His form wasn't exactly inspiring so you did well all the same.. one of my other horses in this game won all of his first 5 starts, he was 2nd on his seasonal reappearance... next day he was off to rebecca curtis.

http://postimg.org/image/4p1bqi623/
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Gone for the byrne group plate, handicap mark been lowered due to 2 poor runs but he had excuses for both so could be third time lucky, if not that will be the end of the road for me and fire balls im afraid.

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http://postimg.org/image/a0q0eql0j/

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

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After race speech
Clare Balding "So how does it feel to get your first cheltenham victory?"
Me "Ah i knew he had it in him clare...... this is his 3rd festival but i thought he had excuses on both previous occasions, the first year he got held up for various reasons which meant he only got one run before the festival which wasn't ideal, and last year he had i little problem that just made things a little rushed, but this year we had a perfect run up... i mean perfect, his two runs this season.. he ran in a grade 2 at ascot in november, the ground was right that day and we had hoped for a much better showing but he ran no sort of race so we thought maybe with him getting a bit older it might just be that he needed the run. He then came here on new years day and ran like i felt, i'd been awake for the last 36 hours you see clare, well i managed 45 minuites or so in the trailer on the way up but when i arrived here still in my tux i was a little shabby to say the least clare, we put that bad run down to the ground anyway clare, so with him coming down in the handicap a bit and the ground not against him we were quietly confident."
CB "That confidence certainly didn't show in the market, fire ball was returned at a massive 66/1.. did you have a bit on yourself?"
Me "Well clare to be honest im currently -£104,203.00 in debt, and i have no hope of another bank loan...my percentage of the winnings is a low as it is legally to go, so we're pretty much doomed on that front"
CB "And the owners, the go partnership... they're standing right behind you... it must be massively exciting for them!?"
Me "Look clare.. these are two great fellas, they've been behind us all the way and have never doubted us.. look i couldn't say enough good things about the owners... their just.... great... y'know"
CB "And one more question, if you had of not been poor right at this moment.. and you had backed your horse and won lots and lots of money.... would you have used the winnings to have facial reconstructive surgery to mend that ugly head of yours?"
Me "Yes clare"

Right... this requires a leaderboard. The way i see it this challenge is all about winning so it makes sense that the leader should have accumulated the most win prize money. As an incentive, if your horse wins again at the festival the win prize money of your 2nd win will be doubled and added to your total, if your horse triumphs for a third time the prize money is tripled and so on. The wins do not have to come in the same races or consecutive seasons.

The standings

1. Johnny16dar FIRE BALLS (Win prize money- £45,000) Record: Byrne Group Plate
2. Davylad CAFE LATTE (Win prize money- £21,000) Record: Foxhunters Chase

Hope Cafe Latte goes back to defend his crown Davylad!

Afraid not, quit that game.
I don't think he would have had much chance for a repeat anyway, he was past his best and not getting any younger. Will have to find a younger horse that I can get a few seasons out of.

Cant see Fire Balls coming back to win either davylad but he'll have a go prob in the same race. I'll go again tho and start with a younger horse

Fire Balls passed his best now, could'nt get in a blow and it's the end of the road. Still one win and 2 places at the festival is not to be sniffed at.

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Going to look for a decent 3yo now, maybe a speedy 2m4f type. Am thinking fred winter juv hurdle..... martin pipe hcp hurdle.... nov hcp chase.... byrne group plate... i'll take two out of the four anyway.

A win in a good novice event at the festival would go top of the leaderboard though.

I like the look of this one...

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http://postimg.org/image/wg6k4bkll/

Long term project, not going to get much out of him as a juvenille and is not a natural jumper but plenty of schooling will hopefully cure that for when it really matters.

First day of the new season and his potential rating has improved as has his jumping, he''ll be able to take a hurdle now at least. The plan is one run around the start of january in a juvenile hurdle and hope to get a mark high enough to get in the fred winter, if not then there's still time for another run before the festival.

http://postimg.org/image/u0qfhvhzf/
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I have high hopes for this one.

Smokin Jo Horn wins the Kim Muir Challenge Cup but her form drops off badly afterwards, however two seasons later!


Forgot to take a screenshot at the start but here's how the stable looks now.

Roncalli looks a good prospect for the Ryanair next year provided the owner lets me keep him.

Three more festival winners to the leaderboard all from the same original bunch.. that's impressive enough, but along with that Roncalli jumps to the top! Agreed dave big chance in the ryanair next year all going to plan.... BIG prizemoney bonus!!!

Leaderboard

1. Davylad RONCALLI (Win prize money- £54,000) Record: Golden Miller Novices Chase
2. Johnny16dar FIRE BALLS (Win prize money- £45,000) Record: Byrne Group Plate
3. Davylad SMOKIN' JO HORN (Win prize money- £30,000) Record: Kim Muir Handicap Chase
4. Davylad MA YAHAB (Win prize money- £30,000) Record: Kim Muir Handicap Chase
5. Davylad CAFE LATTE (Win prize money- £21,000) Record: Foxhunters Chase

First run went well, didn't like the ground and was agitated beforehand.... still managed to stay on well into 2nd and will improve. Rated 114 now so although assured of a run in the fred winter, should he be weighted too high the triumph is a definite option.

http://postimg.org/image/nsq7xp4yl/
http://postimg.org/image/8akq1chi9/

Gets into the fred winter just under 11st and although the ground is against us and he's probably a bit heavier than i'd have liked, the fact that our horse will stay, he's as fit as i can get him and will be much better than the last day mean's im still hopeful.

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A bit shocked really as i didn't think he'd win on the ground but travelled sweet as a nut and just out stayed them. Might be looking at the coral cup next season... not ready for fences yet.

http://postimg.org/image/4zlke2kdh/
http://postimg.org/image/7im8k00uv/

Leaderboard

1. Davylad RONCALLI (Win prize money- £54,000) Record: Golden Miller Novices Chase
2. Johnny16dar FIRE BALLS (Win prize money- £45,000) Record: Byrne Group Plate
3. Johnny16dar ALAUNA (Win prize money- £36,000) Record: Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle
4. Davylad SMOKIN' JO HORN (Win prize money- £30,000) Record: Kim Muir Handicap Chase
5. Davylad MA YAHAB (Win prize money- £30,000) Record: Kim Muir Handicap Chase
6. Davylad CAFE LATTE (Win prize money- £21,000) Record: Foxhunters Chase