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I think Henderson is still mindful of what happened with Sprinter Sacre. He ran him at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown. Then he had his heart problem in December 2013.
I don’t suppose there is any proof that running at the three meetings caused the problem but it seems like Henderson thinks it did. He clearly is not enthusiastic about taking horses to Ireland.
I’ve been frustrated with Henderson’s campaigning for a while and CH in particular. That said, i don’t mind this so much. If the Horse is well he should run at Aintree. Anything could happen between now and Punchestown, and connections could deem the ground unsuitable anyway.
I think it is unlikely he’ll do both mind, and that would be the disappointment. I think running at Aintree means at least he’ll have a run. If we are waiting for Punchestown and the Inevitable drama unfolds, and he doesnt run, then its wait for the Fighting Fifth.
The owner has input as well, if he is reluctant to do something or wants to go somewhere (factoring in the horse’s wellbeing), then that influences the decision making, people having a go at the trainer on here are maybe forgetting this. Buveur D’air never did Punchestown when he was champ, but did both Aintree and Punchestown after falling in the Champion Hurdle. JP would’ve had input on them race decisions.
Forget Ireland and anything else. He couldn’t win a Mares’ G1 Hurdle and was under some pressure as well.
Please think about retiring him.
Under pressure? He was cantering when he came down.
His jumping has definitely become a concern, but let’s not just make things up to suit a predetermined agenda.
Careful Ruby.
Are you really loving seeing this great horse falling as much as your words seem to suggest?Value Is EverythingWhat do you mean, Mark? Just concerned about the horse, if he can’t beat a bunch of mares.
“What do you mean, Mark? Just concerned about the horse, if he can’t beat a bunch of mares”.
You’re talking bull…. Ruby.
Point is it doesn’t look like “concern”.
…And NO horse that falls has EVER beaten mares or even donkeys come to that.Value Is EverythingMade the exact same mistake as he did in the Champion Hurdle, he was also very long at one earlier in the home straight and that very nearly got the 2nd on the floor as she took off at the same time as he did and barely made it.
Her rider (Danny Gilligan) rode a smart tactical race and put Nico in trouble in a pocket turning for home, hard to say what would have happened had he stod up because he looked like he was still travelling ok at the time but I am not convinced he is a horse that finds a huge amount of the bridle especially at this trip, which Lossiemouth really did see out well……interesting that Townend commented that the hurdle track had gotten quicker since the earlier hurdle race and it seemed like he was intimating that it was as fast as she would want.
Back to CH, to make the exact same mistake in back to back races is rather concerning especially given the amount of schooling he was reportedly given since Cheltenham, at his age now, I am not sure if it is something he will ever learn not to do as it is not like he hasn’t done it in the past and gotten away with it…….the only difference seems to be now that he is not geting away with it.
Mark, I was always concerned about his jumping and so were many on this forum. And he should have been in a much better position coming to two out, if he is that good as the 106 pges on this pathetic thread suggest.
I’m sorry that you backed him again and hope you weren’t again on the crap horse Ahoy Senor…..
There you go again.
You’re not “concerned about his jumping”.
As Glad’ rightly points out, your confirmation bias is just too big for you to think clearly.This is what I said before today’s race:
“tbh It’s possible to think of The Hill being a good bet and then from the same info making Lossie the same.At their bests CH would beat L 10+ lengths.
But CH’s best was some time ago, so is he as good?
…And has his fall effected his confidence / jumping ability?
It’s possible that “confidence” was hit at the last hurdle in the International – giving him a fright.
CH is – or maybe “was” the best jumper of a hurdle I have ever seen. Pinpoint accuracy, being able to stand off a long way from his hurdles. But that in turn meant a fall was always likely to happen at some point. But it being the very reason he was capable of such a fantastic level of ability, also means if he’s lost that brilliant jumping technique he will also no longer be capable of his very best…And does CH truly stay 2 1/2 miles? His previous Aintree Hurdle was nowhere near his best rating, although that did come after completing at Cheltenham.
Mullins is in far better form than Henderson too.
Lossiemouth’s form is good, but it is nowhere near as good as CH’s at their bests. Timeform’s rating seems to have added a lot for ease of victory. She has made a habit of being impressive against vastly inferior rivals… But even so still comes up way short of The Hill. When meeting Teahupoo it was a very slowly run race at 2 1/2 – the latter nowhere near his best… And fell in her match with State Man. So hasn’t really beaten anything of note – the form can not be rated highly. Impressive last time out – not needing to be at her best but winning with enough to suggest she’s right at the top of her game…
2 1/2 miles is probably her trip too – although with Salver out there is very little pace in this race and the pace that is there comes from a 2 miler. So in his best interests to make it slow. So if held up may be at a positional disadvantage and can take a hold – could be too free if it is slow. Stamina-wise is possible it may be more like a 2 mile race. Was pushed along almost from the start in the Christmas Hurdle, but on ratings ran a good race against a below his best Constitution Hill. Lossie won the Mares Hurdle well enough, it wasn’t a “hard race” as such, but did complete so had a harder race than The Hill”.
I had no bet.
…And no, neither did I back Ahoy Senor today, after his bad fall at Cheltenham.
Value Is Everything
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