Curtain Falls On Memorable National Hunt Season

May 2, 2013 Leave a comment

Sport can often have its dominant forces and the National Hunt sphere certainly had one to drool over this season as Sprinter Sacre was the beacon of the equine world as he toyed and teased with his rivals before stretching them to a point that they could no longer live with.

Nicky Henderson’s superstar was the box office commodity at the start of the Jumps season and those who witnessed his marvellous display in the Tingle Creek Chase at SandownPark were left open-mouthed, as he duly annihilated his rivals with a flawless display and the Seven Barrows star continued to leave an ever-expanding fan base watching on in awe.

A facile winner of the Victor Chandler Chase in january, he was expected to face a stiff assignment against Sizing Europe in the Champion Chase, but he duly brushed him aside with disdain as he romped to a 19-length success in the Blue Riband event, before he went on to crush Ryanair Chase winner Cue Card and Irish luminary Flemenstar in another mind-boggling victory in the Melling Chase at Aintree in April.

It was Henderson’s willingness to campaign him hard that saw his stock enhance further and his win over Sizing Europe in the Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival saw him emulate the mighty Istabraq by winning at all three major spring festivals and duly cement his place as the leading jumps horse in training.

Henderson was crowned Champion National Hunt trainer for the first time since 1987 and along with the incomparable Sprinter Sacre, the Seven Barrows maestro also had the joys of lifting the Cheltenham Gold Cup crown with the battling Bobs Worth, who fought off a spirited effort from Sir Des Champs to add the coveted prize to his Hennessy Gold Cup win earlier in the season.

Another champion who yet again showed his class at the Cheltenham Festival was Hurricane Fly who returned to the top of the perch in the two-mile hurdling division, as Willie Mullins’ stable star regained the coveted crown off Rock On Ruby to win it for the second time in his illustrious career, whilst maintaining an unblemished record throughout the campaign.

Big Buck’s was absent from the Cheltenham Festival through injury, which left the door open in the three-mile division and an old Grade One stalwart of the two-mile sphere tried his hand at the extra eight furlongs and Solwhit duly delivered with a battling success over Celestial Halo in the World Hurdle to show that he could well be a rival to Paul Nicholls’ legendary stayer if he returns next year.

Ireland and Willie Mullins have certainly had a phenomenal crop of horses this season and Quevega secured her place in history by landing her fifth consecutive Mares’ Hurdle at the Prestbury Park extravaganza, whilst Champagne Fever was another who got the Emerald Isle dancing as he fought off the highly regarded My Tent Or Yours in a vintage Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Some other familiar names came to the fore yet again during the jumps season as AP McCoy was crowned champion jockey for the 18th year on the spin but there were a host of names that propelled into the limelight from the virtual unknown in a campaign full of major ups and some significant downs.

Lucy Alexander was to become the first lady rider to be crowned leading conditional jockey, as she continued her meteoric rise up the ranks, whilst a fresh-faced Brendan Powell followed in his father’s footsteps by landing a runaway success at the Cheltenham Festival on board Colin Tizzard’s Golden Chieftain to show the National Hunt jockey scene is in rude health with some talented youngsters emerging.

A new name left tabloid sub-editors licking their lips as Ryan Mania produced a peach of ride on board the Sue Smith-trained Auroras Encore to victory in the Aintree Grand National and the likeable Scot was found conveying the sport in a positive manner on a host of daytime TV shows with the Merseyside marathon proving a gargantuan success with all 40 runners and riders returning safe and sound.

However, this all rather paled into insignificance as the 2012/2013 National Hunt season will be remembered for the horrifying injuries picked up by John Thomas McNamara at the Cheltenham Festival after a crashing fall from Galaxy Rock in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup on the third day of the meeting.

