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 , , , , , , ,

Grand National Trial At Haydock Should Provide Some Useful Aintree Pointers

February 15, 2012 Leave a comment

With the weights having being revealed for the 2012 Aintree Grand National, particular attention will be paid to the Betfred Grand National Trial over 3m4f which takes place this Saturday at Haydock Park.

After the five day declaration stage made on Monday, 23 runners stood their ground with Neptune Collonges from the Paul Nicholls stable topping the weights with 11-12 with Grand National favourite, Junior, from the David Pipe stable set to carry 11-6 in the race.

This will be the first run of the season for Junior, who demolished his rivals in the Kim Muir Fulke Walwyn Challenge Cup over 3m2f at the Cheltenham Festival last March and then subsequently ran at Royal Ascot where he failed in his attempt to win back to back Ascot Stakes on the flat. The style of his Cheltenham Festival win however, is the principle reason why he is the antepost favourite for the Aintree Grand National in which he will carry 11-2. He won the ‘Kim Muir’ by a staggering 24 lengths looking a very commanding horse in the process and clearly one who has a lot more to come and the handicapper looks to have given Junior a huge chance ahead of the Aintree feature.

Up against him on Saturday is Welsh National winner, Le Beau Bai from the Richard Lee stable who is likely in fact to go off as the favourite should the going remain heavy. He finished third in this race 12 months ago behind Silver By Nature but never went on to run at Aintree. After a mediocre start to the season, this 9 year old has come on leaps and bounds with the Welsh National victory his biggest success to date. He is an absolute mud lark and the worse conditions the ground is in the better and if they turns in to an extreme test of stamina, you can be assured that Le Beau Bai will be in the shake up at the end.

Topping the Irish challenge is the Charlie Swan trained, Start Me Up, who comes to the race with only one win in a Beginners Chase but the form of that run has worked out well and stable optimism for a big run is high.

Cappa Bleu third behind Le Beau Bai in the Welsh National will be representing the Evan Williams yard who will expect him to improve considerably for his Chepstow run. A former winner of the Foxhunters Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, the ten year old is an excellent jumper and a very thorough stayer.

Neptune Collonges is still looking for his first win since taking the 2011 Argento Chase and will have the burden of top weight, although that did not hamper him too much last time out when he was a very creditable second place behind Hold On Julio in the 32Red Handicap Chase at Sandown in January but the weight may way hold him back from winning this.

Giles Cross, second in the Welsh National is slightly better weighted to reverse form with le Beau Bai and trainer, Victor Dartnell, was a little frustrated by a second successive second in the Welsh National but is sure to be confident that his 10 year can make the frame at the Lancashire track on Saturday.

All in all, this is a very open Grand National trial with a host in with chances. One to possibly watch out for who is well handicapped is Evan Williams second entry, Deep Purple. This 11 year old looked a very decent Gold Cup prospect a couple of years ago after winning both the Grade 2 Charlie Hall and Peterborough Chases. However his form evaporated after efforts in the 2009 King George Vl Chase and the 2010 Ryanair Chase failed. However, he returned to winning ways in December, when taking the London National over 3m6f at Sandown, when carrying top weight. This race is altogether a higher quality but with only 11-7 to carry this time, the odds 16/1 look decent each way value for a horse with proven quality.

Whatever the outcome, this Grand National Trial should provide a number of useful pointers ahead of the big race on 14th April.

Filed under Aintree, Alan King, David Pipe, Grand National, Haydock, Paul Nicholls, Racecourse Tagged with , , , , ,

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

February 13, 2012 Leave a comment

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 , , , , , , ,

Argento Chase Can Provide Useful Gold Cup Pointers

January 25, 2012 Leave a comment

It looks like it will be a cracking renewal of the Grade 2 Argento Chase at Cheltenham this coming Saturday with the David Pipe Cheltenham Gold Cup hope, Grands Crus, heading the betting market at odds of 2/1.

The race formerly known as the Cotswold Chase is run over an extended 3m1f on the New Course and has had a host of decent past winners, including the late Exotic Dancer in 2007, See More Business in 2001 and 1998, and One Man in 1997. It is a well known trial for the Gold Cup and there will be a number, in addition to Grands Crus, in the race this year that harbour Gold Cup hopes.

