Hurricane Fly’s Return To Winning Ways At Punchestown Should Not Go Unnoticed

April 30, 2012 Leave a comment

Not since Comedy Of Errors in 1975 has a horse come back to regain the Champion Hurdle but Hurricane Fly is already the favourite to win the 2013 Champion Hurdle and claim the throne he won in 2011 and then lost to Rock On Ruby this year.

Hurricane Fly’s defeat was his first after notching up seven straight Grade 1 wins, although only one of those came this season after he had early season difficulties which delayed his re-appearance. It was potentially the lack of another run that stifled his effort this year, but that said he looked imperious when he did make his return to the track at Leopardstown at the end of January where he retained his Irish Champion Hurdler crown in great style.

It has to be said he looked unbeatable that day which is just one of the reasons why he went off in this year’s Champion Hurdle as the 4/6 odds on favourite. Trainer, Willie Mullins nor jockey Ruby Walsh offered any excuses, believing that he simply had a flat day.

Hurricane Fly bounced back from that Cheltenham disappointment at the Punchestown Festival last week where he landed the Rabobank Champion Hurdle for a third successive year by 2 1/2 lengths to Zaidpour.

Rock On Ruby of course gave trainer, Paul Nicholls a first ever Champion Hurdle win but he failed to build on that effort at the Grand National meeting where he could only manage third by tried over 2m 4f in the Aintree Hurdle and what his plans are for 2013 remain to be seen.

Simonsig, the stylish winner of the Grade 1 Neptune Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival has been given a quote of 10/1 to win the Champion Hurdle in 2013 following yet another exciting performance in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle but he looks destined to go chasing at some stage in the future and that could be as early as next season which means he may not be the number one challenger to Hurricane Fly.

The Donald McCain trained winner of the Supreme Novices, Cinders And Ashes is another to consider, he looked a hugely progressive sort when winning t the Festival and looks destined for a big future but the record of “Supreme” winners who have gone on to win the Champion Hurdle is atrocious and caution should be exercised as such.

The Nicky Henderson pair of Grandouet and Spirit Son, both of which missed the Festival this year through injury are also worthy of consideration but as it stands, Hurricane Fly looks the long term value in this race and providing he can defy the history books to become the first horse in over 36 years to regain a Champion Hurdle after losing it, the current quote of 6/1 after his Punchestown success looks like cracking value given his performance in Ireland last week would suggest his effort to win the race this year was nothing more than a blip.

Filed under Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festival Races, Latest Racing News, Punchestown Tagged with , , , , , , ,

2012 Cheltenham Festival Highlights

March 19, 2012 Leave a comment

It was Idarah, the final finisher in the final race that effectively brought down the final curtain of the four day 2012 Cheltenham Festival and in so doing closed another chapter in the meeting’s history books but this year’s Festival has to go down one of the most exciting for years.

Searching for talking points and highlights at the Festival any year is easy but 2012 had so many it is difficult to know where to start and for that matter how to prioritise them.

Certainly one highlight that should stick in the mind of all National Hunt racing fans was the huge round of applause handed out so spontaneously by the 60,000 crowd after the Kauto Star was pulled up in the Gold Cup by jockey Ruby Walsh. Their reaction probably was suitable acknowledgement that the dual Gold Cup and five times King George VI Chase Champion will not be seen competitively on a racecourse again and that he will now be retired to the luxurious pasture he so richly deserves given that he arguable rates as one of the best Steeplechasers the world has ever seen!

Kauto Star’s Stablemate, Big Bucks, however, did not disappoint, once again proving too good for his rivals in the World Hurdle, winning the race for a record breaking fourth consecutive year and in the process winning his 16th consecutive race. His confirmation as the greatest staying hurdler of all time came two days after the Willie Mullins trained Quevega had won the three mile Mares Hurdle also for the fourth consecutive year. Her win confirmed her as the greatest staying mare of all time and possibly the only horse capable of taking Big Bucks on.

