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Mountain to climb for Majborough in Champion Chase after Hilly reverse?
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No Room for sentiment, but Blue appeals in the Albert Bartlett
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More to come from talented Murphy hurdler
Visuals or data? You decide!
This week saw the aged-old debate of 'visuals versus data' back in the news with prominent tipster and professional punter Johnny Dineen suggesting all data should be 'flushed down the toilet' - reiterating in typical Racing Post clickbait style that he doesn't need it to judge whether a horse has jumped well or poorly.
As an advocate for data being part of the process for analysing and interpreting performances, I obviously don't agree with this view as being able to contextualise a horse's finishing effort or jumping technique with figures can often put a different slant on what our eyes tell us.
I have lost count of the occasions I have heard a commentator, prior to the recent addition of miles per hour speeds being added to pictures, tell us they are 'going a good gallop' when the actual data reveals it has been anything but the case.
And that comment isn't intended to throw commentators under the bus as I've perceived numerous times that front-runners in a given race are going too quickly, while I've also stood alongside experienced race readers who believed the field have dawdled early on only to revise their view when revisiting the time and finishing speed percentages.
There are many ways to identify winners (and losers) with a multitude of different approaches taken by professionals and recreational punters alike.
I understand those who prefer a more holistic methodology and, if it works for them, great. They might also have access to vital information which isn't in the public domain so the need to drill into data is not so necessary or relevant.
Some may have also developed a brilliant natural skill of interpreting performance which stems from years of watching horses, learning to lean on the experience gained from backing the right or wrong type.
Everyone's line of attack is individual and nuanced and, a little like a batsman's technique, it is important to find out what works for you so you can be the type of 'player' which suits you as a punter best.
Personally, I enjoy sifting through the data, trying to gain an edge or an insight into a horse's performance which might contradict public perception which will in turn be reflected in the way the betting market operates going forward.
Invariably during a season, there is a horse or two which polarises opinion and dominates column inches and podcasts.
Clearly, Constitution Hill has that title all to himself at present, but there could be a new kid in town after Sunday.
Champion Chase: Can Majborough repair his rep?
Given Jonbon's days at two miles are undoubtedly numbered, owner JP McManus is probably hoping Majborough can fill the breach and emerge as a leading Queen Mother Champion Chase contender.
The five-year-old was striving to advance his claims on Sunday when making his seasonal reappearance in Cork's Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase, but the errant jumping technique which derailed his bid for Grade 1 glory in March's Arkle Chase was again apparent and he was unable to resist a racefit Found A Fifty.
Even over hurdles, Majborough had displayed an inclination to edge left and that trait has become more marked over fences with his propensity to run down his fences again on show at Cork.
To his trainer's eye and just about everyone watching, the son of Martinborough jumped modestly thoughout, drifting to his left at a number of fences before his blundering error at the second last set the seal on a disappointing comeback effort.
That he was still competitive going to the last obstacle was a testament to his class and it's worth recalling those two shuddering errors he made in the dying embers of last season's Arkle Chase but for which he must surely have won with a degree of comfort.
The issue with Majborough is that the data tells us his recovery rate, despite his sluggish technique, is rapid and even his recovery effort at the final fence (0.6sec) - following all that had preceded it - was quicker than any figure the winner achieved during the whole race.
Not many horses would have found a leg at the second last, let alone challenge again at the final fence so we are clearly dealing with a horse which boasts an enormous engine and undoubted class.
Bizzarely, his RaceIQ jump index metric was still 9.0 and, although I'm not willing to die on this hill and follow him blindly in any chase going forward, playing devil's advocate it could just be he has an ungainly way of getting from A to B and his mistakes may not be quite as momentous as they appear to the naked eye.
On the flip side, he appears either bloody-minded or plain ignorant with the common consensus suggesting a combination of the two, and those traits can be fatal for a chaser competing at the highest level over two miles.
Most layers have eased him for the Champion Chase on this showing and I feel that might be a slight overreaction as he will be seen to better effect on a left-handed track like Leopardstown over Christmas and he perhaps deserves a little forgiveness for Sunday's defeat as this was his first try outside novice company while his chief rival also enjoyed the benefit of race fitness.
If Majborough were mine, he would never head to a right-handed track again and I would rather judge him going the other way round with this run under his belt.
