Bobs Worth – The New Best Mate?

[stilvi]

Given all the questions about the campaigning of Best Mate it seems a little strange that the same sorts of questions are not being asked about Bobs Worth. Yes, he appears to be as tenacious as you can get and we should all be thankful he has at least taken in one handicap but two runs last year and this year only three? The best part of three months in his box. As he didn’t perform at Haydock presumably that will be off his future agenda so are we looking at two runs again next year? Perhaps connections will at least consider a second crack at the Hennessy?

[thisthatandtother]

Nicky Henderson has said time and again that Bobs Worth is small and not the most robust horse he has trained. BW puts in all he’s got and takes time to recover. Why should he run more? Doesn’t make any sense at all.

[stilvi]

Of course there is no obligation to run more often but if everyone took the view that a horse needed half the season off to recover because he was relatively small and not so robust the game would die overnight. You might not but personally I find it pretty shocking to see a horse who is not injured running twice in a season. Where is the actual racecourse evidence to confirm that the horse cannot back up within a reasonable time period? Imagine if the greatest of them all (who wasn’t overly big) had just been confined to trotting up in the King George and the Gold Cup.

[thisthatandtother]

Last year he would have run in January (this year really but last season) but wasn’t right – according to the trainer. I would love to see Bobs Worth running every month but then he wouldn’t be winning ….. take your pick.

[The Young Fella]

At the time of Monsignor’s death, something struck me about the Best Mate era:

Elite three-mile chasers who died or got injured at that time:

Nick Dundee
Barton
Monsignor
Le Sauvignon
Gloria Victis
Jair Du Cochet
Farmer Jack

No wonder Hen was a little gun-shy with the triple champ. He did have a rather charmed run through to the titles, though.

As for Bobs Worth, I think Nicky Henderson is doing the right thing. This horse obviously puts his heart and soul into every race he runs. Recovery time for that type must be much longer than your flash Harry Kauto Stars and Best Mates.

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