A much-loved amateur around the weighing room, McNamara was expecting to hang up his silks at the end of the season following a superb career, but his accident on the Jonjo O’Neill-trained raider that saw him suffer paralysis left a sense of emptiness around Prestbury Park following the news and racing showed it was like a family as the likes of Barry Geraghty and AP McCoy showed true class as they offered their condolences to McNamara even after wins in the Gold Cup and Albert Bartlett, respectively.

The likes of Messrs Henderson, Nicholls and Mullins may have yet again dominated the big Saturday afternoon races but there were some other stars to propel into the limelight during the season and Venetia Williams notched up the most winners in one season during her career, with the winning machine Jupiter Rex following in the steps of Hunt Ball, who propelled up the ratings in terrific manner.

Harry Fry stepped out of the shadow of Paul Nicholls and showed that he could be a trainer to follow over the coming seasons as his strike rate was an impressive one, whilst Donald McCain continued to go from strength to strength as he notched up the most amount of winners, but will now be looking for a lot more Graded winners next year to try and challenge the Nicky Henderson juggernaut, who should have the likes of Sprinter Sacre, Simonsig and Bobs Worth ready to strut their stuff for the 2013/2014 campaign.

Filed under Latest Racing News, National Hunt Races, Nicky Henderson, Opinion, Paul Nicholls Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Irish Saint Heads For Triumph Hurdle After Adonis Victory

February 25, 2013 Leave a comment

Trial races can often be overhyped but the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle has provided a fountain of clues in recent years for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and Saturday’s renewal of the Kempton Park Grade Two may have helped paint a clearer picture of the four-year-old title, which takes place on the final day of this year’s meeting on Friday, March 15th.

Since the turn of the century, four winners have managed to use victory in the Adonis as a springboard to Triumph glory at Prestbury Park, with Snow Drop (2000), Penzance (2005), Soldatino (2010) and Zarkandar (2011) all etching their names in both crowns, but can Saturday’s winner Irish Saint emulate that quartet and progress to Cheltenham glory?

Sent off a 5/4 favourite for the Adonis, the Paul Nicholls trained Irish Saint appeared to have it all to do turning into the straight as Ruby Walsh became more and more active in the saddle, but the Ditcheat inmate gradually got rocking and rolling in the closing stages and eventually came upsides Vasco Du Ronceray.

Driven out after a good leap at the last flight, Walsh managed to cajole him past Nicky Henderson’s raider and he won by half-a-length which forced Bet365 to cut him to 12/1 for next month’s Triumph Hurdle, but with a strong bunch of four-year-olds set to line up at Cheltenham, he will need to produce a slicker effort than Saturday’s performance.

Outpaced in the middle of the race, Walsh had looked to be fighting a losing battle, but he showed he could well be a future stayer in the making as he was producing his finest work in the latter stages, as he reeled in Vasco Du Ronceray, who is 14/1 with Bet365 for the Triumph, and asserting late on.

A strong pace from the flag fall, the Triumph could well suit Irish Saint, but it’s debatable as to whether he possesses the required speed to be victorious in the race and there could well be a whole host of more attractive betting propositions in the current ante-post market for the 2m Grade One prize.

Irish Saint’s victory at the weekend saw Bet365 slightly trim Rolling Star’s price to 9/2 as he comfortably beat him in the Triumph Hurdle Trial on Cheltenham’s Festival Trials Day and Henderson’s premier challenger for the crown could well be one of the leading contenders for the race and along with Far West (4/1) and Our Conor (9/2) is one of a trio of horses who spearhead the market with just over two weeks to go.

Vasco Du Ronceray may have finished a close second, but Henderson may opt to send him down the Fred Winter route, whilst Alan King’s mare L’unique (33/1 for Triumph) lost her unbeaten tag and looks to face a difficult task in reversing the form.

A potential improver from the race is Courtesy Call, who was making her hurdling debut for Henderson after a decent career on the Flat for Mark Johnston and having travelled well until the second last flight was just outclassed by the front two, but he is sure to improve and at 25/1 in the latest betting with Bet365 could be scribed into a few notebooks.

