Post by Old Timer on Nov 3, 2020 11:44:13 GMT
Exeter 14.25 Gr 2 Handicap Chase 323 (148.0) 17.5f gd – 10 Run
Last year: 404 (155.7) sf – 6 ran
Janika 5/2 F 6-11-10 (162) by 2.25 l from Dolos 9/2 6-11-5 (157)
Greaneteen 6-11-3 (151) (6.9)
‘19/20 record: 3/1/5 Best: 292.1 off 150 carrying 11-7 (Gr 3 HCh 16.5f gd/sf Chelt)
13/03/20 Gr 3 HCh (619/147.6) 16.5f gd/sf Chelt 11-7 5/1 4/18 5.5 l off 150
raced keenly, in touch in mid-division, effort 4 out, mistake 2 out, stayed on flat
Plus: distance (Wh); course (Wh); form run lto; down 4lbs;
Minus: class (?); going (?); 235-day break; up 1lb (OR); up in class;
Verdict: has won 5/8 over hurdles and fences with Nicholls, including 3/4 over fences; mistake cost him in the Grand Annual, although he likely wouldn’t have won; despite not winning over distance in chases is a C&D winner over hurdles, and has won a 17f chase at Ascot; favourite’s chance.
Esprit Du Large 6-11-6 (154) (14.0?)
‘19/20 record 2/1/4 Best: 288.4 off 144 carrying 11-2 (Gr 1 NCh 15.5f sf Sand)
10/03/20 Gr 1 Nov Ch (968/) 16f sf Chelt 11-4 12/1 F/11 off 155
held up towards rear, headway when mistake 10th, chasing leaders 3 out, soon ridden and beaten, 5th and weakening when fell 2 out
07/12/19 Gr 1 Nov Ch (311/) 15.5f sf Sand 11-2 14/1 1/6 1.75 l off 144
tracked leaders on outside, went close 2nd before 7th (water), led 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on when strongly pressed flat, held on well
Plus: class (W+); course (W); down 1lb (OR); down in class;
Minus: going (?); distance (?); 238-day break; up 2lbs (wt);
Verdict: winning hurdler with just the 4 chase starts; runner-up in Cl 3 NHCh to open last season and then won a Cl 3 Nov over 19f here; followed up by winning a Cl 1 Nov over15.5f at Sandown, but a mistake at the 10th likely cost him any chance in the Arkle and was beaten when falling 2 out; dropped 1lb, but yet to run on gd even in hurdle career; however, should stay the trip
Not That Fuisse 7-10-4 (138)
‘19/20 record: 0/1/5
’20/21 record: 1/0/2 Best: 264 off 132 carrying 11-2 (Cl 3 NCh 20f gd/sf Perth)
24/10/20 Cl 2 Nov (125/) 20f gd Chelt 11-8 4/1 3/4 6.5 l off 138
held up, still in touch of leading duo 4 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on without troubling leaders flat
Plus: going (Wh); distance (Wh); recent run (10 days); down 18 lbs (wt); up 2classes;
Minus: class (?); course (?); up 2 classes; down 2.5 f;
Verdict: 1/7 over fences, that a Cl 3 at Perth over 20f; didn’t really show a lot when upped to Cl 2 at Cheltenham lto; the first-time cheekpieces have got an awful to do.
Global Citizen 8-11-5 (153) (6.0?)
‘19/20 record: 1/0/3 Best: 352 off 156 carrying 11-2 (Gr 2 Nov Ch 16f sf Kemp)
10/03/20 Gr 1 Nov Ch (968/) 16f sf Chelt 11-4 33/1 4/11 19.6 l off 156
held up in rear, not always fluent, hampered 10th, soon pushed along, switched right and closed 3 out, went 3rd final bend before 2 out, no impression on front pair, lost 3rd last stride
27/12/19 Gr 2 Nov Ch (228/) 16f sf Kemp 11-2 8/1 1/6 1.5 L off 156
jumped well, joined 3 out, ridden between last 2, in command before last, stayed on well
Plus: class (W); going (Wh); down 3lbs (OR);
Minus: distance (?); course (?); 238-day break; up 3lbs (wt);
Verdict: useful hurdler winning in Gr 1, and just the 3 starts over fences last winter; likely needed the race on his debut, but fitted with a tongue-tie made no mistake in a Gr 2 at the Kempton Christmas meeting; not seen then till the Arkle where he could make no impression on the front pair and lost 3rd in the last strides; question about whether he’ll stay the trip as he’s never tried beyond 16.5f even over hurdles.
Well for all the time I’ve spent looking for one to beat the favourite, I’m afraid I certainly wouldn’t back against Greaneteen, and at that price I certainly wouldn’t be backing it. For those who like to back without the favourite, Esprit Du Large appeals more than Global Citizen. So once again Haldon Gold Cup defies me to pick a winner, it’s always (well nearly) like that.
