Entries below: THE VINCENT OâBRIEN COUNTY HANDICAP HURDLE Class 1, Grade 3 Race £70,000 Total Prize Fund. Cheltenham, 2.05pm, Friday, March 16 2012, two miles and one furlong. For five-year-olds and upwards. Penalties: after February 26, a winner of a hurdle race 5lb. No penalty to increase a horseâs weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed February 21 (109 entries), entries released February 23, weights revealed February 29. Six-day confirmation stage March 10, final declaration stage 10.00am, March 15. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, February 20, 2012. May not include some overseas form. Form Horse Age Owner Trainer 1130(1)0 ABERGAVENNY 5 Dan Gilbert & Kristian Strangeway Brian Ellison 13/2/-011 ABOU BEN (IRE) 10 P McElroy Andy Oliver IRE 1-11422 AINE'S DELIGHT (IRE) 6 Andrew Turnell Andy Turnell 2340-P1 AKULA (IRE) 5 Jay Three Racing Mark Tompkins 04-5360 ALARAZI (IRE) 8 Johnny Eddis Lucy Wadham 610120 ALDERWOOD (IRE) 8 J P McManus Thomas Mullins IRE 001-326 ART PROFESSOR (IRE) 8 Jeremy Hancock Venetia Williams 601-146 ARTHURIAN LEGEND 7 R T Kanter & A J Scrimgeour Philip Hobbs 02-11P(2) ASCENDANT 6 Andrew Reid Andrew Reid 0135P1 ATTAGLANCE 6 H Young, G Eifert, R Snyder Malcolm Jefferson F0404F BARACAS (FR) 7 Martina Griffin Eoin Griffin IRE 143111 BLAZING TEMPO (IRE) 8 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE 132400 BOOK'EM DANNO (IRE) 6 Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen 1321 BOURNE 6 Timeform Betfair Racing Club & M Taylor Donald McCain 0-11300 BRAMPOUR (IRE) 5 Banks, Blackshaw & Gannon Paul Nicholls 1213P-2 CELTUS (FR) 5 Simon Munir Nicky Henderson 0-04111 CHESIL BEACH BOY 9 Chris Pugsley John Coombe 0-00150 CICERON (IRE) 6 Verrier, Bowditch, Secretan Venetia Williams 0-01321 CITIZENSHIP 6 Fresh By Nature Syndicate Jessica Harrington IRE 462-04(4) CLERK'S CHOICE (IRE) 6 Michael Banks Oliver Sherwood 212-31 CLOSE HOUSE 5 Roger Brookhouse David Pipe 222533 COCKNEY TRUCKER (IRE) 10 Karola Vann Philip Hobbs 235312 COTILLION 6 Paul Vogt Ian Williams P1140(0) COURT IN SESSION (IRE) 7 The Figjam Partnership Martin Keighley 1B26 CRY OF FREEDOM (USA) 6 Bloomfields John Ferguson 23-2324 CRYSTAL ROCK (IRE) 7 Bridget Hanbury Nicky Henderson 2013-00 DAN BREEN (IRE) 7 Stuart & Simon Mercer David Pipe 162/11-0 DARE ME (IRE) 8 Trevor Hemmings Philip Hobbs 031F5P- DEE EE WILLIAMS (IRE) 9 Give Every Man His Due Nick Gifford 5-10520 DESERT CRY (IRE) 6 NYPD Racing Donald McCain 30-3265 DIRAR (IRE) 7 M White/M Reeder/Emma Johansen-Wooder Gordon Elliott IRE 4U1131 DONTPAYTHEFERRYMAN (USA) 7 Koo's Racing Club Brian Ellison 03U-511 DOUBLE HANDFUL (GER) 