Hi all I was very busy at the end of the jumps season around May so I've missed all the interviews and quotes regarding the new jumps season / following season. Does anybody have any news on who's staying hurdling ?? who's going chasing ?? who's stepping up in trip ?? Thinsg such as ......... Does anybody know is Peddlers Cross is chasing ? Is Oscars Well staying hurdling and if so, over what trip ? Al Ferof chasing ? Sprinter Sacre and Spirit Son chasing ? Big Bucks staying hurdling ? many thanks to all
They'd not made a decision on Peddlers Cross after the Champion Hurdle - unsure if that was changed after his defeat at Aintree? He was schooled over fences before last season but stayed over hurdles? I'd be surprised if he didn't. Al Ferof definitely goes novice chasing. Not too sure about the Henderson pair or Oscar's Well - not seen nor heard anything? Last thing Andy Stewart said was Big Bucks would probably not jump a fence again - why should he earning him £250k a year and on a unique Cheltenham four-timer? I'd be surprised if he does.
Mr Henderson's Sprinter Sacre will be going novice chasing and at this stage would be, in my opinion, the most likely winner of the 2012 Arkle. Mr Henderson's Spirit Son will be remaining over hurdles with the ultimate aim being the Champion Hurdle. He certainly has a strong hand re that prize as, of course, the forum's favourite trainer also has the great Binocular to call upon.
"the forum's favourite trainer also has the great Binocular to call upon." If he makes it to Cheltenham this time round he'll be so far behind the fly that they'll allow him to jump 2 less fences to make it competitive.
Chippy, don’t write off Binocular just yet, old boy. Forget his run at Punchestown, last time, as he had gone off the boil. He was trained to peak solely during 2011/12 at Cheltenham in March but, of course, due to unfortunate circumstances had to miss that race. Ireland in May was never the target and was merely the ‘B Plan’ or indeed the 'C Plan' once the main event had been so regrettably ruled out. I must say though that I do really like Spirit Son and I’ll whisper this quietly but he may just be the one this season. He was Impervious with a capital ‘I’ at Aintree last time.
Barney, I'd prefer Al Ferof over fences to either Sprinter Sacre or Spirit Son- purely on the resolution he showed at the Festival. Having said that, I really like Oscar's Well but I should think he'll go "the novice staying chaser route." I just can't see his taking on Big Bucks next year, even though he's as good a challenger as any. If Peddler's Cross goes over the big ones, he could go the shorter or longer route.
Mount BenBulBen watch out for this fella he is prob nov hurdling this year but wait till he sees a fence this horse is a beast won a point and won 3 bumpers last year the last 2 he beat a mullins hot pot and the last one the field contained 7 rivals who all had won their previous bumper
Yeah, Famous, he's bred to want 3 miles+ over fences- and should relish heavy ground. Downside is he'll be seven next March, so needs to get cracking!
peddlers will be chasing the day i have been waiting for 3 years saw him win his point he jumped for fun that day he will win the arkle doing handstands in my opinion
Peddlers as short (or as big depending on how you look at it) as 8/1 for the 2012 Arkle.....time will tell, but I do love the horse.
Wuby, I gave Thousand Stars as the most improved horse in training at the end of 2009-10 season. I think he's justified that last season, even though he was hard to win with(prior to recent French Ch. Hurdle). For the 2010-11 season, my vote goes to Rubilight. After an average season in 2009-10, he improved enormously to finish second to Golden Silver over two miles; then to slam Roberto Goldback by 10 lengths over 20 furlongs; and then was desperately unlucky in The Ryanair against Alberta's Run- his bad mistake would have finished most horses, but he fought back like a tiger to challenge and eventually finish third. Trained by Rober Hennessy, he's bred to get even further (by Sprinter Sacre's German sire, Network). I reckon he's worth watching - wherever he goes this next season.
I cant wait for the NH season to start, I reckon Peddlers Cross will try over fences from the sounds of what they were saying at the end of last season. Binocular I hope will have a good season, he is a top class horse and was very disappointing at aintree (oscar whiskey who is one of my favourites ran a cracker of a race. and will win another big race) but i reckon hurricane fly will regain his crown! Big Bucks will carry on hurdling, but I dont think there will be any horse who would come close to him, he is 4/5 for the world hurdle and that will just get shorter imo! The same with quevega no mare will come close! Long Run I reckon wil do the King George and Gold Cup double altho will be a good re-match of the RSA chase 2yrs ago against Weapons Amnesty although Long Run has matured and will be Gold Cup champion for a the forseeable future. The beginning of last jump season I tipped him for big things! and he will do again!
Barring injury hurricane fly is a certainty for next season's champion. There's no horse going to get near him. Least of all that woof woof binocular. He'll need his binoculars to see how far ahead the hurricane has flew. Anyone that thinks different is using some of Nicky's 'medicine.' End of story.
Spot on beef. HF was the best bet of the meeting at Cheltenham this year. The only thing which can stop him is injury and sadly he is prone to that. Hope he comes back next year though as he deserves to win at least one more Champion. I think Long Run is a completely different proposition now to when he was beaten by Weapon's Amnesty. I really can't see WP troubling Henderson's horse if they meet again this season. There are indeed some exciting potential novice chasers for next season. I have heard that Sprinter Sacre could be the best of Henderson's novices chasers. He is a beast of a horse and certainly looks the part. But it's really guesswork at this stage.
Not sure I'd want to be backing Peddlers Cross for the Arkle at 8/1, that seems far to short a price for a horse who has never jumped a fence under rules. I'd also worry about his performance at Aintree, perhaps his first ever defeat to Hurricane Fly has left its mark on the horse. On Hurricane Fly I think were going to struggle to find a horse good enough to beat him, if he is in the same form as last year. I've always been of the opinion 2 mile hurdlers peak at 6 and 7 so maybe the only hope anything has of beating HF is the fact he will be 8 come the festival, but that still not a major obstacle. Long Run isn't your average Gold Cup winner, he has won the race at 6 years old and could well go onto be one of the greats of the sport. It takes a really great horse to win that race at 6 years old. Ireland had some good novice chasers last season, my favourite being Noble Prince, and another good one was Quito De La Roque, so they would be my outside picks for the Gold Cup. There's not alot of point sending Big Bucks chasing, it's far safer keeping him hurdling, and he already looks an absolute banker for the festival, as does Quevega in the Mares race
I agree shergs, those two and HF is he runs are the 3 bankers at the festival. In regards to chasers I would have to say Captain Chris is a good outside pick. And will be intresting to see what Nicholls enters Master Minded for this year!
