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Barney Curley gamble

  • 10-05-2010 06:59PM
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,404 ✭✭✭


    When was the last time you seen one of these going astray! Sommersturm backed from 2.25 into 0.8 (my dad said he was 2/1 this morning an went off 1/3!) but finished 5th without ever threatening to land a blow.

    Also tonight at Towcester a horse called Jeu De Rouseau has been backed from 33's into 6/4-evs some places! This horse was once trained by Curley! Will be interesteng to see how that one runs later???


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,219 ✭✭✭Goldcupfav


    mr.jingle wrote: »
    When was the last time you seen one of these going astray! Sommersturm backed from 2.25 into 0.8 (my dad said he was 2/1 this morning an went off 1/3!) but finished 5th without ever threatening to land a blow.

    Also tonight at Towcester a horse called Jeu De Rouseau has been backed from 33's into 6/4-evs some places! This horse was once trained by Curley! Will be interesteng to see how that one runs later???


    Winner alright !!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 70 ✭✭larsson7


    3 out of 4 aint bad. Legendry day in gambling history shortest sp one lost but with trebles of 6/1 4/1 and 25/1 coming in I'm sure Barney easily pulled 7 figures. The last one was pure genius, I'm sure the horse never seen Grant's stable.
    Brilliant, similar to the O'Hares not so long ago but for this old legend this is much better. Greatest ever is Curley


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,669 ✭✭✭Colonel Sanders




  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,669 ✭✭✭Colonel Sanders




  • Closed Accounts Posts: 375 ✭✭Cantoris


    It's hard to have much faith in the system when the likes of Curley and Byrnes can pull of these shenanigans every year. While I don't mind mugging the bookies, I think they bring racing into disrepute when they pull of major strokes like this and treat the ordinary racing person with contempt. How could you have fancied some of the horses today. I feel sorry for the poor horse that nearly beat Chris Grants one. That was their Gold Cup, foiled by a stroke.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 15,515 ✭✭✭✭admiralofthefleet


    didnt he have a winner at brighton as well?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,335 ✭✭✭✭UrbanSea


    didnt he have a winner at brighton as well?

    Ya,agapanthus,one of the ones that were mentioned in the article.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,525 ✭✭✭Morgans


    Cantoris wrote: »
    It's hard to have much faith in the system when the likes of Curley and Byrnes can pull of these shenanigans every year. While I don't mind mugging the bookies, I think they bring racing into disrepute when they pull of major strokes like this and treat the ordinary racing person with contempt. How could you have fancied some of the horses today. I feel sorry for the poor horse that nearly beat Chris Grants one. That was their Gold Cup, foiled by a stroke.

    Spare me the hand-wrining. The ordinary racing person knows when Byrnes and Curley are trying. The ordinary racing person would have known that backing any horse in that Towcester race that they were opposing a Curley gamble. The ordinary punter probably got involved in the gamble and won money on the race - or those may have thought that the Curley gamble was making the price on his fancy twice or three times the odds. Just like the ordinary racing person will know when Curley's next run and drift that they wont be fancied and will lose. It is up to the authorities to put in place some security against this - will test the horses then. Even if Ruby Crown's gold cup was a 4,000 hurdle at Towcester, they simply came up against a horse that was too good on the day. IF it was his Gold Cup, maybe he wasnt trying his hardest on his previous runs to blow his big chance.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 88,968 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    I have to agree Curleys notoriety esp is understood by all but the most hapless/innocent punter (and they clearly need to stop gambling).


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 92 ✭✭catmelodian


    Who?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,588 ✭✭✭Bluetonic


    Who?
    Are you a newcomer to racing?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,941 ✭✭✭krustydoyle


    Id a €5 treble and the 1/3 shot (i got 7/4) let me down and i got 5/2 on the first 2 winners..

    Fair play to them if you if you ask me, no harm in cleaning out the bookies for a few bob every now and again..

    And it must take some planning and getting enough on before they cop on whats happening??


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 92 ✭✭catmelodian


    Bluetonic wrote: »
    Are you a newcomer to racing?

    No never heard of this geezer though.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,941 ✭✭✭krustydoyle


    No never heard of this geezer though.

