Yeah you're right - wishing away my time on this earth but I'm not a flat fan so I'm already plotting what horses to be watching for when the jumps season kicks off proper in October. Here are a few to get you all going, what are you all looking forward to ? SIMONSIG - looked at absolute superstar when winning the Neptune Hurdle at Cheltz Fest and then again at Aintree. The imposing grey just gallops and looks tailor made for fences with Nicky henderson already stating he looks a real chaser. He's bred to stay but he looks an Arkle sort to me, a real galloping jumper who could go all the way to the top. Already backed him at 3s a few times for the Arkle so he's hoping he stays over the minimum trip. CINDERS AND ASHES - won a tough looking Supreme at the Cheltz Fest last March and the form has been franked since by Darlan. The way CAA ran to the line even after flattening the last suggests there's more to come from this youngster and in trainer Donald McCain, he couldn't be in better hands. I have a few small nibbles on him for Champion Hurdle glory at fancy prices so he's hoping he improves again. BOSTON BOB - looked a proper chaser when 2nd to the ill-fated and unfortunate Brindisi Breeze. Looks sure to be a staying chaser to follow and with Willie Mullins he's in safe hands, looks sure to be an early candidate for the RSA at Cheltz in March. GOLD CUP - looks a proper race finally with Bobs Worth and Sir Des Champs looking potential stars in the staying chase sphere. Bobs Worth is a repeat Fest winner and looks a real gritty jumper tailor made for the Gold Cup, could he make it 3 wins from 3 Fests in March ?? SDC looks a star when winning the Jewson last March at Cheltz Fest and looks sure to love the step up to Gold Cup trip. I can see these 2 fighting it out up the hill come March. I've backed them both for glory and will have nibbles throughout the winter. SPRINTER SACRE - can anybody beat "the black earoplane" ?? If he is to be beaten I think Cheltz is the place, personally I think he adores the flatter, galloping track but wasn't quite as happy over the undulations at Cheltz but his class saw him easily beat Cue Card. However with Sizing Europe not getting any younger and Finians Rainbow looking RyanAir bound, not sure if anything can beat him anyway ?? Already on him in ante-post nibbles, get on now whilst he's 5/4. BIG BUCKS - no need for anything else really, can he go through the season still unbeaten ???? ....... would take a brave punter to say no.
I really like Bobs Worth, and think his form in the RSA is head and shoulders above Sir Des Champs effort in the Jewson.* I know he's only a little fella but he has a massive heart, and if he can win the Gold Cup he will become only the 2nd horse to win 3 different races at the festival. I wonder if anyone can name me the other horse who did it?
Excellent thread. Its never to early to think about the big NH prizes. Greatly looking forward to Sprinter Sacre but think anyone who takes 5/4, at this stage, about him for the ‘Champion Chase’ wants sectioning. Hopefully he will win the race for several years to come but such a quote is woefully short. Am also really looking forward to the return of my old fave, Tataniano. Injuries have been unkind to him this past couple of years but he is still young and hopefully can return once more to the ‘top table’. Due to the presence of Sprinter Sacre though he may have to step up to 2.5 miles though if he is to be dominant. My regular readers will know how much I think of ‘the pride of the county’, Montbazon. A decision will be made over the summer as to whether he remains over hurdles or goes novice chasing but whichever route he takes expect him to go very close to topping it. Am also very optimistic re Barbers Shop’s little sister, Heather Royal, going over fences. Given her pedigree and strong hurdling performances she has the potential to be a star in this sphere. The ‘Mares Chasing Final’ should be a shoo-in for her but will Mr Henderson be really positive with her and look to the RSA??? Mr Henderson is, of course, second to none when it comes to training hurdlers and providing they can be nursed back to full fitness I expect the Champion Hurdle to be dominated by Grandouet and Spirit Son. Both have looked awesome in the past and the forum’s favourite trainer’s magic hands can revitalise both. In Long Run and Bob’s Worth Mr Henderson also has a formidable hand in the CGC but Sir Des Champs looked hugely impressive in the Jewsons and at this stage would be my nomination as the most likely winner of the race in 2013.
Yeah I like the look of Montbazon, he improved with every run last season and with a summer sun (lol) on his back and a bit of growing, he should be some horse. I'd stick with hurdles for the time being and go for the Champion Hurdle, he's still young and maybe a bit immature.
