk about em Mullins I mean the guy is just a m isn’t he’s a Maverick he is what a horse race it was though a I mean honestly the noise of

Cheltam I don’t know where you watched it from you know I’m around the back of the stands it was absolutely deafening with six of them on the run in going at it that’s the upside to it being a non-vintage Division I suppose um Murphy was absolutely devastated about strong

Leader who missed the third last and second last um he’s not even in the stairs hurdle but I think that’s a horse who’s definitely capable of better the crowd were willing on Paisley Park I mean what a superstar he is let’s not forget he was giving weight you talk

About some of the May’s giving weight there Paisley Park was giving weight to the winner and Harry Cobden I thought really interesting to hear Ruby talking about different styles of jockey how Cobden was going to suit nobody Yates which clearly did I think he did hit the

Front too soon nobody y wasn’t doing a tap in front it was just a brilliant horse race to watch ay full marks to Paisley Park I’d love him to win one before uh he’s retired but the Grand National winner is is just brilliantly trained he’ll go for the stairs hurdle

Now I’d be surprised if he could win that but’s he’s a brilliant horse in his own right and we were at pains a little bit like Alex the nuts and and Freddy Ginger which was such a lovely story we were at pains to do the winner Justice afterwards

Um and Noble y Noble Yates is a brilliant horse in his own right I wonder if they’ll be tempted to keep Cobden on Noble Yates if they can because I thought he was terrific on that horse he’s terrific on most horses but the way he he had to use his whip

Quite early I think he had to put it down close home because I think he knew he was right on the on the bubble but um he’s a special jockey nowadays I don’t think he has a a stairs hard right as things stand does he there’s no obvious one anyway not with

The WR is um National wise who knows who knows all to be revealed on February the theth was I loveed about with Nichols GC on Saturday where he was after jun’s Destiny he said that he’d rather cob and won the jockey title than he won the

Trainers title this year and it was put to him even though that would draw you LEL with Martin pipe and he could just SM yeah yeah yeah he wasn’t quite as convincing on Sat was yes Paul Billy if Noble y great news as well the Grand National the tag

Get your heads back there it was in the the minds of connections of capano too before the cotw chase they found a good opportunity for him there getting the weight round he duly delivered do you think that could have hindered his entry chance or do you think hander might not

Take too dim a view of it well the handicapper will definitely take a dim view of it you know yourself already there’s no doubt but I think yeah I think entry is probably still the plan I mean he has to be supplemented for a goal cup obviously we’ll see what’s

Going to happen this weekend but you’d have to think that even if he runs in a goal cup he’s only going to go there for place money at best um he’s in the ryion air which would look like a nice um possible alternative and and a nice easy

Or a nice Ease Into The Grand National should I say um so I think that’s probably the route they’ll go down I thought he ran a fine race in the National for a long way last year possibly didn’t stay but at the same time you’d have to say he wasn’t in the

Same Farm last year that he’s in now so he’ll go there in much better fettle um the one thing I suppose the question mark about him is his jumping time F have an x on his rating now he’s only unseated once in I think 10 starts over

Fences but he does kind of have his own way of getting from A to B um he’s not always the most fluent he did lose ground at a number of fences the the other day but still he won the race well again like noble Yates he was probably

In front far too soon as well I think the Omission the second last fence didn’t do him any favors um I thought he won with a bit up his sleeve and I thought yeah it looked like a nice National trial but as you said the handicapper will have been paying close

Attention it’s interesting to hear that it was a mcm’s Target that Frank B suggested they they Target that with the horses some some people do still manage to live outside of willand they do seem to be some exercise C David good run from the real Wacker in second he red

Strongly after the last yeah it was it was definitely a case of him getting back on track wasn’t it his had that disaster obviously in the Patty power and then um probably just not quite up to a race like the king Jorge they reverted back to the more prominent

Tactics which were probably something of an advantage the way that the CW Chase panned out and he’s run right up to his best but I think it does show us that it’s going to be quite difficult to see him doing any better than this in open

Grade one company and uh you know he’s a likable horse he’s got that really good way of going about him but uh I think we’re going to see him struggle similarly to like he did here for the rest of the season you see stay away faith for a novice finishing third yeah

On the numbers he seemed to run an excellent race and a steadily run contest like that probably isn’t what he needs he absolutely banked I think it was the sixth was a really bad mistake and all in all he ran really well but I I didn’t comeo thinking I wanted to be

On him for the brown advisory for example just physically against those really mature chases he he didn’t quite look as robust as they now back in noice company he’ll have the rating that would give him a great chance and I think he run well but I just wonder whether there

Might be one or two to beat him the footed aoy seor was still banging contention when the kit and Kaboodle finally went West for his rider approaching the last and apparently connections are toying with the idea of the ryion air for him but all in all

