Can't say I heard a great deal about him to be honest. Suspect he will be Neptune bound though and Simonsig is definitely their No. 1 for that race. I'll post the other comments on the respective threads when I get the chance Toppy.
Maybe the reason he lost is because Fingal Bay is simply a better horse? He looked well beat at Sandown to Me he still had a chance at the last but Fingal Bay just stayed on that bit stronger wereas Simonsig stayed on at the one pace. Fingal Bay already as course and distance form at Cheltenham for the Neptune where he won at the November meeting and the form of that race is pretty strong with a couple of the horses coming out after and franking the form. Barbatos was one of those victims who is unlikely to contest the Neptune now but he recently won the Neptune Trial at the beginning of the month. Fingal Bay is a very smart horse and Im finding it hard to oppose him at the moment...
That is exactly what I'm saying, Henderson thinks that Simonsig is better than Fingal Bay. There was a fitness/medical/similar reason why he didn't win at Sandown. They are very confident that the form will be reversed in the Neptune. If you think otherwise then don't let me dissuade you. I can only report what I am told and they might be telling me porky pies anyway.
They both have Boston Bob to beat. Needles can be a as confident as he wants about beating Real Madrid. It's Barcelona that i'd be focusing on.
If I was Phillip Hobb's I'd be more concerned about Willie Mullins other horse Make Your Mark rather than Boston Bob, He really does look a little bit special...
Absinthe out again today at Musselburgh - could he be an interesting outsider for the Supreme Novices???
Couple of funny betting moves on Betfair regarding two of my Supreme horses. Captain Conan was trimmed into 30s yesterday having touched as high as around 100 on Betfair (now out to 40s), whilst Make Your Mark is down to 17.5 as we speak, so someone has hoovered up all the money on him. Hopefully Make Your Mark will run, I like him a lot,and his race on Sunday suggested he might be suited- plenty of cruising speed, strong tavelling, just didnt quite get home in the mud.
The two I've backed in the race are Colour Squadron and Montbazon - Montbazon made it's hurdling debut in the race Colour Squadron won, who should've won the Tolworth.
If Lord Windermere wins the supreme, I'll fry my own knackers. I just don't think he has the form to suggest he is up to that level. Midnight Game looked a nice prospect but had been mullered by Sous LEs Cieux earlier this season, who although smart doesnt seem to find a huge amount under pressure.
Fairly unbelievable to dismiss a proven grade one winner who has destroyed a field of next time out winners for a horse who has blitzed a bunch of nothing's in a maiden. Sunday proved Boston Bob is the real thing. Only one novice has a higher rating this year over hurdles and that's Fingal Bay. IMHO on softish ground Boston Bob is unbeatable against novices and as Willie and Ruby have said he's going to be an unbelievable chaser.
Entries are out: WILLIAM HILL SUPREME NOVICESâ HURDLE Class 1, Grade 1, Total Prize Fund £100,000, 1.30pm Tuesday, March 13, 2012, Old Course, two miles and half a furlong, for novice four-year-olds and upwards. Weights 5-y-o 10st 13lb, 5-y-o and upwards 11st 7lb, fillies and mares allowance 7lb. Entries closed January 31, 2012, entries released, February 2 (91 entries), scratchings deadline February 21. Six-day confirmation stage, March 7, final declaration stage 10.00am, March 12. