Now that we have moved into the season of âmists and mellow fruitfulnessâ the focus is gradually beginning to turn to the old NH game. But what are the membershipâs top 3 predictions for the season as it starts stepping up a gear??? Iâve looked into my crystal ball and will nominate: (i) Sprinter Sacre will go through the term unbeaten with the highlight being a rout of the Arkle field, (ii) Montbazon, âthe hope of the countyâ, will fulfil his undoubted potential and develop into a top, top novice hurdler, and (iii) Mr Henderson will win at least half a dozen races at the Cheltenham Festival. Well theyâre mine. What are your 3???
1. Peddlers Cross will win the Arkle with his head in his chest. 2. Captain Chris will win the King George, provided the ground is decent (G/S or better). 3. Hurricane Fly, Quevega, Big Buck's and Long Run will all retain their Festival Crowns, with Ruby Walsh top jockey once again as a result.
Zenyatta, I was just checking the ante post odds - I am interested in the Hurricane Fly / Quevega / Big Buck's treble and you can get 13.47-1 for the win treble with Sporting Bet. Seriously thinking about investing a couple of hundred now to pay for next years summer holiday. Sir Barney I shall need to have a think about this one ............... back later
1 - Henderson horses to be found with illegal substances in their samples, he gets banned for the flat season. 2 - Nicholls to get antepost fave for Arkle before it is a non runner in said race 3 - Time For Rupert to graduate to the top table by winning the PPGC and then placing in the GC
1. Mr Nicholls to win the CH 2. Long Run to win both the King George and Gold Cup easily. 3. Grand Crus to disappoint over the larger obstacles and return to hurdling and make BB dig deep in a Stayers thriller.
1. AP McCoy will be champion jockey 2. The National Hunt racing programme will be decimated by the worst winter weather for decades and there will even be snow on the ground at the Cheltenham Festival 3. Long Run will once again take the King George and Gold Cup during an unbeaten season
Nass, are you sure that Time For Rupert is going for the PPGC as he’s not quoted. Although in saying that the entries haven’t been made yet. My pick for that race would be Tataniano and 20/1 is available. GDC / Oddy, get onto William Hills then if you think that about Long Run. They are going 11/2 the double.
Barney: I'm one of the lucky 50 that got some of Betfreds 6s about Long Run immediately after he crossed the line this year so i am happy with that. Master Minded in the King George will be interesting too
SBC the yard are quoted as wanting to go Charlie Hall Chase but I do think they might reconsider this. If he goes to the CHC then he wins as long as the big gun isn't running
Bit skinny for me Sir Barney - now if I could get some 8s................ PPGC is a tough race to win and I fancy Tataniano may be a tad high in the weights Sir Barney - what is his official rating these days? Still on 160? As Long Run showed last year, anything above 155 is a difficult ask (see also Our Vic in 2009). Isn't it usually a mid 140-ish horse that takes the spoils? Gary do you have trends for the race?
Ain't been on for a while but good to see the talk starting to swing towards the winter game, good work Sir Barney! My predictions are this. 1. Kauto Star will run and be pulled up at the Betfair Chase at Haydock and will then be paraded in front of the stands for one last time to a rapturous applause from his adoring public. The inevitable retirement speech directly after race will have an emotional Paul Nicholls shedding a tear and expressing delight at having trained such a modern day great. 2. Master Minded will be Nicholls attempt to find a 3 miler to go to war with Long Run. A true battle royale between the two will develop in the King George up the Kempton straight with Master Minded's power packed jumping winning the day. Master Minded will then be aimed at the Gold Cup but will disappoint somewhat and appear a non-stayer. 3. Hurricane Fly will continue on from last years imperious, unbeaten season with another unbeaten campaign, again dismissing allcomers with ease. This will have the effect that the 2 mile hurdling division becomes uncompetitive with no worthwhile opposition capable of even getting the Hurricane off the bridle. The highlight being a virtuoso performance in the Champion in which he wins unextended by 7 lengths. Ruby Walsh will later claim that if he could have settled the Fly better he would have won by a hurdle but he secretly didn't want to embarrass his mates AP et al THAT much!
Nass Just looking back through the list of winners, brings back some nice memories - Bradbury Star (twice), Pegwell Bay and more recently Fondmort, Celestial Gold, Our Vic, Exotic Dance and of course Imperial Commander.
I think Grand Crus will disappoint over fences too. I just don't see him as a jumper, though i may be proved wrong. But i am very confident that he won't see which way Big Buck's went in the World Hurdle.
1) Zarkandar 12/1 Will win the Champion Hurdle and be unbeaten this season. 2) Junior 25/1 Will be placed in the Grand National at the very least. 3) Grands Crus Wins the RSA Good Luck.
1) As per usual all the horses I back over Cheltenham Week bomb before going on to hose up round Aintree when I haven't bet on them. 2) The horse I back in the Grand National is 20L clear of its nearest rival coming to the last before either getting blocked off or brought down by a loose horse. The horse that subsequently goes on to win has been backed by at least 2 of the family members I'm watching the race with. 3) During the first race on the first day of the Grand National meet a loud cheer goes up from most of the crowd as the horses pass the finishing post for the first time. Cracks me up every time
1. Thousand Stars to win the Arkle. 2. Mount Benulben to win Supreme Novices. 3. Cross Kennon to win RSA Chase. Bonus Tip. Rubilight to win Group 1.
1) Long Run to go unbeaten 2) Binocular to win the christmas hurdle and either the CH or the Aintree Hurdle 3) A favourite to win the GN
