I thought it worth starting a thread to review the Cheltenham Open meeting to get everyone's thoughts on highs, lows, great races, future pointers etc etc. Here my tuppence worth: Friday was all about Grands Crus for me. Expected to do well over fences after his exploits last season, he jumped with speed and precision and had a decent yardstick in trouble some way out before scampering away up the hill. The fall of Cue Card took away some of the gloss but in my opinion he would have been done for speed by the winner up the hill and the result would have been the same. A treble for Pipe was initated earlier in the card by Swing Bill (once again showing that a capable claimer really can make a big difference) and Decoy, whilst the Irish once again left with decent prizes courtesy of Willie Mullins Uncle Junior (not the last family affair of the weekend) and Jessie Harrington's Steps To Freedom, who had a tremendous battle after the last with Prospect Wells and both horses look to have bright futures. Saturday opened with 2 ultra-impressive performances from 2 very different horses - Paul Nicholls French import Hinterland skiped away with the novice hurdle whereas Jonjo's Galaxy Rock was all power and stamina to land the handicap chase over 3m 3 1/2f. Both look big players at this early stage of the season. Pipe took the big one (I'll leave that to the dedicated thread) before another Wille Mullins runner (with the other lad on board) scored again with Dorest Square just edging out the rejuvenated Petitfour. After that it was pretty much the Walsh / Nicholls show with impressive Aintree winner Edgardo Sol following up in no uncertain style before Join Together won one of the best novice chases I can remember when just outpointing Teaforthree, although any 1 of the first 4 could have won it as they sailed over the last in unison. A terrific race which really made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Sunday had a hard act to follow after 2 tremendous first days but it did not disappoint one iota. Al Ferof jumped like a stag to take the opener from a decent sort in Astracad and it looked like another Nicholls / Walsh benefit day. But Woolcombe Folly fluffed his lines in the second and Gauvain (who goes notoriously well fresh) was on hand to take advantage with some fluent jumping, coming home pretty much unchallenged. Things then did click into place for the Ditcheat trainer as his Brampour (ridden by nephew Harry Derham) stormed up the hill to take the Greatwood in very convincing fashion before Rangitoto took the next under another immaculately timed ride from Ruby Walsh. Highlight of the Sunday for me was Fingal Bay who travelled supremely well in the Grade 2 novice hurdle and, despite clouting the second last and allowing his opponents the sniff of a chance, bounded up the hill to win going away. It will surely take a very good animal to lower this one's colours this season. In the closing bumper the heavily backed Montbazon failed to land the odds with One Term taking the honours under the champ. Overall a superb meeting with some real stars on show, and the National Hunt season is well and truly in full swing. Loving it!!
just had look at the times over the 3 days of the open meeting. ive studied the grand crus race and paddy power gold cup as both winners clocked almost identical times. the difference between the 2 though is that in the paddy power they had a running start and it only took them about 8 seconds to reach the first.in the novice chase they didn't and it took them nearly 12 seconds to get to the first. both races took around 4m51 secs from the first fence to the finishing line.the ground was good (watered) 7.7 on the Friday and gdsf gd in places 7.4 on the saturday so slightly faster going grand crus raced on but that didn't contribute greatly to the difference in time .he also carried nearly 1 stone more than great endeavour in doing so. from the first to the 12th in the 2 races were pretty much even in time with the paddy power slightly quicker by no more than about a second . when grand crus led between the 12th and 13th he started to go a faster pace then wishful thinking was doing .great endeavour when he led at the 2nd last had gone quicker than grand crus but after that they both came home in roughly the same time grand crus took 1m47 secs to get home(from 13th fence where he then led) whilst it took 1m50 for the paddy power gold cup (wishfull thinking led at 13th and great endeavour was 1 length behind) so nearly 3 secs grand crus was quicker than great endeavour was for about the last 4.5 furlongs of the race. it was quite some performance from a time point of view for a horse to achieve on his chase debut and i see david pipe is considering running him in the betfair chase on saturday as i write this.
The ground was different, it was a fair bit softer on day 2 than on day 1 and GC was carrying a good bit more weight.
Very interesting GP. I love this type of analysis as I am a great believer in meaningful times and info like this certainly makes times more meaningful.
It did rain on the Friday night, so the time comparisons aren't accurate. Either way im sure the Pipes know full well that Grands Crus could beat Great Endeavour. Great Endeavour Is a handicapper who will be competitive at the bottom of the weights, for some of the big prizes. Grands Crus is a high class G1 horse, who if running in handicaps in the future will be forced to conceed lumps of weight, to his rivals, and as we know there is only one high class horse in recent memory who was capable of overcoming those massive weights. The mighty Denman. I doubt the Pipes will be as bold as Denman's connections
He appears to have no entries at present. I didn't hear any mention of him when PN was interviewed; not even a question from the interviewer. Hope all is well.
