Synchronised Remains On Course To Re-Write History After Latest Grand National Forfeit Stage

March 23, 2012 Leave a comment

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised heads both the market and the weights at the latest forfeit stage for the 2012 Grand National. A total of 59 runners have stood their ground, with last year’s winner Ballabriggs next in the weights on 11-09. Midnight Chase, who finished 31 lengths behind Synchronised in the Gold Cup is on 11-08 the same as Weird Al who pulled up in Cheltenham feature with a broken blood vessel whilst a pound further back is Gold Cup fourth BurtonPort who’ll have just three pounds to reverse the eight lengths he finished behind Synchronised in the Gold Cup.

The simple fact that there are so many Gold Cup runners in this year’s Grand National tells us that we are likely to witness one of the highest quality renewals for many years. Add to the mix last year’s winner, Ballabriggs, Prince De Beauchene, winner of the Bobbyjo Chase inIrelandlast time out, together with Irish Hennessy Gold Cup winner, Quel Esprit and Sky Bet Chase winnerCalgaryBay.

Should Synchronised pull off the almost impossible Gold Cup and Grand National double in the same season then he would be the first horse to do so since Golden Miller in 1934 and the first horse since L’Escargot in 1975 to win both races. Another first is that he would also be the first horse since Freebooter in 1950 to carry top weight to victory. It all adds up to a very difficult task indeed for the Jonjo O’Neil trained and JP McManus owned runner but he could be the once in a lifetime horse that defies the history books.

It is fair to say that he will not go down as one of the all time great Gold Cup winners but it should be remembered that he won the Grade 1 Lexus Chase inIrelandin his preparation race forCheltenhamback in December. He also won the rearranged Welsh National over 3m7f in January 2011 and the Midland National over 4m1f a year before that, wins that confirm his staying ability to handle the marathon Grand National trip and it’s just whether he can overcome the burden of top weight.

Meanwhile Bookmakers generally have confirmed that support continues to come for the Willie Mullins trained Prince De Beauchene. The nine year old was last seen winning the Grade 2 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last month will be racing off only 10-06 making him a very decent proposition and with Ruby Walsh likely to take the ride, his price is only going to go in one direction.

Support it appears has waned for Donald McCain’s Weird Al following his broken blood vessel sustained in the Gold Cup where he had to be pulled up. He was still confirmed for the race however as is stablemate and 2011 winner, Ballabriggs, who is currently third favourite with odds of around 12/1. Ballabriggs of course will be trying to emulate the feat of the legendary three time winner, Red Rum, trained by McCain’s father, Donald and who was the last horse to win the Grand National back-to-back.

Others reported to be being well supported with just three weeks to go before the race include Junior from the David Pipe stable, Burton Port who is now into 12/1 in places, Alan King’s West End Rocker a 16/1 shot the same price as Cappa Bleu, Cheltenham Festival winner, Sunnyhillboy and the highly regarded Seabass from the Ted Walsh stable in Ireland. All will come to Aintree on April 14th with high expectations.

Filed under Aintree, David Pipe, Gold Cup, Grand National, Hennessy Gold Cup, Jonjo O'Neil, Ruby Walsh, Willie Mullins 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 , , , , , ,

Indecision Over Grands Crus Festival Target Leaves RSA Chase Picture Wide Open

February 13, 2012 Leave a comment

Last Instalment has emerged as a leading RSA Chase hope following Leopardstown win

With still no clear indication from the David Pipe stable as to where Grands Crus will be aimed at the Cheltenham Festival, the betting remains somewhat confusing for anybody looking to untangle the RSA Chase in hope of finding some antepost value.

Grands Crus was due to run in the Reynoldstown Chase at Newbury last weekend but with that race being cancelled and excluded from the rearranged card for this coming Friday, it is unlikely that the seven year old will have another run before the Festival and as it stands, connections are non-committal as to their preference as to which race, the RSA Chase or the Cheltenham Gold Cup they wish him to enter, leaving punters to hold their bets for either race.