A second act of unadulterated spontaneity was witnessed when Hunt Ball won the Pulteney Land Investments Novices Handicap Chase over 2m4f, the final race on the first day. Owner, Anthony Knott, who had accused the Official Handicapper of getting it all wrong with his horse all season, became almost uncontainable when the seven year old romped home by eight lengths carrying 12 stone on his back. His win yet again defied the handicapper and had his owner making that point to everybody on the boisterous but jovial walk back to the winners enclosure. The win was greeted with so much enthusiasm by the crowd, many of which had taken Knott’s advice and backed the 13/2 favourite that it prompted the official handicapper himself to make his way to the winners enclosure to acknowledge that he had got it wrong by shaking Knott’s hand. It was a great and magnanimous and one of those episodes that that go a long way towards making the Festival what it is today. Hunt Ball in fact has earned himself a 50/1 shout for the Gold Cup at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival.

With the exit one Festival superstar in the form of Kauto Star a potential replacement announced his arrival on the chasing scene in the form of Sprinter Sacre. The six year old became the first of trainer Nicky Henderson’s magnificent seven winners at this year’s Festival after his seven length victory in Arkle Challenge Trophy. It was a run of such awesome quality, that had jockey Barry Geraghty confirming that he is the best he has ridden and had bookmakers installing him as the 2/1 favourite to win the 2013 Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Hendersoncould not have had a betterCheltenham; Sprinter Sacre became his 40th Festival career winner to equal that of Fulke Walwyn, which he was then to shatter with six more, taking him to a new record of 46. His other winners:

Simonsig – Hugely impressive winner of the Grade 1 Neptune Investment Management Novice Hurdle over 2m5f.

Bobs Worth – First home in the Grade 1 RSA Chase and now an 8/1 quote for the 2013 Gold Cup.

Finian’s Rainbow – New Queen Mother Chase Champion after coming on top in a controversial but epic battle up the hill with defending champion, Sizing Europe who went off the 4/5 favourite.

Une Artiste – 40/1 winner of the Grade 3 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. His win completed a 3,382 four timer on the day for the Seven Barrows trainer. It was the first time in the history of the Festival that a trainer had saddled four winners on a single day.

Riverside Theatre – Held on to win a terrific battle in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase over 2m5f with Albertas Run, winner of this race for the previous two seasons.

Belvano – The 20/1 winner of the Johnny Henderson Grand annual Chase and the race named to honour Nicky’s father. There could have been a no more fitting end to the Festival and was made even better when his Tanks For That finished second and Anquetta fourth.

The one surprise defeat of the Nicky Henderson cam was that of Long Run in the Gold Cup who could only finish third, behind winner, Synchronised and the 50/1 outsider, The Giant Bolster. Although this race is not considered a highlight this year due the fact that it was a worryingly low class renewal with only Kauto Star and Long Run being rated more than 180 in the field. Synchronised, in fairness has won at Grade One level and did run a stormer under Tony McCoy to win. However, how the 160 rated runner up The Giant Bolster got so close is something that should not really happen in the country’s most prestigious steeplechase.

Other surprise defeats came in the Champion Hurdle where Hurricane Fly could not justify his 4/6 price, finishing third behind the Paul Nicholls trained Rock on Ruby.

Filed under Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle, Arkle, Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festival Races, Gold Cup, Latest Racing News, Neptune Novices Hurdle, Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Willie Mullins, World Hurdle Tagged with , , , , , , ,

2012 Cheltenham Festival Top Trainer Preview

March 7, 2012 Leave a comment

Nicky Henderson

Nicky Henderson the pick to be the top trainer at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival

The betting is extremely close for the 2012 Cheltenham Festival Top Trainer Award, with Willie Mullins, the 5/4 favourite to retain his crown that he won for the first time 12 months ago after saddling four winners, including the magnificent Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle and will be hoping that the eight year old can repeat that success once again next week and get him off to a winning start on day one.

Others from his 30 strong contingent that is coming over from the Mullins County Carlow based stables in Ireland that have big chances include the mighty Quevega, bidding for a fourth straight win the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle. Although she has not raced this season, the eight year old is reported to be in good order and with so little opposition in the race, she would be appear to be one of the Festival’s “bankers”. Boston Bob should also provide the Irish maestro with a great chance of landing the Neptune Novice Hurdle and the stable also seem very keen on the chances of Sir Deschamps in the RSA Chase whilst Champagne Fever in the pick of his Champion Bumper entries, a race that he has won six times in the past 15 years!