Filed under Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festival Races, Cheltenham Festival Trials, Kempton, Latest Racing News, Opinion, Paul Nicholls, Ruby Walsh, Triumph Hurdle Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Bobs Worth Remains Favourite In Competitive Looking Gold Cup

January 16, 2013 Leave a comment

Nicky Henderson’s artillery for the Cheltenham Festival is staggering, as the Seven Barrows Maestro has arguably his finest battalion of stars for the four-day jamboree in his training career, and come the final day of the fixture, he could well be celebrating his second Cheltenham Gold Cup crown with Bobs Worth, who currently heads the ante-post markets for the Blue Riband event on March 15.

Winner of the Albert Bartlett in 2011 and last year’s RSA Chase, Bobs Worth was sublime in landing the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury earlier in the season, the dual Festival winner was instantly slashed into the 3/1 market leader with Paddy Power and if he can reproduce the heroics shown at the Berkshire track then he will set a very high standard, but this year’s renewal has a plethora of up-and-coming talent within the three mile chase division looking to cement their place alongside some of racing’s jumping elite.

Sir Des Champs is another who has a brace of Festival wins on his CV (Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap in 2011 and the Jewson Novices Chase in 2012), but Willie Mullins’ star lost his unblemished record when losing to Flemenstar in the John Durkan Memorial at Punchestown in December, before suffering back-to-back defeats when going down in a memorable Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.  However, many still believe he will excel over the Gold Cup distance and given his love for the Prestbury Park course, it’s not surprising that he is 5/1 second favourite for the Grade One crown.

Flemenstar (11/1) had been all the rage heading into the aforementioned Lexus, but the way he wilted in the closing stages of the 3m contest left question marks surrounding his concerning potential stamina doubts and his enigmatic trainer Peter Casey will make a decision whether to hand him the Gold Cup task following his run in the Irish Hennessy.

Henderson won’t be firing a solitary shot at the Gold Cup crown as 2011 victor Long Run will also be attempting to emulate Kauto Star by regaining the coveted silverware and he was cut to a 7/1 shot in the latest betting with after his battling success in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

After clattering the final fence, defeat was almost a certainty, but Sam Waley-Cohen managed to cajole his pride and joy back into contention and nail Captain Chris (20/1) in the dying strides, to highlight his superb stamina and with a fierce gallop likely to be set from the outset in the Gold Cup, he could well come into calculations coming up the energy-sapping Cheltenham hill, which he has shown to relish in the past.

Paul Nicholls will be aiming to etch his name back into the trophy for the first time since Kauto Star won in 2009 and he will saddle Silviniaco Conti (7/1), who has progressed immeasurably this season and his demolition of Long Run in the Betfair Chase means he has to come into the reckoning, whilst the Mouse Morris trained First Lieutenant (10/1) is another of the new brigade and adds more depth to a wide open ante-post betting list.

The Giant Bolster (20/1) ran a cracker in defeat to Synchronished in last year’s renewal and David Bridgwater has always been ebullient about his Gold Cup chances, whilst the evergreen Tidal Bay (12/1) could be a potential challenger if Nicholls opts for this assignment rather than the World Hurdle.

Filed under Cheltenham Festival Races, Gold Cup, Paul Nicholls, Willie Mullins Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Five to Follow From Ditcheat This Season

October 12, 2012 Leave a comment

The countdown is on! We’re just weeks away from the official start of the 2012/2013 National Hunt season and as such, I’m going to be doing a couple of previews of runners I like from the leading stables, starting with Paul Nicholls.

Champion National Hunt trainer, Paul Nicholls, knows that retaining his crown from his great rival Nicky Henderson will be a tough ask in 2013.

Anybody with an interest in racing will have recognised that a shift in the balance of power, particularly in the chasing division, has taken place over the last 12 months and it is now Henderson that holds the vast majority of the “ace cards” when it comes to graded races over fences.