Currently Grands Crus is the 2/1 favourite for the RSA Chase, with Bobs Worth from the Nicky Henderson yard next best at 4/1, while Sunday’s PJ Moriarty Novice Chase winner, Last Instalment, is rated an 8/1 chance alongside First Lieutenant. In the Gold Cup market, Grands Crus is the 7/1 third favourite, behind Long Run and Kauto Star.

Whether Grands Crus runs in or not, the RSA Chase remains an eye-caching race, particularly now that Last Instalment, confirmed his likely presence in the field following his very impressive front running victory in the ‘PJ Moriarty’ over 2m5f at Leopardstown at the weekend. Trainer, Phillip Fenton, confirmed that the seven year old, who is now unbeaten in four starts over fences this season, will head for the RSA and represents one or Ireland’s best hopes for Festival success.

In winning at Leopardstown, he held off the challenge of the Willie Mullins pair of Lambro and Call The Police, seeming to have improved from his last run when winning the Grade 1 Fort Leney Novice Chase over 3 miles also at Leopardstown in December. In that race he had First Lieutenant, also a major RSA player well beaten six lengths behind and he looked every bit a Cheltenham Festival good thing.

Tony Martin’s Bog Warrior also attracted attention of punters as a potential Cheltenham Festival winner at the weekend, with his bloodless 11 length victory in the Opera Hat Novice Chase at Naas over two miles. This win put the eight year old back on course for Cheltenham after falling in his previous start in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase over 2m at Leopardstown at Christmas. Before that of course he spectacularly won the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase over 2m4f by 31 lengths a race where First Lieutenant was pulled up. The win has earned Bog Warrior a 12/1 quote from Ladbrokes for the RSA Chase and a 16/1 quote from the same Bookmaker for the Arkle Challenge Trophy but much like Grands Crus, a decision to which he will run in has yet to be made.

Filed under Arkle, Cheltenham, David Pipe, Gold Cup, Latest Racing News, Leopardstown, Nicky Henderson, Royal & Sun Alliance Chase, Willie Mullins Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Kauto Star Still Has A Long Run to the Gold Cup

January 3, 2012 Leave a comment

Only Silver Flame in 1951 and What A Myth in 1969 have won the Cheltenham Gold Cup as 12 year olds, but the outstanding Kauto Star looks well on course to join them in 2012. The Paul Nicholls trained two times Gold Cup winner put in an unforgettable run to land a record breaking fifth King George Vl Chase on Boxing Day and now heads to Cheltenham in March looking to sign off what will more than likely be his final run in style.

Kauto Star confirmed that his victory over reigning Gold Cup champion, Long Run in the Grade One Betfair Chase in November was not a one off as he beat him for a second time this season. It is true that this latest run was a lot closer and it could be argued that Long Run was getting to him on the run in but the manner in which Kauto Star won the race suggested very strongly that he was back to his most imperious form. He was also ridden superbly by Ruby Walsh who clearly gets a different tune out of him when compared to others who have been in his saddle.

The Bookmakers still have Long Run as the 5/2 favourite in the Gold Cup betting, with Kauto Star rated a general 4/1 chance with Boylesports a stand out 9/2. However, it has to be thought that such will be the popularity of Kauto Star come March 16th that he could well start favourite on the day.

With the great Denman now out of the picture, Long Run is now the nearest thing Kauto Star has to a rival and racing fans can expect a media frenzy as the ‘race of the champions’ draws near.

Kauto of course first won the ‘Gold Cup’ back in 2007 and became the first horse to regain the trophy when winning again two years later. He was second in the intervening year to stablemate, Denman, he fell after running badly in 2010 and could no better than third last season when Long Run became the first horse since Mill House in 1963 to win the race as a 6 year old.

The scene is set therefore to one of those races that have fans frothing at the mouth’s and quivering at the knees all knowing that racing a racing feat that could never be equalled, should ‘Kauto’ get home first and the much younger pretender put in his place.

They are clearly the two major protagonists, but others who have earned the right to be mentioned as potential dangers are newly crowned Lexus Chase champion, Synchronised and possibly the David Pipe potential superstar, Grands Crus, brilliant winner of the Grade 1 Feltham Novice Chase also at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Synchronised certainly confirmed himself as a Gold Cup prospect after justifying the connections decision to forego the opportunity to defend his Welsh National crown by going over to Ireland. His win against a number of the best Irish Gold Cup candidates was emphatic, defeating John Durkan winner, Rubi light and JN Wine Champion, Quito De La Roque by over 8 lengths in the 3 mile Lexus Chase on 28th December.

