Greatwood Hurdle 2014

[stevecaution]

Superb efforts from Vanituex and Clondaw Warrior but you feel that this was the latter horse’s best chance he’ll ever have at the weights.

Another win for the Hobbs team and for the second day in a row a horse who they thought wouldn’t go on the ground sluices home in the big race.

Vaniteux will make his mark for sure and yet another Henderson runner who probably wasn’t fully tuned up with bigger targets in mind later in the season.

From a punter’s point of view it’s little comfort that there is another day ahead and in the words of my old pal:-

"It’s enough to make you bite yer’ tadger Davie"

Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.

[The Young Fella]

The second and third horses are the ones to take out of the race I think.

Clondaw Warrior

had avoided soft ground for his entire career to this point and could have his say in a big handicap if freshened up for the spring.

Vaniteux

needs a little further than two miles. The Ascot Hurdle or the Relkeel would be good races for him to target.

[thehorsesmouth]

Superb efforts from Vanituex and Clondaw Warrior but you feel that this was the latter horse’s best chance he’ll ever have at the weights.

A very good effort from Vaniteux off top weight on that ground. My main selection Baradari ran no sort of race but I thought Clondaw Warrior was going to win rounding into the straight. I think he has every chance of landing one of these types of races, this experience will stand to him and off a faster pace and on better ground he’s capable of taking a big step forward imo.

[Steeplechasing]

Off a pace like that, a lot of jocks would have been writing off their chances by the 3rd hurdle

[Gingertipster]

Great for me GLV won but got the run of the race. Second and third are undoubtedly the two who could go on in future handicaps. Both better than distances beaten. However, the winner could be a good prospect once switched to fences.

Value Is Everything

[homersimpson]

This race should have been called the Shloer Hurdle as they couldn’t have gone much shloer

[stevecaution]

Great for me GLV won but got the run of the race. Second and third are undoubtedly the two who could go on in future handicaps. Both better than distances beaten. However, the winner could be a good prospect once switched to fences.

An interesting race but I feel Vaniteux is the one to be with going forward.

He’s more lightly raced and was at a fitness disadvantage with the winner. Graeme Cunningham was keen to point out that the Henderson horse was fit enough first time up but I’ll eat my hat if he doesn’t come on for that run.

When they ran in the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham, Vaniteux was third and Garde La Victoire 14th behind Vatour. I’d be all over the Henderson horse if/when they meet again.

I see no reason why Vaniteux wouldn’t make every bit as good, if not a better chaser than the Hobbs horse. He is a well made looking sort with a physical presence about him.

Clondaw Warrior ran a race full of promise but, at the odds, and with his mark the way it was, you feel he may never be as well treated over the sticks again. The Handicapper is sure to have sat up and taken notice of that and will he ever have a better chance of beating Vaniteux than when getting 26lbs and having fitness advantage on the two year younger, more lightly raced horse?

Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.

[Author]

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