Next in the betting to win the top trainer award is Nicky Henderson at odds of 2/1 which looks reasonable value when one considers the depth and quality of his entries. Of course he has the favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in Long Run, who will be looking to repeat his exhilarating win of last year and the yard are reportedly very pleased by the good form shown by 2010 Champion Hurdler, Binocular, who will be bidding to regain his title after missing the race 12 months ago.

Henderson’s stable jockey, Barry Geraghty, has gone on the record to say that his mount in the Arkle Trophy, Sprinter Sacre, is the best horse he has ever sat on which speaks volumes for his chances of winning the race and the horse has been one of the big “talking horses” ahead of this year’s Festival. Darlan looks a very good prospect in the Supreme Novice Hurdle while Simonsig is the 5/2 joint favourite to win the Neptune Novice Hurdle for the Seven Barrows operation. Bobs Worth has a great chance to win the RSA Chase, particularly if Grands Crus defects from this race to contest the Gold Cup, while Riverside Theatre will take all the beating in the Ryanair Chase. Despite the dominance of Big Bucks in the World Hurdle, Henderson has been quietly pleased with his Oscars Whisky who he believes will run a big race and prove himself capable of becoming a worthy successor to the three time champion.

Paul Nicholls of course trains Big Bucks, who for many, he is the “banker” of the meeting. Nicholls also has big chances in the Gold Cup of course with Kauto Star attempting to become the first horse to regain the Cup for a second time. As has been well reported, Kauto Star has had a minor setback at home after tumbling at a fence when schooling. Whether this has any lasting negative effect on the 12 year old remains to be seen and his absence would be a major blow for the Festival and the sport but the horse’s welfare must remain he paramount priority.

Nicholls is sweet on the chances of a number of his entries including Al Ferof in the Arkle Trophy, Zarkandar in the Champion Hurdle (despite Ruby Walsh electing to ride Hurricane Fly), Ted Spread in the County Hurdle as well as Kauto Star who, should he win the race for a third time will make the 2012 Cheltenham Festival the most memorable ever.

Other trainers who are likely to be seen in the winner’s enclosure are David Pipe, who amongst others will have the exciting Grands Crus representing his stable. Philip Hobbs too should be there or thereabouts with at least a couple of winners, while Alan King comes to the Festival with a stable bang in form and confidence sky high. Donald McCain has also been hitting the net regularly of late and although he had been reluctant to reveal the target for Peddlers Cross, the fact that he has now named the Jewson Novice Chase, should give him a great chance of coming away from the Festival with at least one winner, if not two. Jonjo O’Neill usually has his stable firing at Festival time and this year will be no exception, while Gordon Elliott, who saddled two winners at the 2011 Festival, will be looking for a similar score this time.

For this writer’s money however, it will be Nicky Henderson and his Seven Barrows team that will be lifting the top trainer prize in 2012. It would also be no surprise at all to see him saddle six winners!

Filed under Barry Geraghty, Champion Bumper, Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham, Donald McCain, Gold Cup, Jockey, Latest Racing News, National Hunt Races, Neptune Novices Hurdle, Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls, Royal & Sun Alliance Chase, Ruby Walsh, Trainer, Willie Mullins, World Hurdle Tagged with , , , , , ,

Hurricane Fly Picks Up Where He Left Off In Leopardstown Seasonal Debut

January 30, 2012 Leave a comment

Following his hugely emphatic win on his much delayed seasonal reappearance in the Grade 1 Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday, Hurricane Fly has been shortened to around the 4/5 odds on mark to retain his Champion Hurdle title at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The Willie Mullins eight year old looked as impressive as ever defeating his four rivals with consummate ease and chalking up a seventh success win in the process.

Mullins had earlier in the season expressed concerns with the ‘champion’s’ progress at home which prompted him to withdraw him from his two intended earlier season starts. However, whatever was troubling him then certainly isn’t now and he looks a sure fire banker for the Festival. Should he win at the Festival he will emulate the back to back wins of Hardy Eustace in 2004 & 2005 and will have a chance next season to equal the three straight wins of the great Istabraq from 1998-2000.

Bookmakers have reported some support for the likes of the Nicky Henderson pair, Grandouet and 2010 Champion Hurdle winner, Binocular as well as Paul Nicholls, 2011 Triumph Hurdle winner, Zarkandar. However, they are well behind the favourite in the market and based on Hurricane Fly’s latest run they will be well behind him too at Cheltenham.