Grands Crus although still in his novice season, has now become a live ‘Gold Cup’ after his superb ‘Feltham’ victory, where he had the well backed, Silviniaco Conti comfortably held with the highly regarded Bobs Worth back in third. The win maintained Grands Crus unbeaten record over fences leaving trainer, David Pipe only to mull over whether or not he goes for the Gold Cup or the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Filed under Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festival Races, Gold Cup, Kempton, Latest Racing News, Leopardstown, Ruby Walsh Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

Kauto Star and Denman Set To Renew Rivalry?

November 30, 2011 Leave a comment

Just when we all thought it that the rivalry between Kauto Star and Denman was over, the two Cheltenham Gold Cup winning stars from the Paul Nichols yard are making the headlines once again.

Kauto Star ocame back into the big time with an emphatic victory over his King George Chase successor and current Gold Cup champion, Long Run when winning the Grade One Betfair Chase at Haydock Park by eight lengths. It was a fourth victory in the race for Kauto Star who has of course already won the King George four times, equalling the record held by the great Desert Orchid. He is also a two time Gold Cup winner and that is the race where Kauto will have his swan song in March, says Nicholls and where in all probability he will meet, for the last time on a racecourse, his stablemate Denman, who will also retire after that race.

Before that takes place however, Kauto Star will be out again, looking to eclipse Long Run again by winning a fifth King George on Boxing Day before he is put away for three months until Cheltenham. Denman meanwhile will be taking a completely different route to the Gold Cup and will not be seen until the end of December when he bids for a second win in the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival.

He last won that race in 2007 when he was undoubtedly at his best, before going on to romp home by 20 lengths in the Grade Two Aon Chase at Newbury. That win set up the first head to head in the (2008) Gold Cup between the two stablemates but it was Denman who prevailed, winning comfortably from Kauto Star, who finished in second place 7 lengths adrift.

It was a win that confirmed Denman, certainly in the eyes of most people as the better of the two Ditcheat champions, despite the fact that Kauto had won the race 12 months previously and who had by then already won two King George chases. The rivalry was born at that instant with even Nicholls struggling to decide which of the two was best. The one aspect that was certain in 2008 was that both horses were in great form neither had any setback and the better of the two won on the day. The win was Denman’s ninth running over fences which included carrying top weight to an 11 length victory in the 2007 Hennessy Gold Cup, a win in its own right that should have put him up alongside the great Arkle and Desert Orchid.

Of course, Denman was then reported with a heart problem in the spring of 2008 and remained off course for almost a year. He returned in February 2009, only to lose his unbeaten chase record in the Grade 2 Levy Board Chase at Kempton Park, finishing 23 lengths behind Madison Du Berlais.

Undeterred, Nicholls decided to give him the chance to retain his Gold Cup crown, but this is where his lack of ‘match practice’ really told and he proved no match in the race for a super fit Kauto Star. Nonetheless he still proved himself one of the all time greats by coming from such a long dangerous illness by coming home in second place, a position he has finished in a further two times since.

From the head to head count between the two and they have only ever met on the racecourse in the ‘Gold Cup’, it is Denman who has the better record, finishing in front of ‘Kauto’ three times and losing just once. Kauto however is still winning races as he proved last weekend and Denman, despite his brave performances in the last two ‘Gold Cups’ has not won a race since he took an incredible second Hennessy Gold Cup, again with top weight, back in November 2009.

So once again, the talk of National Hunt season looks like being centered on the two battle hardened stablemates, who at the outset of the season were both 25/1 to win the Gold Cup. Kauto Star’s victory last week has forced Bookmakers to cut his price into 14/1 but Denman is still at long odds at a time when Nicholls believes he will have him at his best by the time of the Lexus!

We know that they both have to beat Long Run and there maybe one or two others to seriously consider, but the situation looks very promising for both of them. So it is a case now of roll on December let us hope that they can both win their Christmas races and set up a final showdown at Cheltenham, where one or the other is triumphant.

