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I agree on the face of it he’s had a rough couple of years, but I truly believe since coming back at the start of January and having a proper years training under his belt, returning this season a fresher reinvigorated horse, he’ll make a mockery of his current mark.
Agreed, he’s incredibly well handicapped Boz a mark of 153 puts him in on the 10-5 mark but that also tells you his stablemate
Same Difference
off 148 with bags of improvement and age,stats and history on his side show he’s a bigger player!
I agree on the face of it he’s had a rough couple of years, but I truly believe since coming back at the start of January and having a proper years training under his belt, returning this season a fresher reinvigorated horse, he’ll make a mockery of his current mark.
Agreed, he’s incredibly well handicapped Boz a mark of 153 puts him in on the 10-5 mark but that also tells you his stablemate
Same Difference
off 148 with bags of improvement and age,stats and history on his side show he’s a bigger player!
He’s another I’ve got on my radar Gord don’t you worry
He’s got a ton of improvement and some big races in him that’s for sure.I am a key trends follower myself mate. Not religiously, I don’t live by them, but I do use them when weighing up a race. There is the odd one though that slips through the net, that stats-buster who ‘shouldn’t win’ because of certain circumstances, but they happen. I reckon if Twister’s got him in rude health at home he’ll be ready and, I’ll tell you this now, he’ll surprise a few come the Hennessy!
I’ve spent the morning having a good long gander at one of my favourite races of the year, the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Looking at the race there’s a few I like; I think there’s improvement to come from Nicky Henderson’s
Rajdhani Express
, he’s a big player in this and with the owner’s son on board claiming 3lbs he’s got to be there or thereabouts. I also like the look of the Pipey horse
Salut Flo
. Although he’s been off a while if he can get him there in tip top shape I’d make him another player, although whether he can quite compete with hardened championship types is a big question, especially without the benefit of a run.
There’s one I really can’t get away from though, just no matter how hard I try.
Benefficient
is a really classy animal who appeared to love the place when springing a surprise in the Jewson in March. He clearly doesn’t get on as well in Ireland in the mud and revels on a sounder surface, the likes of which we’d hopefully see two weeks on Saturday(wow, close!). At a quick glance on the machines you’d have to assume he won’t make the trip – he’s not 59/1 for no reason! I do feel if connections decided on sending him over however he would be the one to beat, so I’ve decided to take my chances.
Benefficient
Paddy Power Gold Cup, £20 win@59/1 on Betfair
-£1305.93
I’ve spent the morning having a good long gander at one of my favourite races of the year, the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Looking at the race there’s a few I like; I think there’s improvement to come from Nicky Henderson’s
Rajdhani Express
, he’s a big player in this and with the boss’s son on board claiming 3lbs he’s got to be there or thereabouts. I also like the look of the Pipey horse
Salut Flo
. Although he’s been off a while if he can get him there in tip top shape I’d make him another player, although whether he can quite compete with hardened championship types is a big question, especially without the benefit of a run.
There’s one I really can’t get away from though, just no matter how hard I try.
Benefficient
is a really classy animal who appeared to love the place when springing a surprise in the Jewson in March. He clearly doesn’t get on as well in Ireland in the mud and revels on a sounder surface, the likes of which we’d hopefully see two weeks on Saturday(wow, close!). At a quick glance on the machines you’d have to assume he won’t make the trip – he’s not 59/1 for no reason! I do feel if connections decided on sending him over however he would be the one to beat, so I’ve decided to take my chances.
Benefficient
Paddy Power Gold Cup, £20 win@59/1 on Betfair
Aaaaaaaaand he’s in the Charlie Hall
The Charlie Hall would seem an unusual starting point for
Benefficient
and I wonder if it would be more of a tentative entry than a purposeful one. I can see the thought process of coming to find the better ground early doors to get a run into him, but personally I’d much rather see him targeted at the Paddy Power, a race I reckon would suit him a lot better. His mark of 157, although relatively hefty for a Paddy Power winner, would seem fair to me for one with so much scope. Connections should definitely be looking at Cheltenham a fortnight Saturday to my eye and watch this lad take off up the hill once again!!