    Jesus look him up, because you'll be amazed at some of the gambles he's pulled off..;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,588 ✭✭✭Bluetonic


    No never heard of this geezer though.
    Strange, how and ever your starting point should be 'Yellow Sam' in Bellewstown for your research.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,219 ✭✭✭Goldcupfav


    Charles Byrne's gamble on Napa Starr in the 7.40 at Killarney tonight was 11/2 into 2/1 now.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 375 ✭✭Cantoris


    Morgans wrote: »
    The ordinary racing person would have known that backing any horse in that Towcester race that they were opposing a Curley gamble.

    It is up to the authorities to put in place some security against this - will test the horses then.

    Not if they put their bets on in the morning. The Grant horse had no recent form and therefore would not have appeared on the radar. These 50/1 shots do win sometimes but they don't end up being 5/4 shots!!

    And the fact that you suggest its up to the authorities to put in place some sort of security against this suggests that there is an issue with this. I'm not one normally for handicapping a trainer but in the case of Byrnes, Curley and Martin, I'd start with 100 and let them prove the mark should be dropped.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 375 ✭✭Cantoris


    Goldcupfav wrote: »
    Charles Byrne's gamble on Napa Starr in the 7.40 at Killarney tonight was 11/2 into 2/1 now.

    I don't have a problem with this one as he had plenty of form in the book and could have been fancied anyway.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,525 ✭✭✭Morgans


    Cantoris wrote: »
    Not if they put their bets on in the morning. The Grant horse had no recent form and therefore would not have appeared on the radar. These 50/1 shots do win sometimes but they don't end up being 5/4 shots!!

    And the fact that you suggest its up to the authorities to put in place some sort of security against this suggests that there is an issue with this. I'm not one normally for handicapping a trainer but in the case of Byrnes, Curley and Martin, I'd start with 100 and let them prove the mark should be dropped.

    Those who put their bets on the morning should know that the market can give clues - like Nappa Star, who you don't have a problem with.

    Those who backed Blackstone Vegas in the morning got a 5/1 winner when 1/3 shot Summersturm was beaten. They should be delighted they went against Curley.

    Of course, the whole handicapping system is a system for cheaters. It is something that you need to come to terms with. Why stop at Byrnes, Curley, and Martin. Is it just those that the media have problems with that upset you. Wigham I'm sure is another. Sir Mark of course is the media darling. Not one word said when he pulls his tricks, Cumani, O'Brien, Dunlop, Pipe, Flynn, A Mullins, Jonjo, Ferdy, O'Grady or any "shrewd" stable that knows the time of day. At least with Curley, Martin and Byrnes you generally know when they are trying and more importantly when they are not trying.

    Why isn't JP warned off racing for life for running non-triers every single week of the jumping season for the guts of three decades? Is it just because he is media-friendly?

    If its ok for Nappa Star to be gambled off the boards when he opens at 11/2. Its not ok for a horse at 50/1. Where is the cut off point that a gamble is acceptable?

    Those who backed Desert Romance in the morning should be delighted at the 10/1 SP given the gamble on Nappa Star went astray. It seems that its only when the gambles come off that there is an issue.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,694 ✭✭✭finbarrk


    No never heard of this geezer though.

    I would have thought that anyone with the smallest bit of intrest in racing would be aware of Barney. I had the pleasure of meeting him once.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 375 ✭✭Cantoris


    Morgans, using the racecourse as a schooling ground is not allowed and APO'B should have been reprimanded for what he has done this season. Running a horse over a mile and stepping it up to 1m2f to win when gambled is not questionable unless there is a serious improvement in form. If there is a serious improvement in form the stewards need to be satisfied that it ran on its merits before and I'm sure that's where Prescott comes in and whether they are allowed to run on their merits.

    We have seen countless times over the last few years how Byrnes horses run. Laetitia, Solwhit (Tom Doyle incident), Pittoni (when he won first). And those weren't trying and he was irate with the latter two. Curley's horses had little or limited form and he simply takes a horse that had ability abroad, runs it down the field for two/three years, gets it 30lbs down the weights and then lands a gamble with it. That's entirely different to a horse improving for a step up in trip, as long as that horse was allowed run on its merits before the step up in trip.