Filed under Cheltenham, Gold Cup, Leopardstown, Paul Nicholls, Trainer Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Leading Chasers Begin To Make Early Impressions On Road To Gold Cup

November 7, 2011 Leave a comment

With November now here, National Hunt fans will be ‘licking their lips’ as a number of the quality early season chases get underway. Most of the upcoming races over the coming weeks, such as the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham, the Betfair Chase at Haydock and the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury will undoubtedly ‘mark the cards’ of several with chances ahead of the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup or other races at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Already of course we have seen a number of horses put in performances that have caught the eye to force moves in the early antepost markets. Albertas Run for instance, proved that he is still a top class chaser when winning the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase over 2½ miles at Aintree a couple of weeks ago, where he had his old rival Master Minded well beaten and possibly out of contention for the Gold Cup. Albertas Run in fact will probably not run in the Gold Cup, with the preference of his trainer, Jonjo O’Neill, being a third consecutive win in the Ryanair Chase.

A week later we saw one of Donald McCain’s stable stars, Weird Al, win the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, defeating several useful types in the process, including Time For Rupert who was three and a half lengths back in second place. The performances of both the first two home in that race was enough to force bookmakers to respond clipping Weird Al in to 16/1 and Time For Rupert to 14/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. McCain has said his seven year old will probably next go for the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day while Time For Rupert will take on the King George and Gold Cup Champion Long Run in the Betfair Chase.

One Gold Cup contender that emerged over the past weekend was Quito de la Roque who delivered with a scintillating finish to deprive Sizing Europe victory in the Grade One, JN Wine Chase at Down Royal on the 5th November. In fact, at one point in-running, Quito de la Roque was trading at 279/1 on the exchanges as he had slipped seemingly out of contention as they rounded the final bend. At that point the race looked between Sizing Europe and The Nightingale, however, no sooner had the Champion Chaser seen off The Nightingale, it was Quito De La Roque, clearly relishing the trip, who came at him almost from nowhere and went by him with just a half furlong to run. It was a cracking finale to a great race, where both Sizing Europe and The Nightingale, who was running for the first time in almost a year, will improve for the run and on better ground they would both be in with better chances.

Quito De La Roque, who is trained by Colm Murphy has now won six of his last seven chases and looks to be a real Cheltenham contender, if not the leading Irish contender for the Cheltenham feature on Friday 16th March. This win would certainly earn him the right to be the called the best three mile chaser in Ireland and he can go a long way in confirming that when he is next seen in the Grade One Lexus Chase at the end of the year at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting. His odds for the Gold Cup have been cut from 16/1 to 12/1 following his win, while Sizing Europe, not a certain Gold Cup runner is a 25/1 chance.

With the Paddy Power Open Meeting at Cheltenham this weekend, followed by the Betfair Chase and Hennessy before the month is out, there could be a much clearer picture of who the main pretenders are to Long Run’s crown and I for one am getting seriously excited for the coming months National Hunt action.

Filed under Betfair Chase, Charlie Hall Chase, Cheltenham Festival Races, Cheltenham Festival Trials, Gold Cup, JNWine Chase, National Hunt Races Tagged with , , , ,

Too Early To Write Off Master Minded

October 26, 2011 Leave a comment

The Bookmakers have been very quick to write off the chances of the Paul Nicholls trained, Master Minded winning the Grade One King George Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, but are they being too hasty?

The eight year old did run poorly last Saturday when last of three in the Grade Two Old Roan Chase at Aintree behind Albertas Run and outsider, Pure Faith, but we forget that the ‘Old Roan’ was a Limited Handicap and he was giving 10lbs away to the first two home. The three mile trip of the King George  has been a concern for his connections, but based on this run alone, his chances should not be so readily dismissed.

Master Minded of course has been written off before (at least twice!) and yet last season he bounced back with four wins from five starts, three of them at Grade One level and the other a Grade Two. Admittedly he ran poorly at Cheltenham in the Champion Chase behind Sizing Europe, but three weeks later he had Albertas Run 9 lengths behind in the Grade One Melling Chase over the same course and distance as the ‘Old Roan’ when the two raced at level weights! He also beat Albertas Run last season in the Amlin Chase when the dual Ryanair winner fell.