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including Monday, January 30. May not include some overseas form. Form Horse Age Owner Trainer 1 AGENT ARCHIE (USA) 5 David Gorton Donald McCain 21 ALL THE ACES (IRE) 7 Alan Spence Nicky Henderson 13-2 ALLURE OF ILLUSION (IRE) 6 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE ALWAARY (USA) 6 Charles Noell Rebecca Curtis 3142- AVOCA PROMISE (IRE) 7 Bailey-Carvill Equine Charles Egerton 1134-1 BABY SHINE (IRE) 6 P A Philipps, T S Redman & Mrs L Redman Lucy Wadham 111 BALDER SUCCES (FR) 4 Masterson Holdings Limited Alan King 1-10 BALLYCLOUGH (IRE) 5 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill BLISSFUL MOMENT (USA) 5 J P McManus Noel Meade IRE BRICK RED 5 Julian Taylor & Andrew Brooks Venetia Williams 21-021 CAOLANEOIN (IRE) 6 Michael Mulligan/Patrick Walsh Seamus Fahey IRE 3411 CAPTAIN CONAN (FR) 5 Triermore Stud Nicky Henderson 3-2F CAPTAIN SUNSHINE 6 Mrs Julien Turner Emma Lavelle 14-3111 CASH AND GO (IRE) 5 David Monaghan/K S Jones Edward OâGrady IRE CASHELGAR (IRE) 6 Future Racing (Notts) Limited Richard Guest 2060 CATCH TAMMY (IRE) 6 Roger Brookhouse David Pipe 50-2111 CINDERS AND ASHES 5 Dermot Hanafin & Phil Cunningham Donald McCain 212-31 CLOSE HOUSE 5 Roger Brookhouse David Pipe 1212 COLOUR SQUADRON (IRE) 6 Peter Bonner Philip Hobbs 123531 COTILLION 6 Paul Vogt Ian Williams 1B2 CRY OF FREEDOM (USA) 6 Bloomfields John Ferguson 1-111 DARLAN 5 J P McManus Nicky Henderson 32 DIAMOND LIFE 6 Malcolm Denmark Warren Greatrex DILDAR (IRE) 4 Mrs Johnny de la Hey Paul Nicholls 13 DISTANT MEMORIES (IRE) 6 Fitri Hay Tom Taaffe IRE 11 DIVAPOUR (FR) 5 Mathieu Offenstadt Guy Cherel FR 3-35132 DOUBLE ROSS (IRE) 6 Options O Syndicate Nigel Twiston-Davies 0-12222 DYLAN ROSS (IRE) 6 No Rush Man Syndicate Noel Meade IRE 0 ENGAI (GER) 6 Building Bridgies David Bridgwater 116-332 ERICHT (IRE) 6 Bridget Hanbury Nicky Henderson 03 FAIRY RATH (IRE) 6 Carla Kyle Nick Gifford 210-21 FELIX YONGER (IRE) 6 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE 6114 FORMIDABLEOPPONENT (IRE) 5 J P McManus Noel Meade IRE 11- FOURTH ESTATE (IRE) 6 Out The Box Racing Nicky Henderson 12 GALILEO'S CHOICE (IRE) 6 Lambe/Smurfit/Keough/Newtown Anna Dermot Weld IRE 113//-3 GIORDANO BRUNO (IRE) 8 Tony Bloom Philip Hobbs 1-1113 HAZY TOM (IRE) 6 Alan Halsall Charlie Longsdon 1123 HINTERLAND (FR) 4 Potensis Limited & Chris Giles Paul Nicholls 042021 HIS EXCELLENCY (IRE) 4 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE 54115 IL FENOMENO (ITY) 6 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade IRE 4211 INGLEBY SPIRIT 5 Percy/Green Racing Richard Fahey 414-212 IT'S A GIMME (IRE) 5 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill 1210 JIMBILL (IRE) 6 M E Moore & B Ead Tim Vaughan 1221 JOXER (IRE) 5 Bill Harney Bill Harney IRE 214 JUDICIARY (IRE) 5 Diamond Racing Ltd Tim Vaughan 1(1)1-2 KEYS (IRE) 5 Seasons Holidays Nicky Henderson KINGS DESTINY 6 Dennis Yardy Nicky Henderson 10-1316 KNIGHT PASS (IRE) 6 Malcolm Denmark Warren Greatrex 111364 LAGANBANK (IRE) 6 Rose Boyd/Marie Armstrong Willie Mullins IRE F11 LORD WINDERMERE (IRE) 6 Dr Ronan Lambe Jim Culloty IRE 42-1113 MAGNIFIQUE ETOILE 5 Magnifique Etoile Partnership Charlie Longsdon 113 MAKE YOUR MARK (IRE) 5 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins IRE 2411 MIDNIGHT GAME 5 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins IRE 220-111 MOLOTOF (FR) 5 Simon Munir Nicky Henderson 111 MONKSLAND (IRE) 5 Patricia Hunt Noel Meade IRE 11-3 MONO MAN (IRE) 6 Bridget Hanbury Nicky Henderson 212-321 MONTBAZON (FR) 5 David Sewell Alan King 2 MONTE CAVALLO (SAF) 7 D Morrison Rebecca Curtis 2312 MORNING ROYALTY (IRE) 5 Henry Murphy Willie Mullins IRE 64 NORTH CAPE (USA) 6 Andrew McIver Alastair