    Your belief that just because they advertise their gambles cannot be used as a defence. If I wave a gun at someone before I shoot them (thus giving them the chance to run away), am I a better person than the lad that shoots them in the back when they don't know. Both times, same result, go to jail.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,525 ✭✭✭Morgans


    Yes. But what you are saying is essentially that all trainers should be in jail. Maybe start with JP McManus trainers? JP McManus himself, maybe all his jockeys. That would be a start. Aidan O'Brien also. Nah, better if we got the parasites like Curley and Byrnes out. They are the target.

    99% of trainers, with their owners, at one stage or another target certain races and try to ensure favourable handicap marks. Its just when certain trainers actually pull one off that everyone says that its a disgrace. Using all sorts of "heads on a pin" type arguments to damn those certain trainers. Curley, Martin, Byrnes and Wigham, Stuart Williams another. These should have all horses handicapped at 100 and then see if they are up to it??

    Had the two Curley horses and the one ex Curley lost as Summersturm did, there wouldnt be a word about it, nor would there have been anyone who benefited from the inflated SP of the winner giving back their money to their bookie.

    Its only when they win that the "holier-than-thou, think of the children" type arguments come out. Where is the thread about David Casey pulling a Tony Mullins horse owned by JP for not trying at Killarney?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 375 ✭✭Cantoris


    Do you think the police catch all the crime that goes on? No. So why don't we all rob banks, push drugs or break into houses? Outside of the moral integirty some of us have, the deterrant is the criminal law system and you could go to jail. Yes, it doesn't stop everyone robbing banks but it should put off the vast majority.

    So the real issue is that the racing authorities are not enforcing long enough bans. If the system was like Japan or France, there would be fewer issues. In Japan, if you're found to have done anything hookey you get banned for a year minimum. If a jock comes off a straight line, ban. Full stop.

    So for Fame & Glory when he was beaten first time out, they would have brought in an expert to say that the horse looked fat in the ring, questioned O'Brien on using the racecourse as a schooling ground, then brought in Murtagh to questionn why he was so easy on him and then agree to ban O'Brien or Murtagh or both. Can you imagine. Banned from having a runner in the first Classics. He wouldn't do it again. Of course there would be uproar from Coolmore, but c'est la vie.

    So just like thieves and scumbags, you will find them everywhere and some will take the chance on the deterrant or at least allow their horses to show their true form earlier. Curley would have been banned for life long ago, as would Martin and Wigham. And would our sport be worse off for that. I doubt it. Curley's gamble will be forgotten by the end of the week.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,525 ✭✭✭Morgans


    Cantoris wrote: »
    Do you think the police catch all the crime that goes on? No. So why don't we all rob banks, push drugs or break into houses? Outside of the moral integirty some of us have, the deterrant is the criminal law system and you could go to jail. Yes, it doesn't stop everyone robbing banks but it should put off the vast majority.

    So the real issue is that the racing authorities are not enforcing long enough bans. If the system was like Japan or France, there would be fewer issues. In Japan, if you're found to have done anything hookey you get banned for a year minimum. If a jock comes off a straight line, ban. Full stop.

    So for Fame & Glory when he was beaten first time out, they would have brought in an expert to say that the horse looked fat in the ring, questioned O'Brien on using the racecourse as a schooling ground, then brought in Murtagh to questionn why he was so easy on him and then agree to ban O'Brien or Murtagh or both. Can you imagine. Banned from having a runner in the first Classics. He wouldn't do it again. Of course there would be uproar from Coolmore, but c'est la vie.

    So just like thieves and scumbags, you will find them everywhere and some will take the chance on the deterrant or at least allow their horses to show their true form earlier. Curley would have been banned for life long ago, as would Martin and Wigham. And would our sport be worse off for that. I doubt it. Curley's gamble will be forgotten by the end of the week.