6 The Sunday Night Partnership Lawney Hill 0/3202-3 DREAM ESTEEM 7 Roger Brookhouse David Pipe P-62210 DRUMSHAMBO (USA) 6 The Grouse Partnership Venetia Williams 311401 DUL AR AN OL (IRE) 11 Rockview Racing Club John McConnell IRE 41-1200 EASTLAKE (IRE) 6 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill 231143 EDGARDO SOL (FR) 5 Axom XXXII Paul Nicholls 12-4120 EMPIRE LEVANT (USA) 5 Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason, R Wood & P Done Paul Nicholls 01-3F22 FAR AWAY SO CLOSE (IRE) 7 Gigginstown House Stud Paul Nolan 1-65410 FINAL APPROACH 6 Douglas Taylor Willie Mullins IRE 130250 FIRST IN THE QUEUE (IRE) 5 Liam Breslin Nicky Henderson 621450 FLYCORN (IRE) 6 J J Devlin Tom Hogan IRE 02P-522 GET ME OUT OF HERE (IRE) 8 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill FP0FPR GLENSTAL ABBEY (IRE) 8 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill 5-50130 GRAFITE 7 Dr Jeff Dalton & C Shankland Brendan Powell 3-66111 GRAMS AND OUNCES 5 Ron Williams John Flint 1-11134 HAZY TOM (IRE) 6 Alan Halsall Charlie Longsdon D5-1U41 HEATHER ROYAL 6 Rita Brown Nicky Henderson 224425 HELIUM (FR) 7 G Thompson, C J Leech, P Stock Sophie Leech 21-P00P HELL'S BAY (FR) 10 A G Fear & A J Norman Colin Tizzard 112-020 HIGGY'S RAGAZZO (FR) 5 I Higginson Nicky Henderson 236604 IDARAH (USA) 9 Liam Mulryan Paul Cashman IRE 1032 IFYOULETMEFINISH (IRE) 5 Bradley Partnership Jeremy Scott 541153 IL FENOMENO (ITY) 6 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade IRE 42114 INGLEBY SPIRIT 5 Percy/Green Racing Richard Fahey 14-2121 IT'S A GIMME (IRE) 5 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill 131223 JOHNS SPIRIT (IRE) 5 Christopher Johnston Jonjo O'Neill 131252 KALANN (IRE) 5 K McConnell Sabrina Harty IRE 5/000/0-2 KANDARI (FR) 8 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill 036106 KING'S PARADE 5 Aidan Whelan Aidan Whelan IRE 206542 KNIGHT IN PURPLE 8 A J Wall, G Hicks & N Hooper John Mackie 10-1316 KNIGHT PASS (IRE) 6 Malcolm Denmark Warren Greatrex 11-U143 LIFESTYLE 6 The Turf Club & David Ford Nicky Henderson 11405-3 LOCAL HERO (GER) 5 P J Martin Steve Gollings 0-63514 LUCAINDUBAI (IRE) 6 R J Gambarini Evan Williams 42-1113 MAGNIFIQUE ETOILE 5 Magnifique Etoile Partnership Charlie Longsdon 1-12315 MAKE A TRACK (IRE) 6 Gigginstown House Stud Charlie Swan IRE 0-25036 MARSH WARBLER 5 Dan Gilbert & Kristian Strangeway Brian Ellison 10//- MASTER OF ARTS (USA) 7 Roger Brookhouse David Pipe 0-3304(3) MEGASTAR 7 Hinds Waddingham Arthur Herbert Gary Moore 1-5F1 MODULE (FR) 5 Simon Clarke Tom George 24303-0 MONETARY FUND (USA) 6 A Brooks Venetia Williams 46-1145 MOON