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Bensalem looks good value @ 7/2, Grand Crus is the improver and Spirit River is on a recovery mission they look the dangers.
Doubled up with Time for Rupert is a nice 10/1 double
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The long break seems to have been the plan for Bensalem who has some really good runs to his name.. He has won 1st time out in each of his season so firnesss shouldn’t be a worry.
However if David Pipes is going to be any sort of danger to Big Buck’s he will have to give Benslem 4lbs and a beating.
Although Spirit River has fallen in his lat two races he’s definitely in good form but it’s a gamble on whether he’ll get the trip or not.
Fair Along is another who looks laid out for this. He has his limits but he should run well….This loooks to be just about his level and I think he” run really well.
I don’t often Dutch but Fair Along and Grand Cruz for me plus a RFC if they both turn up.
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If Bensalem is fit he has an obvious chance but, whilst those around him in the market make very little appeal, a 9-month break is surely going to have an impact in a race of this nature.
I may play things safe and stick to laying Organisateur – quotes of 5/1 are laughable – but Cristal Bonus is an interesting contender. Highly regarded, he ran incredibly well over an inadequate trip when 5th to Menorah at Cheltenham and on better ground may just see out the three miles.
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If Bensalem is fit he has an obvious chance but, whilst those around him in the market make very little appeal, a 9-month break is surely going to have an impact in a race of this nature.
I may play things safe and stick to laying Organisateur – quotes of 5/1 are laughable – but Cristal Bonus is an interesting contender. Highly regarded, he ran incredibly well over an inadequate trip when 5th to Menorah at Cheltenham and on better ground may just see out the three miles.
very true that armchair i was on menorah when he won at chelt before christmas at 13/2
he is a genuine gutsy champion hurdle contender so on that line of form
cristal bonus could well be the value.Im on Spirit river, 8/1 looks a good bet..
i see your point with cristal bonus so may have a saver on that
agree that cristal bonus is good value at the prices also think arcalis has an each way squeek at a big price
Bensalem has only tasted defeat twice over hurdles beaten half a length by Diamond Harry and 3 lenghts by Qevega, don’t see anything of that calibre in this race?
Would have made a cracking chaser but for jumping problems, so back over the smaller obstacles I think he’ll be too good for this field, especially in receipt of weight from his main market rivals.
Fitness maybe have to be taken on trust, but as has been said has won fresh before and Alan King can certainly ready one…
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I think this is gonna be a tight one.
The market is looking spot on at the moment, Grand Crus is looking a potential star, Spirit River is 2 for 3 around Cheltenham with the step up in distance and going back over hurdles sure to benefit and Bensalem has excellent form with some top names and the yard is hot as mustard although he hasn’t got his head in front in a while.
I can’t choose between the 3, so I’ll be backing the 0 for 5 around Cheltenham Knockara Beau, each-way at 33’s.
Really looking forward to seeing how this plays out.
I think this is gonna be a tight one.
The market is looking spot on at the moment, Grand Crus is looking a potential star, Spirit River is 2 for 3 around Cheltenham with the step up in distance and going back over hurdles sure to benefit and Bensalem has excellent form with some top names and the yard is hot as mustard although he hasn’t got his head in front in a while.
I can’t choose between the 3, so I’ll be backing the 0 for 5 around Cheltenham Knockara Beau, each-way at 33’s.
Really looking forward to seeing how this plays out.
Im with you on Knockara – It might just remember what it is meant to be about going hurdling again. 33s is big. Of the more likely sorts, Grand Crus for me – Bensalems pure form is probably better but how ready is he for this?
Arguably the most exciting performance of the season – you just don’t see horses pull like that and still win in a canter. The World Hurdle now definitely looks a two horse race and given a strong gallop every chance Big Bucks is going to have to dig pretty deep to retain his crown.
- Total Posts 17716
I think this is gonna be a tight one.
The market is looking spot on at the moment, Grand Crus is looking a potential star, Spirit River is 2 for 3 around Cheltenham with the step up in distance and going back over hurdles sure to benefit and Bensalem has excellent form with some top names and the yard is hot as mustard although he hasn’t got his head in front in a while.
I can’t choose between the 3, so I’ll be backing the 0 for 5 around Cheltenham Knockara Beau, each-way at 33’s.
Really looking forward to seeing how this plays out.
Im with you on Knockara – It might just remember what it is meant to be about going hurdling again. 33s is big. Of the more likely sorts, Grand Crus for me – Bensalems pure form is probably better but how ready is he for this?
I was told he’d run a big’un so glad he didn’t disappoint but the winner is of a different class.
Arguably the most exciting performance of the season – you just don’t see horses pull like that and still win in a canter. The World Hurdle now definitely looks a two horse race and given a strong gallop every chance Big Bucks is going to have to dig pretty deep to retain his crown.
I was supporting Grand Crus but that was surprisingly easy
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Grands Crus was undeniably impressive- as has been mentioned, horses seldom win three-mile races in that fashion after pulling so hard- but I wouldn’t give up on Bensalem just yet.
For a horse who nearly died from pneumonia last year, this was a most encouraging return to action. He was hacking behind the leaders, travelling just as easily as Grands Crus, most of the way and simply couldn’t go with the winner down the hill as lack of condition told. While it’s difficult to see him reversing the form in just under seven weeks’ time, he’ll certainly come on enormously for the race and, at 33s, looks excellent each-way value for the World Hurdle; after all, he finished ahead of Mourad at Punchestown in April after a write-off of a season, yet that opponent is only 10-1 for the Cheltenham feature.
Grand Crus is the only horse in training now capable of de-throning Big Buck’s in March.
I honestly think he will give the Nicholls star one helluva race in the World Hurdle.
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Grands Crus was undeniably impressive- as has been mentioned, horses seldom win three-mile races in that fashion after pulling so hard- but I wouldn’t give up on Bensalem just yet.
For a horse who nearly died from pneumonia last year, this was a most encouraging return to action. He was hacking behind the leaders, travelling just as easily as Grands Crus, most of the way and simply couldn’t go with the winner down the hill as lack of condition told. While it’s difficult to see him reversing the form in just under seven weeks’ time, he’ll certainly come on enormously for the race and, at 33s, looks excellent each-way value for the World Hurdle; after all, he finished ahead of Mourad at Punchestown in April after a write-off of a season, yet that opponent is only 10-1 for the Cheltenham feature.
I have watched the race a couple of times now and would agree that Bensalem blew up – Despite that though, Grand Crus looked visually very good.
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