What was difficult to understand with regard to last Saturday’s run was his below par jumping performance, he seemed to lose concentration at several fences and although never in danger of falling, he did hit a few. This might well be a second reason why he ran poorly and with jockey, Ruby Walsh understandably not wanting to fall foul of the Stewards by contravening the new whip rule, we probably never saw anything like the best of the horse, who only three years ago was being hailed as the best chaser in the National Hunt. Walsh did make a comment regarding the horse’s fitness, but earlier in the week, reports from Ditcheat suggested that he was pleasing trainer, Nicholls and in fine form.

The plan for Master Minded has not altered as far as Nicholls is concerned, he will still be aimed at a tilt at the King George, but he is likely to have one more run beforehand. To that end, the Bookmakers have cut his odds for the Christmas highlight to 7/1 from 4/1, while shortening reigning King George and Gold Cup champion, Long Run into 4/5 odds on.

As far as the Cheltenham Festival is concerned, the Ryanair Chase looks still the likely target for Master Minded, a race which of course Albertas Run will be trying to win for a third successive year. Nicholls has long expressed doubts about his charge getting a three mile trip, which makes his tilt at the King George a very experimental one, regardless of his current form. Having been beaten so clearly in the last two Champion Chases; it would appear that the Ryanair over 2m5f is his only Cheltenham alternative. The Bookmakers make him only the third favourite to win that race with odds of 10/1, while the antepost favourite, Nobel Prince, trained by Paul Nolan is a 7/1 chance with Albertas Run also on 10/1. However, it must not be ruled out that a win in the Kempton Park feature on Boxing Day could well bring him in to the Gold Cup reckoning.

Filed under Aintree, Gold Cup, Paul Nicholls, Ryanair 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

Kauto Stone, Half Brother to Kauto Star arrives at Ditcheat

July 28, 2011 Leave a comment

Whilst the world of National Hunt racing continues to debate the future prospects of the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup and four-time King George winner, Kauto Star, Paul Nicholls his trainer has welcomed the half brother to the great chaser, Kauto Stone, to his Ditcheat Stables. The half brothers are both out of the mare, Kauto Relko.

The five year old arrived at Ditcheat earlier this month on the back of a very successful juvenile career in France where, amongst his five wins came victory in the top four year old Chase in France the Grade One, Prix Maurice Gillois at Auteuil last year. This race was won 12 months earlier by none other than Long Run, the new King George and Cheltenham Gold Cup champion.

The horse’s owner, Louise Kemble, has followed the lead showed by Long Run’s owner, Robert Waley-Cohen who brought Long Run over to the stable of Nicky Henderson to further his chasing career. As we all know, the move has paid off handsomely with Long Run now being the highest rated chaser, at 182 in the world with every chance of bettering Kauto Star’s outstanding chasing record.

Nicholls himself has admitted that he has had his eye on Kauto Stone for some time and actually tried to buy him as a three year old after he showed excellent potential in his early races. However, his owners believe that juvenile racing in France is far more beneficial but that the programme from age five upwards is far superior in Britain.

The champion trainer has no hard and fast plans for the horse just yet, preferring that he spends his early time at Ditcheat settling in and getting used to his new surroundings. Having already won over fences it could be that he will go straight into novice chasing when of course the timing is right.

Kauto Star of course is likely to be retired at the end of this upcoming season after establishing himself as one of the greatest chasers of all time. He too came to Ditcheat as a five year old but he had not enjoyed any Grade One wins in France, like his half brother, suggesting that Kauto Stone might just have a little more potential. If this proves to be the case then a long rivalry between Kauto Stone and Long Run can now be envisaged, particularly as Long Run is only one year older. However, it may be Novice company that Kauto Stone runs in during in 2011/2012.

As far as Long Run’s new season is concerned thought is being given to running him in the Hennessey Gold Cup at Newbury in November where his jockey, Sam Waley-Cohen would receive a 5Ib claim, which would give him an excellent mark to run off despite an assured top weight but once again, the season is not yet upon us but the excitement and speculation is building .

Filed under Gold Cup, National Hunt Races, Paul Nicholls, Trainer

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