The Charlie Hall is always a grand moment in the year. It’s the day when you become aware that the jumps are finally here. It’s the one on the calendar you always look towards and think ‘yep, it’s on like Donkey Kong after that!’ Although normally good, the turnout is not usually exceptional for this, so it appears we’ve been treated this time as it looks a belter of a renewal.
The key thing I’m looking at in this one is that it could well be worth getting on early as I’m thinking the Irish lads will be lining up at Down Royal(both have entries there as well). Take
First Lieutenant
and
Benefficient
out of the betting and the market could shrivel considerably.
This would presumably leave
Long Run
odds-on. You can see the justification in that, he is after all a Gold Cup winner, dual King George winner and more immediately is rated half a stone better than his closest rival(assuming
First Lieutenant
doesn’t line up). That said, he has proved susceptible first time out in the past and on flat tracks, and this could well be to sharpen him up ahead of future targets. Not a betting proposition for me.
Paul Nicholls saddles
Unioniste
, as good a jumper of a fence you’ll see for a 5 year old. His apparent preference for a deeper surface could find him out in this however, with a dry week ahead forecast for West Yorkshire(at least!). He’s also short enough for one so young just out of novice company.
One who could come into this at a price is
Cape Tribulation
. He improved no end last season, including when hacking up over course and distance on Boxing Day. That led to his biggest turn up to date, when taking the Argento on Cheltenham trials day. He’s another who wouldn’t be inconvenienced by a drop of rain but he has won on better ground before so it’s not essential to his chances. I’d make him a massive player in this and, with crossed fingers that the Irish boys don’t make the trip, he could land another decent pot here.
Cape Tribulation
Charlie Hall Chase, £25e/w@10/1 with Coral(1/5 first 3)
-£1355.93
One of the leading players in the trainers’ novice hurdling league in recent years would have to be Donald McCain. The number of winners he throws up in a season is spectacular, he was the winning most last term! It is however, the novice hurdling scene where he tends to unearth one worthy of a decent go come March. One of his I’m waiting for with bated breath in the coming weeks is
Diamond King
. He bolted up in two bumpers at the start of the year and was kept away from Cheltenham as he wasn’t deemed ready, something which could seem a masterstroke by next year. The word from the trainer is that he doesn’t do a great deal at home but saves his best for the racecourse.
I do love a novice hurdler to be sired by
King´s Theatre
, as records in recent years show how successful his progeny have been at the festival. The general consensus is that he’ll be better over a trip, but for his first season over hurdles I can see him being a ‘Supreme horse’ by the end of the year. I’ll put my hand in my pocket when I can free up some wonga.
As expected
Imperial Commander
takes his place amongst a stellar cast of entries for this year’s Hennessy. More intriguingly to me, the horse I was slightly afraid of opposing him,
Boston Bob
, doesn’t even appear on the list, a big surprise as I think it’s a race that’s got him written all over it, although reading through the stable tours this morning Willie’s considering sending him back over hurdles.
I’m now oozing confidence for this one
I don’t care about stats, about whether or not 12 year olds win Hennessys(Gord ). Former Champion Hurdlers or Gold Cup winners aren’t supposed to win back their crowns, although I’m certain Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls would tell you otherwise. Similarly, I’m pretty sure Nicky Henderson would correct you for saying 6 year olds don’t win Gold Cups.Back to fitness, with a couple of runs under his belt this calendar year and a full summer to recoup, this lad’s going to leave the handicapper more red-faced than Phil Mitchell after a late night out in his 4×4.
As expected
Imperial Commander
takes his place amongst a stellar cast of entries for this year’s Hennessy. More intriguingly to me, the horse I was slightly afraid of opposing,
Boston Bob
, doesn’t even appear on the list, a big surprise as I think it’s a race that’s got him written all over it, although reading through the stable tours this morning Willie’s considering sending him back over hurdles.
