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Well this race shows one thing, not that I didn’t know it before it, that Barry Geraghty is a better judge of horses than me. Ouch!!
Well done Triolo D’Alene. Completely screwed it’s National mark but won that well !!!
The winner probably needs to improve another stone to be a Gold Cup contender but he’s only 6 and he’s an excellent jumpera place for Highland Lodge
Well done to those who backed Theatre Guide. A lovely third at 33’s
I was very impressed with Triolo D’Alene. From the horse’s profile as much as anything, I thought this was a hopeless task pre-race. Very few Topham winners are still handicapped well enough to win a Hennessy the next season. This horse won another handicap in between as well!
Although there were no stand-out champions in the field, this was a strong Hennessy in terms of handicap plots. I would be shocked if this race fails to provide major winners this season. To foil all of those in spite of being so openly campaigned, Triolo D’Alene surely cannot be too far from Grade 1 standard now.
Lord Windermere proved that last year’s Irish novices were nothing special, so perhaps the Lexus is an option.
Couldn’t understand why anyone wanted to back Hadrian’s Approach, horse can’t jump and BG deserted him. IC was jumping well at the front but think his delicate nature showed when fading quickly and promptly pulled up. Still love him though. Was disappointed with SD, was bang there 3 out but couldn’t last. Think he could pick up one of the lesser 3 mile graded Chase though. Hats off to the winner, outstayed them all ultimately. All roads lead to Aintree methinks.
Well I got Theatre Guide badly wrong but then again up to now so have the Tizzards as he seems have improved significantly for the step up in trip. The way he was staying on would suggest he would have finished even closer under a more positive ride. Perhaps they were trying to nurse him and it might be wise not to get too excited next time he runs at a no doubt much shorter price.
Not sure what to make of Invictus as turning in nothing was travelling any better but from that point he was just treading water. Perhaps King has sent him out undercooked or perhaps he is a better horse over a shorter trip.
Couldn’t really understand the plunge on Invictus. Had this been an uncompetitive handicap then he was a fairly obvious angle but just because this race lacked a horse of Denman’s calibre doesn’t mean it wasn’t full of horses in form or with potential to improve beyond their current rating. 18 months since beating an under par Bobs Worth on a right handed track and people are theorising that if that horse is now rated around 180, then Invictus should be two stone well in.
You may as well say that Aegean Dawn should have won the 1.50 because two years ago he beat DynasteI have doubts about King sustaining his horses ability and enthusiasm throughout their careers. The odd one runs well through their peak years to veteran stage but how many of his stable stars remain exactly that beyond their novice or first senior campaigns ? Top class races at 6 or 7, middle to low class handicaps at 9.
I have doubts about King sustaining his horses ability and enthusiasm throughout their careers. The odd one runs well through their peak years to veteran stage but how many of his stable stars remain exactly that beyond their novice or first senior campaigns ? Top class races at 6 or 7, middle to low class handicaps at 9.
Couldn’t agree more. It’s hard to think of horses that King has kept sweet and enthusiastic year after year. That old grey in the dark blue colours was one of the few – D’argent. Hobbs is another whose horses form tails off.
Nobody does this better than Paul Nicholls: See More Business, Kauto Star, Denman, Neptune Collonges, Tidal Bay, Celestial Halo; they all kept doing it year after year.
The Tizzards are also good at keeping horses sweet.
No Triolo backers – rare on these threads. He looks a fair bit ahead of his mark, though possibly best on flat tracks. Whatever he gets in the GN, I’d be tempted to have him on my side
Majority of King’s top horses have been precocious French types or Juveniles who progressed (something he’s moved away from somewhat). Invictus doesn’t fit that bill. He travelled and jumped really well, but blew up (a lot like Two Rockers did last week). Remains to be seen what the horse will do from here, but i actually think he’s not a bad shout for the Ryanair. Clearly retains a lot of ability.
Was pleasantly suprised by Rocky Creek, who i always thought was a plodder. Difficult to know where Trio will go from here. Worthy of moving up in grade at least.
