Denman, Katchit, Inglis Drever and "Choc" Thornton

[Luckyfifteen]

Just want to say, Denman, Katchit, Inglis Drever and "Choc" Thornton are all brilliant! Would like to hear others comments on them

[Fist of Fury 2k8]

Denman:-
The strength of his form such as the Hennessy and the Lexus has been questioned, perhaps rightly so but he could do no more than win.
Considering he covered the 3m 2f course at over 30mph which was faster than they did in the bumper speaks volumes about the horse.
His stable companion and Exotic Dancer both had off day but that is irrelevant. He is simply galloped everything into the ground and put his previous form miles behind him while putting up one of the best performances ever seen in the Gold Cup.
While it can be pointed out that Neptune Collanges is a long way off top class year after year we have seen similar performances such as his.
The form should be ignored as he is highly unlikely to ever get so near Denman or Kauto Star again. Turpin Green put up a similar performance the previous year and again he can’t be considered anywhere near top class. The Gold Cup often brings out the best or out of the ordinary performances in staying chasers, but seldom does the form stand up.
Denman could have tougher tasks ahead if he goes for a second Hennessy Gold Cup and is to repeat this season’s victory. A horse like Exotic Dancer getting 8 to 10 lbs from him would be tough enough but should there be a budding One Man 10st, Teeton Mill 10st 5lb, or PlaySchool 10st 8lbs hidden in the field, he would be unlikely to win it again.
Paul Nicholls will be aware of the risk and may end up not sending him that route next season. IMO, not the ideal way to be starting a Gold Cup campaign, these days.
That aside he should have another easy season and all being well be seen defending his title at Cheltenham again. Quite simply the only horse, who may be capable of beating him, if any, is Kauto Star.
To do so he will have to be better than any horse seen on a racecourse for 44 years……..time will tell.
Katchit:-

Katchit was enormously impressive in the new Triumph Hurdle last season. I say new as it has changed drastically since the introduction of the Fred Winter. It was often said it was too tough for 4 yo and seldom did they train on. Katchit and Punjabi both put the theory to rest when places 1st and 3rd in this year’s Champion.

Much of the credit for Katchit’s victory must go to Alan King he set out to give Katchit a much different run up than many others may have.

I think it’s safe to say the horse was never near peak fitness for much of the season and the slow build up paid dividends.

He ran his race just as many included myself thought he would. The catch me if you can tactics from the top of the hill were played to perfection and he was worthy winner.

Considering 80% of the, would be, experts in the media said he was too small and couldn’t possibly improve, made victory all the sweeter. The jubilation of those who supported him was apparently one of the most amazing sites seen at Chetenham this year.

Very popular winner and it would be a brave man who says he can’t repeat it next season. In my eyes, the best winner of the race since Istabraq.

Inglis Drever.

The quiet Superstar

Not much can be said he seems to have always been around and just keeps winning the important one.. Does only what he has to do to win but keeps doing it. He has an abundance of class despite not being the flashiest or most popular superstar in the world. However, Superstar he is and a Triple Winner who may even be, the best of all time.

To think he could be kept in training and go for a 4th win in the same race is almost unbelievable. He achieves that then no one will have to think twice when asked who was/is the best staying hurdler ever to win the World Hurdle.

R Thornton:

He’s definitely a man to have on your side he just keeps winning. Doesn’t matter whether he is riding a top class horse or a moderate novice he seems to be able to get the best out of them.

Despite having some minor problems I won’t go into the rides he gave Captain Cee Bee and Katchit were both perfectly timed and executed.
When racing was called off on the Wednesday, he quickly re-routed to Huntingdon for a quick winning double. On the Thursday he showed how strong a jockey he is when he booted NENUPHAR COLLONGES home in a real touch race back at Cheltenham.

Great treble at the Cheltenham Festival he won’t forget in a long time

[Truman31]

Gents,

My opinions,

I won a fortune on Katchit when we won the Triumph, i took 25/1 when he won at the Paddy Power November 2006 meeting. I must admit though, as big a fan as i am i really didnt think he was going to win the Champion Hurdle, i thought he had too much to find on quite a few other horses, fair play though.

