• Login

JPFestival.com

Horse Racing Tipster

  • Home
  • Members’ Area
    • NAP Of The Day
    • Plays
    • Lays
    • Saturday Steamer
    • Will’s Wisdom
    • Membership Benefits
    • My Profile
  • Cheltenham Festival 2020
    • Cheltenham Festival 2020 Race Schedule and Tickets
    • LATEST TICKET OFFERS
    • Cheltenham Racecourse Going And Weather
    • Eat, Drink and Sleep – Cheltenham
    • The Best Apps for The Cheltenham Festival
    • How do I get to Cheltenham Racecourse
    • Cheltenham Festival Key Facts
  • Join
    • Join as a Free Member
    • Membership Guidelines
    • Join as a Community Member
    • Plays – Tips Record 2019-2020
    • Lays – Tips Record 2019-2020
  • About
You are here: Home / Archives for Jonjo O’Neill

The Galway Festival 2014 – Preview

July 26, 2014 by Nigel Keeling Leave a Comment

The Galway Festival 2014 – Preview

Carlingford Lough wins Galway Plate 2013

The Galway Festival is only a few days away so here’s a preview for you. Irish racing’s summer spectacular runs over a stamina sapping seven days. Around 150,000 fans will attend, many for the full week, determined to soak up every last drop of Galway hospitality. The racing is of course the centre of attention, but more than many festivals, this is a celebration of racing and everything connected.

At a meeting where both Flat and Jump racing run side by side, opulence and earthy blend seamlessly. The natty and the nutty, and all of those in between are welcomed guests at this wonderful gathering.

The Festival first took place at the Ballybrit racecourse back in August 1869, though records show of race meetings in Galway as far back as the 13th century. The feature race is the Galway Plate, held on the Wednesday of the meeting. The 2m 6f chase was won last year by the JP McManus owned Carlingford Lough. The race favourite ridden by champion jockey AP McCoy was one of the most popular winners of the meeting, seemingly backed by every punter in Galway.

In recent times, the meeting has proved a happy hunting ground for top Irish dual-purpose trainer Dermot Weld. With 11 winners in 2013, nine in 2012 and an incredible 17 in 2011, he is the man to follow. Though a word of caution. His victories come predominantly in the Flat events.

Tony Martin is another Irish trainer worth following. Of his eight winners at the meeting last season, five rather surprisingly came on the Flat. But a Tony Martin/Ruby Walsh combination over obstacles is always one to be feared and followed.

The quality of horses entered at Galway should not be underestimated. At last year’s Festival Mustajeeb won a two-year-old maiden for Dermot Weld, and just last month was winning the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. Wicklow Brave was a decent priced winner for Willie Mullins before going on to a successful winter over hurdles, culminating in being well fancied for the Supreme Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Tarfasha was another Weld success in a two-year-old maiden. The classy filly was a terrific second in this year’s Epsom Oaks. Carlingford Lough won the Galway Plate before going on to win Grade One chases over the winter. Spring Heeled could only manage second at Galway but won at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Whilst Missunited was another winner at Galway last year and went on to run sensationally well at Royal Ascot, when third in the Gold Cup.

This year’s Galway Festival is sure to uncover more stars of the future in both codes of racing. For the thousands in attendance and those less fortunate who have to watch the action on TV, the trick is finding those all elusive winners.

On the first day Erlkonig is a horse I fancy in the opening novice hurdle. An impressive winner at Tipperary on his second hurdles outing, his German pedigree is interesting with the likes of Fair Along and Catch Me distant relatives. He’ll need the rain to stay away, but could be a fair type going forward.

Tony Martin has Quick Jack entered in several races in the week. He hinted at taking his chance on the Flat and the Connacht Hotel Handicap on the opening day could be the race. Aiden O’Brien’s Marchese Marconi looks the danger, but Quick Jack could be very well handicapped after strengthening up over an impressive winter hurdles campaign.

Queen Alphabet is another novice hurdler who has several entries during the week. By Kings Theatre, she will also need decent ground to be seen at her best. I’ll follow her in whichever race she takes on.

