A race that is tinged with sadness and a fair bit of ‘what ifs’ for me as I would love to have seen my old fave, Tataniano, line up here. And had he done so I’m not exaggerating when I say I think he would have routed, and I do mean routed, the field. Still injury has intervened but he’s still young enough to win a version or two of the heat and I hope he can do so starting in 2013. No real opinions for me re this one, at this stage, and I do agree that it lacks some of the ‘sparkle’ of the other Championship heats at the moment. However, if someone held a gun to my head, although I’m sure that no-one would ever want to do that, then I’d tentatively say Mr Henderson’s Finian’s Rainbow. Meanwhile, in view of today’s ‘Racing Post’ headline and the fact that his next planned race will be against ‘open’ company it's hardly surprising that Al Ferof has been introduced into the market by a few of those bookie chappies. Could be an inspired move as although still a novice he is a battle hardened campaigner and has an excellent Festival record (2nd in ’10 before winning at the event last year).
Crumbs! I thought I had a busy life! Will look forward to your Champion Hurdle write-up...my favourite race of the entire jumps season!
I think that it has to be between Finians and Sizing Europe. I'd like to see Realt Dubh come along looking good but there doesn't seem to be huge amounts of noise on that front. Bearing that in mind, and assuming Al Ferof isn't even better than I suspect, I think Finians Rainbow looks the value (and have therefore taken 8-1 on Boylesports a week or so ago). For me, and I know that many people disagree here, he would have comfortably won last time out if not for a couple of huge blunders. I think he's a better jumper than that and so am quite excited to see him really take on the field with a blistering turn of pace up the hill. Hopefully.
I think the fact people are even talking about Flat out as a contender for this shows what an appaling lack of depth this race has. He would have to show an extrodinary amount of improvement to get involved in this. I can see this as a four or five runner race come race day. I hope FR can throw down a serious challenge on the day as SE and BZ coming up to the last well clear would be a disapointing finale to what is normally my favourite race of the festival. Loving these write ups by the way.
Flat Out is entered in a 2m4f Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Saturday. Doesn't look overly promising for a Champion Chase bid!! http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/card.sd?race_id=546350&r_date=2012-01-14#raceTabs=sc_
Entries are out! THE sportingbet.com QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE Class 1, Grade 1, 2m, £320,000 Total Prize Fund. 3.20pm, Cheltenham, Wednesday, March 14, 2012. For 5yo+ which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including March 7 - horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain, Ireland or France may also be entered & such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horseâs racecourse performances up to and including March 7 would merit a minimum rating of 130 (the decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final). Weights: 11st 10lb. Allowances: mares 7lb. Entries closed January 10, entries revealed January 12 (19 entries), scratchings deadline February 14, £16,000 supplementary entry & six-day confirmation stage March 8. Final 48-hour declaration stage, 10am, March 12. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Tuesday, January 10. Form Horse Age Owner Trainer 3111-11 AL FEROF (FR) 7 John Hales Paul Nicholls 122-111 BIG ZEB (IRE) 11 Pat Redmond Colm Murphy IRE 214311 BLAZING TEMPO (IRE) 8 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE 12013-0 DAN BREEN (IRE) 7 Stuart & Simon Mercer David Pipe 11121-1 FINIAN'S RAINBOW (IRE) 9 Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson 2/2P-233 FORPADYDEPLASTERER (IRE) 10 Goat Racing Syndicate Tom Cooper IRE 520-1F1 GAUVAIN (GER) 10 Jared Sullivan & Simon Brown Nick Williams 152-460 GHIZAO (GER) 8 The Johnson & Stewart Families Paul Nicholls 1/41U-41 HOLD FAST (IRE) 8 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls 21/460-0 I'M SO LUCKY 10 Sheila Brookhouse David Pipe 533144 I'MSINGINGTHEBLUES (IRE) 10 Jo Tracey David Pipe 1103-12 KAUTO STONE (FR) 6 Robin Geffen Paul Nicholls 31-4435 NACARAT (FR) 11 Simon Clarke Tom George 24-3043 OISEAU DE NUIT (FR) 10 Terry Warner Colin Tizzard 120-112 PEDDLERS CROSS (IRE) 7 Tim Leslie Donald McCain 2113-12 REALT DUBH (IRE) 8 Derek Sharkey Noel Meade IRE 31-2121 SIZING EUROPE (IRE) 10 Ann & Alan Potts Partnership Henry de Bromhead IRE 53-1224 SOMERSBY (IRE) 8 Camilla Radford Henrietta Knight 21-1652 WISHFULL THINKING 9 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs 19 entries 5 Irish-trained
Peddlers Cross and Al Ferof but no Sprinter Sacre. Interesting. Probably means nought but . . . . you never know. Seems strange that Henderson has entered Finian's Rainbow in every race going yet has nothing else in this. Also no Captain Chris and no Captain Cee Bee (3rd last year).