Gone from Nicholls’ Ditcheat yard are the great Denman and Grand National hero, Neptune Collonges, who have both been retired and whilst no decision has been made about the future of Kauto Star, it has to be thought he won’t have more than a couple of races left in him, given he turns 13 this season.

Nicholls will however retain dual Champion Chase winner, Master Minded and the incredible Big Buck’s for the 2012/2013 National Hunt season. Bick Buck’s of course is on a 15 race winning streak over hurdles and looks pretty much unstoppable as he looks to extend that over the coming months in his ultimate bid to win a fifth consecutive World Hurdle.

Here are the five other Ditcheat inmates that I hope big things can be expected from during the forthcoming flat season.

Sanctuaire

The highest rated Novice Chaser ever stabled at Ditcheat, this six year old was a very good hurdler but he looks a real prospect over the bigger obstacles, winning all three of his starts. The latest of those was the Grade Two Celebration Chase on soft ground over 2 miles at Sandown where he had the highly regarded Somersby 17 lengths behind him in second place. He will be aimed at the Champion Chase this season but he is likely to be next seen in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown in December, a race that Nicholls has won seven times in the last ten years!

Zarkandar

Winner of the Triumph Hurdle as a juvenile in 2011, great things are expected of this half brother to Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, Zarkava. He was finishing best of all when fifth in the Champion Hurdle last season and looked the likely winner of the Aintree Hurdle when he fell three from home. He will be far more experienced this term and with further improvement like, he looks certain to be the choice of stable jockey, Ruby Walsh, for the Champion Hurdle again this season.

Themilanhorse

After four wins at Novice Hurdle level last season, a feat which very few achieve, it is likely that this six year old will be asked to take on bigger obstacles at some point this term for which his size and range looks tailor-made. His seasonal target will only be decided once his form is established but current thinking suggests that given his proven stamina, he could be aimed at the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next March.

Black Thunder

A couple of eye catching wins in Novice Hurdles last season saw me add Black Thunder to my note book as “one to watch” and I’ll be following him again during the Autumn and Winter. Whether he starts off over hurdles before switching to fences remains to be seen but he’s definitely got the profile of a chaser and is one of real note.

Rolling Aces

Anybody who backed this runner on his final two starts last season may have got their fingers burnt as he came across from Ireland with a big reputation and after winning his firs start for Nicholls in a Novice Hurdle at Wincanton, he was beaten when odds on at Taunton in December and again, disappointed at Wincanton last time out in a Handicap Hurdle.

He arrived at Ditcheat after winning a Point-to-Point in Ireland and I have no doubt that he’ll be running over fences this season and I’m happy to follow him as I think he’s got the makings of a good horse.

Filed under Cheltenham Festival Races, Latest Racing News, National Hunt Races, Paul Nicholls Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Nicholls and McCoy Just Champion

April 30, 2012 Leave a comment

Paul Nicholls had all but conceded the Champion National Hunt Trainer title to Nicky Henderson until he saw his Neptune Collonges making in-roads into the leader’s three fences from home in the Aintree Grand National. Earlier in that day he had seen his great rival claim the first three races on the card and more or less knew that the game was over. However, Neptune Collonges got up in a thrilling finish with Sunnyhillboy and the huge Grand National pot was all of a sudden heading in the direction of Ditcheat and giving Nicholls a seventh Champion Trainer award.

The Grand National was one of the major highlights of the National Hunt season, which of course came to an end on Saturday with the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown Park. Nicholls of course rubbed a little salt into Henderson’s wounds by saddling the enigmatic top weight Tidal Bay to win that race too, giving Nicholls a grand total of just under £3.3m for the season. Henderson finished just over £400,000 behind with Donald McCain in third place.