On day three the Galway Plate is the highlight. Jonjo O’Neill has a couple of entries, both carrying the famous “Green and Gold”. It’s A Gimme was successful at Market Rasen last week whilst Rum And Butter is interesting, also a winner at Market Rasen last time out. I’d fancy either if AP takes the ride, with both on attractive handicap marks. Road To Riches has to go close with a run. He’s probably one of the classiest horses in the race, but may be vulnerable to one down the handicap.

The Galway Hurdle is the feature on Thursday. Pique Sous would have been a strong fancy, but sadly is out for the season. That leaves Bayan and Plinth as my two to beat. I’d also expect Stocktons Wing to run a big race at a fair price. Flaxen Flare went close as a four-year-old in last year’s race, which makes me more optimistic about Plinth, though his jumping is sure to be a crucial factor.

I wrote earlier of how the Galway Festival is often a showpiece for future stars. In 2012 both Our Conor and Annie Power were in attendance. Few could have predicted the impact both would make on the jump racing scene.

So there you have it. A sensational yet rather exhausting week is sure to be had by all. I for one cannot wait.

We’ll be providing Plays and Lays during the week for Community Members – find out more.

Filed Under: Galway 2014, Preview Tagged With: Dermot Weld, Galway, Galway Festival, Jonjo O'Neill, Tony Martin

The Full SP – The Paddy Power Gold Cup

October 30, 2013 by Jonathan Pollinger Leave a Comment

The Full SP – The Paddy Power Gold Cup

Exactly a week ago, 6 of us gathered at Prestbury Park on a beautiful Autumn day to record our Jump Season Preview Video. Obviously on video you are limited with regards to time, so seeing as we now have the entries for the Paddy Power Gold Cup – watch video preview – these are my full thoughts on the race. Over the next week my thoughts on the Hennessy Gold Cup – watch video preview – will appear along with the entire transcript of my Snog, Marry and Avoid selections – watch Snog, Marry and Avoid!

The Paddy Power Gold Cup

Over the last seven days, Johns Spirit has been supported from 16/1 to 10/1. This comes as no surprise; as I said on the video I think he is thrown in. Yes, he is up ten pounds for his rather stylish victory at the Cheltenham Showcase meeting but I think he is still way ahead of the handicapper on a mark of 139. The underfoot conditions will not inconvenience him, he is equally at home on good or soft. He’s tough and takes his racing in his stride, plus the blunders of last year seem to be ironed out. Richie McLernon gets on particularly well with him and it’s worth noting that seven years ago, Jonjo O’Neill won this with another 6 year old off a mark of 139 – Exotic Dancer. At his peak Exotic Dancer reached an OR of 177. Obviously it’s hard to predict at this stage whether John’s Spirit can replicate that achievement but make no mistake, he is still seriously well in.

Of the Pipe entries, it is Salut Flo that I fear the most. He was bang in contention in the race that keeps getting renamed in December 2011, before making an almighty blunder and coming home in 12th. He then ran away with the Byrne Group Plate of 2012 (don’t even talk to me about Glam Gerry). Ballynagour is a talent but he bursts and is a trait that has been with him since his early life in the Irish Pointing field, through his spell in France and the problem rose to haunt him again in the Byrne Group Plate at the Festival. Mixed vibes are again surrounding the star turn that is Dynaste and he has the King George to aim at. Grands Crus has become an enigma with all sorts of problems and question marks hanging over his beautiful head.

Of the Green and Gold contenders, I’ll be watching Tap Night with interest at Carlisle on Sunday. It seems fitting that he should run hours after the celebrations of the Breeders Cup as he is of course US bred. Last year I fancied him for the Jewson, only to see him line up in the Arkle. Kid Cassidy is also of interest but I think his target may come when the bluebells again begin to sprout in Queens Wood, under the all seeing eye of Cleeve Hill. It all depends which head he has on too, a point that is rather overplayed, but for those of you old enough to remember Worzel Gummidge, he always reminds me of that.