DICE (IRE) 7 Three Friers Cross Syndicate Paul Flynn IRE 122326 NEAREST THE PIN (IRE) 7 Sox Syndicate Tony Martin IRE 0120-3P NO SECRETS (IRE) 8 Malcolm Denmark David Pipe 30-42F5 OLOFI (FR) 6 McNeill Family Tom George 10/0063- OPEN DAY (IRE) 6 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill 111/0-30 ORZARE (IRE) 6 Bryan Fry Gary Moore 101-530 PAINTBALL (IRE) 5 Alan Halsall Charlie Longsdon 24-4P52 PASCHA BERE (FR) 9 Mr and Mrs Mark Tracey Nick Gifford 30-1006 PATEESE (FR) 7 The Test Valley Partnership Philip Hobbs 611P26 PLAN A (IRE) 5 Liam Mulryan Gordon Elliott IRE 12144 PROSPECT WELLS (FR) 7 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls 4-21313 RAYA STAR (IRE) 6 Simon Munir Alan King 250111- RED MERLIN (IRE) 7 Timeform Betfair Racing Club & M Taylor Donald McCain 110363 REDERA (IRE) 6 Peter William Partnership Tony Martin IRE 3U4260 RIGIDITY 5 Pearn's Pharmacies Ltd Tim Vaughan 22140 ROWAN TIGER 6 Paul Jenkins Dr Richard Newland 012206 SAILORS WARN (IRE) 5 Patrick Wilmott Edward OâGrady IRE 20112/-0 SALUT FLO (FR) 7 Allan Stennett David Pipe 3-20232 SAPHIR RIVER (FR) 6 Fat Gary Sports Michael Scudamore F/111-06 SILVERHAND (IRE) 8 J P McManus Noel Meade IRE 262211- SILVERLORD (FR) 8 Miss Stephanie Swift Gordon Elliott IRE 1113-64 SIRE DE GRUGY (FR) 6 The Preston Family & Friends Gary Moore 100-033 SKI SUNDAY 7 Scarlet Pimpernel Tim Vaughan 12306/1/- SNAP TIE (IRE) 10 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs 342114 SNOW BLIZZARD (IRE) 5 Davies & Price Rebecca Curtis 23134-3 STARLUCK (IRE) 7 Andrew Wates David Arbuthnot 646211 STORMY WEATHER (FR) 6 Keith Hanson & Steve Catchpole Brian Ellison 1-13000 STREET ENTERTAINER (IRE) 5 Barnett, Manasseh & Partners David Pipe 421 TED SPREAD 5 False Nose 'n Glasses Partnership Paul Nicholls 02-6134 THE BULL HAYES (IRE) 6 J Wholey Jessica Harrington IRE 01-6020 THIRD INTENTION (IRE) 5 Robert and Sarah Tizzard Colin Tizzard 31-1132 UBI ACE 6 N J Maher Tim Walford 426200 VIA GALILEI (IRE) 7 Clive Stedman Gary Moore 211050 VIVA COLONIA (IRE) 7 Bolingbroke Racing, Mersey Racing David O'Meara 212 VULCANITE (IRE) 5 Pearl Bloodstock Ltd Charlie Longsdon 1-3460(0) ZANIR (FR) 8 Laura Day Graeme McPherson 109 entries
Cor blimey I see that my favourite NH horse Heather Royal, what a lovely name for a mare by the way, has been put in this one. And should she make the old cut could surprise a few as she is Classy with a capital ‘C’. In fact Friday at the meet could now be a sensational day for her family. What with Heather Royal and, big brother, Barbers Shop both entered in races. Have siblings ever won at the Festival on the same day, I wonder?!?
