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#1
02-12-2008, 03:55 AM
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Two things. First, Denman met his only defeat in a Royal and SunAlliance Hurdle in which the emphasis was too much on speed. Nicholls has since said that they didn't ride him positively enough and, for all he stayed on really well, he was never quite able to get Nicanor off the bridle. Second, surely it's unimaginable to think that Denman couldd have replicated his stablemate and won a Tingle Creek in the devastating style of Kauto Star.
It's true that Denman's Aon win was achieved in a quicker time (6.03.95) to Kauto Star's King George (6.09.35), but you can't go round comparing times from different tracks just because they're run at the same trip. The Racing Post standard at Nebury is 5.50, compared with 6mins at Kempton. Time comparisons are only ever of any real use when compared with races on the same card at the same trip, and, as you would expect, the time performance of the King George was in a different league to that of the Feltham, whilst on form Kauto's imperious win was the best seen in the race since Desert Orchid, surpassing those of One Man, See More Business and Kicking King.
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"Pound for pound the greatest sportsman Britain has ever produced." John Francome on A. P. McCoy. 
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#2
02-12-2008, 10:17 AM
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I also fell in love with Straw Bear, but I hear he bleeds. They should send him across the pond and let him clean up over here. I love reading this part of the DT Forum now, and keeping up with the UK racing.
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#3
02-12-2008, 10:31 AM
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I'm going to be stubborn here and hope that the gallant win by The Listener puts to rest the whole it's-not-the-right-distance argument.
Oh yes he can!  The original question..... I'd say Kauto Star but my opinion is based on emotion and not knowledge.
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#4
02-13-2008, 10:29 AM
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For his fans, from RP.....
 Straw Bear heads straight to Cheltenham without run by Keith Hamer STRAW BEAR will go straightto the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle without another run. Connections made the decision after the JP McManus-owned seven-year-old had a workout on Wednesday. That means Straw Bear, a 20-1 shot for Champion honours at Cheltenham on March 11, will miss Saturday's Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton. "He's not running at Wincanton. He's going to go straight for the Champion Hurdle," said trainer Nick Gifford. "He had a breeze this morning and I've spoken to Frank Berry (the owner's racing manager) and we've decided we're going straight to Cheltenham. The horse is in good form."
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#5
02-13-2008, 12:31 PM
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#6
02-15-2008, 06:33 AM
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Straw Bear is beginning to look a bit of a twicer, now that may be down to physical problems rather than anything else, but even at the top of his game he would make limited appeal for the Champion Hurdle as he's probably not even among the top 3 British-trained contenders, not to mention the Irish! If he's straight, however, he'll make a fantastic novice chaser when the time comes next season.
Whilst The Listener is a top-class chaser, he's proven that several times of the last two seasons, the problem will likely be that he'll encounter ground much less testing than suits him best.
__________________
"Pound for pound the greatest sportsman Britain has ever produced." John Francome on A. P. McCoy.
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#7
02-15-2008, 10:03 AM
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What about Monet?
Do you see him as having a shot?
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