When you see capano win and win quite snug having been beaten 23 23 lengths or probably more like 18 given the way the Irish judges measure these things Billy n either way uh it was a pretty handsome boost for Gan wasn’t it David line on the time for nov handicap Chase threw up

A good one last year in stage St and on numbers it might have thrown up an even better one this time around instead we make Jin’s Destiny absolutely yeah rated 157 P you won this off a higher rating than what stage star did and that7 is

Good enough to have placed in all bar one running of the um what is the golden Miller isn’t it I think the only race that he wouldn’t have placed in was Sam Crow melon and for he race and jinny’s Destiny with 157 P would have been a

Close fourth there so when you consider how that Turners could be blown apart this weekend dependent on what happens with gay Warrior against Marine National um Jin’s Destiny has to be very high on the short list I think certainly from an eway perspective at this this

Moment in time I don’t know if you did Paul made the point that the was very fat when he got him in the press the Press afterwards he did it was and then Tom Lacy was called to the stewards room which raised a chuckle wanted to I mean

Obviously for the running of blow your W not that Ed I thought olle Bell I’ve never seen Ole Bell flustered but trying to get hold of Nicki Henderson after John Bond on Saturday he initially said he wanted to watch a replay and speak to James boow first he did that Nikki then

Came back on to Ole I mean what did you makeer that race at no stage did they see him on the same wavelength did the John BL and his new Rider well just added the day isn’t it we talk about the emotion of of young Freddy looking to

The skies and then you had the unpredictability of our great sport in this race he he he just never ever looked like jum Bon did he from the start he never jumped with any fluency from the start and I feel really sorry for James Bowen um particularly the the

Outrage Olympics that’s come from it for the young lad because imagine that must have been really difficult for him because we all know how John Bond likes to be ridden yet you’d imagine with his prep race before chelham I just wonder what instructions he was given whether they

Want him looked after because it’s not the first time this is happened to John Bon is it rington Maine he was below par and then that bizarre race at war against Calico so it has happened before with him and I just wonder if he had a slight headful of mints going into the

Race and then John Bond didn’t help him one iota did he and then that horrendous mistake you thought oh please don’t be injured which it sounds like he’s okay because the engine’s still intact I mean it’s remarkable got into the race like he did and looked like he had it won I

Thought that was that was incredible really um and it was just the whole thing was unfortunate but again led to the most amazing story with young Freddy and Uncle Joe I mean honestly that was that was full of emotion and and I’m thrilled for them both and for John

Bon the ryion a DJ the ryion a for John Bon if if what do we need what do we need to happen now dino blue to win the the drf and then it’s all back on well I a theory I have a theory about John ban

Ry oh go on Billy it’s just a theory but I reckon he’s probably getting sick of looking at Constitution hills swanning around seven barrels running once every six months or whatever it is and he’s just had enough you know he just said what do I have to do to do that sort of

Thing you know so I think he’s running too often hendo oh well of often a label a Niki that accusation po joh but hopefully that will one thing that struck me Jon it’s not just John applies to Fabi as well you think of the great two mile Chasers we’ve seen over the

Years and they’ve tended to be razor sharp jumpers really slick over fence and and neither John Bon or El FAO are at this stage are they they they’ve both got the odd mistake in them El fabiolo is a Powerhouse he he doesn’t lunge but he has this long quite low style but

He’s he’s a terrific horse so is John Bon but he ended up having a pretty hard race at the weekend uh not ideal I I do note that you know we don’t to bang this Ryan ER drum too much but grahe North in his very readable column on Sporting

Life was was suggesting that you know Nikki Henderson has more than once been guilty of sending his very good horses over longer distances a little late in life he quoted shishkin um he mentioned Alor who was seemed to be crying out for a longer trip and he seems to think that

The ryion a is uh still a viable um test for John Bon but I know what you mean Ed about the Ridge Olympics but it’s a fact that that horse by in large has seemed a pretty good sound jumper overall and he got a new jockey last weekend and it all went tits

Up I gonna move off from John B on tip up that’s that’s a sign to move on to um to DJ you didn’t sub the Grand North column did you DJ sticking the rer element off Char so Gino had touched up on him I mean you I watching that from the Press

St think you’ve just seen the the tri fed I mean the difference in his jumping from Kempton to chelton was was incredible yeah it was really impressive and uh you know obviously a lot of people were going on about lossy math later on but I think this was an even

More impressive show of speed and I think he’s closing sectional his last furong is the quickest recorded at chelham all year I think you know that that’s partly Pace related to how this race panned out you know they didn’t go very quick and it obviously developed

Into a test of speed but the way that he goes about things you’d think he’d be just as good in a strongly run Triumph and I think we’re going to have to see something really special at the drf this weekend to something even get close to