Denman is being prepared to make his comeback in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown while the Betfair Chase at Haydock is the plan for Kauto Star. Speaking on At The Races, Nicholls said: "They're both in really good shape, looking fantastic and enjoying what they're doing. There's no injuries, no hassle, no nothing with them and while they're like they are let them do what they enjoy doing. "They're not going to run much. We're just going to pick and choose our races. See More Business was running when he was 12 and 13 and ran some nice races." He added: "These old horses I love them, it's a bit of a challenge. You do different things to get them right completely and at the moment they're in good nick."
I think the plan is the Lexus then the Gold Cup, he's to old these days to be conceeding 2 stones and upwards to some of the best 2nd season chasers around. I think it will be along time before we see a horse as good as him again, in races like the Hennessy. The 09 win was special, they were all queuing up behind him with there featherweights on there backs, but the tank kept on jumping like a stag. That one at the cross fence won him the race, they were all on his heels, and he seemed to take 3 lenghs out of them with one jump
Denman's last two Hennessey efforts have been outstanding. His win was incredible, Simon Holt's channel 4 commentary gives me goosebumps when I watch it. [video]http://www.sportpost.com/videos/2727-denman-wins-hennessy-gold-cup-2009[/video] I did have a youtube link once but this one will do for now! To run 3rd last year was a marvellous effort, too. I believe it's just the Lexus and the Gold Cup this year for him.
Denman was a true champion, as Simon Holt says "one of the great performances in jumps race history" and it certainly was. In hidsight he was conceeding 2 stone to a duel G1 winner and a Gold Cup 4th, which is quite some performance. I think everyone knows how big a fan I've been of Denman from day 1, I just love horse's who jump big and bold like he did, and battle all day long. I'd love to know the answer to the last Gold Cup winner that actually won a staying handicap off top weight? That realy would put Denman's achievements into perspective. I don't think a Gold Cup winner has then won a handicap off top weight since Arkle. That's how great Denman was
Ladies and Gentlemen, Boy and Girls. My thoughts on the Saturday and Sunday action. Top class throughout and some very decent animals on show. Saturday The Juvenile Hurdle featured the British debut of the highly regarded Hinterland. He already had a facile Listed Hurdle success in his native France and a tall reputation to his name. In the race he did not disappoint. This was a very good field with Ozeta (Listed winner over hurdles and on the flat), Secret Edge (Listed Hurdle winner) and Hollow Tree (facile debut hurdle winner) all in opposition. Hinterland travelled very strongly and jumped well throughout the race and ran out a comfortable winner. The margin of victory was only 3 lengths but i think he was value for more than that. The reason being that he travelled far too strongly for his own good and was understandably a little tired in the closing stages as a consequence, though he stayed on in really pleasing fashion. He will need to learn to settle a little better, but with the maestro Ruby Walsh on his back, he has every chance of doing so. He is now a best priced 10/1 for the Triumph Hurdle and i thought that on this evidence those quotes were fair, and possibly not as stingy as they might have been. He is certainly very exciting for the future. In the Paddy Power Gold Cup Great Endeavour from the David Pipe team atoned for last seasons disappointment with a ready victory. He was a clear second favourite behind Long Run in last year's renewal but could only finish 6th. 12 months on he was always travelling powerfully and fairly bounded up the hill to score by 7 lengths. Quantitativeeasing and Divers, the 1st two home in the Centenary Novices Chase at the Festival, filled 2nd and 3rd spots respectively from a few pounds out of the handicap. 4th was the virtually unmentioned Nicholls runner Aerial who ran a pleasing race without ever threatening the leaders. There were a few disappointment stories in the race, none more so than Mon Parrain. He never jumped with the fluency that had so defined his two previous performances on these shores. To my eye his effort was too bad to be true and it will be interesting to see whether anything comes to light. He cannot have become a bad horse overnight and it might be that a step up to 3m round a flat track will see him to best effect. I was convinced that he would be travelling powerfully down the hill but in the end he was struggling early in the back straight. This was hugely disappointing and he has questions to answer. That said, i would not be writing him off just yet. Wishfull Thinking started favourite after a huge gamble in the morning. He jumped boldly out in front and was probably always doing too much. He folded entering the straight to finish 6th, a fair way off the winner. Phillip Hobbs reported that he may have just needed the run. He is another who is worth keeping on side. His best form was away from Cheltenham last year and it might be that a sharper flat track will allow him to perform to his best. He does appear to have plenty of pace so it will be interesting to see which route connections take with him. I wouldn't rule out a tilt at the Champion Chase if he were mine. My own fancy for the race was Noble Alan at a tasty looking 20/1. He had travelled supremely well at Market Rasen last time, only to unseat 2 from home. He had also been moving easily when