Majority of King’s top horses have been precocious French types or Juveniles who progressed (something he’s moved away from somewhat). Invictus doesn’t fit that bill. He travelled and jumped really well, but blew up (a lot like Two Rockers did last week). Remains to be seen what the horse will do from here, but i actually think he’s not a bad shout for the Ryanair. Clearly retains a lot of ability.
King would have fewer horses than Nicholls and in general wouldn’t have the type of owners with the patience and pockets to buy expensive stores and pointers. Most of his owners would be looking at a quickish return.
I would have thought it was much too soon to write off Invictus. As I said he travelled as well as anything but didn’t finish his race off. Assuming no physical reaction let’s see what happens next time. As I put him up for the Jewson in his novice season I don’t think the Ryanair would be the worst idea.
No Triolo backers – rare on these threads. He looks a fair bit ahead of his mark, though possibly best on flat tracks. Whatever he gets in the GN, I’d be tempted to have him on my side
Be interesting to see if he still goes for the Becher with a penalty.
I’d expect Geraghty and Henderson to draw stumps and protect his mark but with his National rating now likely to be several pounds higher than hoped, and with an improving horse who could have a few more races in him yet, they might feel it’s best to strike whilst he’s hot.
Does seem to like flat tracks though.
Not bred to be great but interesting Henderson has another one of the sire’s better NH horses in Tistory.
That said, Triolo is related through the Grand Sire to Air Force One and they do look alike. AFO coming second to Madison Du Berlais in the Hennessy of 2008.
Stamina nowhere near as important this year with good ground verging on good-firm. Winner and third effective at much shorter and I’d probably back against both in a soft/heavy ground race at this trip myself. Let alone Triolo winning even a good ground Grand National myself.
Value Is EverythingKing would have fewer horses than Nicholls and in general wouldn’t have the type of owners with the patience and pockets to buy expensive stores and pointers. Most of his owners would be looking at a quickish return.
I would have thought it was much too soon to write off Invictus. As I said he travelled as well as anything but didn’t finish his race off. Assuming no physical reaction let’s see what happens next time. As I put him up for the Jewson in his novice season I don’t think the Ryanair would be the worst idea.
I don’t think King’s owners are generally looking for a quick return. He gets homebreds from a few long time NH smaller owners (no hurry), has quite a few owned by mates/long time Barbury links (Medermit, MYDS owners in different colours), McNeil/Bunter (Who go for specific horses generally), Sewell (Buys bumper stores), occassional bumper horses from Hemmings/Hales/McManus/Hughes/now Walters, Munir (the ones who do seem to be shifted out quickly if useless) and then a variety of small ownership groups/owners. I wouldn’t say his stable constitution is down to a particularly philosophy or lack of patience, it is simply down to lack of money.
Mastersons, although small in numbers, typically buy good stock for him and recently from Ireland.
His French stock seems very limited currently. Nicholls seems to dominant that avenue. Outside of a Million-in-mind horse, a couple from Munir (who look ordinary enough) and one Axom recruit, he has nothing from that sphere. Definitely a slight change.
I’d agree though, Invictus ran an interesting race. Whether he’s good enough for a Ryanair remains to be seen, but i think that might be his trip.
King would have fewer horses than Nicholls and in general wouldn’t have the type of owners with the patience and pockets to buy expensive stores and pointers. Most of his owners would be looking at a quickish return.
I would have thought it was much too soon to write off Invictus. As I said he travelled as well as anything but didn’t finish his race off. Assuming no physical reaction let’s see what happens next time. As I put him up for the Jewson in his novice season I don’t think the Ryanair would be the worst idea.
I don’t think King’s owners are generally looking for a quick return. He gets homebreds from a few long time NH smaller owners (no hurry), has quite a few owned by mates/long time Barbury links (Medermit, MYDS owners in different colours), McNeil/Bunter (Who go for specific horses generally), Sewell (Buys bumper stores), occassional bumper horses from Hemmings/Hales/McManus/Hughes/now Walters, Munir (the ones who do seem to be shifted out quickly if useless) and then a variety of small ownership groups/owners. I wouldn’t say his stable constitution is down to a particularly philosophy or lack of patience, it is simply down to lack of money.
Mastersons, although small in numbers, typically buy good stock for him and recently from Ireland.
