The future at Seven Barrows

[MarkTT]

I’m a huge fan of Nicky Henderson, as a trainer and an old school gentleman. But the situation with his chasers is bizarre.
He sadly lost Oscar Whisky earlier this season. Grandouet has gone back to France. Bobs Worth has barely run in this country in the last two years, Long Run’s time has come to an end, Simonsig may never reach the heights we’d hoped for and Sprinter Sacre is only now returning to the track.
But where are the handicappers ? Weekend after weekend, race after race have gone by and not a single Henderson chaser has been entered in valuable races, particularly the staying chases which attract valuable win and place money. Ericht and Tanks For That seem to be the default choice for a Cheltenham handicap and yet neither are good enough.
The worrying thing for me is that i can see few novices this season who will be challenging for these handicaps next term either. Top class 2 mile novice hurdlers are a wonderful thing but win two of those and you bag £25,000. Nicholls then wins the big chase, with another one or two placing across the country and he’s won £100,000.

Another concern would be the trips some of these horses are running over. Master Of The Game won a point to point in 2011, comfortably beating Midlands National winner Goulanes and yet was campaigned over 2 miles and 2 miles 4 furlongs during his time at Seven Barrows. It’s the type of horse you see Jonjo or Nicholls gradually step up in trip before running them in Nationals or Betfred Gold Cups and picking up £70,000-80,000+ in prize money during a couple of seasons.

And then there’s complaining about soft ground during the winter. This is akin to complaining about being unable to use your catamaran in Doncaster.

Brilliant trainer but the race management and planning doesn’t seem to befit the firepower they have. 12 chase wins by February speaks volumes.

[obiwankenobi]

A quick glance at some stats makes food for thought.

Chase winners this so far for a few of the trainers:-

Nicholls 48
Hobbs 44
King 18
Jonjo 28
Skelton 19
Henderson 12!!

[Shack1]

Henderson is giving up on steeplechasing and assembling a squad capable of targeting the Ryanair Hurdle in 2017

[Author]

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