My friend and colleague Rory Delargy is very keen on Rajdhani Express, in fact he even said that he wanted to snog him? Anyway, I understand why he would be keen on him for this contest; an emphatic winner of the whatever you call it on the Tuesday of the Festival, he jumped exceptionally that day which was in stark contrast to his visit to Cheltenham on Trials Day. He then slammed Tap Night by 15 lengths at Ayr. The problem that I have is that he is on 155. Of course he is I hear you cry. Well, I feel that Johns Spirit is capable of running to a mark of 150+ so therefore when I take everything into consideration, I still come back to the fact that Johns Spirit is a major blot on the handicap.

I just took a quick look at the betting and to see that Johns Spirit is a short as 15/2 with sponsors Paddy Power (affiliate link).

Picture by Francesca Altoft @Riosrider2
Picture by Francesca Altoft
@Riosrider2

Filed Under: Paddy Power Gold Cup 2013, Preview Tagged With: Ballynagour, David Pipe, Dynaste, Johns Spirit, Jonjo O'Neill, Kid Cassidy, Paddy Power Gold Cup 2013, Paddy Power Open, Radjahani Express, Salut Flo, Tap Night

Farewell Clan Royal

September 17, 2013 by Adam Webb 2 Comments

For those like myself who are an avid fan of the unique challenge that the Grand National course offers to horses and riders, I am sure you were very sad to hear the news that the former Aintree stalwart Clan Royal has died aged 18 at JP McManus’s Martinstown Stud due to old age. Originally bred in France, he was trained in Ireland by Arthur Moore with some success which included a maiden hurdle and two chase victories. In 2002 he came over to England to be trained by Jonjo O’Neill with his debut run for the stable highlighting one of his big characteristics which was his free-going running style. This showcased the fact that he pulled like a train through his races and his riders had a hard job to settle him. Before his first trip to Aintree for the Topham in 2003, I was lucky enough to witness his last win over regular park fences at Newbury where he was probably slightly fortunate as the favourite Jasmin Guichois fell at the last. About an hour earlier on that same card, the Andrew Balding trained Gunner Welburn had won his Grand National prep in the feature three mile handicap chase in convincing style. Nobody in that Newbury crowd would have foreseen that the winner of the less competitive two and a half mile chase would have such an impact on the world’s greatest steeplechase. Fast forward four weeks and Clan Royal was a fancied 12/1 to run well off a light weight of 10-2 under Liam Cooper, a very capable jockey on his day. Jumping off just behind the leaders, you could see that he instantly revelled in this new challenge especially at the Chair where he stood off a mile and somehow cleared it. Some of the leaps on the way round showed that the demands had obviously given him a new lease of life with the manner of his style around the course. The confidence Cooper had in his mount was shown at Valentines and the fence after, with him taking lengths out of the field. Although, his enthusiasm at some points did have punters having heart in mouth moments with his exuberance especially with a mistake at the Foinavon fence. To test whether he could become a Grand National horse, connections decided the Becher Chase would be the ideal target. The race itself has been described by some as probably the best renewal and it’s hard not to see why. Fifteen set out for three miles three furlongs over 21 of Aintree’s daunting fences (The Chair was omitted due to the low lying sun) and only four finished in a race full of carnage. Initially, Clan Royal was held up by Cooper to get the trip. However by half distance, his jumping and general keenness had taken him to the front at Becher’s. He was left in front when Bindaree fell at Valentines but then was involved in a titanic battle up the home straight with the Ginger McCain trained Amberleigh House with Clar Royal showing tremendous battling qualities to just get up on the line. This confirmed him as a National possible with Bet Victor giving a 33/1 quote for the unlikely treble of Topham/Becher/National. On 3 April 2004 Clan Royal was sent off 10/1 co favourite of four for the National with stable mate Joss Naylor, Jurancon II and Bindaree. Liam Cooper was in no hurry early on with him being held up on the inside. He missed the melee on the outside of him at Becher’s first time although he was lucky himself not to fall as he landed steeply and almost lost his footing but Cooper picked him up from the floor and they carried on as if nothing had happened. For the rest of the