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Cheltenham 2021 - Review

The week belongs to Henry De Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore and Jack Kennedy. Minella Indo won the Gold Cup having lost the RSA on the line this time last year. Everyone loves a comeback story and this is one because following that defeat there was a fall at Leopardstown at Christmas and a very ordinary run in February. I thought he was very overrated and even though he fit the age range  (the last 3 winners of the race were 7 or 8 years old), I over looked him for Al Boum Photo. Funnily enough it had the feel of when Al Boum Photo won in 2019 because there wasn't a lot of talk about him. I still expected him to be beaten even when he flew the last but A Plus Tard couldn't run him down. He proved me and the doubters wrong today by adding the top prize in National Hunt racing to that narrow second last year and the Albert Bartlett two years ago. What a Cheltenham record! Fantastic for Jack Kennedy as well. He's had some week too - Black Tears beating the hot favourite Concertis...
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By what means Redmond Barry acquired second place in the Punchestown Charity Race on Flat To The Max

Flat To The Max was out again looking to improve on his third place at Gowran Park on club debut. The very Kubrickian named Redmond Barry was on board for the Punchestown Festival finale, the Say Yes to Organ Donation Charity Race.

I was surprised to see Flat To The Max was as short as 11/8 shortly before the race. One for the lucky 15s or the super Heinz. I was alerted to his price by a friend who was asking about his chances. All I could offer was how well Max had run the last day assuming he realised himself that this was only a charity race.

As the 25 runner race got underway, Max was sitting mid division along the rail. They reached the mid point and were well strung out with Max towards the back of the large leading group. When they came to the end of the straight, there were 3 with a few lengths lead over a chasing pack of about 10 and Flat To The Max was still at the rear of this group. Coming round the final bend, Manomine hit the front while Redmond Barry produced Max for a clear run up the outside. They quickly moved from tenth to second and looked like they were going to take the lead approaching the line but Kate Kelly and Manomine hung on gamely to win At 33/1.

Part 2 Containing an Account of the Misfortunes and Disasters Which Befell The Desperate Gambler.

My friend was back on straight after, having lost his bet, complaining about the jockey. I asked him if he didnt know it was a charity race (didnt he do any research?) and sent him a screenshot of the Jockeys career. Redmond Barry has had 2 rides, both in this race in 2016 and 2019 finishing second on both occasions. While it's true that a more experienced Jockey probably would have gone on to win the race from the position Redmond had got Max into with a couple of furlongs to go, it's a charity race with inexperienced Jockeys riding every horse in the field. In hindsight, my friend was probably chasing money he lost earlier in the day and thought he could win some back on a short odds favourite. This won't do much to ease his suspicions that horse racing is bent but it confirms mine that people get very careless and irrational when they lose money. From my point of view, I should have recognised the signs and advised him better.

Another good run from Flat To The Max and it looks like it won't be long until he is bringing our long losing streak to an end.









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