Apart from media types who are paid to promote it he's the first person on this side of the water who I've ever heard utter an ounce of interest in the made up GB versus Ireland 'match'. A couple of stats that a couple of his leading novice lights have to overcome. Shishkin had his festival prep at Huntingdon. Apparently the festival strike rate from Huntingdon LTO is horrific. There a similarly horrific stat for SBC's favourite horse Champ having fallen LTO.
Sorry Dylan, can't find it. I've gone back through the many places I look at on line and can't find it. I'm pretty sure it was 1%. Huntingdon is the other way round and pancake flat so wouldn't be an ideal prep for a left handed and extremely undulating track. On the flip side you'd have to wonder how many were no hopers anyway. If I find it I'll post it .
I say calm down, you types. Let’s have no silliness on the forum. Just remember where there is discord Lieutenant Henderson brings harmony. Where there is error the great man brings truth. Where there is doubt he brings faith. And where there is despair Lieutenant Henderson always gives us hope. God bless him and save him. My goodness, old top, you seem to have confused me with Archie Mc-whatshisname - who ITV Racing, for some unknown reason, tell us every single time Champ runs that this is his favourite horse. I know I’ve talked about him a lot in the past but I doubt if Champ would even make my top 10. My favourite is the horse on the left – Santini. Just ahead of dear old Battaash and Chacun Pour Soi.
Did love The Lieutenant’s comment the other day after Epatante’s ‘setback’ was revealed. Saying how these days he was expected to report that a horse was coughing before it had even coughed. Very good. Even his detractors, not that there are any of those on this site of course, must have had a slight titter re that remark.
Hendo hasn't done himself any favours in recent times though...... Unibet/Altior Saga Binocular (Ruled out then declared after hitting 999/1 on Betfair) No doubt he is a wonderful trainer. I do think he gets too emotionally involved with his horses. There is 1 tipster I follow who made an interesting point about Hendo. Anything he talks up, give a wide berth.
FYI Hendo's recent record (Last 20 years)....... Supreme - 1 winner out of 32 runners (Altior) Ballymore - 1 winner out of 17 runners (Simonsig) Albert Bartlett - 1 winner out of 17 runners (Bobs Worth)
Found it. Since 2003, 128 horses have lined up at the festival with their LTO run being at Huntingdon. 0 winners and 16 places. Undoubtedly a lot of those will have been social runners to give the owner a nice day out but that's a pretty horrific stat for Shishkin to overcome.