Zarkandar, the half brother of course to the great ‘Arc de Triomphe’ winner, Zarkava, has yet to be seen this season, but he is the lime up for his reappearance at Newbury in a fortnight’s time in the Grade 3 Betfair Hurdle over two miles. The five year old in fact is the 8/1 favourite to win at Newbury but he will need to run well and get close to a mark of 151 if he is to have any chance against Hurricane Fly at Cheltenham for which he is also an 8/1 chance.

Unaccompanied, who was second behind Zarkandar in the 2011 ‘Triumph’ has progressed nicely so far this season. The Dermot Weld five year old won a Listed event back in November over two miles and followed that up with a decent win in the Grade 1 Istabraq Hurdle on 29th December. In that race he had the Willie Mullins trained second string for the Champion Hurdle, Thousand Stars nearly two lengths behind, although he was in receipt of 10lbs. Unaccompanied can be backed at anything between 16-25/1 for the Champion Hurdle.

Binocular of course having missed the Cheltenham Festival last year has been struggling of late but returned to winning ways with a workmanlike performance to win a second successive Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park last month. In that race he proved just too strong for the improving Paul Nicholls trained Rock On Ruby, although he too would appear to have the Champion Hurdle as his Cheltenham target.

Grandouet, who is the 11/2 second favourite for the Champion Hurdle, bounced back from his fall at Wincanton in November to win the first Betfair Hurdle at Haydock, defeating Marsh Warbler by eight lengths in the process. He then followed that up by taking the Grade 2 International Hurdle at Cheltenham, this time by four lengths from the very ebullient Overturn from the Donald McCain stable.

Filed under Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham Festival Races, Cheltenham Festival Trials, Latest Racing News, Leopardstown, Ruby Walsh, Willie Mullins Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Punters Should Be Wary About Backing Hurricane Fly For Champion Hurdle

January 9, 2012 Leave a comment

It is difficult to know what to make of the comments regarding Hurricane Fly from the Willie Mullins stable. The Irish Champion trainer clearly has major concerns over his 2011 Champion Hurdler who also scooped up Ireland’s National Hunt Horse of the Year award in December.

In November, Mullins made it known to the media that his stable star had not been pleasing him at home, which is why, conscious of the antepost betting, he was withdrawn from his intended seasonal reappearance in the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.

The plan after the ‘Morgiana’ was for Mullins was to run him next in the Grade 1 Hattons Grace Hurdle in December but the view was taken that the 8 year old would not have been ready for that engagement either. He was therefore promptly withdrawn which meant that Mullins had to put together a Plan B, which would have started with Hurricane Fly taking his place in the Grade 1 Istabraq Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown on 28th December. This was a race which the nine times Grade 1 winner had won 12 months earlier but so scant was the information emanating from the Mullins yard regarding the well-being of Hurricane Fly that the betting for the race was suspended as punters were flocking to back stablemate, Thousand Stars.

In the event and much to the chagrin of the bookmakers, Mullins withdrew his charge from the race, on the 27th, stating he had no interest in the points of view of the Bookmakers and further claiming that he would only run the horse when he was good and ready.

Mullins also said that Hurricane Fly had worked out with stablemate Thousand Stars at the Curragh during Christmas week and although he worked hard enough it was not at a sufficiently high standard to provide Mullins with the confidence to run him in the ‘Istabraq’.

The plan now as it stands is for Hurricane Fly to defend his Irish Champion Hurdle crown at Leopardstown at the end of January but with so much doubt surrounding his fitness it has become a huge worry for those who have backed him to win that race as well as back to back Champion Hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival.

Mullins who is a man who will not be pressurised by anyone has constantly re-iterated that Hurricane Fly will not run unless he can do himself justice in Grade 1 company. To that end he has also said that it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he could go straight to Cheltenham without a run elsewhere all season.

This potential outcome has forced the bookmakers to stretch his odds of winning the Champion Hurdle to 11/4 and whilst he remains the favourite, punters are beginning to look for alternatives.

Filed under Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham Festival Races, Latest Racing News Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Grandouet Puts Himself In Champion Hurdle Picture After International Win

December 14, 2011 Leave a comment

Grandouet was shortened into 5/1 second favourite to give trainer, Nicky Henderson, a third Champion Hurdle winner in four seasons after a scintillating four length victory in the Grade 2 International Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday. It was a win at the first time of asking in the company of older horses and he became the first four year old to win the race since Binocular this renewal in 2008.

