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Approaching in the Hennessey – happy days when the race rarely had a big field and half of those that did turn up were unfit. The era before the rise of AW gallops, when preparing a 3M chaser involved months of roadwork and prayers for rain so that you could get them onto the turf gallops.
And the Hennessey meeting ended with Division 2 of the 2M novice hurdle, twenty four ex flat horses, mostly unschooled, sometimes as many as four triers that you had to choose from.
No French imports, no N H flat races, only two handicaps on a seven race card.
I’m feeling quite old this morning ……
AP
nah your not old AP im 38 and can well remember the two divisions of the speen novices hurdle at newbury
I deliberately wrote "is" no horse called Approaching. I remember the old stager well. Light blue, black crossbelts, I seem to recall. Good on the old fella if he is still around, as he must be about as old as I am!
I deliberately wrote "is" no horse called Approaching. I remember the old stager well. Light blue, black crossbelts, I seem to recall. Good on the old fella if he is still around, as he must be about as old as I am!
Those are the ones. Not sure if they are the same colours sported by What A Myth, but it would make sense.
Correction – Long Run is on 161 (gone up 1lb today, which must be a ‘collateral form’ rise).
Thank you for posting those Paul, a quick question too if possible:
Do the handicappers at the BHA only look at the form shown by the likes of Tazbar, Tchico Polos etc. when assessing Long Run’s UK mark or did they take into account the Maurice Gillois runner-up – Rubi Ball’s three subsequent easy wins in Graded/Listed company at Auteuil and Pau?
The response I got was "we take into account everything".
Bar reports from their own stewards seemingly if The Blue Dog case is anything to go by!
Correction – Long Run is on 161 (gone up 1lb today, which must be a ‘collateral form’ rise).
Thank you for posting those Paul, a quick question too if possible:
Do the handicappers at the BHA only look at the form shown by the likes of Tazbar, Tchico Polos etc. when assessing Long Run’s UK mark or did they take into account the Maurice Gillois runner-up – Rubi Ball’s three subsequent easy wins in Graded/Listed company at Auteuil and Pau?
The response I got was "we take into account everything".
Thanks Paul
Approaching was owned by Major Derek Wigan when he won the 1978 Hennessey – he was better known as Dare Wigan if I’m not mixing him up with another family member.
AP
Why would they avoid Diamond Harry anyway?
IMO To avoid the bubble being burst before Cheltenham?
Stravinsky Dance has been declared with Richie Killoran booked to ride on the assumption Long Run ends up running weather permitting at Warwick.
Surely he should at least declare the horse at Newbury if there is any doubt over Warwick taking place.Grey Desire
Exactly!
Personally I hope he does run at Newbury, I’ll boost the Diamond Harry odds and ensure a decent pace for as long as Long Run stands up
His jumping should be better suited to the flatter Newbury than it will be at Chetenham
I wouldn’t want to see Harry spend three miles wrestling with Timmy in a slowly run raceThey’d obviously want to avoid a potentially tough race against the likes of Diamond Harry at this stage of their preparation for Cheltenham.
Just as I’m equally sure Diamond Harry’s connections wouldn’t relish taking on Long Run at this stage.
Grey Desire
Exactly!
Personally I hope he does run at Newbury, I’ll boost the Diamond Harry odds and ensure a decent pace for as long as Long Run stands up
His jumping should be better suited to the flatter Newbury than it will be at Chetenham
I wouldn’t want to see Harry spend three miles wrestling with Timmy in a slowly run raceI hope you’re backing Diamond Harry each-way CS
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They’d obviously want to avoid a potentially tough race against the likes of Diamond Harry at this stage of their preparation for Cheltenham.
Just as I’m equally sure Diamond Harry’s connections wouldn’t relish taking on Long Run at this stage.
Corm
I’d really doubt they want to avoid anything. They’re running him in a recognised Arkle trial in which 3 of the last 4 winners went on to place in the race itself, (the other missed Cheltenham, but ran 2nd in the Maghull Novice’s on his next outing).
Warwick’s race is also a gd2 with almost double the prize money of the lesser Newbury race.
Now will you stop feeding the forum troll?Yep RH – I’m sure you are right, they’ll have selected the race rather than tried to select the opposition.
Looks like said rider agrees with me, he was being spoiled. Better late than never all the same. It makes some people look a wee bit silly when they tried to defend him, and either the jockey or connections did a u-turn. Good man.
Diamond Harry is a right live contender for the RSA. He has jumped better than anything, and has plenty of cruising speed and finishing pace. I think they should have put him away until the festival all the same. I don’t see what they will achieve by running him on Saturday. People closest to him will know better though, then again, Nick Williams couldn’t see the obvious after his seasonal re-appearance with regards to him being a RSA horse. I wouldn’t write him off, regardless of who i’m on.
People shouldn’t forget too much about Pandorama, because we don’t know what the weather is going to be like. I wouldn’t take the elements for granted after a winter like that. He has improved well for each race, and is now jumping well. If it’s a right battle, he could be there or there abouts. He’s classy alright.
I really like Punchestown, but his preperation hasn’t been ideal. There’s only 5 weeks to go, yet he needs more jumping practice. What do you do with him, home schools or risk another run ?
Note to ante post backers, keep on open mind, regardless of who you put your money on. At this stage you can always use alternative bets, just incase likes.
His jumping should be better suited to the flatter Newbury than it will be at Chetenham
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