Shaking up his position at the head of the Triumph you know very much obviously virtually goes without saying that he he’s he’s the one to be and JC is one of those visually it was stunning and the numbers are beginning to back it up as well the time on data absolutely veret

Road looked the best in Britain prior to that he just demolished him he dwarfed him in more ways than one uh the time in comparison to lossy mouth overall and sectionally was super impressive physically he looks the type uh to keep improving every reason to believe he’s

Just a viable short price Triumph ferle favorite and a little poignant know on the breeding side it was very sad that we lost that’s all right Gino he departs the stage and another son of the French based stallion it’s Gino makes his Mark and will’ll make his Mark in plenty more

Good races before too long and GC touch on it there Jamie Snowden I mean the grand military go got the win on Friday long-term plan J law wins than out Chase then the the ultimate low in losing the C go cut winner and the the sort of

Stable star um in that’s all right G know I mean it just shows this game flaws Giants doesn’t it yeah it’s really tough it really tough and it’s it’s two weeks on from La Laura Morgan suffering in very similar fashion when she had a big winner one minute and the next

Minute absolute Despair and it was it was desperate really from the high of Gore to that low and that that is our sport I’m afraid that is what what happens and the my word the ground staff work well I mean I went and spoke to John Pullin afterwards and just said

Thank you because that could have been very very messy what was happening there and they they they thought on that feet and were very very quick moving things because at one point it looked like the horses would have nowhere to go and it was a genuine possibility they might

Have to stop the race um and they reacted very very quickly but absolute you know your heartbreaks for for connections of D all right Gino and he was a star for them particularly that day at Newbury absolutely was fantastic that day Billy let’s talk about a couple of

Winners in Ireland I think William Ms has have the odd one or two in in recent days Jay deui a well done by the way on the winner that went out after tip that went out after the podcast your two to7 shot did win last week after the podcast

Thank you very much yeah I was I was waiting for you to bring that one up yeah yeah it’s an exciting new feature we we getting the best bet for yesterday soon just so we can keep keep it going let’s talk J de gr your favorite for

That Dawn R May’s novice HD and what are things beginning to excite them on in team yeah well there’s been a lot of talk in and we’ve spoken about it here about lass emot not going for the champion hardle and going for the M hle instead Jade deui to me is one that

Would certainly make her presence felt in a bad more um possibly more so than the Supreme I really like this mayor I think she’s been very impressive both days um she did what I hoped she would do at the weekend she she beat some good Mires and she beat them well I thought

It was a step forward from her leopard Stone win at Christmas H back down to two and a quarter miles from Two and a Half she traveled really well through the race but what I loved about her was how quick she is over over her hurdles

Was only her second run but she didn’t make a semblance of a mistake even when she got in close she’s up and over and Away really quick um I don’t think dropping back to two miles for the mayor novice chelton would inconvenience her I’d love to see her running against

Getting seven pounds off the Buys in the balmore I think she take a lot of beating but I think she will take probably even more beating in the mays novice um it’s going to take a really good one to lower her colors and the national chair think Embassy Gardens has

Gone favorite now after quite a polished display of his own that’s easy to see as well you know um there was a lot of chat about him after his first win at punches down I wasn’t Blown Away by him that day but I was much more impressed to him nce

I thought his jumping was really slick at nce um he never really looked like getting beaten in that race to be honest he beat a good hon sander again maybe not a top class one but he beat him nicely I think the national hunt Chase

Is the right race for him um he might just lack a gear against better horses in the brown advisory but I think three miles and six is tailor made for him jumps really well I’m sure Patrick is absolutely mad looking forward to riding him in a national hunt

Chase there’s a flat staring this week as well um warm heart I mean what a what what a feeler she’s been for connections bowing out her career in style at the weekend and she’s I mean she’s been on the goal from March through till January it’s fantastic story yeah exactly and I

Think um the story is going to continue uh in terms of taking the next step forward because I think she’s out in America and she’s staying out there to go and visit justify so um you know be interesting to be sat here in three or four years time seeing how that progeny

Goes on but um yeah warmart she just was a knock in Philly last year wasn’t she she just thrived on a raceing was so not unlucky as such at the Breeders Cup um you know she ran a belting race there just got chind late on by in spiral not

Seen to best effect out in Hong Kong but um yeah got the job done in really good style at the weekend and uh we just saw once again like we did see at the Breeders Cup Ryan Mo’s just different class isn’t he on the those um tight

Turf tracks out in America and you know if you’re talking marginal gains having Ryan Moore on your side out there is is certainly one of them and that ruggedness France in the Autumn America for the breus cup Hong Kong for the vs and then that Pegasus race last week