In winning the four year old who was third in last season’s Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham removed any fears Henderson harboured regarding his ability to handle the Cheltenham undulations. He also confirmed at the same time that he can find an extra gear after being held up in a strongly run race; credentials that are normally associated with Champion Hurdlers. Jockey, Barry Geraghty, timed his run to perfection on Saturday, but admitted later that he actually got to the front a little too soon and he never timed his jump at the last with any great authority. Nonetheless he confirmed that the Grandouet has improved enormously from last season and was highly

Although he missed the last in an overall sense he hurdled very well and is clearly getting to grips with his technique these days. It will be remembered that he tipped up two from home, when coming to win the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle at Wincanton race earlier this season. Henderson confirmed that he is likely to be seen next in the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle in February before heading to Cheltenham.

Grandouet in fact was the first horse this season to get the better of Donald McCain’s Overturn, who had to settle for second place after setting a cracking gallop throughout. He fought tooth and nail with both Grandouet and the third home, Brampour, but just lacked that extra bit of class to win. That said, McCain is confident that Overturn, who defeated Henderson’s 2010 Champion Hurdler, Binocular in the Grade One Fighting Fifth Hurdle last month, is more than capable of reversing this result with Grandouet. He believes that the better ground in March and running on Cheltenham’s new course will be in his charge’s favour and that race will remain his target. The Bookmakers however were not so convinced with Boylesports offering him at 20/1 whilst keeping defending champion, Hurricane Fly as their 6/4 favourite.

Brampour, who was representing the Paul Nicholls stable ran a good race to finish third, but he seemed outclassed by Grandouet and he was out-fought by Overturn. Nicholls later confirmed that the four year old had been suffering with pus in his foot for the three days before the race and that they were unable to mount him until the Saturday. He believes that they can find the four lengths that he needs to overhaul Grandouet and although he will be rested for a spell he too will be aimed at the Champion Hurdle at the Festival.

The big disappointment in the race was the Phillip Hobbs trained Menorah, who had gone off as the 5/2 joint favourite with Grandouet. However, although going with the pace for a mile and half he struggled from that point, failing to come off the strong gallop, finishing in fourth place over 13 lengths behind the winner. The 2010 Supreme Novice will now be sent back over fences with the Arkle Challenge Trophy his season’s target.

Filed under Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham, Nicky Henderson Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Overturn Too Good For Rivals In Fighting Fifth

November 28, 2011 Leave a comment

Exactly what we learned by the outcome of the Grade One Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday is not altogether clear, particularly as 2010 Champion Hurdler, Binocular, found Overturn too good for him on the day, but then again, he has found at least one too good for him in this race twice previously.

The Donald McCain trained Overturn finished 4½ lengths in front of Binocular who came second who was over 20 lengths clear of Celestial Halo in third, with Overturn making all in the Newcastle feature, a win which will make the Champion Hurdle in March his primary target for the season. McCain also confirmed that he will adopt a cautious policy with the seven year old until Cheltenham, with only one run likely beforehand.

It has to be said that the versatile Overturn has been a great asset to the McCain yard, not only has he now won at Grade One level over hurdles, he has also won two valuable flat handicaps. Those wins in fact were the 2010 Northumberland Plate, which is the most valuable flat raced at Newcastle and this year’s Chester Cup, which he won back in May. His other important wins were the 2010 Grade Two Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr, the 2010 Galway Hurdle at the Galway Festival and more recently the Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle earlier this month. His total prize winning’s now is a staggering £553,844, not bad for a gelding purchased for only £75,000.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Binocular will probably be philosophical regarding Binocular’s defeat. He will be disappointed of course but having been beaten in this race three years running when going off as the odds on favourite he might decide that he will not bother next year. He will also be well aware that the 7 year old needed the run and will undoubtedly be more competitive next time out, which could be in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. As we all know he won the Christmas Hurdle last year where somewhat ironically, he had Overturn over three lengths adrift in second place.

As a result of the outcome of the ‘Fighting Fifth’, Overturn has been quoted as short as 10/1 by Ladbrokes to win the 2012 Champion Hurdle, while Binocular is only 14/1 to regain the crown he won in 2010.