I was at Leopardstown in December when Denman won the Lexus, admittadly having been hugely impressed by the Hennessy i wasnt too confident following the Lexus as i thought the performance was workmanlike at best. Leading upto the Gold Cup you could also argue the form of Kauto and Denman. Kauto had easily beat Our Vic in the King George, Denman had beated Mossbank in the Lexus but then Our Vic demolished Mossbank in the Ryanair. Still it never works like that..

The Drever – Quite simply there is no other horse that can be off the bridle with over a mile left that you are still confident of winning with. You could argue he hasnt beaten alot apart from an aging baracouda but you still have to do it.

Choc Thornton – Genius jockey but **** hair

[Luckyfifteen]

Thanks, Fist of Fury and Truman 31 for your comments on Denman & co, enjoyed reading them. Chuckled at the short comment on "Choc" Thornton’s hair lol (laughing out loud) ! Any more racing info, would like to hear it. Hope you enjoyed Cheltenham as much as i did.

[Fist of Fury 2k8]

Cheers L15……….but what of our poor friend?

If I had backed Katchit a 25/1 for the Triumph and he won as he did I woulkd have been knocking down my bookies door to get on for the next years CH……..especially after that awful Sublimity champion hurdle……"if only" must be ringing bells in your head Trueman

welcome to both of you BTW

[Truman31]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing my friend.

Obviously having a financial interest last season leading up to the Triumph i watched very closely, and as you say he was super impressive. Following that win and the subsequent win at the Aintree festival the ante-post odds for the Champion Hurdle some 11 months ahead were only about 8/1 which i sure we will all agree is not value at all, especially considering the record of first season juveniles racing against the big boys so to speak.

Watching Katchit’s races this season did nothing to convince me to back him at even 10/1. In my opinion there were too many horses that he had something to find against, Osana, Sizing Europe, Sublimity, Harchibald and then throw in the unknown quantities of Afsoun.

Never mind anyway, i was more bothered that i didnt back Alberta’s run when it was 33’s.

[Fist of Fury 2k8]

I was the opposite of you when I sw Katchit come of the hill at Cheltenham last year I couldn’t have not backed him………The thing that got me was people taling about Sublimity like he was some wonder horse who was being trained specifically for the Champion Hurdle but it never occured to them that Alan King was doing the same thing.

Early season form very seldom works out on CH day plus Katchit was said to be all wrong at Newcastle and had missed work before getting beat
by Osana.

The truth is Sublimity’s CH was considered by many myself included to be one of the worst CH of all time and Katchit’s Triumph victory one of the best.

Myself and more than a few of the other lads were on at 12/1 EW as we thought he was a moral to be in the first three.

I must confess I thought the big horse Sizing Europe would mow him down but couldn’t see the likes of Sublimity a non stayer or Harchibald getting up the hill. I agree Afsoun was always a worry….yet it was Punjabi who turned out the better.

Next years Champion is even easier to work out……Binoclular will win it

.

[dubai_millennium]

Gents,
The Drever – You could argue he hasnt beaten alot apart from an aging baracouda but you still have to do it.

Baracouda – Dual Champion
Mighty Man – Multiple Grade 1 winner
My Way de Solzen – Previous World Hurdle Winner

I would say he has beaten quite a lot. The strength in depth is never that strong in this event, but he has done it consistently.

[Truman31]

Dubai,

I made reference to Baracouda – i am sure you cant argue that when Inglis Drever beat Baracouda wasnt in the twilight of his career.

Mighty Man – Aintree aside i have never really rated him

My Way De Solzen – Appears to have fallen off the rails altogether so no tremendous achievement in beating him.

Stu…

[Fist of Fury 2k8]

Let’s not forget Baracouda was a banker bet when Inglis beat him…easy to say he was a back number after Ingis beat him but before the race he was being touted as being unbeatable……I wouldn’t bet on him being a spent force at that time………One things for sure…this year that Kasbah Bliss looked a right horse and ran a great race but the way Inglis Drever put the head down and ran to the line was in the fashion of a real champion…….to be honest I haven’t paid too much attention to him in the past but that was impressive…….hope he goes for a 4th that would be som
ething

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