Weights: THE VINCENT O’BRIEN COUNTY HANDICAP HURDLE Class 1, Grade 3 Race £70,000 Total Prize Fund. Cheltenham, 2.05pm, Friday, March 16 2012, two miles and one furlong. For five-year-olds and upwards. Penalties: after February 26, a winner of a hurdle race 5lb. No penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed February 21 (109 entries), entries released February 23, weights revealed February 29. Six-day confirmation stage March 10, final declaration stage 10.00am, March 15. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Sunday, February 26, 2012. May not include some overseas form. Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer 0-11300 BRAMPOUR (IRE) 5-11-12 Banks, Blackshaw & Gannon Paul Nicholls 02P-522 GET ME OUT OF HERE (IRE) 8-11-06 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill 1-60201 THIRD INTENTION (IRE) 5-11-04 Robert and Sarah Tizzard Colin Tizzard 23134-3 STARLUCK (IRE) 7-11-01 Andrew Wates David Arbuthnot 462-04(4) CLERK'S CHOICE (IRE) 6-11-01 Michael Banks Oliver Sherwood 1-65410 FINAL APPROACH 6-11-00 Douglas Taylor Willie Mullins IRE 46-1145 MOON DICE (IRE) 7-11-00 Three Friers Cross Syndicate Paul Flynn IRE 0-25036 MARSH WARBLER 5-10-13 Dan Gilbert & Kristian Strangeway Brian Ellison 143111 BLAZING TEMPO (IRE) 8-10-12 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE 113-641 SIRE DE GRUGY (FR) 6-10-12 The Preston Family & Friends Gary Moore 131252 KALANN (IRE) 5-10-10 K McConnell Sabrina Harty IRE 426200 VIA GALILEI (IRE) 7-10-09 Clive Stedman Gary Moore 31-1132 UBI ACE 6-10-09 N J Maher Tim Walford 12144 PROSPECT WELLS (FR) 7-10-08 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls 012206 SAILORS WARN (IRE) 5-10-08 Patrick Wilmott Edward O’Grady IRE 4-21313 RAYA STAR (IRE) 6-10-08 Simon Munir Alan King 5-10520 DESERT CRY (IRE) 6-10-07 NYPD Racing Donald McCain 222533 COCKNEY TRUCKER (IRE) 10-10-07 Karola Vann Philip Hobbs 02-6134 THE BULL HAYES (IRE) 6-10-06 J Wholey Jessica Harrington IRE 30-3265 DIRAR (IRE) 7-10-05 M White/M Reeder/Emma Johansen-Wooder Gordon Elliott IRE 12-4120 EMPIRE LEVANT (USA) 5-10-05 Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason, R Wood & P Done Paul Nicholls 31F5P-0 DEE EE WILLIAMS (IRE) 9-10-05 Give Every Man His Due Nick Gifford 11405-3 LOCAL HERO (GER) 5-10-05 P J Martin Steve Gollings 01-3F22 FAR AWAY SO CLOSE (IRE) 7-10-05 Gigginstown House Stud Paul Nolan IRE 3-20232 SAPHIR RIVER (FR) 6-10-04 Fat Gary Sports Michael Scudamore 1-5F1 MODULE (FR) 5-10-04 Simon Clarke Tom George 0135P1 ATTAGLANCE 6-10-04 H Young, G Eifert, R Snyder Malcolm Jefferson 211050 VIVA COLONIA (IRE) 7-10-04 Bolingbroke Racing, Mersey Racing David O'Meara 610120 ALDERWOOD (IRE) 8-10-04 J P McManus Tom Mullins IRE F/111-06 SILVERHAND (IRE) 8-10-04 J P McManus Noel Meade IRE 11-U143 LIFESTYLE 6-10-03 The Turf Club & David Ford Nicky Henderson 04-5360 ALARAZI (IRE) 8-10-03 Johnny Eddis Lucy Wadham 20112/-0 SALUT FLO (FR) 7-10-02 Allan Stennett David Pipe 366041 IDARAH (USA) 9-10-02 Liam Mulryan Paul Cashman IRE 611P26 PLAN A (IRE) 5-10-02 