first circuit, he travelled strongly into a prominent position with his fast accurate jumping. Going down to Becher’s second time, he began to tank along with his jockey trying to restrain him but however hard he tried, the horse’s exuberance would keep pushing him forward to join Hedgehunter who had forced an almost suicidal pace from the outset. A pivotal moment was five fences from home where Cooper dropped his whip after Clan Royal jumped the fence too low. It has been said that this cost Clan Royal the race; after the final fence when he nearly veered onto the Mildmay course due to his tiredness although to be fair to Liam Cooper, Amberleigh House flew home from a mile back to give Ginger McCain his fourth and last National after the three triumphs from Red Rum in the 1970s. Fast forward twelve months. A few things had changed with Liam Cooper announcing his retirement and JP McManus retaining Tony McCoy. Also of note that jumps season was the virus that hit O’Neill’s yard, so it was a testament to him to get Clan Royal to Aintree in tip top condition with only one appearance during the season. Unlike the previous year, the pace in the race was a sedate one which didn’t help the horse or rider in the slightest, with McCoy attempting throughout to settle him to no avail. He was in front by The Chair and set off out into the country in a similar fashion to the previous year. Arriving at Becher’s, he was confronted with two riderless horses that proceeded to run in front of the fence with the second of those Take The Stand taking him out of the race. Whether he would have won remains questionable as Hedgehunter was an impressive winner plus with him being so keen, a similar outcome to the previous year would have been likely. The following season saw Clan Royal more active with several racecourse appearances. Kept over hurdles again to protect his chase mark, he won his final start before Aintree at Market Rasen and at one stage looked likely to go off the shortest price favourite for the National in a long time. But his old rival Hedgehunter ran one of the best races of his career to be second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup behind War Of Attrition and they shared favouritism on the day as 5/1 joint favourites. To keep him calmer than in previous years, the use of earplugs helped him settle much better but when Ross Comm caused a false start by having his head over the tape, some of that preparation was wasted. In saying that, he did travel much more kindly through the race until a shocking mistake at the nineteenth fence from which both horse and rider did well to recover. Crossing the Melling Road he still had a chance but was outstayed by both Hedgehunter and the winner Numbersixvalverde. The costly mistake at the ditch left him with a cut on his stomach but connections felt their best chance of victory in the great race had slipped away from them. In his final season he was a shadow of his former self. He finished down the field in his prep run for the Becher Chase before taking an uncharacteristic fall at the first fence. A disappointing run in the Silver Cup gave connections the idea to send him hunting with JT McNamara, to freshen him up for one last bid at the Grand National. In 2007 he jumped round safely under JT to finish eleventh with Clan Royal being retired after the race. My generation have been blessed with some excellent Grand National horses with the likes of Amberleigh House, Hedgehunter, Comply Or Die and State Of Play who consistently ran their races around the course they loved. Although he never won the Grand National, one could argue that with some better luck he could have possibly been a dual winner of the race, but Clan Royal will always have a place in my memory with his enthusiasm for those special fences that I don’t believe has been matched by any other horse in my lifetime. RIP Clan Royal 1995 – 2013.

Filed Under: News, Review Tagged With: aintree, Becher Chase, Clan Royal, grand national, Jonjo O'Neill, Tony McCoy

Tweets by JPFestival

JOIN US FOR TOP HORSE RACING TIPS

We offer Community and Free Membership. Join our Community for £19 per month and you’ll receive our full range of tips plus access to our Facebook Group. Join us as a Free Member and you’ll receive our Saturday Steamer every weekend plus Will’s Wisdom on big race days.  Learn more…

Recent Posts

  • Epatante dominates Champion Hurdle betting January 10, 2021
  • The Top Favourite Cheltenham Horses  November 12, 2020
  • Can Tiger Roll Make History This Season? October 19, 2020
  • The World’s Most Famous Horse Races September 10, 2020

JPFestival.com © 2017

Privacy Policy