If assumptions about the Champion Chase are accurate surely the bet is Sanctuaire at 12/1 E/W. Agree with comments about Sir Des Champs and Bobs Worth but would add Flemenstar for consideration. His last run was, in my judgement, the best jumping by a novice all year.
In the staying chase division I'm very much looking forward to 2 horses who didn't make to RSA due to injury - Last Instalment and Invictus. I think both of these could develop into top notchers, adding further spice to what is already looking like a possible classic Gold Cup (although we are a very long way away). Like Sir Barney I'm also very hopeful that Mr Henderson's Grandouet and Spirit River will recover from their setbacks and be vying for the Champion Hurdle. I also wouldn't rule out "chase flop" Peddler's Cross for that heat by the way - I'm sure we will see him to the fore in the premier hurdle races this season. I'm also looking forward to John Ferguson introducing more nice novices and juveniles, although he'll need to get his schooling sorted out - most of his coudn't hurdle for toffee last season. The highlight of the early part of the season though will surely be the clash between Sprinter Sacre and Sanctuaire in the Tingle Creek? That promises to be a corking, and I do mean corking, race.
Looking forward to seeing Kentford Grey Lady again. Thought she ran a cracker in the Mares. Sir Des Champs in the Gold Cup, and also to see if the mighty Kauto Star makes it out to the racecourse again. Masterminded to return also?
I suppose with the weather i can forgive you starting this thread as it seems nearer October than June.
Bastard please log in to view this image Probably the number they should have jumped minus the last in the 2m Champion Chase.
Cannot wait for the Tingle Creek - Sprinter Sacre v Sanctuaire could be some clash. Even thinking about the jumps season is fantastic. It's different league to the flat in terms of entertainment as far as I'm concerned. I think it could be a good year for Potensis Ltd - Sanctuaire (best alternative to the Black Aeroplane), Silviniaco Conti (King George) and Zarkandar (Champion Hurdle). I hope that Simonsig, the Grey Aeroplane, wins the Arkle 'on the snaff' and expect him to do so but even I, his biggest fan, couldn't take 3/1 about a horse that has yet to jump a regulation fence in public. You could get 8/1 about all the main protagonists for the race this time last year.
Wuby - great thread, it may be June but the weather reminds me of November so nothing wrong with some NH chat ! The horses you mention are already stars, all reigning Festival winners, part of the fun for me is finding horses who either didn't make Cheltenham or who finished down the field but will come back bigger and better next season and challenge for the big prizes. For instance Cinders & Ashes was well beaten in the Bumper last year but made a great hurdler and won the Supreme a touch cosily in the end having flattened the last. Such as: Zarkander found everything happening a bit quickly in the Champion Hurdle, as a 5yo it was a great run, next year I can see him stepping up to 3m and posing the great Bucks a serious threat. Darlan I think will be a serious Champion Hurdle contender next season, his Supreme run after interrupted preparation was excellent and he then hosed up in the novice hurdle at Aintree, a serious horse for me. First Lieutenant ran a blinder to get so close to Bobs Worth who in turn will be very hard to beat in the Gold Cup (4 from 4 at Cheltenham), but if connections were to aim FL at the Ryanair I think he'd have a huge chance. Hisaabat found Countrywide Flame too strong in the Triumph but gained compensation at Punchestown in horrendous conditions, the fact he has winning flat form on good to firm yet won Irelands champion 4yo hurdle on bottomless suggests the horse is all heart, I wouldn't want to be against him in a scrap and he could be very good, slightly worried about the miles on the clock and he could be one of those who is best caught early and could decline before his time, but he is clearly talented and may have another big race in him....
Agree about First Lieutenant. As the owner is blessed with staying chasers I think this plan is in his thoughts. If I rememember correctly FL ran in the two mile novice chase at the Punchestown Festival. Although the run was respectable the distance was clearly two short so the Ryanair would seem perfect in 2013.
yeah, First Lieutenant and Finians Rainbow for RyanAir maybe ???? Darlan could well be interesting, very solid form and improving, looks tough, could this mean Binocular chasing Arkle glory ?
After thought. Trick question maybe? All of them were jumped. But not all of them were jumped in every race.
It wasn't a trick question Ron, it was a wind up. Part of me thought you'd actually try and work it out. Glad you didn't as I wouldn't be able to tell you if you were correct or not