The big disappointment in this race was the performance of the Paul Nicholls trained, Celestial Halo, who finished well behind after failing to go with the pace. It could be that he was not right on the day, so it is best to reserve judgement until he is settled back at home. However this was certainly a well below par performances which does not inspire too much confidence for the future of the seven year old. This is a pity as he had looked in sparkling form earlier this month, when winning the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

Filed under Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham Festival Races, Cheltenham Festival Trials, Donald McCain, Newcastle Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Willie Mullins: Six Of The Best For the National Hunt Season

November 18, 2011 Leave a comment

Champion Irish trainer, Willie Mullins, is beginning to move through the gears as the National Hunt season gathers more momentum. The hugely successful trainer, who saddled four winners at last year’s Cheltenham Festival will hoping to better that tally in 2012 and will be reliant that at least three of those winners from last year will be capable of repeating the feat come March. Here are six of his best stable prospects that will be campaigned with tilts at the Festival in mind.

Hurricane Fly

There is no doubt that the greatest two mile hurdler around right now will go off as the favourite to win the Champion Hurdle for a second successive year. As we all know, he saw off the challenge of three major contenders when winning the 2011 Champion Hurdle and did so with alarming ease. He is probably one of the bankers of the Festival who can be backed currently at 7/4 -  a price that will only contract if he picks up where he left off last season when he makes his seasonal reappearance in a couple of weeks time.

Quevega

What more can we say about this outstanding mare who has won the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at the Festival for the last three years running. Mullins has confirmed that the same policy of not running her until the Festival will be maintained this year, which is a long wait for fans to see her but understandable as it has worked for the past two seasons. She is a best price of 6/4 for race and is sure to be shorter come the Festival.

Sir Des Champs

Unbeaten over hurdles, Sir Des Champs culminated his excellent campaign last season by winning the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey Hurdle at the Festival, This year the hugely talented 5 year old will be aimed at the Novice Chases with a probable tilt at the Arkle Chase. Prices will be out for him after he has made his debut, probably in the Beginners Chase at Punchestown on 19th November.

Uncle Junior

An out and out stayer, Uncle Junior surprised many last week when winning the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham last week, where he beat the very experienced Garde Champetre by 2½ lengths. Mullins had always believed that the ten year old would acquit himself well in races such as this, no matter what the going and his season’s target will be a repeat of the Open meeting course and distance success in the Cross Country Chase at the Festival.

Samain

Unbeaten in three ‘Bumpers’ last season, this German bred 5 year old will next be seen novice hurdling although Mullins has not as yet decided when this will be. By all accounts he is impressing everyone at home, he has great speed and his rate of improvement last season strongly suggest that the stable could have a real star in the making. Even without a hurdle win, Samain is a 20/1 shot for the Supreme Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Boston Bob

Having won two from three in decent Bumpers last season, and who has a win in a Point to Point to his name, this six year old could be one of the more versatile horses in the Mullins stable; particularly now after he dotted up in a maiden hurdle at Navan this week. Mullins intends to keep him over the smaller obstacles this season but he expects him to run a big race in the Grade One Royal Bond Hurdle at Fairyhouse in early December. A decision will be taken after that race as to what he targets for Cheltenham.

Filed under Arkle, Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham Festival Races, Cross Country Chase Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Five of the Best from Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows Yard For The 2011/2012 Season

September 21, 2011 Leave a comment

Despite the several controversial issues hitting the Seven Barrows yard last season, trainer, Nicky Henderson, will be looking forward to the National Hunt season with much confidence in his very exciting team of runners. As we all know the yard had one of its very best seasons last term and justifiably believe that they can improve on that over the next seven months or so. Below is listed five out and out Seven Barrows stars who will undoubtedly feature prominently this season and who the public will be clamoring to see once more.

Long Run

This magnificent horse emulated the great Kauto Star and Desert Orchid last term by claiming victory in both the King George and Cheltenham Gold Cup’s and is a red hot favourite to repeat the feat again this season.

Only six years old, Long Run just had the two runs in 2011 due to the King George being held over from its usual Boxing Day slot until January. This means that the French Import will be starting the season extremely fresh but no opening race has been confirmed for him. The handicapper Phil Smith has been trying to persuade connections to run him with top weight in the Grade Three Hennessy Gold Cup in November, but that is said not to be the favoured option which means fans will have to wait to see the champion.

