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This says a lot about Henderson mindset , last year was a disaster yet once again it’s all about Cheltenham , Jesus h his best result was a 3rd and this only happened because the owner pushed for the horse to run , I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again he’s never forgot that Altior run , it’s ruined him , what the hell happens if something goes wrong with CH , at this moment in time he’s 22nd in the championship table on £157k , ok he may not care about that but if he has another indifferent year then he’s going to become tomorrow’s man , he needs winners , some big ones , not just Cheltenham
State Man (same owner) and Constitution Hill (same trainer) make it easier to switch to fences already, especially if he jumped them great.
But without Irish opposition Sir Gino can easily win the big novice chases in the UK. Basically every other British novice chaser will be more interesting for the handicaps. Really poor this year.
We don’t know Sir Gino can jump yet , Henderson is doing what’s best for him not the horse
Agree HDLG. Henderson has never been the same since he caved into pressure and nonsensically stepped Altior up in distance. I don’t think he really wanted to and I don’t believe he wanted to run him at Ascot either.
I have a little bit of sympathy about Ascot because the media built it up as a big clash and Henderson might have felt under pressure to run. But the horse was stuffed by Cyrname and was never the same afterwards. I think Henderson blames himself.
There was also his interview with Lydia Hislop at Sandown when he withdrew Altior from the Tingle Creek and in effect said only Cheltenham mattered. Hislop stuck to her point that the ground was not heavy (to Henderson’s obvious irritation) and social media reaction was negative towards him and the decision to not run.
I believe the combination of these two events has got to Henderson. Since then he has taken this ultra safe, risk free approach. I don’t see how that is going to be successful long term, especially when Mullins has far more firepower.
Trainer already has the fav and the owner already has the reigning Champion Hurdler. So – at the moment while there’s a reasonable chance of those two turning up – why not try and win two races instead of one? If Constitution Hill and State Man don’t impress in their runs before Cheltenham, then they can reconsider just as they did with Buveur D’Air.
The one that – for me – the smoke and mirrors have all been around is Mystical Power.
Mullins seemed to suggest in the stable tour he’d be going chasing and then mentioned the Stayers Hurdle as an alternative and that MP “probably wouldn’t be fast enough for the Champion Hurdle”. Is the wool being pulled over punter’s eyes? To my mind speed was the horse’s forte last year. Outstayed by Slade Steel on very soft ground at Cheltenham before beating him with ease at Punchestown. And the three entries he’s so far got this season are all over hurdles: Fighting Fifth, Morgiana and Hattons Grace… And unless Majborough sticks to hurdles (had the physique of a chaser even as a 4yo)… JP won’t have a good Champion Hurdle candidate unless Iberico Lord stays over hurdles – and he’s 66/1 and apparently set for chasing too.To my mind rather than it being a bad decision for Sir Gino it would make more sense for Mystical Power to at least take on State Man or Constitution Hill before a decision is made to go chasing. Currently top pried 4/1 second favourite for the Fighting Fifth behind odds-on Constitution Hill. He’s 10/1 for the Morgiana and 6/1 Hattons Grace.
Value Is EverythingIf you think he is a bad price now wait until he wins his debut and the bookies slash his odds in half
Ginger where do you think Lossiemouth will run?
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
Exactly , where is Lossiemouth going , surely if we are saying the owner is keeping there horses separate then it makes more sense to put the older horse over jumps , if Lossiemouth does go to the Champion hurdle then Mullins is covered
That would my thinking HDLG
Mullins said Lossiemouth will be aimed at the Champion Hurdle but I still reckon if State Man retains his form then she may well end up in the mares raceCharles Darwin to conquer the World
It’ll depend on Constitution Hill. Lossiemouth will go Champion Hurdle I think if Constitution Hill retains his ability. Mullins will know State Man can’t beat Constitution Hill in that case so will try with her with the allowance. If Constitution Hill isn’t the force of old then there is a chance Mullins will split them up.
Unless he sends a ‘marker’ horse over to run against Constitution Hill then Willie will have no idea how much ability Constitution Hill retains and nor will we as punters and racing fans because he’s going to be running against handicappers until March.
Regarding Sir Gino, wherever he goes its very tough for the transition for the previous seasons juveniles. There are some exceptions but they tend to be exceptional juveniles often going into weak divisions (Lossiemouth last year for example). The Arkle won’t be weak thats for sure.
Ballyburn heads the Arkle markets but from what I have read and his initial entries he is staying over the smaller obstacles. He is currently around 12s for the Champion Hurdle.
The more I know the less I understand.
Ballyburn will go chasing surely. Those hurdle entries Racing Post have got up taking on State Man and/or Lossiemouth. Is Ballyburn really going to go and try to ‘spoil their party’?
Ballyburn will go chasing. But if not taking to them as well as he does hurdles could be back hurdling come March.
I agree with you about Lossiemouth, Nathan. If State Man shows the same form as he did last season, then it would not be a surprise if she again races in the Mares. State Man and Lossiemouth may well take each other on in Ireland to find out. However, to my mind there is not much between Lossiemouth and Brightertimesahgead – and both could progress further. So the Mares Hurdle may not be as uncompetitive. Brightertimesahead apparently also might go for the Champion.
If Constitution Hill runs to his best in his prep run then suspect many of the “might run”s won’t.
But if Constitution Hill is below his brilliant best then they all might turn up.Value Is EverythingAfter her procession in last year’s Mares Hurdle, Rich Ricci was asked on RTV if he regretted not going for the Champion instead. His expression suggested that he did, at least a little bit.
Might he insist on a go at the Champion this year? How many more Mares races does she need to win and would anyone care if she did?
I’ve taken a chance Mystical Power will be allowed to run in a good trial and show there what he can do. After that they’ll have to run in the Champion. Taken 20.
Value Is EverythingThat’s what I’m hoping too GT. Trainer waffling about the Stayers hurdle and novice chasing but I think the green and gold posse will put their foot down and insist on the horse who was the best novice hurdler last year going to the champion hurdle, for which JP doesn’t have another horse. I know he got beaten in the Supreme but that was in a bog by a horse who is a year older. Peak CH would beat all but peak CH might have been Supreme 2022. For he still looked very good in March 23.
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