He is a horse that is sure to polarise opinion this season and, as it stands, the visuals could well be proved correct at the expense of the data, but I wouldn't be writing Majborough off just yet.
Sectionals rubberstamp Il Etait Temps' undoubted class
By contrast, stablemate Il Etait Temps could not have run out a smoother winner of the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase, albeit trying to line up his display with impressive Betfair Henry VIII Chase scorer Lulamba was made near impossible with the heavy showers that fell on Saturday afternoon.
An overall time six seconds slower than the Henry VIII made time comparisons largely redundant with the ground deteriorating, but the one metric which caught the eye was the closing four-furlong sectional posted by Il Etait Temps.
It was little wonder that Jonbon and L'Eau du Sud were left trailing in the wake of the nimble grey who clung to the home bend like trap one at Monmore enthusiastically chasing the bunny to quicken clear of his rivals in covering the final four furlongs in 59.46sec.
That represented a sectional fully ten lengths quicker than Lulamba managed an hour earlier which was some effort given the weather, while he was 30 lengths swifter than the improving O'Connell recorded in landing the London National, which was not so surprising.
He isn't the most prepossessing chaser in training, but what he lacks in size and scope he makes up for in pace and class and it will take a good one to get him off the bridle in March, albeit he'll have to jump better than he did in the 2024 Arkle behind stablemate Gaelic Warrior.
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle: Murphy hurdler catches the eye
Rewind 24 hours and Sandown racegoers were treated to a sparkling second victory over hurdles by No Drama This End or Denman 2.0 given the inevitable comparisons which have been drawn.
While there were one or two analysts understandably reluctant to annoint the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding as the 'second coming' following his stylish win in the gloom at Cheltenham on his hurdling bow, this display surely converted some of the 'neighsayers' (sic) with rider Harry Cobden sitting quieter throughout than an England fan in a Brisbane bar.
While Cobden barely earned his fee, Sean Bowen on runner-up The Blue Room was forced to work a little harder, but there were elements of this performance which must surely augur well for the future as the Order Of St George gelding stretches out in trip.
As a half-brother to staying hurdle and chase winner Dicey Rielly from the family of renowned staying chasers Brown Windsor and Sunnyhillboy, it was a wonder that The Blue Room had the pace to win over the minimum trip on debut at Chepstow, especially as respected paddock judges felt he was far from cherry ripe.
He was a lot sharper in that regard at Sandown and Bowen was intent on tracking No Drama This End throughout aboard Olly Murphy's scopey gelding.
The Champion Jockey was yet to deliver a challenge heading to the second last, but a stuttering error saw him lose 4.42mph at the penultimate hurdle as well as a length-and-a-half to his field, allowing No Drama This End to canter serenely clear.
Bowen galvanised his mount to a better leap at the last where he regained two lengths and the duo stayed on extremely well to take a creditable second to the dominant Nicholls hurdler who was cut for everything, including the Boat Race, on the back of this display.
The Blue Room lost ground on his rivals at six of his eight obstacles at Sandown so clearly needs to improve that area of his game, but he undoubtedly has a touch of class and an engine and it's worth recalling that the Albert Bartlett is won by grinders rather than slick hurdling given there is less of an emphasis on jumping in the closing stages.
With that in mind, Murphy's novice could be worth a speculative punt at upwards of 33/1 as he is reportedly being targeted at the Leamington Novices' Hurdle at Warwick in the New Year, a race won in the past by the likes of Grey Dawning and Willoughby Court.
While I can see the case for the Turners Novices' Hurdle being a legitimate target, I doubt Murphy would fancy renewing rivalry with No Drama This End and with his gelding's stamina locked into the pedigree, the Albert Bartlett might be a good race to work towards.
Back The Blue Room in the Albert Bartlett
Sam Turner's Cheltenham 2026 Ante-post Ledger
Champion Hurdle - Alexei each-way @ 33/134.00
Gold Cup - Gaelic Warrior win @ 8/19.00
Supreme Novices' Hurdle - Act Of Innocence win @ 25/126.00
Arkle Chase - Romeo Coolio @ 11/26.50
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle - The Blue Room win @ 40/141.00
Talent Tracker
Aeroplane Blonde
Bespoke Tailor
Constellation Walk
Destination Dubai
El Capitaine
Final Demand
Heads Up
Jimmy Du Seuil
Lord Of All Saints
Park Talk
The Blue Room