Shergar - If Cheltenham is the be all and end all then yeah - QDLR does have that hanging over him whereas Noble Prince won there this season. Over a full season though I'd be edging with QDLR - some good horses over there now though! On soft going in Ireland, and one which seems to have been passed over is Pandorama who has never done too much wrong and could well be the one to beat again if fit! Again - Al Ferof for me could give some of the novices something to think about this year if he takes to fences but Peddlers Cross would deserve to be a the head of most lists! Grand Crus - whats the decision on him? Hurdles again or novice chasing? Hobbs has two good ones IMO in Captain Chris and Wishfull Thinking!
The way Grand Crus jumped in the French Champion Hurdle i wouldn;t be rushing to send him over fences ( The french hurd;e saren't like ours they are bigger some way between our fences and our hurdles) BUT he did have Mccoy on board that day so maybe with a horseman in the plate who could get him settled and jumping in a rythym he may take to fences
Everyone has been banging on about Grand Crus for the RSA but he's not for me at this stage. Just look at him jump the fixed brush hurdles at Haydock when he hacked up. He was guessing left right and centre and he won't be able to do that over fences, particularly at Cheltenham. The problem with him is that he has a terrible natural balance. He's so on his forehand that it must be difficult for him to actually use himself to jump a fence properly. If you watch all his races his head is practically on the floor. I can tell you now that i wouldn't want to be riding him at a fence! He's clearly some way inferior to Big Buck's so it might be that they chance their arm in the chasing ranks but i'd be looking elsewhere at this stage, and would certainly advise against backing him at short prices, at least until he has proven himself capable of jumping a fence.
Of the high profile horses that are going novice chasing, I think Al Ferof will turn out the best, the form of the supreme is top notch with Spirit Son. It was also run in a faster time than the Champion Hurdle on the same day. Paul Nicholls is by a country mile the best trainer of chasers in the UK and Ireland, so with the amount of raw ability Al Ferof clearly has I think Nicholls is the man to turn him into a real class act over fences. The problem is if you want to back him antepost is what race will he go for? Yes he won the supreme so 2 miles shouldn't be an issue, but he won that race like a stayer, staying on past tired horse's. So I wouldn't be suprised if he runs in the Jewson or RSA rather than the Arkle. As for Grands Crus, I think he will do fine over fences, he hurdles as well as anything. Though I do think he could get the better of Big Bucks one day, I know the Aintree race he was well beat, but perhaps that was more to do with the fact BB recovered from Cheltenham quicker. I think the true form between the pair was on show at Cheltenham, and at one point it looked like the grey could have BBs measure, and in the end BB was all out to see him off. Grands Crus is only 6 aswell, and I don't think he is any worse than BB was at 6, so by the time he's 7 maybe just maybe he can close that gap on a 9 year old BB
I think Mr Henderson will excel with his novice chasers next term. As I said previously on this thread Sprinter Sacre is a top notch prospect and looks a potential star in the 2 mile division. He really appears tailor-made for the Arkle in my opinion. In the staying ranks I so like Mossley. It’s a terrible cliché but he so falls into the category ‘whatever he did over hurdles was a bonus’ as this is a chaser pure and simple (in fact he was running in the pointing field as early as a 4YO). Did excellent though as a novice hurdler last term - winning a Grade 2 and then finishing runner-up in the Grade 1 at the Cheltenham Festival. Should now excel over the ’big ’uns’ and I think he has the potential to be a star. The RSA should be the target this season (20/1 available). I did say, on old 6-0-6, after his Grade 2 win back in December that Mossley would win the 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup and that‘s a prediction I‘ll stick with.