    Despite the arguement are getting increasingly wishy-washy as they progress, I agree wiht the sentiment. When I see something like the punishment meeted out the to big boys that you mention there, then I think it will be ok to whine and moan about Curley. Until then, banning Curley, Martin, Wigham, Byrnes et al, is only picking at the edges of the problem - a soft target that the sport would be better off without in the opinion of many.The entire handicapping system, how its supported by the bookies etc and the whole fabric of the sport needs to be examined. Nicky Henderson, found doping horses, is forgotten about within a few months, without a whimper from the media.

    Also, your idea of rating a Curley horse at 100, until it proved otherwise, wouldnt have prevented the gamble that was landed.

    You also never answered the question about Nappa Star. 11/2 to 2/1 is ok. 50/1 to 2/1 is not. What is the cut off?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 538 ✭✭✭ComplyOrDie


    Cantoris wrote: »
    So for Fame & Glory when he was beaten first time out, they would have brought in an expert to say that the horse looked fat in the ring, questioned O'Brien on using the racecourse as a schooling ground, then brought in Murtagh to questionn why he was so easy on him and then agree to ban O'Brien or Murtagh or both. Can you imagine. Banned from having a runner in the first Classics. He wouldn't do it again. Of course there would be uproar from Coolmore, but c'est la vie.




    You do realise that
    -O'brien is regarded as one of the best racehorse trainers in the world
    -Murtagh is regarded as one of the best jockeys in the world

    And you want to bring someone in to tell them how to go about their business. Thats like saying send trevor from the local golf corse out to tell tiger how to play golf :D.

    Do you realise that in the majority of cases horses come on from the first run of the season (and this is not from lack of training)

    Why would you expect murtagh to be hard on the horse when he has a long season ahead (he could sour the horse by beating the sh!t out of him).

    And lastly john oxx was praised for his training of sea the stars. This was an excellent performance because it is extremely difficult to get a horse 100% for the day and in this case he done it over and over again throughout the season. Horses go over the top, get sour from too much racing, get sour from doing the same thing over and over again (garde champetra- went to bolger and came alive) Break down and on occasions have bad days. So all in all i think it's every owner and trainers entitlement to take the chance of landing a gamble like the few choosen few mentioned. It is also worthwhile to note that of the 4 runners curley had running there were 38 other competitors that could have won those races and as you know one did.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 375 ✭✭Cantoris


    You do realise that
    -O'brien is regarded as one of the best racehorse trainers in the world
    -Murtagh is regarded as one of the best jockeys in the world

    And you want to bring someone in to tell them how to go about their business. Thats like saying send trevor from the local golf corse out to tell tiger how to play golf :D.

    Do you realise that in the majority of cases horses come on from the first run of the season (and this is not from lack of training)

    Why would you expect murtagh to be hard on the horse when he has a long season ahead (he could sour the horse by beating the sh!t out of him)

    And you do realise that the above is a very innocent view of the world. This has nothing to do with who is a good trainer or a bad trainer. That's like saying we can't tell a jockey he gave a horse a bad ride because we have never ridden in a race before. The very fact that you think the question could not be asked of O'Brien just goes to highlight the problem.....the Henderson effect mentioned above (which I agree with Morgans on).

    If O'Brien knows he won't be asked any questions, why wouldn't he bring a horse "fat" to the racecourse. From comments I heard from those I respect at the track that day, he was miles short of fitness for a horse having his first run. No-one needs to be told a horse comes on for its first run, but this was a horse three weeks away from his first run.....and you know he won on his real first run of the season. and if Tiger is driving into the Woods (pardon the pun) from every tee box, it's not mad for the lad beside him, maybe Trevor, who keeps driving the ball straight to have a little word in his ear. What's wrong with that?? The authorities are there to make sure the laws are upheld......irrespective of whether O'Brien breaks them or anyone else.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 375 ✭✭Cantoris


    Morgans wrote: »
    Also, your idea of rating a Curley horse at 100, until it proved otherwise, wouldnt have prevented the gamble that was landed.

    You also never answered the question about Nappa Star. 11/2 to 2/1 is ok. 50/1 to 2/1 is not. What is the cut off?

    You're right about the 25/1 gamble. It wouldn't have stopped that as trained by Chris Grant, but other ways to skin that cat. The three flat horses could be trated a similar way.