Liam Mulryan Gordon Elliott IRE 311435 EDGARDO SOL (FR) 5-10-02 Axom XXXII Paul Nicholls 1-11134 HAZY TOM (IRE) 6-10-02 Alan Halsall Charlie Longsdon 21-P00P HELL'S BAY (FR) 10-10-02 A G Fear & A J Norman Colin Tizzard 12306/1/- SNAP TIE (IRE) 10-10-02 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs 212 VULCANITE (IRE) 5-10-01 Pearl Bloodstock Ltd Charlie Longsdon 42-1113 MAGNIFIQUE ETOILE 5-10-01 Magnifique Etoile Partnership Charlie Longsdon 12-0200 HIGGY'S RAGAZZO (FR) 5-10-01 I Higginson Nicky Henderson 14-2121 IT'S A GIMME (IRE) 5-10-01 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill 3304(3)2 MEGASTAR 7-10-01 Hinds Waddingham Arthur Herbert Gary Moore 110363 REDERA (IRE) 6-10-01 Peter William Partnership Tony Martin IRE 30-42F5 OLOFI (FR) 6-10-01 McNeill Family Tom George 30-1006 PATEESE (FR) 7-10-01 The Test Valley Partnership Philip Hobbs 3U4260 RIGIDITY 5-10-00 Pearn's Pharmacies Ltd Tim Vaughan 0-00150 CICERON (IRE) 6-10-00 Verrier, Bowditch, Secretan Venetia Williams 62/11-03 DARE ME (IRE) 8-10-00 Trevor Hemmings Philip Hobbs 10//- MASTER OF ARTS (USA) 7-10-00 Roger Brookhouse David Pipe 2013-00 DAN BREEN (IRE) 7-10-00 Stuart & Simon Mercer David Pipe 1130(1)0 ABERGAVENNY 5-10-00 Dan Gilbert & Kristian Strangeway Brian Ellison 421 TED SPREAD 5-10-00 False Nose 'n Glasses Partnership Paul Nicholls 10-1316 KNIGHT PASS (IRE) 6-10-00 Malcolm Denmark Warren Greatrex 541153 IL FENOMENO (ITY) 6-10-00 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade IRE 10321 IFYOULETMEFINISH (IRE) 5-10-00 Bradley Partnership Jeremy Scott 1321 BOURNE 6-10-00 Timeform Betfair Racing Club & M Taylor Donald McCain 1-13000 STREET ENTERTAINER (IRE) 5-9-13 Barnett, Manasseh & Partners David Pipe 42114 INGLEBY SPIRIT 5-9-13 Percy/Green Racing Richard Fahey 235312 COTILLION 6-9-13 Paul Vogt Ian Williams 1-12315 MAKE A TRACK (IRE) 6-9-13 Gigginstown House Stud Charlie Swan IRE 00-0330 SKI SUNDAY 7-9-12 Scarlet Pimpernel Tim Vaughan 0-01321 CITIZENSHIP 6-9-12 Fresh By Nature Syndicate Jessica Harrington IRE 01-1463 ARTHURIAN LEGEND 7-9-12 R T Kanter & A J Scrimgeour Philip Hobbs 214506 FLYCORN (IRE) 6-9-11 J J Devlin Tom Hogan IRE P1140(0) COURT IN SESSION (IRE) 7-9-11 The Figjam Partnership Martin Keighley 3202-31 DREAM ESTEEM 7-9-11 Roger Brookhouse David Pipe 001-326 ART PROFESSOR (IRE) 8-9-11 Jeremy Hancock Venetia Williams 111/0-30 ORZARE (IRE) 6-9-10 Bryan Fry Gary Moore 122326 NEAREST THE PIN (IRE) 7-9-10 Sox Syndicate Tony Martin IRE 13/2/-011 ABOU BEN (IRE) 10-9-09 P McElroy Andy Oliver IRE 23-2324 CRYSTAL ROCK (IRE) 7-9-09 Bridget Hanbury Nicky Henderson 311401 DUL AR AN OL (IRE) 11-9-09 Rockview Racing Club John McConnell IRE 1213P-2 CELTUS (FR) 5-9-09 Simon Munir Nicky Henderson 131223 JOHNS SPIRIT (IRE) 5-9-09 Christopher Johnston Jonjo O'Neill 1-3460(0) ZANIR (FR) 8-9-09 Laura Day Graeme McPherson 340-P16 AKULA (IRE) 5-9-09 Jay Three Racing Mark Tompkins 4U1131 DONTPAYTHEFERRYMAN (USA) 7-9-09 Koo's Racing Club Brian Ellison 250111- RED MERLIN (IRE) 7-9-09 Timeform Betfair Racing Club & M Taylor