Big Bucks was all out Ruby dropped his whip and he still won and Then at Aintree BB laughed at that grey handicapper I will give you 1000/1 that Grand Crus will ever beat BB it will never happen
"I think the true form between the pair was on show at Cheltenham, and at one point it looked like the grey could have BBs measure, and in the end BB was all out to see him off. " Come on, Shergar! Is that how you really see it? Grands Crus tactic at Cheltenham was obvious- hold him up and try and do Big Bucks with one telling turn of foot at the last. He made a pretty good job of his tactic- but arguably came too soon and would have needed to head Big Bucks close to the winning post- before the latter could rally. The thing is...Big Bucks is a dosser and ALWAYS has something left! Now he doesn't have flat spots and can be ridden in any position in a race, he has become awesome. One thing I'm sure of, Shergar, he would have run one hell of a race in the Champion Hurdle if he'd been allowed to take his chance. Many people will ridicule that idea but take it from me- the top two mile hurdlers in general are a pretty mediocre bunch.
Tam, I wouldn’t ridicule the idea re Big Bucks and a Champion Hurdle bid. Don’t think it will happen but certainly would be Interesting with a capital ‘I’ if it did. In fact, one recent ‘stayer’ who I think should have run in Champions was Kasbah Bliss. If he had raced in either the 2008 or 2009 event I think the results may have been different in those heats. Never understood why Monsieur Douman never put him down to 2 miles as he had an electric turn of foot.
I'm also a big fan of Grand Crus, Shergar. He is a very fluent hurdler - that is one of his great strengths. He jumped the brush hurdles well at Haydock and I would be prepared to forgive the run in France. Pipe must be in a quandry over what to do with what is obviously a very decent young horse and it will be interesting to see which way he goes. I think his future is unlikely to lie in handicaps though - he's better than that.
I wouldn't class Grand Crus as a handicapper quite like Famous does (i assume tongue-in-cheek?!) but i've never been convinced by him. His jumping at Haydock wasn't great, he guessed at and was very low at the last in the Cleeve, and that is without looking at any replays. I'd have my doubts about him jumping a fence but i may well be proven wrong. And to suggest that Big Buck's was 'all out' at Cheltenham is an absolute joke. That race could not have been run to suit Big Buck's less if it was re-run 100 times. The fact is that the best horse won and he was the best by far. Grand Crus came to challenge and Big Buck's just quickened clear once again under hands and heels to win comfortably. There was never any real threat of him being beaten to my eye. And then at Aintree he simply laughed at Grand Crus when he gave him a nice lead into the race. He will not be beaten until he deteriorates. He is a once in a lifetime horse and looks bombproof for next year.
Re Grands Crus and Big Bucks. I have no reason to be bias for Grands Crus, after all Big Bucks was the 3rd winner of 3 selections advised on my shoo in article that day, landing a 94/1 treble! All I'm saying is that for a stride or 2 GC looked to have BB in trouble at Cheltenham, Grands Crus is only 6 and is only going to improve, afterall was BB the finished article at 6? He was still very good but he wasnt as good as he was at 7 and 8. Grands Crus would have beaten Punchestowns aswell. You can all argue BB is a once in a lifetime horse, and I would completely agree, he is the greatest ever staying hurdler, but as he gets older now Grands Crus is only going to be moving into his prime, and I do feel there is a world hurdle victory in Grands Crus. All you have to do is look at the cleave hurdle and you can see how much class the horse has
Shergar was that off the back of your F**k All/1 seven timer on the previous two days? If Big Bucks maintains his form then Grand Crus and any other horse from last season will be running for place money again! However if for some reason he's not 100% then we could have Baracouda/Iris's Gift all over again...but something would have to be amiss. Big Bucks over staying hurdles is as close to unbeatable as I've seen!
