A lot has been said and written about the 2011 Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly so there's no reason why I shouldn't do the same....Here is what I will write.... 'Hurricane Fly was a very fortunate winner in 2011. The horse faced a very indifferent field and crucially met a field without the landmark 2010 winner Binocular...Binocular is a horse who would have really put him in his place and I have great faith next year Mr Henderson's charge will regain his rightful title of 'Champion'. Being objective about it is a straightforward task. Firstly Binocular put up a cracking performance in the 2009 renewal just being touched off by the stellar Punjabi and even more stellar Celestial Halo. It was a fairly earth shattering run and favourite backers must have been celebrating the young underdogs performance for quite a few evenings after, happy that the 'old boy' Binocular had gained his second sighter at the Festival after unfortunately just coming up short against another stellar hurdler Captain Cee Bee, strangely seen fit to be sent chasing shortly after. However it was in 2010 that the world seen that Binocular really was a most impressive, tip top winner of a majestic renewal. Leaving behind such luminaries as Kyber Kim, Zaynar and reversing form with the mighty Celestial Halo, Binocular, in his third festival appearance at last found his rightful place in the winners enclosure. The first of many unquestionably. In 2011 he proved how high class he was, his solitary victory coming against Donald McCain's stable star, Overturn in the rearranged Christmas Hurdle at Kempton following a terrific third behind Starluck and the still unbeaten Peddlers Cross. The 2011Champion Hurdle was his for the taking as, by now, we had all seen what he can do! Unfortunately, due to 'unforeseen circumstances' he was forced to miss the 'big one' which let a very lucky Hurricane Fly win at Cheltenham when he managed to beat good old Peddlers Cross and Oscar Whisky, scrapping home like the Irish hype horse was predicted to do. After Cheltenham, at the Puchestown Festival, Hurricane Fly, got lucky again in his 8th or 9th Grade One win with Binocular clearly unsuited by having to make the running and obviously would have won in a 'truer' run race. Next year, Binocular, is rightly fancied to regain his crown as we know Hurricane Fly is merely hype with no substance or form to compare him with good old Mr Henderson's charge. As they said about before Cheltenham I'll wait to see it myself. Signed....'I'm not being ironic and how dare you suggest otherwise'
"Hurricane Fly- A Champion looking over his shoulders for Binoculars " Beef, I love humorous Articles. However, this tongueincheekintentionallyintendedtoinflameyouknowwhosepiles-type effort falls someway short of the mark. It's best effort is contained in the erroneous 'plurality' of poor old Binocular's name! In fact, Hurricane Fly was NOT looking over his shoulder for Binoculars.....he was looking over his shoulder with binoculars! Unfortunately, he was unable to see Henderson's charge- who had disappeared into the reaches of Cleeve Hill and, out of fear, was urinating down Tony McCoy's breeches. Roll on next Jumps season! We'll then have some more emotive claptrap as to how Binocular is going to regain his rightful seat atop Hurricane Fly's faecal waste.
I hope famous doesn't read this article. If he does, he'll come charging out of his corner, swinging like a mad man.
Cyclonic, good morning. Famous will need a far greater discipline than I possess not to respond to this!
Know what ya mean Tam. He loves that horse. He's been singing his praises for quite some time. And all due credit to Famous. he placed his faith in the animal and it didn't let him down. I hope my faith in a horse from downunder isn't misplaced.
Yes, merely tongue in cheek, I was just 'literally' trying to step into the shoes of people who keep banging on that Binocular is poised to swipe his crown back- its scary to believe some actually are of the same opinion as my tongue in cheek article Speaking of humour I must say you're O'Brien winning speech for Cape Blanco in the Eclipse was a clinker- I wonder if Aidan tapped into any of it last night when the horse won in the States
Mr Henderson will get some revenge on Hurricane Fly next season, wether that's with Binocular, probably not! But Spirit Son and Oscar Whisky can improve, whilst Hurricane Fly at 8 will be slightly past his prime
Your majesty Shergy this thread is purely for tongue in cheek debate, please refrain from all sensible debate in this thread! It has merely been set up to measure the sanity or otherwise of people...Ok, I've just reread your last ten words and can see you've got the jist of the idea! You're most welcome
Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit Beef. Hurricane Fly did dominate last season, no one would dispute that, and if he can mantain that form he will be the one to beat, but because of Injury's he has arrived late on the scene in his career, and will be no spring chicken at 8 years of age come Cheltenham, so I can see something like Spirit Son getting the better of him. Nicholls also has Zarkandar, brother of Zarkava, and I feel he could prove to be high class aswell, even if he has 1/10th of the ability of his sister he could clear up in the 2 mile hurdling division, though he may need another year to before he reaches his prime
"Beef, listen......obviously we had thought of going to Belmont Park, but look, it was hard to decide which horse to take. Didn't I tell you at Newmarket that we would keep our options open. I did actually change my mind about sending Cape Blanco to The States- cos we actually put the wrong horse in the horse box; so we decided Cape Blanco may as well go and take his chance." "Which horse should have gone to the race, then?" "Listen, that's privileged information. It doesn't keep our options open if we tell everyone, does it? Look, Beef, talk to me later when you have something more specific to ask me!"
"Look, listen, look, listen, look, listen ................ excuse me, that's my phone" Also, if Binocular was a "landmark winner" I think I know which landmark he is - The Needles.
Have you ever tried to get phone signal in Ireland? I'd fancy you'd have more chance of picking up a signal in outer *****lia
That may be so but it is also the funniest. I think Zarkander has the potential to be a champion hurdler but I stll think hurrican fly will win it next year if he's fit. The only way Binocular will win it is if all the other trainers pull their horses out in protest at Mr Henderson's long time friendship with the husband of Rebekah Brookes - it might even be him who was hacking people's phones...........
The Mitchell brothers might be a couple of hard heads, but it's only their women they mistreat. If they are kind to horses, they are fine by me.
Cyclonic, who the hell are the Mitchell Brothers? Are they brewery heirs - or Guy's grandsons? Look, if they've got any runners entered for ther Irish Oaks next Sunday at The Curragh, then obviously let me know- I may buy them! In the Irish Oaks, I've only got entries for............Diamond Brooch, Misty For Me, Pointsettia, She's A Queen , Sloane St, Together, Amazing Beauty,Love Me Only, Luxurious, Make My Heart Sing, Magic Word, Wonder Of Wonders, Empowering, Fairy Like, Eirnin, Wild Wind, Gemstone, Why, Spin, and Guessing. Listen, I think you'll agree that these lovely fillies give me quite a few options, but there's no harm in having a few more! Another thing, Cyc, do you like my last three entries? .......... Why...........You may ask! Spin............Obviously nothing wrong in pushing a bit of that! Guessing.....Listen, it took me ages to name that one when she was born. She's a daughter of my Irish 1000 Guineas winner- 'Imagine' that! Pity I can't run her mother as well! Look, don't forget to stay up and watch the race next Sunday- all twenty are lovely fillies!
