One of my friends in the local pub reckons this horse was the biggest shirker ever? Is this true? Used to back him now and again myself...thought he was straight enough...any ideas...
One of my friends in the local pub reckons this horse was the biggest shirker ever? Is this true? Used to back him now and again myself...thought he was straight enough...any ideas...
Earnt over £1 million from 40 races, wished I owned a shirker like him.
Was game, genuine and Grade 2 class over 2 miles (legit, if uninspiring, G1 horse over 2m4f).
"Beat the price and lose. It's what we do".
SlimChance, March 2018
His win in the old Neptune 2013 marked him out as a horse of great promise. I think the racing public were deceived from that point, but his career does stand up; not quite to the level it once promised, however. I think he also carried a “kissing spine” injury for a season at his peak. It’s not like he was ungenuine and shirked a battle: he just wasn’t quite good enough.
Below top class but I thought he was willing.
Needed a strong pace or heavy ground to feature at 2M, but was never helped by his jockey, who was pace clueless.
Wouldn't have classed him as a shirker, just a bit below the class of race he was trying to win.
Illegitimi non carborundum
Looked better than he was when winning the Neptune v two stayers
Couldn't live up to that expectation level in terms of an individual championship race but a thoroughly consistent and likeable horse
Owners dream
Get a wiser friend
Some people say he’s the best since Arkle and that’s certainly true when you look at what he’s done
I think the kissing spine problem he had was a major issue.
tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito
I agree. TNO is a genuine horse that’s just short of top class.
Despite that I’d be sure Twiston-Davies is utterly convinced he’ll win the 2020 Champion Hurdle.