Hello, As I was at Cheltenham I thought I would do a little review, and ask others to review the action from the weekend with a look forward to the festival(s). So Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle Trial - Nick Williams has a very nice prospect, the way Le Rocher pulled away was impressive and it shows that he loves a stamina test. The race really showed the issue the Paul Nicholls hotpot has with a staying test, he looked awesome at Kempton but folded fast when he hit rising ground at HQ. The horse would be very interesting at Aintree though, he jumps and travels very strongly and clearly has talent. Goodwood Mirage on the other hand, needs to learn to jump and is quirkier than a quirky thing in a quirky shop. Handicaps - Annacotty is very game and looks very fairly handicapped, but can he really make all in competitive fields at the festival? He is likely to find something very well handicapped at the festival, and for all that he is game, he doesn't want to be headed early in his races. If they can get him settled then he is very handily weighted. Wishfull Thinking is a good old warrior but he isn't a festival handicap horse, and will struggle at the festival in the QMCC, with or without SS. The Giant Bolster is a likeable old chap and will probably run fourth or fifth in the Gold Cup. He jumped better with the hood and visor and made a mockery of his price. Rocky Creek ran well again and is a nice prospect but needs to improve a good bit to be top class at the festivals. He would perhaps like better ground and could place in the GC on a going day. Red Sherlock is very good, but is a tail swisher and I think the Irish raiders will be better than him at the festival, the front two pulled well clear and he is clearly a nice animal. Big Bucks ran his heart out, will come on for the run and the ground was dreadful by the time the Cleeve was run. He will win the World Hurdle if he is ok for this run. Massive effort and great to see him back. Any festival winners? I would say that Big Bucks is the one, but I think we might see something come out of the handicaps to challenge at the festival on better ground, perhaps the Hendo horse from the last? Any reviews of racing from Donny/Ireland?
This weekend has confirmed that Annie Power will be WH bound the flop of Boston Bob and. mullins seeing BB get beat. He will think he stands a chance landing the race Confirmed that Hurricane Fly will win the CH- after interuption to his training this week at a crucial stage. He still managed to win and pull away from Our Connor when it looked like he would get passed the fly
Nice write up Nass, and I can't really disagree with much of it. I'm in the Annie camp rather than the BB camp with the World Hurdle, but impressive as Annie was, BB showed he still retains his ability, and with a more circumspect ride, may still be unbeaten, he will sure be hard to beat. I was convinced that Our Conor would win the CH this year so much, that I backed him before leaving Cheltenham last year. I've been very bullish about his chance ever since, but I'm feeling a bit foolish now However, should he still come good in March, I will, of course be reminding everyone of how right I was
To be honest I was expecting to see quite a few ‘wow’ performances over the weekend but all in all was a little bit deflated by the action over the 2 days. Some admirable performances, undoubtedly, but nothing that really caused my monocle to fly out and me exclaim, ‘Cor blimey, by ‘eck, I say!’ If I had to nominate the performances that impressed me most it would be the 1-2 in Cheltenham’s 20.5 furlong Grade 2 novice hurdle. Red Sherlock and Rathvinden pulled almost 30 lengths clear of the rest of the field and they both looked very decent prospects as they duelled to the line. Top race and maybe a couple of potential top notchers to boot. The perfomorance of the latter also paid a decent tribute to Deputy Dan who looked to be mastering him when Rathvinden came down at Warwick last time. In my opinion Hendo’s Snake Eyes ran OK-ish in Ireland as he finished just out of the placings in the €100,000 handicap hurdle. Maybe a step up in trip and something like the ‘boys race’ at the Festival could be ideal for him. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more... I couldn’t get too excited about Hurricane Fly though due to the very close proximity of the 13YO and 149 rated Captain Cee Bee whilst Big Bucks ran most admirably but surely we all expected a tad bit more, people.
