Review of the day

There was no joy with todays tip – Third Opinion – which was a little disappointing.

As I said this morning, I had quite high hopes for him – and the way he was backed early, gave me additional cause for optimism.

However, in those crucial 5 mins prior to the off, he was incredibly weak on BF.

4.8 became 7.8 in about 3 minutes – that’s never a good sign !

In the race itself, he was again very head strong – and Andy Lynch seemed unable to do much about it.

I expected him to be given his head today – but instead, he was held back in midfield.

In the circumstances, I never really thought he was going to feature – and he was already well held when taking a tumble at the second last fence.

If the horse is ever going to fulfil it’s potential, it needs to learn to settle.

My feeling is that this would be best achieved by letting it stride on – but whether that happens, is a different matter…

There was no joy either for the days two mentions…

Grey Life was well held when falling at the last at Sedgefield. Apparently he was tipped early by Hugh Taylor, which would explain this mornings price crash.
I guess we can thank Hugh for potentially saving us a few quid !

Whilst at Leopardstown, More Madness ran well – but as I feared, ran into a couple of exceptionally well handicapped horses.

Bishops Road and Heathfield pulled miles clear of the rest of the field – with More Madness just behind Kilcrea in fourth.

I think that my decision not to put him up – even EW – was justified.

Earlier on the Leopardstown card, Un De Sceux destroyed his 2 rivals in the Irish Arkle and showed that he is indeed the real deal.
You’ll struggle to beat even money about him no for the Arkle – and with a clear round the race does look his for the taking.

Just over an hour latter, Hurricane Fly got the better of Jezki for the third time this season, to claim an unprecedented fifth Irish Champion hurdle.

He was just getting in top of his rival, when that one made a bad mistake at the final hurdle.

It was another tremendous display from a horse who must now rank up there with the all time hurdling greats.

TVB.