    On Napa Star, does that mean that any horse who is backed falls into the same category as a 50/1 shot to 2/1. If Napa Star was being placed on yielding ground and had shown his best form on fast ground then it is reasonable to think that connections would back him in and punters would follow. It's in the form book and doesn't take a leap of faith. Explain to me how you could back the Chris Grant horse other than his 3rd placing to Won In The Dark 3 years ago?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 538 ✭✭✭ComplyOrDie


    Cantoris wrote: »
    You're right about the 25/1 gamble. It wouldn't have stopped that as trained by Chris Grant, but other ways to skin that cat. The three flat horses could be trated a similar way.

    On Napa Star, does that mean that any horse who is backed falls into the same category as a 50/1 shot to 2/1. If Napa Star was being placed on yielding ground and had shown his best form on fast ground then it is reasonable to think that connections would back him in and punters would follow. It's in the form book and doesn't take a leap of faith. Explain to me how you could back the Chris Grant horse other than his 3rd placing to Won In The Dark 3 years ago?

    His had some decent form in flat maiden's (shows he had ability), and obviously current connections thought he would come good in the end over hurdles (kept going with him), which he did. The money he attracted would suggest he was well in himself in the period leading up to the race (he probably had an injury or virus, hence the bad runs) :D:D:D:D:D:D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 538 ✭✭✭ComplyOrDie


    Cantoris wrote: »
    And you do realise that the above is a very innocent view of the world. This has nothing to do with who is a good trainer or a bad trainer. That's like saying we can't tell a jockey he gave a horse a bad ride because we have never ridden in a race before. The very fact that you think the question could not be asked of O'Brien just goes to highlight the problem.....the Henderson effect mentioned above (which I agree with Morgans on).

    If O'Brien knows he won't be asked any questions, why wouldn't he bring a horse "fat" to the racecourse. From comments I heard from those I respect at the track that day, he was miles short of fitness for a horse having his first run. No-one needs to be told a horse comes on for its first run, but this was a horse three weeks away from his first run.....and you know he won on his real first run of the season. and if Tiger is driving into the Woods (pardon the pun) from every tee box, it's not mad for the lad beside him, maybe Trevor, who keeps driving the ball straight to have a little word in his ear. What's wrong with that?? The authorities are there to make sure the laws are upheld......irrespective of whether O'Brien breaks them or anyone else.

    [HTML]why wouldn't he bring a horse "fat" to the racecourse[/HTML]

    what a stupid stupid stupid statement. You're right "an expert" we will all bow to you.

    I can imagine o'brien having a chat with john maginer before the race.

    "well john as you know fame and glory is worth million after winning the Irish derby and finishing second to what is said to be the best horse in the world (ever) in the English derby and champion stakes."

    But wait for it here is my favorite part

    "but today we will purposely depreciate his stud value by millions by running him for the craic when he is fat and 3 week's 1day and 12 seconds away from a run (the lad on telly said that's how far away he is from a run so it must be true, I'm the trainer but what would i know)"
    :D:D:D:D:D


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,525 ✭✭✭Morgans


    Cantoris wrote: »
    You're right about the 25/1 gamble. It wouldn't have stopped that as trained by Chris Grant, but other ways to skin that cat. The three flat horses could be trated a similar way.

    On Napa Star, does that mean that any horse who is backed falls into the same category as a 50/1 shot to 2/1. If Napa Star was being placed on yielding ground and had shown his best form on fast ground then it is reasonable to think that connections would back him in and punters would follow. It's in the form book and doesn't take a leap of faith. Explain to me how you could back the Chris Grant horse other than his 3rd placing to Won In The Dark 3 years ago?

    Towcester selling hurdle provides shock result. Had he not been backed and won at 50/1 I wouldnt have batted an eyelid. There are thousands of horses yearly who win races that I dont fancy, and couldnt fancy.

    Wasnt one of the horses backed from 7/1 into 2/1. Presumably, that passes the Cantoris test as he was possible to fancy in the morning. Nothing untoward there, and if Barney left it at that, there wouldnt be a problem.

    Im afraid all these lads are doing is bending the rules - not breaking them. And until rules are brought in and applied to everyone equally, they are free to do this.


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