Lidderdale 0-25110 OHIO GOLD (IRE) 6 P M Warren Colin Tizzard 211203 ONE TERM (IRE) 5 L Reid, W A Thomas & G Costelloe Rebecca Curtis 0-013 OSCAR NOMINEE (IRE) 5 Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson 20 OUR JOE MAC (IRE) 5 A Long Richard Fahey 12 PEARL SWAN (FR) 4 Robin Geffen Paul Nicholls 130-0 PERSIAN SNOW (IRE) 6 D R Peppiatt Philip Hobbs 12144 PROSPECT WELLS (FR) 7 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls 2F11 RANJAAN (FR) 4 Highclere Thoroughbred Racing â Ranjaan Paul Nicholls 400415 ROCKY WEDNESDAY (IRE) 5 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE 2 SEVENTH SKY (GER) 5 John & Peter Heron Charlie Mann 1 SHADOW CATCHER 4 Mrs Pat Sloan Gordon Elliott IRE 11P52P SHADOW EILE (IRE) 7 S Reilly Dot Love IRE 51 SIMENON (IRE) 5 Wicklow Bloodstock Limited Willie Mullins IRE 112 SIMONSIG 6 Ronnie Bartlett Nicky Henderson 2-111 SIMPLY NED (IRE) 5 David & Nicky Robinson Nicky Richards 43/2-113 SOUS LES CIEUX (FR) 6 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE U1 SPORTSMASTER (IRE) 4 J P McManus Edward OâGrady IRE S1-0111 STEPS TO FREEDOM (IRE) 6 Mrs Sean Hussey Jessica Harrington IRE 25441U SZABO'S DESTINY 4 M Wasylocha Gordon Elliott IRE 2/-F TANERKO EMERY (FR) 6 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Egan Waste Ltd Tim Vaughan 42 TED SPREAD 5 False Nose 'n Glasses Partnership Paul Nicholls (4)-1111 TERMINAL (FR) 5 Favourites Racing Willie Mullins IRE 1210/-11 TETLAMI (IRE) 6 Susan Roy Nicky Henderson 5-21 THE WAY WE WERE (IRE) 6 J P McManus Edward OâGrady IRE TIGER REIGNS 6 Joe Buzzeo Michael Dods 123112 TRIFOLIUM (FR) 5 Gigginstown House Stud Charles Byrnes IRE VIA COL VENTO 6 Venetia Williams Venetia Williams 21 VULCANITE (IRE) 5 Pearl Bloodstock Ltd Charlie Longsdon 004-2 WALTER DE LA MARE (IRE) 5 Philip Caffrey John Murphy IRE 41 WATERUNDER (IRE) 5 Sarah Clifford David Pipe 054 ZERASHAN (IRE) 5 Gigginstown House Stud Dessie Hughes IRE 91 entries
Like Oddy, that Kings Destiny entry I find very intriguing. But the fact he has not been sited suggests an issue. At the same time however, there is a comparable case with Samain, who is only just back from injury and Willie Mullins has decided to keep him as a novice for next season unless he runs at Punchestown Festival. Samain was not given a Supreme entry, whereas Kings Destiny has been given one, so perhaps he might still have a chance of making it. Very interesting recruit to the NH sphere either way.
One thing that I always steered clear of is horses who don’t make their hurdling bow until after their official 6th birthday. I’ve spoken about this before and the adage ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ springs to mind as is I think highly relevant in such cases. King’s Destiny was though a highly competent performer on the old level being a 4 time winner and rated as highly as 107 at one point. Not for me but wouldn’t totally rule him out though because as everyone knows – ‘if anyone can, Mr Henderson can’.
http://m.racingpost.com/#news-story/story_id=985330 Captain Conan supplemented for the Deloitte Novices Hurdle over 2m 2f in Ireland. He is likely to take on Sous Les Cieux. Interesting to see how various trainers use the Deloitte with regards to the Supreme or Neptune route for Cheltenham. Will be an informative race I am sure, in time.
http://m.racingpost.com/#news-story/story_id=985330 Captain Conan supplemented for the Deloitte Novices Hurdle over 2m 2f in Ireland. He is likely to take on Sous Les Cieux. Interesting to see how various trainers use the Deloitte with regards to the Supreme or Neptune route for Cheltenham. Will be an informative race I am sure, in time.
