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Me saying the suggestion was stupid is probably harsh but the way the post was written gave me the impression Hedgehunter was just a normal run of the mill horse, no disrespect to Sir Remberhant, Take the Stand, etc but Hedgehunter is a class above them.
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Quote: from Friggo on 8:07 pm on Mar. 19, 2007
True, but do you really think Grand National form is reflected so strongly in BHB ratings, when the race gets its own handicapping?
Hedgehunter was on a rating which befitted the standard of horse it was: a good handicapper, and an also-ran in the ‘championship’ chases. These ‘blue riband’ races were mostly in Ireland, so have minimal effect on the BHB rating. Then it came 2nd at Cheltenham and found itself in the mid 160’s. I think the fact that he’s now back to 158 shows that the Gold Cup rise was a bit of a knee-jerk reaction. <br>
It may also be a ‘knee-jerk reaction’ to dismiss Hedgehunter as just a good handicapper.<br>Fortunately for some punters, and also most trainers, most ratings, including official ones, are based on a horse’s overall form rather than what they are capable of.<br>It should be no secret that Hedgehunter needs a trip in excess of 3m and better ground to show his best. In such circumstances his record for the past 3 years reads:
Close 3rd in  Grand National when fell at final fence.<br>Won Grand National  14l<br>2nd, Cheltenham Gold Cup btn 2.5l
An obviously progressive horse, capable, in the right circumstances, of much better performances than any ‘good handicapper’ could aspire to.
His only run since then, in anything approaching his optimum conditions, was a 6l Grand National 2nd off 11st 12lbs, a performance he would almost certainly have bettered had the ground actually been the official g/s, rather than the soft it was.
So please, no more of this ‘only a National horse’ or ‘only a handicapper, and no more denigrating War of Attrition for beating him quite comprehensively.:angry:   <br>
(Edited by reet hard at 9:33 am on Mar. 20, 2007)
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