Lots and lots of money but she must be very very Hardy to take all that travel and she’s not brilliant she’s just very solid group one consistent Philly who’s maximized her her Talent hey pretty sure she was sent off at 16 to1 in her debut

At dund do way back in no in a November Maiden you know so clearly she hadn’t been pulling up any trees as a two-year-old in B do either I’m sure fan B says he wasn’t up to much that day as well in his Dum dark column we got F not

I’ll dig out I’ll dig them out Fran I had to apologize to Fran last we you’re gonna have to do it again oh not another one he’s over for our podcast special GRE CH Fran will be in the building um I need to talk doubling r f in a minute

But God Elliot Billy the Firepower is not quite there that he was expecting the news last week Coldwell constructions horse has been sold public auction at tat Island and the sad recent loss of couple of Young Horses put forward as the reason they wanting to take a break from the sport that’s the

Reason we’re been given anyway already so um I I don’t know any more than that um yeah it’s a massive blow for Gard OT huge blow for the yard that’s built itself back up after the whole sitting on a dead horse Fiasco of a couple years ago and the calwell construction team a

Big part of that they’re they’re major owners with Gard Elliot some really nice horses and it’s going to be um it’s going to be really hard for him to try and retain those He he’ll do his best I’m sure to try and buy back as many of

Them as he can but he’s I think there’s 30 odd going to the sales he’s not going to get them all back and there’s some really nice horses there the likes a Caldwell Potter obviously there’ll be loads of attention on him but you’ve also got horses like fi door P Piper of

Course who was second and the Cesar which um and some really nice young horses like Stafford not so um yeah it’s it’s going to be a big low at losing any of those horses and it’s he’s definitely going to lose a handful of them you see

The pool of people who can afford these horss I mean we’ve had a wh round I think we’ve come up short but the pool who can actually go out at this auction and buy these horses is relatively small and if you’re buying a horse that you

Want to run at the chelon festival there is no way you’re GNA take it out of garden five weeks out to a new yard new regime new Fe it’s anything can happen Dave it’s a small number of people and a small number of agents who would be in

The know um he cost €2 200,000 before would have run so you have to think that you know the number is likely to begin with a four or a five would you agree with that fellas and if you had a if you had one guess as to who might snag him

Gordon will obviously be mad Keen to keep him but there’ll be at least a couple more trying to get him away fascina isn’t it Billy especially with the as you say you presume at Manos giggins Town Rob C you can almost guarantee you know who’s going to be

Stood next to the Rope at least oh yeah they’ll be you’d imagine they’ll be the major players um I’m sure the big British trainers will be hoping to to snag a couple of them as well you know so there’ll be loads of Interest they

Can they can B on the way on from the drf the brave British trainers oh no I on that’s that’s the the setb so we’ll we’ll see we’ll see that’s on Monday after the Dublin racer Festival we’ll touch upon that next week if we were going into one would it be

Potter yeah it would for me yes would for me Ed for sure made isn’t he yeah and I mean it’d be fascinating to see what happens and we will find out as I say on Monday Ed the good news is the DF on ITV this weekend alongside Sandown

And muscle BR yeah Sandown muscle bro the priority with the way the contract works so Saturday will be just two live races but the finishes from the others and then uh ITV one on Sunday which is good for um loads of live action from leopard down uh really looking forward

To it actually Willie Mullen show will it’s out this year I’m watching that crowd number carefully Billy with Gold Cup day at cheltam almost sold out already how many you going to get that’s a good question that’s over my pay grade now Ed DJ will be there in

The champagne B yeah absolutely scoop it yeah Ex two more two more JC before we move on to the drf which we are for the second half of this show let’s touch upon standout and muscle that’s silly Al grade one that’s that’s a fascinating race is year it’s a really good race so

Really especially if EMT Mullins chooses to send corbetts cross across but um I managed to snag one with J’s Destiny last week I’m going to go with Hermes Allen as the one to keep an eye on this weekend it’s not super original but I think he is potentially good value bet I

Think he’s about five to2 look at this race and the speed dialed in Nickelback Le Patron Jello trilon all tend to go forward I think Hermes Allen if you’re talking about British Young Horses who could be stars and haven’t really been written up as potential major Stars I think he’s the

One go back to his newbry win but particularly go back to his second to potential superstar in the Cel star on boxing day IL def FR say he ran a wonderful race he jumped beautifully he tracked a hell of a good horse for a long way and he battled on like a hero

So I I think this race Stacks up perfectly absolutely perfectly for Ms Allen this weekend and I can’t wait to see that race it’s it’s it’s not far from a Best of British and you’ve got the really different strands of the very good handicap form of jello tactical

Angle of three or four Front Runners and a horse like heres Allen who I think he’s made for sand down gc4 finally we head off to leopard down line on muscle be big weekend for those guys two two race C lot people got a lot of time for