Donald McCain 462112 STORMY WEATHER (FR) 6-9-09 Keith Hanson & Steve Catchpole Brian Ellison D5-1U41 HEATHER ROYAL 6-9-08 Rita Brown Nicky Henderson 0-04111 CHESIL BEACH BOY 9-9-08 Chris Pugsley John Coombe 24-4P52 PASCHA BERE (FR) 9-9-08 Mr and Mrs Mark Tracey Nick Gifford F0404F BARACAS (FR) 7-9-08 Martina Griffin Eoin Griffin IRE 130250 FIRST IN THE QUEUE (IRE) 5-9-08 Liam Breslin Nicky Henderson 3-66111 GRAMS AND OUNCES 5-9-08 Ron Williams John Flint 0120-3P NO SECRETS (IRE) 8-9-08 Malcolm Denmark David Pipe 101-530 PAINTBALL (IRE) 5-9-07 Alan Halsall Charlie Longsdon 02-11P(2) ASCENDANT 6-9-07 Andrew Reid Andrew Reid 0-63514 LUCAINDUBAI (IRE) 6-9-06 R J Gambarini Evan Williams 24303-0 MONETARY FUND (USA) 6-9-06 A Brooks Venetia Williams 5-50130 GRAFITE 7-9-05 Dr Jeff Dalton & C Shankland Brendan Powell 361060 KING'S PARADE 5-9-04 Aidan Whelan Aidan Whelan IRE 1B26 CRY OF FREEDOM (USA) 6-9-04 Bloomfields John Ferguson 41-1200 EASTLAKE (IRE) 6-9-04 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill 5/000/0-2 KANDARI (FR) 8-9-03 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill 224425 HELIUM (FR) 7-9-03 G Thompson, C J Leech, P Stock Sophie Leech 206542 KNIGHT IN PURPLE 8-9-02 A J Wall, G Hicks & N Hooper John Mackie P0FPR6 GLENSTAL ABBEY (IRE) 8-9-02 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill 221404 ROWAN TIGER 6-9-01 Paul Jenkins Dr Richard Newland 132400 BOOK'EM DANNO (IRE) 6-9-01 Roddy Owen & Paul Fullagar Peter Bowen 262211- SILVERLORD (FR) 8-9-01 Miss Stephanie Swift Gordon Elliott IRE 1-11422 AINE'S DELIGHT (IRE) 6-8-13 Andrew Turnell Andy Turnell 342114 SNOW BLIZZARD (IRE) 5-8-13 Davies & Price Rebecca Curtis 622104 DRUMSHAMBO (USA) 6-8-12 The Grouse Partnership Venetia Williams 10/0063- OPEN DAY (IRE) 6-8-11 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill 03U-511 DOUBLE HANDFUL (GER) 6-8-10 The Sunday Night Partnership Lawney Hill 108 entries THE FOLLOWING HORSE IS NOT QUALIFIED: CLOSE HOUSE
Get me out of here with maurice linehan claiming 7 lbs will effectively be 8 lbs less than last year where he was beaten by a distance of a nose. Must have a great shout!
If Get Me Out Of Here is a leading contender you can guarantee that the McCoy boy won’t let Linehan get anywhere near the horse. Meanwhile, I will certainly be monitoring things to see how Snap Tie is progressing from now to the Festival. Although this 10YO hasn’t run since October 2009 a look back at his form shows some top quality performances and he’s set to carry a featherweight here.
Swifty: I think you are correct, the 7lbs will deffo be taken off his back he looks a nice prospect in this tricky handicaP
GMOOH is entered in all the handicap hurdles, is the County his prefered option ? For the record, watch a re0run of last years race, nearby (who was about a million to one) was cantering all over them then got squeezed for room at the last hurdle and was snatched up losing a couple of lengths by my reckoning, he finished 3rd and would IMO have won the race. Funny his form after that has been dire....