As I've said before following Tataniano's unfortunate injury I've no firm opinions on this heat but the really interesting entry for me is Mr Nicholls' Hold Fast. Really impressed me with his win at the weekend at Sandown Park where I thought he looked very decent. His next run will apparently be in the rich 16 furlong handicap at Donny at the end of the month and following this a decision is then due as to whether he contests the Grand Annual or steps up to the 'top table' and goes for the Champion Chase. History incidentally shows that Mr Nicholls doesn't win that Sandown race with rubbish (his 2 winners in the past 10 years, St Pirran and Master Minded, both later won at the Festival in the same season) and to my eye Hold Fast very much so looks like one to follow. Meanwhile, my usual plea re this race - Racecourse Executicve, can the ridiculous 'Queen Mother' moniker please be dropped from this contests title! Annoys me almost as much as people who called the Cheltenham Gold Cup, 'The Gold Cup'.
Hold Fast has another 30lbs to find to catch Sizing Europe. Ladbrokes quote 12/1 NRNB and that must be the worst price I have ever seen. That puts him shorter than Realt Dubh, Wishfull Thinking, Kauto Stone, Gauvain and Somersby, all horses with a much higher level of form.
26th December - He stays 3m well so we'll train him for the Gold Cup. 29th December - He stays 3m well but the Ryanair is now the preferred option. I am just waiting for him to be declared on target for the Champion Chase. I can't find the classic quote but it goes something like 'he is the sort of horse who can run at any trip' - translated equals 'I have no idea what his trip is'.
Zen, Hold Fast won on Saturday off 137 and has since been raised 10 pounds to his new mark of 147. The Donny race will very much be his ‘trial’ for Cheltenham and obviously how he does will determine if they stick to handicapping with him or go for the big ‘un. Should he win at Donny though probobly his mark would increase to at least 155 (more if he blitzes them) and the former would look unlikely due to the welter burden he'd have to carry. Really liked the way he won at the weekend and think he is most progressive as Mr Nicholls has obviously improved the horse since he took him under his care. In contrast several of those above him appear somewhat vulnerable these days to an improving horse. Also, isn’t 19 entries for this race amazingly low?!?
I can see your point Sir Barney but still think that 12/1 is truly awful. If he won as well at Doncaster as he did at Sandown and went up to 157, then he might deserve a quote of 12/1. I remember last year we had Woolcombe Folly doing a similar thing, winning handicaps off of 142 and 154. Nicholls did say before Sandown "he looks handicapped to the hilt to me". Whether that was all a pile of rubbish and they thought he was a cert and steamed in after I don't know. 19 entries is very low yes.
In the last 10 renewals we have had a total of 101 runners - so 10.1 average per race. Smallest field was 8 (2004, 2005, 2008) and the biggest was 12 (2002, 2006 and 2009). I expect very much the same ballpark this time round. I would say in each year there have usually been 2 or 3 credible candidates and probably same again this time.
Number of entries is the joint lowest since 1997. I think it probably looks a touch weaker this year than normal.
If Sizing Europe runs to his Tingle Creek form he will win this doing handstands. One of the weakest renewals in many a year... Finians Rainbow and Nacarat wouldnt win if they started now, Big Zeb is getting on a touch but a showed some good form in Ireland already this season so must go close if he can reproduce his last two runs at Cheltenham a big ask as he was throughly put to the sword by Sizing Europe last year. Peddlers will go for the Arkle, Kauto Stone I imagine will go for the Ryanair as he looked to be crying out for a step up in trip in the Tingle Creek. Ghizao and Somersby aren't good enough at this level, Gauvain is far too inconsistant and I can't see him troubling the leading pair in the market. Al Ferof is the best of the rest and is very intresting, Not done alot wrong over his fences to date but I'd like to see how he holds his own in the Victor Chandler before giving any thought of his chance in the race...
Nice write up but a boring race for betting purposes but an excellent race to watch!! All revolves around Sizing Europe turning up fit and well, if he does he wins!! Also him and Big Zeb should finish clear of the remainder. Fingers crossed by this Cheltenham lover as 14s was availed about the favourite prior to his Tingle Creek demolition.
