yeah, she did…I dont think Scots is nailed on by any means
Weld is a sneaky cunt
Unaccompanied is only likely to line up in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival if Quevega does not take part.
Dermot Weld’s Grade One-winning five-year-old was the surprise name among the 28 entries for the race better known as the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle.
The Willie Mullins-trained Quevega has ruled the roost in the Grade Two for the past three years and despite her unusual preparation of heading to Cheltenham without the aid of a prior run, is currently odds-on favourite to make it four in a row.
Unaccompanied would at least give her something different to think about but Stan Cosgrave, racing manager for the owners, Moyglare Stud, said: "Dermot put her in just in case something happened to Willie Mullins’ good mare.
"It’s doubtful she’ll run, but if the good filly doesn’t run then she would.
“It’s just a safety valve. It’s unlikely, but you never know.”
A total of 28 mares are entered, with last year’s Fred Winter winner What A Charm, Lanzarote Hurdle winner Swincombe Flame and Our Girl Salley engaged.
Alasi, Kentford Grey Lady and Violin Davis are also entered.
i predicted this after her grade 1 win in leop…
And after her last run he said she’d skip Cheltenham and go to Aintree / Punchestown. Doubtful she’ll run anyway but I wouldn’t trust the man at all.
he should run her, she acts on the track and i think she is a 2 1/2 miler…so is zarkandar
I’m really starting to like the look of Merchant Royal for the Hunters Chase. Has been given a very low key campaign and has qualifed doing the bare minimum. Won a novice chase on good ground by 6l at the tail end of last year and has been laid out for this since. Ran in two hunters chases this season and won them both.
I think the 16/1 available about him is very big and will be having a go off it tonight.
Peddlers Cross a significant drifter on the machines today
DMC mentioning the Jewson yesterday hardly helped things. Heard your mate was saying the vibes weren’t good at a cheltenham preview night in ballymore eustace. Presume he was talking to Maguire.
There is no easy way to say this, but Kauto Star is only 50-50 to make the Cheltenham Gold Cup after a fall schooling.
As a trainer, it is all too easy to sit on information when it comes to your horses.
They have so many minor worries, niggles and setbacks - most of which turn out to be nothing of long-term importance - that you could be constantly updating on each of your string, to the press and the public, on a hourly, daily and weekly basis.
But our policy at Ditcheat is always to be up front and honest about the well-being of our horses - such as the coughing scare last week - and especially so when it is a public, and once-in-a-lifetime horse, such as Kauto.
In my opinion, the public have a right to know. In many ways, he is as much theirs, as Clive Smith’s and ours.
So I am sad to report that his participation at the Cheltenham Festival is in doubt.
Kauto took a tumble when Ruby schooled him at the end of last week. I say tumble, but in truth it was a pretty awful fall.
Clive was obviously consulted at all times and we immediately got Kauto checked over. Even though he trotted sound, it was plain to see that he was sore afterwards.
He has had the best veterinary and physiotherapy care possible but we hoped that he would be showing more improvement by now.
I spoke to Clifford after returning to the stables after a Cheltenham media day yesterday, and he said Kauto still wasn’t fully recovered, remained quite stiff, and in his wise words he felt he was “only 50-50” to make the Festival at this stage.
So I immediately spoke to Clive and we felt that it prudent that we put out this update today.
Next week is crucial for the horse.
He is still cantering each day but I can assure you right now that Kauto Star won’t be going anywhere near Cheltenham unless we are all convinced - Clive Smith, myself, Clifford and the team here - that he is 110 per cent right.
Even if there is the slightest doubt in our minds, then he stays at home. No question. We will do what is best for the horse. Always have, always will. End of story.
But, along with Desert Orchid, I suppose if ever a horse has captured the public’s love and imagination it is Kauto Star. We saw that when he won the Betfair Chase at Haydock.
It even had this old cynic bursting with pride for the horse, fighting back the tears on my proudest and most emotional day as a trainer.
So, of course, it will be devastating for all concerned if Kauto Star wasn’t able up to line up on March 16 and try to win a third Gold Cup. Because he has been in the form of his life this season.
But one thing I think we have all learned with Kauto is never to write him off.
Yes, having this setback so close to the Festival is clearly a major concern, but don’t confuse Kauto’s kind and inquisitive nature with softness.
He is a hard so-and-so too - you learn to be when your best mate is Denman - and it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if he was back firing on all cylinders at home before Cheltenham, and went on to beat Long Run for a third time this season.
But at this stage his participation does hang in the balance.
I know a lot of the press read this column, so I would just like to take this opportunity to say that this will be my only public comment on this subject today and I have nothing more to add at this stage.
But I will give daily updates on the horse from tomorrow onwards.
This happened last week.
Nicholls and Walsh are cunts
[quote=“thedancingbaby, post: 650630”]This happened last week.
Nicholls and Walsh are cunts[/quote]
+1
[quote=“thedancingbaby, post: 650630”]This happened last week.
Nicholls and Walsh are cunts[/quote]
At least we knew the horse had qualified…
I’m sickened TREs - absolutely sickened by their behaviour.
I believe they were both talking up Kauto’s chances at a preview in Westmanstown only last night
[quote=“thedancingbaby, post: 650633”]
I’m sickened TREs - absolutely sickened by their behaviour.
I believe they were both talking up Kauto’s chances at a preview in Westmanstown only last night[/quote]
Two crooked cunts. Trying to bury it becuse they knew they fucked up no doubt.
A few pops of a hurdle would do him. At 12 years of age he hardly needed a schooling session like that.
+1.
I’m seething
Nichols told everyone last Saturday that Kauto schooled well with Ruby! He’s as crooked as that Elliott chap on this evidence.
Post reported
Could someone explain to me why this is controversial?
No evidence needed. Just take it as a given.
Clive Smith must have some puss on his face now. One superstar crocked and the second half crocked.
The horse fucked himself up last week.
Nicholls told all and sundry on Saturday that Ruby schooled him and all was rosy in the garden
Now, Nicholls tells us all the horse is only 50/50 to make the festival