However, it is Grands Crus who has continued to look like a top class horse of the future certainly looks the one to beat and although a novice his jumping prowess already looks superior to most of these rivals on Saturday. He has been out three times already this season, winning them all, including a very impressive 2¼ length victory in the Grade 2 Feltham Chase over 3 miles at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. In that race he had the highly regarded Bobs Worth from the Nicky Henderson stable over 5 lengths in arrears in third place, which prompted trainer David Pipe to suggest that he may now take his chance in the Gold Cup against Long Run and Kauto Star. Interestingly, he is already the favourite to win the 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

To win on Saturday he will have to overcome some very useful opposition, which includes 2010 Hennessy Gold Cup winner, Diamond Harry. The 9 year old has had only one run since that victory which came in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November where he finished fourth behind Kauto Star and Long Run. There is no doubt that he needed the run that day but he should be a much stronger candidate in this which explains why his trainer, Nick Williams is very keen on his chances and also why the Bookmakers have him disputing second favouritism with odds of 11/2.

Also at 11/2 is Paul Webbers Time For Rupert last seen also being beaten by Kauto Star and Long Run but this time in the King George Vl Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. He was no match for the big guns at Kempton, but Webber has been finding it hard to hide his confidence in him currently. He claims that ‘Rupert’ has been working better than ever at home and is now ready, having learned some valuable lessons to live up to the hype he received after his second place behind Big Bucks in the 2010 World Hurdle.

Captain Chris from the Phillip Hobbs stable is also currently at 11/2 and he is another who needs to confirm the potential he showed when winning the Arkle Challenge Trophy at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival. He followed that win up of course with a great win in the Ryanair Chase over two miles at the Punchestown Festival to end what was a fantastic season for him. However this season he has done nothing but disappoint, unseating on his reappearance at Exeter in the Grade 3 Haldon Gold Cup, won by Medermit and then he finished third but over 18 lengths behind Kauto Star when trying three miles for the first time in the ‘King George’. It is clear that Hobbs will use Saturday’s race as a yardstick as to which of the Cheltenham races he will target. Currently the 8 year old has entries in both the Ryanair over 2m5f and the Gold Cup.

Now trained by Champion Trainer, Paul Nicholls, Tidal Bay will be running for the second time this season after being given a spin in a three mile hurdle race earlier this month in which he finished a creditable third. It was his first run since his doomed Grand National attempt last season, but it is worthwhile noting that he finished second in this race last season and possibly would have won had he made his challenge earlier. It will be very interesting to see how he performs for his new handler in the Argento.

Filed under Argento Chase, Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festival Trials, David Pipe, Latest Racing News, Paul Nicholls, Phillip Hobbs, Racecourse Tagged with , , , ,

Pipe Lands Paddy Power Gold Cup With Great Endeavour

November 17, 2011 Leave a comment

The Pipe family tradition of success in the Paddy Power Gold Cup continued at Cheltenham on Saturday when son, David, saddled Great Endeavour to victory in the competitive Grade Three event to add to his father Martin’s eight other wins in the race.

The Paddy Power Gold Cup of course is the feature race of the three day Cheltenham Open Meeting which has gained a reputation of consistently produced top quality winners. Those winners include 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Imperial Commander as well as multiple Grade One winners, Old Vic and Exotic Dancer. Then of course there is Long Run, who although he only came third in this race 12 months ago, went on to win the King George Chase at Kempton and the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

It is unlikely that Great Endeavour could deliver such prestigious prizes but he certainly looks capable of winning another top race this season. He always travelled well in this race in the hands of Timmy Murphy, tracking the front running 7/2 favourite Wishfull Thinking throughout the 2½ mile race before bringing the race under control three fences form home. A quick shake of the reins by Murphy over the third last saw the grey quicken smartly before going on to win by an impressive seven lengths.

It was the second big pay day that the seven year old has given his owner, David Johnson, his first being the Grade Three Byrne Plate at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival. It was also Johnson’s seventh triumph in the race and he will now be hoping that Great Endeavour can go on to Newbury at the end of the month and win the Hennessy Gold Cup, for which he a best price 8/1 second favourite.

Wishfull Thinking, who had been heavily supported in the market beforehand, ran very disappointingly. The attempt by jockey, Richard Johnson to make all, failed miserably and he was a spent force a long way from home. Trainer, Phillip Hobbs said after the race that the eight year old had undergone a breathing operation over the summer which caused him to be “thick in his wind” post race suggesting that he may need a run or two before he is back to his best.