Two big Prem well it’s it’s an interesting it’s an interesting sort of test moment for Premier over jumps there’s a very nice news story about how muscle brv had to shake out the biscuit tin to ensure Premier status and television coverage this weekend with help from bet 365 I think they’ve bumped

The prize money for two days up to 430 Grand that’s a real real significant achievement for a track like muscle bra they’ve got very good entries so far and I haven’t gone into the races in detail but it strikes me there’s a very good handicap Chase to start Saturday’s card

The frodon novices limited handicapped chase that giia vinko looks likely to carry top weight uh General officer for Brian Hughes and Donald McCain I think could be a nicely handicapped horse he gave torus a revitalized torus plenty to think about at entry on boxing day he jumps well he’s got good muscle reform

Over hurdles he’s only been raised two pounds for that excellent Boxing Day performance to me that makes him a well handicap for so I’ll toss in andz Allen and general officer there’s two to watch for the weekend fantastic Stu and we’re now going to move on to the Dublin r f

David let’s start with the Irish Gold Cup it’s galinda shamp the fast slow galapin shamp at his best is a 180 horse time Farm do you think he’s gonna run to that sort of number again for the second time in successive Racers I’d be surprised if he ran to it

Um on Saturday but then that’s because I’d be surprised if he if he had to you know um this doesn’t look particularly strong renewal does it um sort of it has cut up a fair bit and there is a concer it could cuss up a little bit more with

Fast slow also having the option of going to the uh the two mile race on the Sunday so we’ll have to hope that they do take each other on because obviously he’s beaten galap panda shamps on his last two starts but for me I think there’s something about him catching

Galap pendes shamps on off days on both occasions and if the galap pendes shamps turned up at Christmas and the one that won the Gold Cup runs on on Saturday then I I can’t really see anything living with him to be honest really is that would that be your view on the

Rematch I’d agree with all of that yeah um I think looking at the weather I think the it like we’re not doe too much rain little bit today hopefully not too much for the rest of the week so I think that should suit fast or slow it should

Mean that at least he’ll run in the Gold Cup rather than the two- mile Chase I think the option for the two- mile Chase was if the ground got heavy that’s my understanding of it anyway so I think he’ll run but I agree totally with with

DJ I think he has possibly met gallop and damp on on two days when he wasn’t at his best but I think the race will be set up perfectly for gallop and this time small field um he won might have to make the running the two Elliot horses

Both like to get on with things but he’ll be nice and positive and I think he’ll um I I think it’ll suit him better than faster slow if faster slow is going to beat gallopin again I think he’d have a better chance at chelton than doing it

This weekend and Al f two goal cups never quite captured the Public’s imagination is Ginder sha different is he the horse one of the horses we’re going to have as a hook for the chelon festival we try to get these football fans across in March been do year for 23 years um no

Not yet not really no I think it’s fair to say um I don’t know why because he’s he’s very very good but he hasn’t got to that status yet no doubt about that I do I do think I agree with what the boys say I think galipan is almost unbeatable is he

In his backyard at leopard down I think it it could be different at cheltonham but K on Saturday I mean he’s absolutely deadly there um and we need to it’s important that we show that race because as you say already we do need to get him into the public conscience more he’s ex

When he’s good G say isn’t he he reminds you some of those greats of yesterday when you see him into that Rhythm yeah I said it right about this time last year that there isn’t a horse wed he’s bang right who’s reminded me more of for

Allar since cell star he’s got that um loping really effortless style that that makes it look easy when he’s good now he was a bit ragged at puncher down and more than once last time last season first time this season but he was right back on song last time taking out wide

And whatever you call the winning distance whether it was 23 lengths the official or more like 17 or 18 probably no more accurate one he was devastating and and I hope he can hold that form right through to cheltam because you want The A Team to to to rock up at

Cheltam with their a games Willie hasn’t got many decisions to make this weekend in terms of running plans in terms of he says he’s running everything that he’s entered the one decision that I thought it’d leave late seems to be made and he’s going to take on Marine National

Over two miles with gay w i mean that makes that mouthwatering absolutely it does yeah and I’m delighted he does because this is the race if gay Warrior was mine this is the race I’d run him in I think it makes perfect sense because you know this is brilliant meeting that

It is it is essentially a trial for cheltonham chelham is still the Beall in the end all when it comes to National hunt racing and you want to run the right horses in the right races at cheltam and I think with gck Warrior running here will he doesn’t have a

Maybe an outstanding arle horse at the moment um so if gay Warrior was to be able to beat Marine National at the weekend well then you run him in the ark of chelham if he gets beaten by Marine National and I’m assuming that um it’ll

Be the two of them will fight out the finish of the race well then you always have the option of the Turners and you can set them back up and trip um I think for other reasons as well I think G Warrior he’s been really impressive of