Grandouet

Although only third behind Zarkandar in the Grade One Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, four year old Grandouet is a very exciting prospect for the new season. He came back well from that defeat and his unexpected fall at Aintree to win the Grade One AES Champion Hurdle in fantastic style, at Punchestown. In that race he defeated Alan King’s very useful Kumbeshwar by 9 lengths and also reversed the form significantly with Dermot Weld’s Unaccompanied who had finished second behind Zarkandar in the Triumph but was a street behind Grandouet in this.

He is a very lively entry for the Champion Hurdle for which he is rated at around 20/1 to win, but with improvements likely to continue he could be a very serious contender by the time March 2012 comes around.

Oscar Whisky

Another serious contender for the 2012 Champion Hurdle in March, Oscar Whisky followed up his third place behind Hurricane Fly in last year’s race with a good win in the Grade One Aintree Hurdle in April where he had the likes of stablemate, Binocular well beaten as well as the very tasty Champion Hurdle runner up, Peddlers Cross.

The sable expect this hugely talented son of Oscar to make huge improvements this season and he will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with.

Bobs Worth

Another major contender for top class hurdling prizes this season is Bobs Worth, winner of the Grade One, Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle over three miles, at the Cheltenham Festival. That win confirmed him as a major stayer and he well prove to be the one that finally puts the incredible record of the Champion Stayer, Big Bucks to an end.

He runs well within himself, he is a very sound hurdler who possesses speed as well as stamina as his two easy wins over two miles have indicated. He is currently a 10/1 shot for the World Hurdle at the 2012 Festival and definitely one to follow this season.

Riverside Theatre

Assuming he is back to full fitness, Riverside Theatre, although held by Long Run, is seven year old chaser with Grade One winning form and who should go from his success in the Betfair Ascot Chase last February to further Grade One success this term.

He had been the antepost favourite for the Ryanair Chase at the Festival and that is where he will almost certainly be aimed at again this season. He proved himself as a top class chaser when second behind Long Run in the King George in January where he had the great Kauto Star seven lengths adrift in third place.

Filed under Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham Festival Races, Gold Cup, Nicky Henderson, Trainer

Blazing Tempo Lands Galway Plate For Willie Mullins

July 29, 2011 Leave a comment

After several attempts, Ireland’s champion National Hunt trainer, Willie Mullins finally saddled the winner of the prestigious Galway Plate when Blazing Tempo, ridden by Paul Townend out-fought Wise Old Owl up the straight.

The mare had been very heavily backed all day reported Bookmakers; starting in the morning at 8/1 she shot to the top of the market and went off as the 5/1 favourite.

Townend rode a very patient race on the seven year old, keeping her relatively quiet in the early stages and coaxing her into a midfield position by halfway. From then he just asked her to quicken gradually and spent the next mile or so picking off those in front of her one by one. She was in full flight by the last fence and took up the running in the final furlong going to win by 1½ lengths from Wise Old Owl who had also been very well backed during the course of the day.

The win should not have been too much of a surprise for punters as the mare has plenty of class about her having won twice in Group Three Beginners Chases. She ran with great credit in the Jewsons Novices Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, when fifth behind the Paul Nolan trained, Noble Prince. That performance was followed up by finishing second behind Wishfull Thinking in the valuable Mick the Plate Memorial Novice Handicap Chase at the Punchestown Festival.

Mullins in fact had been very disappointed at the time with her defeat at Punchestown, but in the ‘cold light of day’ he realised what a good run it was and it left her on an excellent weight for the ‘Plate’. She was kept purposely fresh for Galway, with Mullins deciding to ignore the Trials and just working her at home. That policy clearly paid dividends for the trainer who has had horses placed in the race before but never the winner. In fact the Mullins yard did extremely well this year as in addition to winning they also saddled the fourth home, Hampshire Express and the fifth, Scotsirish.

No decision has been made as to her next appearance, but she will be kept off course for a while, with the possibility of a run before the Hennessey Gold Cup at Newbury in November.

The principle Dermot Weld trained entry, Majestic Concorde was pulled up after jockey, Paul Carberry lost his irons seven fences from home. Weld, whose record of saddling winners at the Festival is astonishing, had declared beforehand that this year his policy was to go for quality rather than quantity, however after already saddling seven winners over the first three days, it looks like the incredible trainer is up to his usual Galway Festival tricks.

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