You two are braver than me. I was hoping for a slightly easier return to the track than taking on last years champion hurdler and next years second favorite, with an already impressive run under his belt this season. I'm just hoping for a nice return from injury. Should certainly improve for the run i think.
Grandouet is currently a best 11/4 to win the ‘International’ and 12/1 for the ‘Champion Hurdle’ itself. At this stage he’s be my pick for both contests and certainly would agree that if you fancy him for the latter then you have to back him for the Festival prior to this weekend. In my view if he wins, even by inches, then he’ll be half his current odds (that’s 6/1 for those who have trouble with Maths) and maybe even as much as a quarter of those should he win on the old bridle. Grandouet’s wins last term at Haydock and in the ‘International’ hinted at an exceptional talent and in Mr Henderson he has no better tutor to ensure that he returns at that same level. In other Mr Henderson hurdling news. The forum’s favourite trainer has said that my old fave Binocular is slightly behind in his usual schedule this season and therefore the ‘Christmas Hurdle’ is likely to come ‘too soon’ for him this time around. I’m sure I speak for everyone though when I say it will be wonderful to also see Binocular back on the old track later in the campaign.
Barney, Grandouet's certainly not bad at 12/1, but the real value was Oscar Whisky at 33/1 on Betfair a couple of months back. Geraghty feels he's better at the 2.5 mile trip but, if the ground came up soft, he'd certainly be a contender-and may have won it last year. I see Ladbrokes have him at only 8/1 and I can't see where else he would go, if not the Champion Hurdle.
Can anyone Shed any light as to why grandouet/rockonruby are set to carry an extra four pounds to zarkander? They are all G1 winners. Please rectify my lack of knowledge!
simmo if you go to the card on the racing post website and tick the little box next to conditions you will be shown the race conditions: http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/card.sd?race_id=568208&r_date=2012-12-15#raceTabs=sc_ I think Zarkandar gets 4lbs for his Class 1 handicap victories (Elite Hurdle and Betfair) whereas Grandouet and RoR get 8 lbs for winning class 1 weight-for-age races (International / Champion Hurdle) Zarkandar's Grade 1 wins don't come into it as they were before Sept 2011
Much appreciated oddy. Still seems daft to me. Im hopeful of à grandouet win. Would expect him to be ready. Geraghty expects à good performance but he also said that about finian!
Anyone playing the Champion Hurdle has to consider that Overturn won't be there this year so the pace might not be quite as stiff.
Very good point GGW and that is why I like Grandouet- the horse with a turn of foot will have a bigger say this year. However, this is a Champion Hurdle so the pace will always be good. There is no way they will let it be a crawl because they now all think they know how to beat Hurricane Fly, and Harry Fry will surely want a good clip for the reigning champ? But that said, Overturn really did seem to go for it last year. Was it a fast time? I
1 second faster than Sprinter Sacre and 110 yards further. Not slow. Ignoring the Cross Country, only Sprinter S, Rock on R and poor old Synchronised were faster than standard over the whole meeting.
Guys, if you fancy one to win today and go on to win the Champion Hurdle then there are some tasty double prices to be had; Zarkandar 14-1 Blue Square Rock On Ruby 16-1 Blue Squre & Stan James Grandouet 20-1 Stan James
We will be seeing the Champion Hurdle winner today, but it won't be coming from the international hurdle
Oscar Whisky still 14/1 available in places ................ if connections were committed to the race he would be half that price
Still sweet on the chances of Countrywide Flame myself, don't think you'll see a nimbler jumper of a hurdle, he has good speed, a fantastic attitude, and he has previous form at the track. Wont be out of the frame IMO, and 12/1 is a good E/W price, however this may lengthen after the Xmas hurdle, as I don't think that race will suit him, and he could come off 2nd best to a Grandouet possibly on Boxing Day
I think Oscar Whisky is the most underrated hurdler around, he is unbeaten in 7 starts over 2m4, and he ran well when 3rd behind Hurricane Fly and Peddlers Cross 2 years ago in the Champion hurdle. That day they went a very slow pace, which didn't suit OW, yet he still ran well. Connections made a huge error by running in the world hurdle last year, as he was never going to stay 3 miles strongly enough to beat Big Bucks. In last season CH they went a very fast pace, and I feel that would of suited OW down to the ground, and I feel he would of won. This year I don't see them hanging around either, with Rock on Ruby and in particular Zarkander lacking a real turn of foot. So I can see the race playing right into OWs hands. I don't see any reason why connections won't run, after all there isn't another race they can go for at the festival, after he proved not to stay 3 miles last year. There is no reason to rest the horse for the Aintree hurdle either, as he's already won that twice off the back of running at Cheltenham. So I'm sure connections will be keen to let him take his chance
I thought Grandouet ran a very good race at the weekend and anyone who took the 12’s should be very happy as the old boy is now a best priced 7/1. With that run behind him and the gelding set to receive the benefit of Mr Henderson’s magic hands he can only do one thing next time out and that is Improve with a capital ‘I’. Looks a major player in the Champion Hurdle. Re Oscar Whiskey Mr Henderson has already said that his major objective this term is to gain a hat-trick in the ‘Aintree Hurdle’. He’s one of those rare beasts who’s big aim is actually away from Cheltenham. Mr Henderson to some extent also has his hand tied behind his back re this one as the owner insists every year that he has to be trained for, and run in, the ‘Welsh Champion Hurdle’. As he has to peak in early February and then again in early April his training schedule means that Cheltenham, in March, is always going to be very difficult, certainly more difficult than most at any rate. Mr Henderson also said following Oscar Whiskey’s romp over 20 furlongs, at Cheltenham, on Saturday that after that you just could not say 100% that he couldn’t stay 4 extra furlongs in the World Hurdle and maybe his poor run behind Big Bucks in last years 3 miler was down to some malady rather than him not staying. Myself I wouldn’t be surprised to see him steered towards another attempt at the World Hurdle or, more likely, even asked to miss Cheltenham altogether.
Here was my nutty thought process at work today. Given the form of Countrywide Flame at the moment and how closely he and Grumeti were at Cheltenham and Aintree and that Paul Nicholls had a poor Cheltenham last year and that he had Countrywide Flame beat fair and square what price is Pearl Swan and where the hell is he at this season!? I don't for a minute think any of those 3 will be good enough btw but it might raise a debate.