By winning the ‘National’ Nicholls was claiming the race for the first time, which added to his Rock On Ruby winning the Champion Hurdle also a first in the race for Nicholls. His other seasonal highlights must include Kauto Star’s magnificent fifth win in the King George VI Chase avenging his defeat by Long Run in the 2010 renewal and then of course there was Big Buck’s record breaking fourth straight win of the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Whether or not he can win an eighth title next season is very much open to debate with some observers suggesting that if he does he will need to with the Grand National again. The reasons are simple as it is Henderson who appears to be holding nearly all the chasing aces for next season with horses from his Seven Barrows stable heading many of the antepost markets for the key and lucrative Grade 1 chases. Horses such as Sprinter Sacre, could become one of the greatest chasers of all time, then there is Long Run who should be back to his best, Simonsig is another class act while Bobs Worth, Riverside Theatre and Finians Rainbow were all major winners at Cheltenham.

It will be a fascinating battle between the two top trainers for certain.

Needless to say but it was Tony McCoy with 199 winners who won the Top Jockey award for a 17th consecutive time. The incredible man won with a strike rate of 27% and he finished 46 winners in front of Richard Johnson, who himself was finishing second for a 15th straight year. Jason Maguire stable jockey to Donald McCain finished in third place with 144 winners and a very impressive strike rate of 23%.

For McCoy the year will always be remembered for Synchronised, the horse who he rode with great brilliance to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, but who lost his life in the Grand National just a few weeks later. His death clearly underlined the ‘lows’ of National Hunt Racing, but we all know that the ‘highs’ hugely outweigh the lows and McCoy will be up to his usual standard throughout next season and for every season that he remains inclined to race for.

It is testimony to his work ethic that he has already started his summer jumps campaign with two winners at Ludlow on Sunday for trainer, Rebecca Curtis.

Filed under Latest Racing News, Paul Nicholls, Tony McCoy

10 Chasers To Follow In 2013

April 30, 2012 Leave a comment

With the traditional National Hunt season now at end, I’ve decided to take a look at those Chasers or Chasers to be (i.e. expected to step up from hurdling to the Novice Chasing division) that hugely impressed in 2011/2012 and who are tipped to impress again next season.

Kauto Star (Paul Nicholls):- We cannot leave out the legendary Kauto Star even though there is no certainty that he will come out for another season. Nonetheless, ignoring his Cheltenham Gold Cup run, the 12 year old was still good enough to claim a record breaking fifth King George Vl Chase and he also took the coveted Grade 1 Betfair Chase

Simonsig (Nicky Henderson):- Hugely impressive winner of both the Grade 1 Neptune Investment Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and the Grade 2 Mersey Novice Hurdle at Aintree. He will likely be aimed over the fences next season with the Festival’s Arkle Trophy being his most obvious target.

Boston Bob (Willie Mullins):- This 7 year old ran below at Cheltenham when only second behind Brindisi Breeze in the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle over 3 miles. This came after two scintillating victories wins in Graded company over 2½ miles over in Ireland and he too will now be taking on the bigger obstacles next term. In all likelihood he will be aimed at the RSA Chase

Brindisi Breeze (Lucinda Russell):- Unbeaten over hurdles which include a two length victory over Boston Bob in the 3 mile Albert Bartlett at the Festival. He is expected to be aimed over fences next season and should resume his rivalry with Boston Bob as he too will be aimed at the RSA Novice Chase.

Finians Rainbow (Nicky Henderson):- Winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase after a terrific battle with Sizing Europe up the hill at Cheltenham. His target next season will be for a repeat success but he will have stablemate Sprinter Sacre and Sizing Europe to overcome if he is to be successful.

Sprinter Sacre (Nicky Henderson):- Probably the most impressive of all chasers, novice or otherwise last season after incredible large margin wins in the Arkle at Cheltenham and the Maghull at Aintree. This six year old would now seem to have th chasing world at his feet and is already the short priced favourite to win the Champion Chase.

Sizing Europe (Henry de Bromhead):- Despite being beaten by Finian’s Rainbow at Cheltenham, he bounced back in great style to win the Irish equivalent at Punchestown last week. He clearly is still full of enthusiasm and although he will be 12 by next year’s Festival he will be a force to be reckoned with.

