I think Dodging Bullets ran a cracker in behind Grumeti. Ruby never got serious on the lad gave him a hands and heels ride to the line, and had he been a little slicker over his hurdles may have made Grumeti work a lot harder. Factor in the dog-awful form of Nicholls' string at the moment, and he ran very well for me. 20-1 available for him at the moment, and I can see him improving a lot on that run.
To my eye Baby Mix is some animal but if he was mine I’d steer well clear of the hurly-burly of Cheltenham and head instead to Aintree. He still looks a shell of a horse still and green at times so I can’t see, in the long run, Cheltenham having any benefits for him this term. He’s going to be some chaser as well I would imagine and I wonder if connections will throw him straight over the big ‘uns next term??? I certainly would if he strengthened and filled out his frame this summer. I must say that over the weekend I witnessed what I took to be the best hurdling debut since old boy Binocular powered up the Ascot straight in the early months of 2008. The one I’m talking about is Mr Nicholls’ Dodging Bullets who ran 2nd in the Grade 2 Dovecot. Although given weight and a beating by Grumeti the former is the one that I’d be interested in as a long-term prospect and although Dodging Bullets may not reach the ‘top table’ this season believe me when I say that I think he will next year. A corking, corking prospect. A pair of Cheltenham Festival winners that we may have seen this weekend are dear old Barbers Shop and Chill. How wonderful it has been to see the former back in the winner’s enclosure twice within the past dozen days and he is a true testament to the training skills of Mr Henderson. There really is no reason why he and Long Run won’t play there part in providing an amazing ‘happy hour’ for him in a fortnight or so’s time. Meanwhile, the latter although only 7th of 10 yesterday, was only beaten 3 lengths in a bunched finish when given what was shall we say a considerate ride. If he gets in the ‘Freddie Winter’ don’t rule him out, people, at likely huge odds. Finally, agree totally re the earlier comments about Cristal Bonus. Looks a first-class type.
