Post thoughts and discussions here

Day 1 of the season, where hopes and dreams go to die.

Not quite so cut and dried as that or the end of hopes after week 1.

The majority of maidens in weeks 1 and 2 are probably G1 races. If you look at the trainers in a race and how many of those trainers finished in the top 10 last season, you can estimate how hard it is to win a race.

For my horses, it is important to know on which tracks my horses perform best and also their best distances. Roughly 85% of my day 1 and day 2 flat horses are running at tracks that don't suit them, whereas my day 3 horses are probably suited better to the tracks.

Another factor is the randomness of how horses perform in the racekit. None of the horses I uploaded performed well in every trial race they ran in. I had a quick look at my notes, this is the type of results my horses had in my trials, 8f 3yo colt at Newmarket 2, 1, 0, 5, 1, 3, 2, 1, 0, 1 the same horse at Ascot 5, 0, 2, 0, 3, 0, 0, 5


Jim

Thanks Jim, think my aussie sense of humour got lost there. A little bit of a build up of excitment for a fairly meh day for my little horses.

Plenty of races to win tomorrow but I'm saving my team for day 3

Horses shouldn't win like 50% but also finish out of the park on a few occasions. It's something Mark should have looked at years ago , it happens in game as well. It's a general game problem.

No real surprises for my team , my 2m4 chasers have improved like I thought they might but also my hold up horses are not as good as in my trials like I thought might happen. Memo to self , if there is another season get shot of all hold up horses

I think TOM might be broken well vinny at the top over jumps and josh on top of the flat. Worlds gone mad

A lot of "outpaced" seemed to be floating around so whether most of mine are just not good enough or at the wrong distance is yet to be seen, although plenty of promise.

Octavian 9th - Very happy with this run, was in the hunt for a place until final half furlong.

Rose Of Lancaster 12th - Never in the race and always outpaced, will definitely be stepping up to 7f next week.

Druidess 14th - Never in contention, should get a workable mark.

Mastermind 4th - No excuses, had ideal track, trip and ground. I'm glad she was bang there the whole race though, will definitely be one of my better chances of picking up wins throughout the season.

Prized Princess 7th - Always knew she was going to struggle early doors and ran as expected.

Maundy Thursday 8th - Shocking riding, 8 wide around the sweeping home bend. Always outpaced over 2m5f is worrying . Still was there at the back of the main pack at the business end and will get chances.

Zoro 13th - Worst run of the bunch, never there, may get a handsome mark because of it though.

Breton Rose 11th - Never involved, handicaps await.

Marie Curie 6th - Ran a blinder out front, just fading into 6th and not far behind a horse rated 100, so great start.

Flat start was ok with 2 seconds. Better than last season although my 2yo milers ran shocking races.


National Hunt had 3 fallers but my hurdlers look really good. My horses will improve with softer ground so was an encouraging start. Really have improved my 2 mile chasers and hurdlers a lot so encouraging that they all ran well.

John I have loads of hold up horses. They run well for me in the league. Although the issue in game and in the league is that horses go 7 wide around bends which is crazy. The horses should make there challenge in the straight. Pace and how races are run needs to be looked in SO8 as causes too many random results. Watch some races a horse will have nothing in front but will go very wide. The penalties for running wide are too severe and that's why results are so random and front runners perform better

My hold horses benefit the way my trials are run, let's say I have 14 runners more than 10 will be out and out front runners and so they do themselves in while the hold up horses just run a normal race. Its just not normal racing but it's the way it is. I've never had good hold up horses. I do agree Mark needs to look at the game.

Mixed bag for me, happy with my NH horses, all seemed to be up there, an a few ran over too short a distance an stayed on very well for a place. 1 winner in Sierra Vista Sooty was a bit of a surprise, didn't think my 2m4 hurdlers were any good, may just be a fluke.

Flat was a lot of places too with 1 winner in Yuma Schoolboy. I've had this horse in my trials since last season but he'd been ignored as my trials didn't suit his running style. Removed my pacemakers an he's suddenly a different horse, won this almost on the bridle today

I think this shows the importance of how you trial. It's so important to get the pace of your trials right to transfer the form over to the league. Having too many hold up horses in them, or too many front runners can really distort the form an how it transfers to the league. I now try to make sure in my breeding stallions I have front runners and hold up for each distance, an I try to mix n match the breeding of them. Then remove any pacemakers you have in your trials an they should be run a lot more consistently, as you have bits of every running style each new batch you trial.

Pretty much as I expected for my first attempt. Knew it was going to be a baptism of fire and so it proved.

NH;
Knew my NH horses were well underdone and weren't up to scratch.
Positives - at least I didn't come last in any of the races.

Flat;
Slightly disappointed, knew I wouldn't be winning but had hoped to be a little closer to the action.
Positives - Bold As Brass ran a good race to come 4th over a distance which didn't suit. Will be better over 2m.
And with hopefully easier races to come in the weeks ahead, I'll see some improvement across the board.

Conclusion;
Still excited to be in the League and looking forward to the next day's racing - and already working on improvements for my team for next season!

Delighted with day one 2 seconds and a couple of solid runs outside of the places but thrilled with
BORN TRIPPY who makes it 2 from 2 winning a trial and winning a week 1 maiden and has won both
really well THE JOCKEY WAS WAY TOO COCKY he would have been sleepin with the fishes if he blew that
think he has superstar potential all in all a great day for my team with the change of tactics in
having a team more stacked with older horses also got a group placed horse today too with one of them.

well done the winners and placers and thanks to everyone who runs the show and thanks to Martin for the comms
Not many silks this year Martin mainly the dark grey and red ones

you made a far better start to the league than I did when I first joined you have to remember these maidens are like G1s
you have so much to look forward to trouble is most give up after the first week maidens as they can be soul destroying
think you beat home some of mine today

keep going the buzz of a winner is unreal and is coming to you SOON stay patient

Exciting first day for me with three wins on the flat. Two coming from sprinters which franks the form for the rest and puts my doubts about that area aside, least for now. And a win for my new U.K. game and as a 3yo in a 4yo+ race, that’s encouraging too. Three seconds covering 5f, 1m and 2m. Suggests I have a highly competitive team.

There was apparently also some jump races……..

Thanks Paul, tomorrow is another day, and who knows what will happen although I think my best chances will lie in some of the handicaps later on.
And thanks to everyone who has given me advice and encouragement thus far, without it I wouldn't have come as far as I have in this short space of time that's for sure

Well that was an embarrassment. Tailed off in all races but Victorian Bounty plugged on for 200 quid. Happy days

That being said really great to be part of this again. Really enjoyed the comms. Congrats to all the winners