There were many that thought and possibly still do that this horse was a genuine contender for Cheltenham Gold Cup honours this season after impressively winning the Grade 2 Manifesto Chase at the Punchestown Festival back in April. However, based on this performance alone then he looks a long way off target for that race, but the ‘jury should remain out’ until he reappears again, which could be in the Hennessy Gold Cup at the end of the month.

The other entry that was backed consistently all week was the Paul Nicholls trained Mon Parrain, who, despite tracking the leaders ‘early doors’ never really threatened to win. In a similar manner to that he showed when almost stopping in the Topham Chase at Aintree back in April, Mon Parrain weakened a long way from home finishing in seventh place. Jockey Ruby Walsh said that he “lacked the tactical early pace of the race” which meant that Walsh was ‘flat to the boards’ in the early stages and like Wishfull Thinking was a ‘spent force’ by the time they reached the ‘business end’.

Second place in fact went to the Nicky Henderson trained 20/1 shot, Quantitativeeasing, but mistakes at the third and second last fences put paid to any outside chance his late surge had given him. Third place went to Divers from the Ferdy Murphy yard who also went off with odds of 20/1, who stayed on well enough, but clearly did not have enough class to mount a serious challenge. Nonetheless both Quantitativeeasing and Divers will be worth following in some of the lesser handicap chases later this season. Indeed it should not be forgotten that Divers won the Listed Centenary Novices Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March and given that he should improve from this performance, he will be more than capable of repeating that success

Filed under Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festival Trials, David Pipe, Paddy Power Gold Cup Tagged with , , , , , ,

Grands Crus Set For Chasing Career

October 26, 2011 Leave a comment

Following his 10 length victory in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle over 3 miles at Cheltenham in January this year, the David Pipe trained Grands Crus suddenly became a very genuine contender to win the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Of course for the six year old to win such a race he would have had to overcome the prodigious ability of dual World Hurdle champion, Big Bucks, who by the time Grands Crus was winning the Cleeve Hurdle had already claimed two seasonal victories in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle and the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle, both over 3m1f and both at Newbury. His next stop was to equal the feat of Inglis Drever and win the World Hurdle for a third time.

The performances of both, but particularly Grands Crus illuminated the stayers hurdle picture which had previously looked like one in which Big Bucks was going to routinely remain champion. All of a sudden punters and pundits had something to ‘get their teeth into’ and speculation mounted ahead of the race that Grands Crus was the ‘real deal’ and that Big Bucks might actually get beat.

In the event of course, the race, although a very good one, saw  Big Bucks win comfortably, despite jockey Ruby Walsh losing his whip after clearing the final hurdle. Grands Crus ran with great vigour and got himself into position to mount a challenge but was seen off by the champion, who won going away by 1¾ lengths.

Pipe offered no excuses, confirming that Grands Crus was beaten by a better horse on the day, but maintaining that his horse would be back to challenge the champion again, this time in the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle, over 3m1f at Aintree’s three day Grand National meeting. This time, although a good race once again, the battle was won even more emphatically by Big Bucks, who finished 5 lengths clear of the Pipe runner, while Grands Crus was 7 lengths ahead of the third horse, Won In The Dark. It was Big Bucks 12th successive victory over 3 miles or more and confirmed him as arguably the greatest staying hurdler the world has ever seen, Grands Crus however, was beginning to lose his tag as the ‘Young Pretender’.

Undaunted, Pipe decided to run Grands Crus in France and take on the challenge of winning the Grade One, French Long Distance Champion Hurdle over 3m2f had to offer. This time, with Tony McCoy on his back, Grands Crus although negotiating an attacking position from four fences out, could not sustain his attack, arguably beaten by the distance, but more likely through lack of ambition on the day. He ended up in sixth place, over 11 lengths behind the winner, Thousand Stars, who himself could well become an even bigger challenger for the Big Bucks long distance hurdle crown this coming season.

As for Grands Crus, the Pipe stable appear to have given up on the idea of beating Big Bucks and have confirmed that he will embark on a novice chase campaign during the 2011/2012 season. The RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March is likely to be his seasonal target, for which, somewhat ridiculously, he has been installed already as the 8/1 favourite without even jumping a fence! However, should Grands Cruse take to the bigger obstacles, with his debut likely to be in November, you can expect that price to get even shorter btu I’m happy to let others take that risk and watch from afar but if his translates his hurdling ability to chasing, he’ll be an exciting prospect!

Filed under Cheltenham Festival Races, David Pipe, Royal & Sun Alliance Chase Tagged with ,

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