Our fenses his jumping has been great but we haven’t seen him going left-handed so it’ be very interesting to see how he gets on there and dropping back in trip is a Ply that Willie has used in the past with his novices with his staying novices the the good ones in

Particular he likes to run them over two miles or or just a bit further than two miles because it does really sharpen up their jumping so I think this race makes perfect sense it’s going to be a cracking contest because we all saw who impressive Marine National was at

Christmas and he’s definitely the one to beat I think even though that Christmas Farm there wasn’t much substance to it but he was really impressive in how he won and and his hurdle Farm last year will tell you just how good he is um hopefully found the 50 will run in the

Race as well he won the the grade one at Christmas I don’t think he’d be good enough to be the other two hores but he would add certainly a good deal to the race as well um it it should be a mouthwatering contest B you say Will’s

Struggling for an arle horse am I am I binning my f Al Vega tickets now well it wouldn’t been a just yet um it’ll be interesting to see what he does with him at the weekend H will he run him against Marine National again or will he step

Him up and trip as he suggested he might at Christmas yeah might yeah I think I think he might as well but to be perfectly honest I’d be inclined to give him a bit of a pass at Christmas that was a messy race and found a 50 just

Kind of messed him around for the whole race he was jumping across Patrick was inside he was outside I don’t think we saw the best of Fel Vega at Christmas I think he’s definitely a better horse than that but where Willie runs him this weekend will tell us a lot

As to to what he what the plan is going forward I think warri is it s is it is it crucial this this is the trial for him going left-handed is it really because our bitter bitter Rivals over on GSI I heard them talking about with Joe

Chambers I me imagine he’d come over for the silly Isles I’m sorry GC but right-handed two and a half miles he’d be a very short price to beat as Al Eden Co yes he would that was Joe chambers’s suggestion as well that he said fell on completely deaf ears that the might take

A look at the silly a silly suggestion was jeez but yeah this is this is the trial for chelton because um you know they’re already talking about the fact that the Turners is on the new course it might suit him better with his tendency to jump out to

The right he’ll have more time time to correct himself than the tighter two mile um arle circuit so how he gets on here I think will determine what race they run him in at chelton definitely can I make the case for getting the anti poost points out for gayet

Warrior here we go here we go non-running no bet he five to2 for the arle now if he doesn’t win on Saturday he’s going to go to the Turners isn’t he so you’d get your money back now if he does win he’s going to go off a lot

Shorter than five to2 for the arle isn’t he so uh it’s looks a really lowrisk bet gaay Warrior for the arle at this stage if you’ve got all the upside of him potentially really putting it to Marine National on Saturday really interesting it’s f as

Well when you look at what he’s got in the two mile six novice isn’t it way he would have been he’s he’s left scrambling around with gra CLA West and Factor file to running that one so the shuffling of the closeup and back will be I just ask ask really this about gay

Warrior he he won at the leopardstown Dublin racing Festival last year over hurdles jumping a bit to the right how much do you think that might compromise his chance this weekend um quite a bit I’d say if Marine National is on his is on his aame now I

Would imagine I’m I’m only thinking out loud here now GC but I would imagine Paul will ride him and will keep him out as wide as he can take the the gallop andish sha brute um if he does jump out to the right he won’t have that far to

Go if you know what I mean um I would think he will try that but look Marine National was so good at Christmas he was so measured and and so quick over his fences that if gck Warrior is continually jumping out to his right if he’s continually losing grounded fences

Then it’s going to be a big hindrance to him I think but can’t Paul town and just say to Mikel Sullivan do not get in my way at any of these give me as much room as I need at every obstacle please he certainly can yeah innocent man just to remind you of

The the hearing that they that followed in that particular in David we need to talk about the spring juvenile hurdle because it’s fascinating because there’s also and I’ve seen thsy G is the latest hit to put up the as yet unraised salvator Monday for the tri ferle um

We’re finally going to see him Willie says he’s been slower to come to hand than they like but it’s this a race is anything G to come out this spring juvenal David that’s going to make you think soo’s got a battle on his hes well it it’s interesting isn’t it I the two

That set the standard on the time forone racings are the ones that mess over Christmas caress and calak conti and you supect if there’s one that’s going to shake up um Serino it’s not going to be them you know they haven’t looked as though they’re particular Superstars but

This Salvador Mundy is a fairly interesting one as as you mention you know he was trained by David cotan in in France and the last time he was seen was um when chasing home s know and obviously uh the uh his current owners clearly like what they saw from the pair

Of them that day because they’re both picked up by the same owners um who you know we’re very used to seeing the colors aren’t we the donelles who have got them and obviously I think the interesting thing what they’re going to do with this horse if he does turn up because he’s

