Foxhunters

Pearlstone

Just wondering how Bertie's Dream qualified for this. Last run as far as I can see was in Pertemps at last year's festival where he ran well to place fifth. I have a soft spot for him as I backed him the year he won the Albert Bartlett. On soft ground he would have a sporting chance in what looks an ordinary enough renewal.

Imhof Tank

Pearlstone wrote: »

Just wondering how Bertie's Dream qualified for this. Last run as far as I can see was in Pertemps at last year's festival where he ran well to place fifth. I have a soft spot for him as I backed him the year he won the Albert Bartlett. On soft ground he would have a sporting chance in what looks an ordinary enough renewal.

He has been pointing in England all season

Pearlstone

Thanks Imhof. Checked Irish p2p site, forgot about that possibility.

Pearlstone

Just checked out what I think was his last run on Feb 2nd where he won a ladies open under Gina Andrews by 20l in the best time of the day.

rossom

I've backed Berties for the Foxhunters at 20s NRNB now with the defection of Mossey. He's qualified but apparently not guaranteed to get in.

The 2010 Albert Bartlett winner ran a fine race of a mark of 138 when 5th in last years Pertemps.

Although never as good under Rules over fences, he's won 2 P2P easily enough for Lauren Braithwaite this year and I'd still say he's capable of running to a mark of 130+ which should definitely have him somewhere in the mix.

Great Cheltenham form too which is a huge positive and he'd be one who would prefer to see a bit of give in the ground.

Pearlstone

That's just the bit of encouragement that I needed rossom!

rossom

Pearlstone wrote: »

That's just the bit of encouragement that I needed rossom!

Love him myself and was also on him the year he won the AB.

I don't think anyone can really question that he ran up to his mark of 138 last year when finishing 5th in the Pertemps and if he retains that ability and can translate it over fences then he should be in with a belting chance.

Definitely a few question marks beside his name but no chance he's a 20/1 shot if he makes the field.

Pearlstone

Love him myself and was also on him the year he won the AB.

I don't think anyone can really question that he ran up to his mark of 138 last year when finishing 5th in the Pertemps and if he retains that ability and can translate it over fences then he should be in with a belting chance.

Definitely a few question marks beside his name but no chance he's a 20/1 shot if he makes the field.

Agree 100%. I know nothing about his UK handler but if Gina Andrews has the ride that would not take from his chances and he appeared to be in rude health winning his last point in a good time. He is a tens shot all day in my book so I am going to follow you in today before PP discover that you are on!

zpehtsfd

Pearlstone wrote: »

Love him myself and was also on him the year he won the AB.

I don't think anyone can really question that he ran up to his mark of 138 last year when finishing 5th in the Pertemps and if he retains that ability and can translate it over fences then he should be in with a belting chance.

Definitely a few question marks beside his name but no chance he's a 20/1 shot if he makes the field.

Agree 100%. I know nothing about his UK handler but if Gina Andrews has the ride that would not take from his chances and he appeared to be in rude health winning his last point in a good time. He is a tens shot all day in my book so I am going to follow you in today before PP discover that you are on!

May i ask how you came about your ID Pearlstone? Any connection to the same name horse back in the 80's?

Pearlstone

zpehtsfd wrote: »

May i ask how you came about your ID Pearlstone? Any connection to the same name horse back in the 80's?

I wish zp! No connection at all apart from the fact that he is my favourite horse of all time. I often wondered where he ended up after his racing career finished. He was a fantastic little horse with guts to burn.I have a particularly fond memory of him winning the Galway Hurdle on a very warm summers day (1982 maybe?). From memory I think the late Paddy Mullins did a bit of jiggery pokery with his jockeys that day which resulted in a relatively unknown jock (TV Finn) getting the leg up on Pearlstone with Sean Treacy, who rode most of the first choices switched on to Big Daddy. I think he also had St Moritz and possibly one other runner in the race. Paddy liked to go with multiple entries that time and it caused much head scratching to try to figure out which one to be on but that was one day that I got it right. I have to confess that I was party to a little bit of inside information from the yard from a work colleague at the time which was a big help on that particular day.