His French stock seems very limited currently. Nicholls seems to dominant that avenue. Outside of a Million-in-mind horse, a couple from Munir (who look ordinary enough) and one Axom recruit, he has nothing from that sphere. Definitely a slight change.
I’d agree though, Invictus ran an interesting race. Whether he’s good enough for a Ryanair remains to be seen, but i think that might be his trip.
I would say King is most widely known for his juvenile hurdlers. People who buy this type of horse are in my opinion invariably after a quick return. Most of the owner breeders have departed to the likes of Keighley, Mann and Twiston-Davies. The names you mention probably don’t have ten horses between them.
Sadly it seems we will not see Invictus again. Why it has taken three days to report the news I don’t know.
Tis a bruising business this, emotionally as well as physically. Commiserations to the very patient connections of Invictus.
It reinforces a lesson it took me a long time to learn: ante-post betting on horses who’ve been off for ages with leg injuries seldom pays. There used to be an old saying "They never come back". A rare few do, but the quote holds good for most (Monsignor, anybody?).
There is of course a risk that the injury will flare up again in a race itself, although if they get to post, you can only assume the trainer is happy that the leg has withstood the rigours of work in getting to full fitness.
I always liked Al Ferof, for example and saw him as the main danger to Cue Card in the King George. But I’d still be slightly wary of backing him beyond saver level in case of a relapse. Same goes for Big Buck’s.
Anecdotal only, but it seems to me that a horse has a better chance of recovering from a fracture than a suspensory ligament injury.
Condolences also to the connections of Madison Du Berlais, who has died of colic.
I would say King is most widely known for his juvenile hurdlers. People who buy this type of horse are in my opinion invariably after a quick return. Most of the owner breeders have departed to the likes of Keighley, Mann and Twiston-Davies. The names you mention probably don’t have ten horses between them.
Sadly it seems we will not see Invictus again. Why it has taken three days to report the news I don’t know.
King usually does very well with Juvenile Hurdlers, though he was light last year and is definitely light again this year. Whether it’s a trend or anamoly, one cannot truely know yet.
He however rarely has a huge batallion of Juvenile Hurdlers in any given year. The McNeils buy a bigger purchase every year (Durable man this year), Bunter sometimes has an average early season type and then usually there are a couple of French 3 yr old’s (Thurloe/Mastersons) mixed with ordinary flat horses. Rarely do they make up a large % of his stable.
Most of his owners are not looking for a quick return. His main owners (i.e clearly quite close friends), Mastersons, homebreds, assortment of big owners who send him sole horse etc are certainly not looking for quick returns.
One noticeable issue with King is the quality of his bumper horses. He has quite a few and the majority are weaker than the perception of the yard would lead you to think.
Don’t see why King or his team have any obligation to inform us immediately of any injury sustained. It’s been a couple of days … i don’t see the issue.
Tis a bruising business this, emotionally as well as physically. Commiserations to the very patient connections of Invictus.
It reinforces a lesson it took me a long time to learn: ante-post betting on horses who’ve been off for ages with leg injuries seldom pays. There used to be an old saying "They never come back". A rare few do, but the quote holds good for most (Monsignor, anybody?).
There is of course a risk that the injury will flare up again in a race itself, although if they get to post, you can only assume the trainer is happy that the leg has withstood the rigours of work in getting to full fitness.
I always liked Al Ferof, for example and saw him as the main danger to Cue Card in the King George. But I’d still be slightly wary of backing him beyond saver level in case of a relapse. Same goes for Big Buck’s.
Anecdotal only, but it seems to me that a horse has a better chance of recovering from a fracture than a suspensory ligament injury.
Condolences also to the connections of Madison Du Berlais, who has died of colic.
Agree with everything you say there Joe.
Having backed Cue Card, I was thinking myself of saving on Al Ferof, but injury is a worry. So will wait until nearer race day.I’ve backed against Big Buck’s. Not sure if I’ve done the right thing as Solwhit has not been immune to injury, but At Fishers Cross has also had many problems during his racing career and I do believe those with markedly round actions are more susceptible to reoccurring injury.
Value Is Everything
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