I’m now oozing confidence for this one
I don’t care about stats, about whether or not 12 year olds win Hennessys(Gord ). Former Champion Hurdlers or Gold Cup winners aren’t supposed to win back their crowns, although I’m certain Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls would tell you otherwise. Similarly, I’m pretty sure Nicky Henderson would correct you for saying 6 year olds don’t win Gold Cups.Back to fitness, with a couple of runs under his belt this calendar year and a full summer to recoup, this lad’s going to leave the handicapper more red-faced than Phil Mitchell after a late night out in his 4×4
Boz,what I like about you is the fact you not only write like me but you share the supreme confidence I’m blessed with,however my Ante-Post record is written in stone,dozens of which are written on this forum and thats why I am modestly known as a legend.You dear boy have the potential to be a great contributor on here too but to reach the heady heights of myself you have to deliver the goods and suggesting my dear old pal ‘Imperial Commander’ can beat the highly progressive young pretender
Same Difference
is like saying I could beat you in a 3 mile run!!
You dear boy have the potential to be a great contributor on here too but to reach the heady heights of myself you have to deliver the goods and suggesting my dear old pal ‘Imperial Commander’ can beat the highly progressive young pretender
Same Difference
is like saying I could beat you in a 3 mile run!!
I can tell you haven’t seen my waistline making comments like that Gord,
Imperial Commander
would be odds-on in that case!
Boz there’s a possibilty that you ya Fat F*cker can come and meet Ginge,Nath,Joni and ‘The legend himself’ on Lockinge day next May if you are up for it,we have a good craic slaggin me off!
Boz there’s a possibilty that you ya Fat F*cker can come and meet Ginge,Nath,Joni and ‘The legend himself’ on Lockinge day next May if you are up for it,we have a good craic slaggin me off!
Count me in matey sounds a larf. You can bet your a*se my day will be funded almost entirely by
My Tent Or Yours
Boz there’s a possibilty that you ya Fat F*cker can come and meet Ginge,Nath,Joni and ‘The legend himself’ on Lockinge day next May if you are up for it,we have a good craic slaggin me off!
Count me in matey sounds a larf. You can bet your a*se my day will be funded almost entirely by
My Tent Or Yours
Good man,it will be worth the effort!
My Tent or Yours
has ‘filled out’ this Summer…..’Filled out’?? He’s a beast who will do exactly the same thing ‘Binocular’ did the year after he was robbed up that famous hill!
Good man,it will be worth the effort!
My Tent or Yours
has ‘filled out’ this Summer…..’Filled out’?? He’s a beast who will do exactly the same thing ‘Binocular’ did the year after he was robbed up that famous hill!
As you and I are well aware, it’s a common argument that’s been made in recent years concerning Henderson’s novices ‘not getting the hill’. I seem to remember this statement being made about
Binocular
like you said,
Grandouet
after his Triumph effort and a certain
Sprinter Sacre
to name but a few. I’m not sure if it’s something he leaves out of their training in a novice year but all come back much stronger animals as have proved.
Anyway, more fool them, we know we’re onto a winner eh?
Anyway, more fool them, we know we’re onto a winner eh?
He is imo the biggest certainty of the season,I cant oppose him Boz,’The New One’ upholds just how good these pair are but that one just hasn’t got the sheer prescence and class of MTOY and has no scope physically whatsoever,MTOY is a slower maturing sort who was beaten by a sharper TNO when they first met,it will be a cracker if both make it to Cheltenham in March,1st and 2nd favs bar none!Forget this ‘Our Conor’……No chance!
Anyway, more fool them, we know we’re onto a winner eh?
He is imo the biggest certainty of the season,I cant oppose him Boz,’The New One’ upholds just how good these pair are but that one just hasn’t got the sheer prescence and class of MTOY and has no scope physically whatsoever,MTOY is a slower maturing sort who was beaten by a sharper TNO when they first met,it will be a cracker if both make it to Cheltenham in March,1st and 2nd favs bar none!Forget this ‘Our Conor’……No chance!
Couldn’t of put it better myself regarding
Our Conor
. He’ll soon get found out on better ground and when taken out of the worst bunch of juveniles barring the year of ‘the mighty’
Soldatino
I’ve ever seen
I do think you underestimate
The New One
Gord. He’s the only one who’ll get close to our lad but he is a fine animal, although as you said physically he does lack any kind of frame to grow into. That said
Binocular
wasn’t exactly Andre The Giant!
). Former Champion Hurdlers or Gold Cup winners aren’t supposed to win back their crowns, although I’m certain Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls would tell you otherwise. Similarly, I’m pretty sure Nicky Henderson would correct you for saying 6 year olds don’t win Gold Cups.
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