Sir Des Champs (Willie Mullins):- Unbeaten in seven runs under Mullins, Sir Des Champs concluded a magnificent season with impressive wins in the Grade 2 Jewson’s Novice Chase over 2m4f at Cheltenham and the Grade 1 Champion Novice Chase over 3m1f at Punchestown. These performances have earned him antepost favouritism for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Bobs Worth (Nicky Henderson):- Winner of the RSA Chase over 3m1f at the ‘Festival’ this 7 year old will be aimed at the King George and Gold Cup next season. He could be seen first however in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November, where he is likely to take on stablemate Long Run.

Long Run (Nicky Henderson):- Despite a disappointing season, this horse who was the talking horse at the outset of last season after winning both the King George and the Gold Cup. Second and third in both races this season provoked plenty of negatives about his desire, but Henderson is adamant that the best is still to come form and why not, after he is only a seven year old!

Filed under Cheltenham Festival Races, Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls, Willie Mullins

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 , , , , , , ,

Boston Bob Backed For Cheltenham Glory: 2012 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Preview

March 7, 2012 Leave a comment

It is always a curiosity why sometimes “out of the blue”, a horse is singled out by Bookmakers and with no real evidence available, the odds of that horse are slashed for a particular race.

This has happened over the past few days with the Willie Mullins trained, Boston Bob, halving in price from 5/1 to 5/2 favourite to win the Grade One, Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle, over 3 miles at next week’s Cheltenham Festival. His price was cut despite Mullins making it absolutely clear to the media and punters alike that he has not decided if the horse will run in the Albert Bartlett or the Neptune Novices Hurdle over 2m5f on Wednesday.

Notwithstanding, the Albert Bartlett now has a far more competitive feel to it and should Boston Bob participate, he will renew rivalry with the Gordon Elliott trained,MountBenbulben. The two met in the Grade One, Navan Novice Hurdle, on soft to heavy ground over 2½ miles back in December where Boston Bob proved to be far superior, winning by over four lengths after Mount Benbulben, who went off as the 5/6 odds on favourite, failed in his attempt to make all. By winning that race, Boston Bob was completing a third straight win from three starts over hurdles.

Elliott believes his charge will benefit hugely from that run and will also be suited by the extra half mile atCheltenham, although question marks have to be raised about his ability to cope with the better ground he is likely to find at the Festival. There are no such question marks needed raised as far as Boston Bob is concerned, he too has the pedigree to get the three mile trip and has won a Bumper on good to soft ground in the recent past.

Champion trainer, Paul Nicholls, also has a very good looking prospect in this race this year with Rocky Creek, winner of the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle Trial over 3m1f on good to soft ground at the end of January. He won that race by over 3 lengths from the Emma Lavelle trained and highly regarded three time hurdle winner, Gullinbursti. Ruby Walsh should be able to provide a decent clue as to who he thinks will win as has he will have the choice of Boston Bob and Rocky Creek but the price of his mount will sure contract once the announcement is made.

Others that have been backed include the Charles Byrnes trained Sea Of Thunder, but on his form shown against Boston Bob back in January he would have an awful lot to find. Brindisi Breeze from the Lucinda Russell stable has also been supported after a very impressive 12 length win in the Grade 2 Haydock Park Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle Trial over 3 miles on heavy ground last month. That win was his fourth from five starts this season and has given rise to hopes that a horse trained north of the border can snatch a rare Cheltenham Festival win. Brindisi Breeze can be backed at a best price of  10/1 currently. As it stands though, everything will have their work cut out to finish ahead of Boston Bob if the money talks…

Filed under Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle, Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festival Races, Cheltenham Festival Trials, Latest Racing News, Paul Nicholls, Ruby Walsh, Willie Mullins Tagged with , , , , , , ,

2012 Cheltenham Festival Top Trainer Preview

March 7, 2012 Leave a comment

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 , , , , , ,

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 , , , , ,

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