This is the problem of writing in the forum
One says the pace was not strong because the jockey told it to a friend in a pub
then come another says the same because he has watched the race again and he thinks so
It doent matter what the clock says.....
On the positive side , it is good so many people dont want to buy the sectionals, do it or understand it,
Fwiw I listened to the race on BBC radio and the commentator initially said that envoi Allen looked like he was in trouble.
I would be reluctant to attribute 'moral high ground' to either side.
Sectionals aren't the be all and end all. They're merely another useful means of verifying either what your eyes tell you or what your reading of the form tells you, or even of what a jockey or pundit reckons is the case.
Oh, and they're also very useful for contradicting what your eyes or form-reading tell you.
At least that's how I take them.
But I do firmly believe they are a very useful tool to have in your box.
Last edited by Desert Orchid; 6th April 2020 at 9:59 PM.
Illegitimi non carborundum
Betting is all about having an array of weapons in your arsenal. Anyone depending on one or two will struggle to make money. And let's be honest here whether Russell gave this the worst ride or best ride of all time makes zero difference. We all came away from the race thinking Envoi Allen should have no doubters left.
Illegitimi non carborundum
Shishkin the day before, given all the trouble he had in running yet got there relatively easily.
Illegitimi non carborundum
https://twitter.com/TheAldorithm/sta...557654531?s=20
Monster time performance according to this Twitter account.
Desert Orchid (6th April 2020)
and here is a time guy with a differing opinion about the Ballymore sectionals. Which just goes to show my point that people use sectionals to paint whatever narrative they want.
https://twitter.com/JinksMarmaduke/s...372482052?s=20
Last edited by Slim; 6th April 2020 at 10:33 PM.
Is he basing that on sectionals or just visuals?
I think my first impression was along very similar lines, also based on visuals and probably the assumption that since the second and third had cut it out but were still there they must have gone just an even pace.
It was only when I looked at the sectionals that I realised that the pace had been over-strong through the race. The second and third can be marked up for staying ahead of the rest. All three are clearly very high class.
Illegitimi non carborundum
Problem is all the sectional/time guys have different opinions on the race so the idea that the data is the data is simply not true.
Andy Holding:
Wednesday March 11
Ballymore Novices' Hurdle – The Big Getaway
Ultimately, Envoi Allen ended up being an extremely impressive winner of this Grade 1 event, but some of the plaudits should also be afforded to Willie Mullins’ gelding for making it such a stern test and ensuring the winner worked harder than his pre-race price suggested.
Arriving at the Festival following a victory at a fairly low level at Naas, it was difficult to gauge what the son of Getaway would be capable of achieving in a much tougher environment, but he rose to the challenge in spectacular fashion and he is very much one for the future. Although fading late on, his early fractions meant the race was run in one of the fastest furlong-per-furlong times of the entire week and considering this was achieved by a horse who ostensibly is a three-mile chaser in the making, his career path is definitely worth monitoring closely.