falling 3 out in the December Gold Cup last year. And, unfortunately, it was more of the same this time too. He looked to be holding every chance having made stylish progress to close on the leaders before unseating 4 out after a bad mistake at the ditch. I remain convinced that he can win a race of this nature. He is one for the December Gold Cup if allowed to take his chance. The concluding 3m Novice Chase produced a terrific race. In the end it was the Nicholls/Walsh combination who came out on top courtesy of a game performance from Join Together. His jumping was excellent, barring one mistake early in the back straight for the final time. In a ride of pure brilliance, Walsh allowed his mount time to recover before gradually feeling his way back into the race to lead entering the straight. He kept on well and found plenty from the back of the last to win by a length and a half. Nicholls suggested that he will be suited by soft ground and a trip, and, on this evidence, i wouldn't disagree. He might be one for the 4m Chase at the Festival if the ground is slower than good, and one for the Nationals in years to come. Restless Harry jumped poorly and paid for it in 3rd. He is another decent animal but i think will just fall short of top class over fences, especially if his jumping does not improve. He may revert to hurdles after this effort. Sunday Last year's Supreme winner Al Ferof was a warm order to win his chasing debut after swerving a potential clash with Peddlers Cross at Bangor last week. The reason for that was so Ruby could take the ride. He jumped a little over-brave in the early stages but really warmed to his task as the race progressed and looked very professional by the end. He was hard on the steel and ran out a very easy winner. You could not have asked for any more than this and he will be a threat to all. Nicholls had previously suggested that he might be suited by a step up in trip but in his post-race interview he seems to state that the Arkle was very much the target. Gauvain provided a jumping exhibition to take the Shloer Chase for the second year running. Woolcombe Folly looked very lethargic and he is probably best avoided until he shows some sparkle. He is now saddled with a hefty handicap mark and is possibly not quite up to championship class making him very tricky to place. This seemed a perfect opportunity, and was his 'target' according to Nicholls, making his defeat, and more particularly the manner of defeat, most disappointing. The winner took this race in good style 12 months ago but failed to build on that promise. He looked good here once again so hopefully he can build on this performance this season. The Greatwood was wide open on paper and so it proved in the race, with any number holding a chance jumping the last. Olofi and Moon Dice were arguably a little unlucky as they found themselves short of room, but the way Brampour stormed up the hill under Harry Derham must make it doubtful that either could have won. After winning at Ascot i thought he may have left his chance there but he improved again and seems to be progressing rapidly. He might not be quite up to Champion Hurdle class but is surely worth a place in some of the trial races to see where he stands. He is sure to be rated in the mid to high 150s after this and that will leave him with another 10lbs improvement to make to challenge the very best. He might be capable of that, he might not. What is certain is that he has given connections two fantastic days this season already so anything more must be considered a massive bonus. Walsh was seen at his best in the following Intermediate Handicap Hurdle. This race was won by Grand Crus 12 months ago and this time Rangitoto took the honours. He looks every inch the chaser in the making and he is surely just marking time before tackling fences. He looked a little outpaced on good ground over 2m5f but tackled the hill with relish to finish stronger than anything. 3m will suit him better and there is sure to be more to come. Fingal Bay maintained both his unbeaten record and his growing reputation in the 2m4f Novice Hurdle. He travelled well before a mistake at the second last slightly upset his rhythm. Even with that blunder he powered up the hill to win going away by 3 and a half lengths. He is exciting and looks sure to figure in either the Neptune of the Albert Bartlett at the Festival in March. The well touted Montbazon was ultimately a little disappointing in the concluding Bumper. He travelled well but found little up the hill to finish 3rd. He just failed to quicken when asked and whether that is down to the hill or being outpaced i'm not sure. He is still and exciting prospect but i am sure the King Team were hoping for a better showing than that. Conclusions Some excellent action, and in particular a feast of exciting novices. You would like to think that there will be at least a couple of Festival challengers amongst them. Two To Follow: In defeat, i think Crack Away Jack is one to take from the meeting. He jumped well, apart from his one mistake at a crucial time, and travelled as if a step up in trip would suit. He kept on well and was probably closing at the death. There must surely be a decent 2m4f Handicap Chase to be won with him off a mark of 142. In victory, i was most impressed with Hinterland. He is already something of a hype horse but the way he travelled through the race was most taking. His jumping was electric and he is an exciting prospect for chasing in a few years time, but, for the time being, he looks well capable of following in the footsteps of Celestial Halo and Zarakandar as Triumph Hurdle winners for Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls.