zpehtsfd

Pearlstone wrote: »

I wish zp! No connection at all apart from the fact that he is my favourite horse of all time. I often wondered where he ended up after his racing career finished. He was a fantastic little horse with guts to burn.I have a particularly fond memory of him winning the Galway Hurdle on a very warm summers day (1982 maybe?). From memory I think the late Paddy Mullins did a bit of jiggery pokery with his jockeys that day which resulted in a relatively unknown jock (TV Finn) getting the leg up on Pearlstone with Sean Treacy, who rode most of the first choices switched on to Big Daddy. I think he also had St Moritz and possibly one other runner in the race. Paddy liked to go with multiple entries that time and it caused much head scratching to try to figure out which one to be on but that was one day that I got it right. I have to confess that I was party to a little bit of inside information from the yard from a work colleague at the time which was a big help on that particular day.

I remember it all vividly as i was in my teens and was nervous as hell watching my big bro (TV Finn). He was vying for 1st jockey with Sean Treacy at the time. He got his big break on a horse called Kilbricken Money for Paddy Mullins (Charmine Hil) in the Troytown i think. Was sitting in the weight room just before the race and PM needed a jock so TV was the first one he spotted. Won at 33/1 and that was the start. He ended up riding for PM for a few years.
Pearlstone was one of his favourites for sure. He always thought he should have won the Sweeps Hurdle on him though. He had beaten For Auction a few weeks earlier in the Benson and Hedges, a bit too easy, and the handicapper nailed him. :mad:
Thanks for the memories.

Pearlstone

zpehtsfd wrote: »

I remember it all vividly as i was in my teens and was nervous as hell watching my big bro (TV Finn). He was vying for 1st jockey with Sean Treacy at the time. He got his big break on a horse called Kilbricken Money for Paddy Mullins (Charmine Hil) in the Troytown i think. Was sitting in the weight room just before the race and PM needed a jock so TV was the first one he spotted. Won at 33/1 and that was the start. He ended up riding for PM for a few years.
Pearlstone was one of his favourites for sure. He always thought he should have won the Sweeps Hurdle on him though. He had beaten For Auction a few weeks earlier in the Benson and Hedges, a bit too easy, and the handicapper nailed him. :mad:
Thanks for the memories.

I always felt that Pearlstone was awfully unlucky not to win a Sweeps. I have a funny feeling that something fell at the second last one year that cost him and of course that awful man, the handicapper, got him another year as you say. He was a very decent flat handicapper too. The sort of horse you would just love to own. Your big bro gave Pearlstone a great ride in Galway. Timed his run to perfection. I think it was Rent A Row that he beat into second who was a good horse in his own right. I can still picture those green and yellow quartered colours coming there going really well. Happy memories indeed.

Imhof Tank

Remember Pearlstone in his yellow and green quarters, stripped sleeves also, flashy chestnut with a white blaze - I remember him as a smallish compact horse, not a chasing type anyway??

Pearlstone

Imhof Tank wrote: »

Remember Pearlstone in his yellow and green quarters, stripped sleeves also, flashy chestnut with a white blaze - I remember him as a smallish compact horse, not a chasing type anyway??

That was him to a tee Imhof. That was long before the advent of YouTube so probably no footage around of him.

Pearlstone

Apologies to all for this going way off topic.

Back on topic-I just read an article there in relation to Bertie's Dream's trainer, Lauren Braithwaite, she gave birth to triplets a few weeks ago. Now that would be some story if old Bertie happened to win the Foxhunters.

Francie Barrett

Can't be having Bertie's Dream at any price really. Horse has very little chasing form, hasn't stood out in point to points, is clearly in decline and hasn't contested a hunter chase. If the pace is quick like it usually is in the foxhunters, then I see this horse pulling up.

Don't get me wrong though, I love the horse. I backed it those years ago when it won at a massive price in Cheltenham (apparently half of north Dublin was on it too), but to back it now looks like a heart over head decision.