Flyingbolt....I advised 14 horses at Cheltenham and 7 won, I think most people would be more than happy with a 50% strike rate at the festival. All my followers were well chuffed, with my tipping during Cheltenham. They also had a good Aintree and Punchestown festival thanks to me as once again I had a 50%+ strike rate at both meetings. Advising 4 winners from 4 one day at Punchestowns
Big Bucks Hurdling is a bit of a joke to me really, seems like Nicholls is taking the cowards way out. He made one mistake in the Hennessey, and that ended his fencing career! This is just my opinion mind you. But now KS and Denman are reaching veteran age surely he is the natural succesor!? I am very suprised he hasnt taken this option! Big Bucks V Long Run would be a race to savour! and as a massive NH fan i am gutted it isnt going to happen. Mind you can you really blame Nicholls and Stewart?? The world Hurdle at present is an open goal! On the subject of the Gold cup, Imperial commander for me was cruising into the race until his mistake in which he was injured. Having said that though he may have been injured after fading already. But assuming he wasnt, taking his course form into account he has to have a massive chance despite his now advancing age! Im not totally sure where Grand Crus future lies, ran a blinder in the world hurdle so would be foolish to give up on him just yet. But i agree with some on here, im not jumping fences will be his game. I just cant wait for this new season!!
Imperial Commander has had his day in the sun, and I would be amazed if he could win regain the Gold Cup. His best chance of a victory in a G1 will come in the Betfair chase, though that does depend on what's in opposition, if it's similar to last year, then I can see him winning, but if Long Run or a promising 2nd season chaser shows up then Id have my doubts. There's alot of promising second season chasers next year, mainly in Ireland, so it's going to be tough for a 10-11 year old Imperial Commander to land a blow
Shergar, the Betfair race at Haydock Park in November is indeed Long Run’s intended first destination re the 2011/12 season. Re Grand Crus part of his problem is going to be who trains him. The Pipe’s unlike Mr Henderson, Mr Nicholls or dear old Pip Hobbs are unable to keep their horses at the peak of their game for several seasons. I think the Pipe’s are masters at plotting a particular race, series of races in quick succession or indeed over a period of a few months but time and time again their animals fade away after a season or maybe 2 ‘in the sun’ and they can not maintain the same level of consistency with their horses over a sustained period that the other 3 trainers, mentioned above can (in recent years you could say the same about Godolphin on the level).
FW: Well done with spotting Hurricane Fly, glad you got back the money you lost on him in the previous years when he failed to turn up. Hopefully he will make it again this year and prove to be a Champion, time will tell. Big Bucks is just awesome IMO, and all because Ruby got injured and could not ride in the Hennessy and someone 'fell' off! Since then he has done nothing but improve, will take some beating again this Festival but time will catch up with him soon as it does all the stayers. Al Ferof will hopefully continue to improve again and looks made for chasing. He will make a superb chaser IMO around 2m. Long Run looks like he could be a multiple winning Gold Cup/King George winner if he stays injury free, very good for racing and us to look forward to. What A Friend may well give him more of a race this season with Ruby aboard but cannot see him winning. Zarkander is a horse i am looking forward to following this season too. As always looks a superb and mouth watering jumps season.
Shergar...Why down to you? Could they not read Templegate and Tom Pepper or gain access to the RP site or Sportinglife? The seven losers all coming first could have wiped some out but as the saying goes throw enough mud at a wall and some will eventually stick, mate! Imperial Commander will be competitive again and wouldn't be surprised to see him win the Betfair or wherever he starts off. If he only races three times though can't see him winning a King George and at 11 he may just be too old to regain the Gold Cup at his preferred Cheltenham! Burton Port if he comes back from his injury last season could be one to keep an eye on. Grand Crus for me will be the best of the rest but none of them will get close to a fully fit Big Bucks. Zarkander would be my pick of the hurdlers to watch in England next season - with Spirit Son & Oscar Whiskey up there too!
Flyingbolt....I had Quevega on the first day, so they wouldn't have been wiped out, I certainly wasn't. So stop exaggerating everything, I still had a 50% strike rate, and had 6 winners and a 2nd on the final 2 days, and backed up my 50% strike rate at Aintree and Punchestown. If I was going to steal tips, which I never would, I would follow a tipster like pricewise, not tipsters from that comic the sun. Not suprising that's the paper you read