Obviously having finished second to Serino he’s still a novice whereas um Serino stage that he wasn’t so um we saw it a couple of years ago with elete tomp who had a similar campaign they threw him in at the deep end in these juveniles he came up slightly short and

Then they could keep him as a novice for the rest of the season so I think it there’s a good chance we’ll see Salvatore Mundy but I think if we do they’re going to keep throwing him at the top level and if they bager grade one they’ll be delighted if they don’t

Then they’ll have a novice for next season to hold on to so I think that that could be the plan with him I think it’s interesting be the same for the St MTH the JP MCM on the dogs of in backing his name well the dogs M Howard put both

Up in his book juvenile alongside Zino so I should credit Mark but those those were the three salvator Monday Serino and mbra that were his at the start of the season two of them make their debut in that spring um and let’s talk Sunday we’ve got some superstars in Acts we’ve

Got statan and El fabiolo as shorter for the champion hle champion Chase respectively is it just straightforward for both is it just is it just a double go out what the dog come back and colle the win into uh not necessarily not necessarily I’m I’m pleased they’ve gone this route

With imp Perry pass I’m looking forward to seeing him again I think he’s still open to plenty of improvement but you can set your watch to to state man he’s so reliable he’s going to take the world of beating there isn’t he um you’d have thought I think it could you’re nodding

Billy you’re expecting a similar story yeah I am yeah um you know he’s Mr consistent um like you said I thought him Perry pass ran well at Christmas but I didn’t see anything in that performance that would suggest he turn around the form and it’s great that Bob

Allinger’s in the race as well but I think over two miles they’ll have too much speed for him Bob alinger has never won over two miles under rules even the bumper he won was two and a quarter so I just think he won’t be quick enough for

Those other two thank God he is there because that at least add some interest to the race otherwise it would be little JC you have to Bob allinger going there where you post yeah I’m not saying that I fancy him to beat the Peak form uh stat man

But there will be a moment when your hopes are raised because he still has that very V high cruising speed and it’s just whether he can see it right through against a a tip top two mile just on the banker theme this weekend it’s only one

Year sample but Lads of people will be having Mullins superstars in multiples cash your mind back to this weekend last year blue Lord 1 to4 Bas Al Vega 4 to9 loss him m one to three all got turned over so it’s sounds like a racing blogger treble

That yeah you see what I mean it’s it’s uh you know that’s why they run the races Lads isn’t it and Al fabiolo Billy interesting rivals in it again stable mates but gentleman and Dino blue getting the May’s are we going to be bemoaning the fact there’s a mayor’s

Chase after this doubling Chase has the collection pointed there rather than the champion Chas I think I was beorning the fact there was chase a couple of weeks ago already but yeah I think look first of all I would expect El Fabiola to win I would expect him to win quite

Comfortably he’s a better horse than anything he’s taking on here Dino blue is the one that is progressing she’s been very good um pretty much since this time last year she’s got better and better she was good at Christmas if she was in any other stable you think she would have a she’d

Certainly be a live Champion she’s Contender again getting the seven pounds but because she’s with Willie he has El fabiolo who is he’s clearly his number one Champion Chase horse um you’d have to remember as well that Dino blue own by JP imperious who looked the obvious

One for the May’s Chase again this year she’s on the sidelines I don’t know if she’s going to be back in time for chelham alag gari deasi was disappointing the last day so the mayor’s Chase looks to have opened up for Dino blue she’s going to be very

Much the one to beat if she goes there and like I said I wouldn’t expect her to beet El Fabiola this weekend anyway bastar slow he is in this as well as they they Ed it to get him handicap for the ultimate didn’t they last year was

Final a final I mean would there be any temptation to to try him in this well like I said if the ground does come up very soft if we do happen to have a lot of rain I think they were that’s the way they were thinking that if if it um if

The ground was Heavy that maybe they’d run him in the two- mile race instead the interesting thing about faster slows he’s only ever had six runs over fences so he’s still like he won a he won a Chase in France before Martin brazzil got him he won it in I think it was

August or September of the year so um didn’t run again until the following April so he he didn’t really have a novice campaign so doesn’t have that much experience over offenses so I supp the fact that they ran him over two miles last year it certainly sharpened

Up his jumping um but I would be surprised if the forecast holds the way it is I would be surprised if he runs in the two mile race de just a quick line on the two mile novice hurdle on Sunday so we fascinated to see where the cards

Fall so we’ve got B burn running at the minimum trip for for Willie M faen GL who was running so well at a for fall was on gone OT its big Runners of the weekend you think this could be a significant race it has been in recent

Years hasn’t it in terms of trying to sort of Point our way to um the festival obviously FAL Vega was beaten in it last year and did return to format cheltam but was uh just not as good as Marine National was he and the year before sard

