posted Apr 25, 2007

What gets me is that two weeks ago a few people on here were going over the top about the Betfair Bowl at Aintree and how it would be a "cracking race" when it wasn't ever going to be cos the line up was pretty poor to be honest. I voiced that opinion and got shot down for it but yet todays feature is getting it from every angle even though it is probably a better line up imo.

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posted Apr 25, 2007

I'm irish but agree that punchestown is a bit diluted - it should be restricted to three days. I don't agree that the quality in the big races is poor however. Yes, Mansony did win yesterday but he beat the 2006 champion 2miler(Newmill) and this years third (River city). I know they probably didn't run up to scratch but without Voy Por Ustedes and Well Chief who else is there to challange? It is just a pity that some of the big english trainers (e.g. Paul Nicholls, David Pipe, Alan King) don't send horses over for big irish races. The only england based trainers who do are from ireland (Murphy, O'Neill). One could argue that Kauto Star has yet to travel to win a race, just like BoS. I won't make this arguement but some people should realise that english racing, especially those 4 days in march, are not the bee all and end all of national hunt racing.
As for the other grade one races - todays will be great - Hi Cloy and BoS have won 15 grade ones between them and Monkerhostin was 4th in this years gold cup. These established stars are being taken on by some up and coming horses, which is what racing is all about.
Later in the week we have the two big hurdle races; I don't think I need to argue about the quality in those races. They speak for themselves.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoy todays action.

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posted Apr 25, 2007

FarmerJack
I'm the organisers at Punchestown will be paying a lot of heed to your excellent suggestions. After all, what do they know? They only continue to increase prize money, attendances and betting turnover year on year. 'Festival' is almost being used as a term of abuse towards Punchestown but the fact is that it is a festival and it doesnt only centre around the racing but also the social aspect. I would agree that the quality for some of the races is not the greatest, but how many meetings in Ireland or England would love to have the quality on view for some of the other races? Lighten up and just enjoy it for what it is....a great few days racing. Best of luck on the punting front to anyone getting involved.

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posted Apr 25, 2007

Is it not the first day of the Perth Festival today aswell??? I don't see anybody having a go at that!

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posted Apr 25, 2007

chelters
you mention how punchestown are increasing attendances, prize money and betting year on year... so is just about every other big race meeting across the globe so i dont think your statement has any significance whatsoever!!! maybe thats more of a sign of the times with the global economy and rising prices as much as it is horse racing.
also the organisers know that 90% of people who go racing will bet on every race on the card regardless of how good it is so if the crowd is drawn in for one or two grade ones then they know the money will come for the lesser races as well.
i'm not knocking punchestown specifically or saying it is any worse than other 'big' meetings on both sides of the irish sea but these festivals are supposed to showcase the pinnacle of horse racing and there are just too many races which wouldnt look out of place at your average run of the mill low key saturday meeting. this applies to cheltenham as well as punchestown, just not as much.

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posted Apr 25, 2007

fluber thats because its barely worth a mention.
the racing at perth is no better than your average all weather meeting at lingfield in terms of quality, its a card full of class 3's and 4's with one class 2.
scintillating stuff indeed!!

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posted Apr 25, 2007

Feelings appear to be running a little high but tregoning has a point. I think this year the long gap between Cheltenham and Aintree has had a knock on effect. you have Ayr sandown and Punchestown crammed into a 7 day period. this is bound to affect quality of the races at all 3 meetings. The guinness normally attracts the gold cup winner but Kauto Star was never going to run after Cheltenham. Because of injury Ireland's gold cup challenge was weak so the best 2 chasers left are BOS and In Compliance who both run. Exotic Dancer andTurpin Green ran in the Betfair bowl so monkerhostin is the next best english chaser on gold cup form. Racing Demon compares favourably with Exotic dancer on king george form so you could say it's the best possible line up in the circumstances

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posted Apr 25, 2007

Lets not kid our selves there is only one Festival and we all know what that is!
Although, i was in Westport recently and according to a lovely girl who works for Paddy Power (the staff over there are different class to the shambles over here) she said the Galway Festival is busier than Cheltenham over there! i know this has nothing to do with the class of the racing, just that the irish support there racing

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posted Apr 25, 2007

comment by pele32
posted 5 Hours Ago

i think yous are being very harsh on the punchestown festival,
in all fairness its not trying to match the cheltenham festival or anything,
put it this way what racing would you rather watch this week punchestown or wolverhampton or even excellent lingfield, ...
and the cheltenham festival would be nothing without the irish so pity they other side of the water wouldn return they favour and bring over there class horses to the punchestown festival,
bar h.knight and ferdy murphy of course,
---------------------------------------------------
good post.But you have to rember that the jump season is all but over and many star performers from big yards have alerady run in many races. And as for lingfield... well the racing is poor but with that surface they always have fast finishes and close calls. So it is bad to bet on these races but great fun to watch i really do feel for the poor punters who bet on these races

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posted Apr 25, 2007

Whoever accused P Nicholls of not supporting the Punchestown Festival should thing again - he won the big race today with Neptune Collenges - one of his big guns I do not think so - so he does not need to send his big guns to win the dough!!!

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