Yes, I see that Dan Skelton agrees with me about trainers being obsessed with the Cheltenham Festival. He also states that many trainers believe that they can only produce a horse in prime condition once or twice per season. To me, that’s pathetic. It was revealing what Harry Cobden said when interviewed after Bravemansgame’s success last week, namely that Paul Nicholls felt they ran him too much last season before his disappointing run at Aintree. I ask you. He ran a total of five races and had a two month break before Aintree. Poor thing!!
To some extent maybe tempered by what he went through with Kauto Star and Denman? He did extraordinarily well to keep Kauto Star going as long as he did - I don't think he would have been able to win so many top races over so many seasons if he were running more? I guess some horses take their racing better than others. The connections of the very top NH horses seem to want to run no more often than 4 or 5 times in a season. This usually looks something like: Seasonal debut, Christmas Target, Cheltenham prep, Cheltenham, Aintree or Punchestown. I remember Hurricane Fly's "season of all seasons" (2012/13) where he won the Morgiana in Nov, Christmas Festival Hurdle, Irish Champion Hurdle, Champion Hurdle and the Punchestown Champion Hurdle. I think any more than that would have over-faced him. Compare that to Quevega who rocked up at Cheltenham and Punchestown 6 years on the trot with just those 2 runs each season.
Coming back to 2 miles for the Arkle trial at Cheltenham tomorrow, he will face stiff opposition from some novice chasers who were very highly rated over hurdles - Glory and Fortune, Pentland Hills and Tommy's Oscar.
I should think he’ll see them off, Oddy, but I hope he doesn’t get routed to The Arkle instead of The Turners.
I guess it depends how Jonbon goes next Wednesday Tam. If he wins by half the track at Warwick he’ll already be scaring off rivals for the Arkle.
Very professional once again Tam. He's really athletic and gets over his fences so quickly. I still think the Turners will be more his trip and hopefully Joseph will agree.
Yeah, but I’m still waiting for Blazing Khal to stay hurdling- now 8/1 for the Stayers.If he does, I quite fancy my ante-post bet with him and Banbridge.
I see that The Storyteller is now getting single figure quotes (although you can get as big as 10/1) for the Hunter Chase at the Festival. The old boy now 2/2 in Points after winning one in October and another on 12 November.
I see that Jet Powered debuts tomorrow in the opener at Newbury (12.15). Been supported, these past few days, into 2nd favourite for the Supreme Novices - albeit miles behind Facile Vega in the market (14/1 compared to 7/4). Jet Powered was an 8 length winner of an Irish Point, last December, before being bought by the Donnelly's (for 350,000 gns) and then sent to Lieutenant Henderson. He is also a half-brother to the 10 time winner, Westerner Lady. Fascinating to see how he gets on, of the morrow, although isn't a betting proposition at current odds of 4/6. The 5YO though has already had wind surgery.
Bit of a belated response to Jet Powered hurdling bow but I thought he did it very, very well (stating the obvious there). Now down to 6/1 for the Supreme (which looks about right) and you would have to say it will be Graded races sooner rather than later for Jet Powered. A very exciting prospect. My main point re the Supreme and Cheltenham though would relate to what happened following Luccia's Listed win at Newbury a day later and illustrates, once again, just how diluted the Festival now is. A few years ago Luccia would, after this win, have got a quote for the Supreme, somewhere, in the region of 8/1 to 10/1. But these days it's 25/1 as she will almost certainly be aimed at the Mares Novices race instead (currently a best priced 4/1) and won't go anywhere near the Supreme. A great shame as Luccia presence would boost any edition, in my opinion, of that latter race. Plus, don't forget she'd receive 7 lbs from those old boy geldings.