Sorry Wooly mate, can't agree with that, in my view Annie Power should go for the Champion, the failure of another horse who happens to be in the same stable should not mean that this wonder mare is prevented from going for the biggest prize available to her, especially when she would have IMO a massive chance. Willie Mullins will obviously try and persuade the Ricci's otherwise as he has his Champion Hurdle horse already, but the owners will ultimately decide and hopefully they choose the big one. Hurricane Fly, brave and victorious though he was, didn't give the impression he is miles ahead of the rest of the challengers for the Champion, and I would rather be with The New One and Annie Power at the moment. Take it for what you will, but Timeform state Annie Power would be their top rated in the race if she runs after taking her weight adjustment into consideration. Another race worth a mention is the 2 mile novice chase at Donny where Valdez battled on to win to put himself bang in the mix for the Arkle. I've already nailed my colours to the mast with Dodging Bullets, but Valdez, and Trifolium have firmly put themselves in the picture with their respective performances this weekend. Felix Yonger and Mozoltov will be going up in trip after disappointing in their race too.
With the desperate ground at Cheltenham I would put a line through most of that form. Add to that the fact that most horses with Cheltenham aspirations are now having their final prep rcae for the big day, so will not be going all out. I loved the Fly's attitude though, outjumped at the last by a much younger horse and yet he picked up again and shot away clear in a few strides.
I dont think we learned that much, a few things were confirmed tho. The Champion Hurdle stays in England. STD cannot be trusted in a big race. Rathvinden wouldnt have beat Deputy Dan.
I think that the Champion must go to Ireland once again as I feel that Hurricane Fly, Our Connor and Annie Power will all beat our representatives. The New One is not top class and has STD to carry whilst My Tent or Yours will travel like the winner but fail to get up the hill. It's all opinions but that's mine. I thought Red Sherlock was very impressive at the weekend but have to agree that the ground was so bad that the form could be very questionable should the festival come up good.
I love how people are being negative about Sam Twiston-Davies. He didn't do anything wrong on either Double Ross or Big Bucks, and he is probably the best young jockey in the UK. How fickle are racing fans? Almost football fan-esque. Now don't get me started on football
is deputy Dan entered at the festival ?--he's won at chepstow --but seems a heavy ground type beast -must say his form is strong !!
I wonder if a factor going through the heads of Ricci/Mullins with regards to Annie Power is that if she wins the CH then she'll be obliged to stay over hurdles and defend her title whilst if she wins the WH then she'd more than likely go chasing next year which Willie seems to think will see her in an even better light.
Not sure I'd fancy Annie Power in a strongly run Champion Hurdle, She can be abit complacent at her hurdles and one mistake in that race and its pretty much game over unless your pegasus. After Boston Bob got left in Cheltenham town centre whilst everything else crossed the finish line in the Cleeve I can see heading for the World Hurdle or Mares if something happens to Quevega. Weather she'll win at the Festival yet though Im not entirely sure, Shes been very impressive this year but with the likelihood of better ground in the spring and better opponents who knows how good she really is, Shes an intriguing proposition - Im still leaning towards Big Bucks for the World Hurdle who ran an absolute belter at Cheltenham, Disappointing to see him beat but on that ground after 14 months off conceding weight I thought it was satisfactory for his first start of the year! Hurricane Fly was brilliant at Leopardstown and is the one to beat going to Cheltenham, I think the British duo will give him most to do as I rate them above the likes of Jezki who was behind MTOY in the Supreme and Our Conor who in My opinion as been a touch dissapointing this season. He had the race in his grasp at the weekend but couldn't put it to bed - You'd probably be backing him on blind faith of producing a freak performance again at Cheltenham, I dont think hes as good as everyone though. Un De Scheaux would be an intresting addition if he turned up. Nobody really knows how good he is...
I thought Red Sherlock looked very impressive and as a fellow poster mentioned pulled well clear of the others.. As has happened before in previous years, it can be very different come Cheltenham time with the ground being very different to what it was on the weekend. Annie Power was impressive but didnt beat much! Big Bucks looked to me to retain all his ability... was pretty slick over the hurdles and looked the winner but just tired at the end. I was pleased to see At Fishers Cross return to form.. I think he will be a threat come March. Dont rule him out!
Big difference now though Ron. Sure Quevega was bought to go chasing but was so dominant over hurdles they never bothered.
a few days on and the 2 horses that stick in the mind are: ANNIE POWER - will finish in the top 3 of either the Champion Hurdle or World Hurdle. I am not going to predict any horse will beat Hurricane Fly though. And it is very tricky to assess how much Big Bucks will improve for his run RED SHERLOCK - still unbeaten, loves Cheltenham...will have a good festival