I watched replays last night and Wuby has something there - Dirar was caught up in all sorts of scrimaging coming down the hill and stayed on very well to be beaten around 4 lengths, the fact he ran on suggests he has a heart for a battle and is not put off by big fields, on last years running it confirms he is OK on the ground, this year he carries 6lb less. But to be honest you need so much luck in running to win this race that form/fitness/weight important as they are can create misleading opinions....
cheers Grizzly, I watched that race as well and no luck in running, which is a massive factor in the race but if he gets some luck, he must go well for a trainer who bagged a few winners at the Fest last March.
I don’t know if I’m missing something here but where are you getting it from that the Linehan lad ‘deffo’ rides Get Me Out of Here. GMOOH is JP McManus’ lowest quoted beast and probably his best horse in the County Hurdle (and the Coral Cup as well) and would only be ridden by someone other than AP McCoy should he first reject the horse (‘the champ’ is, of course, his retained rider). Personally, I don’t think McManus other horses are that great in either contest but anyway McCoy never usually commits to making such riding decisions until 24-48 hours before post-time so he can fully take into account all the necessary and up-to-date variables. Linehan would obviously be a leading contender to ride GMOOH should McCoy turn the ride down but that is the only way that he would get on the horse at the Festival.
SBC I read it somewhere but cant remember where so that is utterly useless, also craig forsyth was talking about it on william hill radio. I seem to remember reading that it has been the plan for a while because he is handicapped up to his best and therefore linehan taking the mount would give him the adavnatge to make sure his is very competitive. He'll never win it with mccoy on his back because there is bound to be something lurking that is well handicapped, so it kind of makes sense to claim of off gmooh.
Swifty, good response, I hadn't heard that. Assuming its correct I would love to hear McCoy's reply to his better rides being given to other jockeys. I would imagine the old 'beep' machine would be going into overdrive especially if someone told him that a 7 pound claimer riding a horse had more chance of winning than him being on it! I wouldn't want the job of delivering that news to him. Also raises the question as to why JP McManus is paying McCoy a retainer of several hundreds of thousands of pounds a year and then giving the rides at top meetings to someone else. Unless of course McCoy really wants to ride another McManus in whichever race GMOOH goes for. Meanwhile, I see that VC are mysteriously shortening quite a few horses in this race this morning.
No SBC, she's **** with a capital 'S' And don't worry about Barbers Shop, his next stop should be Crufts woof woof! Hope the fine dining at the top table has been as good as ever for you my good man! I presume you are following Camilla Henderson on Twitter, a fine bit of crumpet
Certainly agree that BS has little chance in the Hunter Chase..only running and qualified because Her Majesty will be there on the day. It's a well known fact that Jessie Harrington stays and parties with the Hendersons during the festival. Barney,are the rumours true that NH is laying down a lot of late evening love hurt on the Irish handler?..
I quite like the weight of Magnifique Etoile in this - looked like a real potential talent early this season, I think he's better than his last (not too disappointing anyway) run.
Hey, Flubs, great to see you on here. A true legend of the old 606 days. Calm down though, old boy, about Heather Royal and her big brother Barbers Shop. Both are in good heart at the moment and both have been dual winners already this term. Plus they both have the huge good fortune of being trained by Mr Henderson who is sure to place they to ensure maximum reward. It doesn’t look as if Heather Royal will get in the County Hurdle but should the unexpected happen she wouldn't disgrace herself. Plus she promises to be a wonderful broodmare given her track form and the fact the she is closely related to such top notchers as old boy Barbers Shop. All is still well at the old ‘top table’ meanwhile. However, I don’t go on Twitter as apparently you have to say everything in 140 characters. Not for me as by the time I’ve said ‘if someone held a gun to my head’, ‘old boy’ and ‘what a lovely name for a filly’ there’s not much room for anything else! Dex, I’m sure that Mrs Harrington’s time with Mr Henderson during Cheltenham week is the highlight of her year.
