16/02/2012
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On February 16, 2012
We gave He’s Our Lad one final chance, placing 2pts win at 5-2. The horse was well backed and went off 2-1 joint favourite. From the off Hes Our Lad was placed just behind the leaders, jumping and travelling well with a couple of the runners already struggling.
Unfortunately we will never know how the race would have panned out as it came to an end jumping the 5th. The horse and jockey made an error; He’s Our Lad nodded on landing whilst Rachael Green lost her irons. We lost quite a few lengths and our good position. It appeared that this affected the partnerships confidence as He’s Our Lad then hit both the 6th & 7th fences and all chance was lost.
I wish Mr Honeyball would let the horse stride on early in the race. He’s Our Lad travels so well during its races and could quite easily get everything else off the bridle. Although race tactics can change, the jockey arrangement will unfortunately stay the same.
We can’t back this horse again but it will no doubt run as it should in the near future and win at a nice price.
19/01/2012
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On January 19, 2012
We backed Dorset Naga from the Anthony Honeyball stable. We’re very surprised that we didn’t collect a nice payout from Dorset Naga. Well, let’s be honest, we do know why; in two words Rachael Green (again).
Dorset Naga was held up at the back of the field and the horse must have ran at least 20 lengths further than anything else in the race. At four out the horse tanked his way into a handy position. In fairness Rachael did keep hold of him. Even at three out Dorset Naga was still firmly on the bit and full of running, trading a very short 1.19 in running.
We hit the front two out with all other runners being shoved along whilst Dorset Naga was swinging away on the bit. Rachael should have put the race to bed and let the horse go on but she kept looking behind and tried to go for a smart win.
Two other runners started to stay on well which increased the momentum. Rachael did ask Dorset Naga to respond and he hung on. If Dorset Naga was allowed to go on by a few lengths the others would have stood no chance in catching up but, not for the first time (and probably not the last) Rachael cost us some good money.
Unfortunately it’s just something we have to put up with when backing horses from this yard, but I do feel Mr Honeyball must have a stable jockey if he is to move forward and attract new owners. From memory, his other half has cost him at least six wins in the past year alone.
We got the E/W money back, so stakes returned and no harm done, but the win would have been nice going into the weekend.
10/11/2011
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On November 10, 2011
We backed Hes Our Lad 4 points win. The horse was lined up to win on his first time out and land another big gamble from the Anthony Honeyball yard. Hes Our Lad was backed heavily and went off 10/11 from odds against.
The race was going to plan with our selection travelling very well and soon going miles clear with Falcon Island. Hes Our Lad’s jumping was satisfactory but he did keep dragging his back legs through the majority of fences which caused a loss of momentum. He never looked like falling but was a little slow at times.
Three out the race looked as if it was won. Sam Thomas had not moved an inch whilst Falcon Island was just being niggled along. At two out we put in a slow jump and our back legs caught the fence, this allowed Falcon Island to get a few lengths on us. Sam got to work but Hes Our Lad did not really quicken and jumped the last length; staying there until the finish.
We’re disappointed both with the loss and with the jockey’s comments; the horse showed no battling qualities and would not put his head down and graft when required. Hes Our Lad did everything on the bridle and looked very impressive. It maybe that he is a bridle horse and does not find much.
The jockey also said the horse found that the fences were coming a bit too quickly and the horse could not use his full cruising speed between jumping. In future it will be suggested that the horse runs at a sharper track with greater distances between fences.
I would be prepared to give the horse one more chance on a sharper track. It was disappointing to be beaten as Anthony thought he was a good thing for this race. The information that we received was correct but the horse did not read the script. We will win plenty of money from this stable over the coming months; more will win than not.
Tomorrow is the start of the Cheltenham open meeting; three great days of racing awaits.
04/11/2011
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On November 4, 2011
We backed Cresswell Crusader who landed a good gamble for the Anthony Honeyball stable and ourselves. Cresswell Crusader was heavily backed all day long, returning 6/4. The price of 3/1, when advised, was around until 9:32 with Victor Chandler. We placed 2 points E/W.
During the race all went well with the horse travelling well just behind the leaders. We hit the front at two-out but Rachael still did her best to come off, going straight ahead and running through the last couple of hurdles rather than jumping them. We lost momentum but thankfully the horse looked after her and was in front where it mattered. Nice to get month off to a good start.
25/10/2011
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On October 25, 2011
We backed Carpincho 2pts E/W at 4/1, general 7/2. Carpincho was backed all day long, including at the track, and returned a very warm 13/8 favourite. From the off our selection jumped poorly, making mistake after mistake, whilst pulling jockey A P McCoy hands off Carpincho would not settle. Despite the poor jumping we stayed well in contention and still looked a big danger when AP moved the horse up a couple lengths behind the leader when jumping 5 out.
It was on jumping 5 out our race was over as Carpincho pecked badly on landing, losing momentum and all chance. Despite this the horse plugged on valiantly and finished 5th.
Things are not quite going our way at the moment; after turning the month around last weekend from twelve pts down into 5pts up, we’re now just over seven points down.
Looking back at the horses that have ran disappointingly, they were all first time out runners that either lacked the fitness or pulled too hard. Today’s bet was as fit as a flee and also expected to win, hence the yard having a good bet, however the poor jumping was not part of the plan. From our perspective everything appeared in order; the trainer was in form whilst the horse has won twice, including on his seasonal reappearance.
At the end of the day we are between 7 and 8 points in the red for the month. It’s not good, but it’s also not the end of the world as profits from previous months more than cover for it. We’re certainly not going to chase any losses and end up worse off, however we will be more cautious with our betting strategy for the rest of the month. It would be better leaving first time out runners for another couple of weeks until some decent grass work is done.
We still have seven days left to get the money that we lent back and, rest assured, we will be trying extremely hard to get it.
The just info horse from the Anthony Honeyball yard was second at 9/1.
Below is the Racing Post’s comment on today’s bet. We think it sums it up perfectly:
Carpincho, winner of a point/bumper and over hurdles, was well backed on this first run back and initial outing over regulation fences. He didn´t help his rider by failing to settle under restraint and failed to convince with his jumping.