Last year: 404 (155.7) sf – 6 ran
Janika 5/2 F 6-11-10 (162) by 2.25 l from Dolos 9/2 6-11-5 (157)
Greaneteen 6-11-3 (151) (6.9)
‘19/20 record: 3/1/5 Best: 292.1 off 150 carrying 11-7 (Gr 3 HCh 16.5f gd/sf Chelt)
13/03/20 Gr 3 HCh (619/147.6) 16.5f gd/sf Chelt 11-7 5/1 4/18 5.5 l off 150
raced keenly, in touch in mid-division, effort 4 out, mistake 2 out, stayed on flat
Plus: distance (Wh); course (Wh); form run lto; down 4lbs;
Minus: class (?); going (?); 235-day break; up 1lb (OR); up in class;
Verdict: has won 5/8 over hurdles and fences with Nicholls, including 3/4 over fences; mistake cost him in the Grand Annual, although he likely wouldn’t have won; despite not winning over distance in chases is a C&D winner over hurdles, and has won a 17f chase at Ascot; favourite’s chance.
Esprit Du Large 6-11-6 (154) (14.0?)
‘19/20 record 2/1/4 Best: 288.4 off 144 carrying 11-2 (Gr 1 NCh 15.5f sf Sand)
10/03/20 Gr 1 Nov Ch (968/) 16f sf Chelt 11-4 12/1 F/11 off 155
held up towards rear, headway when mistake 10th, chasing leaders 3 out, soon ridden and beaten, 5th and weakening when fell 2 out
07/12/19 Gr 1 Nov Ch (311/) 15.5f sf Sand 11-2 14/1 1/6 1.75 l off 144
tracked leaders on outside, went close 2nd before 7th (water), led 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on when strongly pressed flat, held on well
Plus: class (W+); course (W); down 1lb (OR); down in class;
Minus: going (?); distance (?); 238-day break; up 2lbs (wt);
Verdict: winning hurdler with just the 4 chase starts; runner-up in Cl 3 NHCh to open last season and then won a Cl 3 Nov over 19f here; followed up by winning a Cl 1 Nov over15.5f at Sandown, but a mistake at the 10th likely cost him any chance in the Arkle and was beaten when falling 2 out; dropped 1lb, but yet to run on gd even in hurdle career; however, should stay the trip
Not That Fuisse 7-10-4 (138)
‘19/20 record: 0/1/5
’20/21 record: 1/0/2 Best: 264 off 132 carrying 11-2 (Cl 3 NCh 20f gd/sf Perth)
24/10/20 Cl 2 Nov (125/) 20f gd Chelt 11-8 4/1 3/4 6.5 l off 138
held up, still in touch of leading duo 4 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on without troubling leaders flat
Plus: going (Wh); distance (Wh); recent run (10 days); down 18 lbs (wt); up 2classes;
Minus: class (?); course (?); up 2 classes; down 2.5 f;
Verdict: 1/7 over fences, that a Cl 3 at Perth over 20f; didn’t really show a lot when upped to Cl 2 at Cheltenham lto; the first-time cheekpieces have got an awful to do.
Global Citizen 8-11-5 (153) (6.0?)
‘19/20 record: 1/0/3 Best: 352 off 156 carrying 11-2 (Gr 2 Nov Ch 16f sf Kemp)
10/03/20 Gr 1 Nov Ch (968/) 16f sf Chelt 11-4 33/1 4/11 19.6 l off 156
held up in rear, not always fluent, hampered 10th, soon pushed along, switched right and closed 3 out, went 3rd final bend before 2 out, no impression on front pair, lost 3rd last stride
27/12/19 Gr 2 Nov Ch (228/) 16f sf Kemp 11-2 8/1 1/6 1.5 L off 156
jumped well, joined 3 out, ridden between last 2, in command before last, stayed on well
Plus: class (W); going (Wh); down 3lbs (OR);
Minus: distance (?); course (?); 238-day break; up 3lbs (wt);
Verdict: useful hurdler winning in Gr 1, and just the 3 starts over fences last winter; likely needed the race on his debut, but fitted with a tongue-tie made no mistake in a Gr 2 at the Kempton Christmas meeting; not seen then till the Arkle where he could make no impression on the front pair and lost 3rd in the last strides; question about whether he’ll stay the trip as he’s never tried beyond 16.5f even over hurdles.
Well for all the time I’ve spent looking for one to beat the favourite, I’m afraid I certainly wouldn’t back against Greaneteen, and at that price I certainly wouldn’t be backing it. For those who like to back without the favourite, Esprit Du Large appeals more than Global Citizen. So once again Haldon Gold Cup defies me to pick a winner, it’s always (well nearly) like that.