Won it before he went on to running the balmore so you know it has been a decent trial faren glory is the one that interests me most and I was knocking him a little bit after the Royal Bond I didn’t think that looked a particularly strong race but he would surely have

Shown Improvement on that if he’d have completed in the the formb as it is now you know the rescheduled um tolworth hdle move to anry on boxing day so uh yeah this looks an obvious spot for him coming back you know to try and add another two mile grade one to his

CV really there some handicaps there are punching opportunities for those who want something at a bigger prize to be had you thast chase each way fan hit the frame I mean yeah yeah each each way money back there give us something for the handicaps bu what’s G what’s going

To pay for Benin for’s lavish expenses over there right well i’ I’ve only had a very uh cursory glance Dave at at some of the handicaps cursory glance I’ll give you three for the for the two mile handicap hle I think it’s on the Sunday the liy handicap hortle

I’d be quite interested the mayor of Henry de Bram hits called Magic L zoy um she’s a classy Philly she was no match for Irish point up the north last time but we all see how good a har sish point is and I think a well-run two mile

Handicap will really suit her she travels very well through her races so she’ be very interesting the leopard Stone Chase I think James de bleay should give darl Jacob a super spin in that H ran a cracker in the Patty power he’s been a disappointing horse I think

All told since they got him from France but much more like it in the Patty power was up there for a long way and I think dropping back to 25 that intermediate distance will really suit him and one that caught my eye in the three mile handicap hardle I think that’s on the

Sunday as well um another Henry de Bram head horse right down the bottom of the way is music of Tara she won over two and a half at Christmas but she was stronger in the last furling of the race than she had been kind of at any point

Through it so I think stepping up to three miles will really suit she’s got 912 as things stand if um if Elliot AR on top of the weights I think it’s far de if if he runs he’s going to keep a good few out of the handicap but um

She’s got 912 that won’t be a problem to Rachel Blackmore she can do 10 Stone no problem obviously not ideal if she is out of the weights but I think she’s improving I think to step up to three miles and improver so um there’d be three that like I said having had a

Quick glance at the handicaps there were three names that kind of jumped out at me David you’re heading over there yourself is there anything on your radar post post your board in the old Ryan Air from lead Bradford Guinness that’s the yeah Guinness that’ll come in a glass and won’t cost

£750 I think is the I’m looking forward to most 5 60 sco working last year I mean that’s an absolute but no there’s there’s a Gavin Cromwell horse CAU my ey in the two mile handicap Chase on the Saturday I think uh I think he won the race the previous

Year with final orders and it’s this um path Doro if that’s how you pronounce it only a seveny old uh hasn’t um managed to win a race yet over fences but it’s been keeping good company and had the misfortune back in a maiden or a beginner’s Chase last time to run into

Hunters yarn but uh comfortably came clear of the rest I liked his run over this course and distance at Christmas so he’d have gone very close to winning I think um if he hadn’t have fallen late on there and after that I think this has obviously looked the obvious place to

Come with him so yeah I’ll certainly be keeping a close eye on path D in the two mile handicap Chase on the Saturday would approve of that pronunciation I’m sure I think it’s so important that the Cromwell horses the de Brom head horses those big players we’ve talked about

Marine National fast or slow far and Glory really turn up this weekend for the sake of the Dublin racing Festival also moving forward to chham a few weeks later because you know mullin’s domination is a concern 100% be fantastic see y y at Sandown how much you looking forward to

The weekend I’m a neither I’m neither weekend off this week got oh I never knew that oh you freshing up is it Saturday the week after Landmark birthday I’m afraid oh is it really well an early many upy returns not good no from all of us I

Mean all the messages will be will be flooding in now and I’ll reply to them take the week off I will send we’re still replying to gc’s Jenny’s Destiny messages Oh my days oh just mention it you’ve already given us a domestic double GC could just end with what are

You most looky forward to at the not selection wi what you most looky forward to seeing at the DI what is it that’s floating your boat great question great question I I would like to see Bob allinger come there cruising against statan and test him it’s not impossible

I I I I don’t want to see the big stars really really blow outs like galapa sha that would be a real anticlimax if he were to blow out but it’s it’s sorting the wheat from the chaff among the novices that those those races are are full of potential um potential Shelton

Festival horses so no fantastic but do keep an eye on Sandown and muscle as well it’s a very very significant weekend of jumping day yes live on ITV and racing TV Fantastic action across um Sandown muscle and particularly that leopard stown in the drf best look to DJ

And B as I represent us in Ireland this weekend I’m sure one will emerge with a lot more dignity don’t disgrace yourself DJ the other thanks to JC to DJ to Billy and thank you for listening and best of luck with the old weekend wages visit sportinglife.com for more analysis tips opinion and Insight