Vroum Vroum Mag has no chance in anything outside the mares and only chance in there if Annie Power doesnt run.
Annie in the mares hurdle and VVM in the handicap chase on day 1. She'll get in that with a lovely weight off 151 When are we going to see your specials Boris?
I think you could end up with WM wanting to have a crack at the WH with AP but Ricci wanting to win the mares race having failed last year. If shes injury free they can step her up after chelters to see whether a crack at the WH is on next year.
What in the name of jeasous is going on at Seven Barrows and Ditcheat?Do they have anything than can feasibly win any of the grades races next month.I know Hendo has a couple in the Supreme but other than that it looks fairly bleak doesn't it.I almost feel sorry for Nicholls if Dodging Bullets is his stable star.He might have a couple in with a chance in the Juvenile races and maybe a Handicapp,big come down from 5/6 years ago
They don't have the ammunition this year Ste. Henderson has 2 live ones in the Supreme and possibly Sprinter Sacre who has a chance. Nicholls reckons he has some well handicapped horses for a change and I suspect he will do well in those festival handicaps
Ste, do you mean to say that you haven’t had a wager on Mr Henderson to be Champion Trainer at the meet. I’m most surprised. The quickest way to the poor house is to dismiss the forum’s favourite trainer so readily. Not only does he have a strong ‘Supreme’ team but don’t forget Polly Peachum and his ‘Champion Hurdle trio’ all who have recently received very positive bulletins re there progress. Not beyond the realms of possibility that Mr Henderson could open up with 3 Grade 1 winners on the Tuesday. Then latter in the week in the ‘top table heats’ he’s got the likes of Black Aeroplane, Ok Corral and Fixe Le Kap. Still the chap to beat in my opinion. While I’m on, other positive Mr Henderson news is that he’s likely to debut Chocca Wocca, over hurdles this week. She’s another that could be a leading contender for the great man – in the new Mares Novice heat.
That does seem to be the story Toppy,lack of big hitters in both stables.I do like Polly Peachum and she is a nice Ew shout in the Mares.Nicholls must have been very dissapointed with Dodging Bullets performance on Saturday after bigging him up in the lead up to the race.I find Nichols tends to that abit especially when glossing over his Cheltenham team during previews etc.
Can't believe I missed off Mr Henderson's Bloody Mary from that list as well! Sure to be another major player for him in the new Mares event.
He said after the defeat that he has only been able to get eight weeks work instead of twelve that ' you would normally need to win first time out ' -he spent pre race bigging it up - the guy is not straight is he? The winning trainer on use the other hand was very open and confident
Nicholls is a funny one. It's common view he got a bit too big for his boots when he was at the top a number of years ago, being a bit too arrogant of himself and his demanding of loyalty but not returning it to staff and jockeys is well known. The whole Kauto Star saga with Clive Smith (where public perception was to blame Clive) isn't totally accurate from what I heard too, Nicholls is a ruthless piece of work and his behaviour was pretty disgusting. I used to be a fan of his, I liked his heart on the sleeve persona but I know plenty think he's getting what he deserved now for tramping others, including his own jockeys, into the ground. He's got this reputation for being a great trainer of chasers as he was lucky enough to have several legends through his hands. Recent seasons it seems he's not doing that great a job, as I struggle to see anyone else send this many back to hurdles as he has, so it's questionable if he just got lucky with Denman and Kauto. Regards his openess/honesty LOL As has been said regarding Dodging Bullets, there's been so many examples where he's put punters away. The best one I can recall was the Ascot Chase where Al Ferof was coming back from an absence and we were told he'd need the run etc but his other runner Bury Parade was as fit as a flea and was definitely the one for the race. Al Ferof never came off the snaff. Bury Parade was out with the washing.... Punters pal Paul eh Nicky just burns his horses out after one or two seasons. I'm not sure if the forums second favourite trainer is that arsed now a days, I've a feeling once Sprinter Sacre hangs his saddle cloth up, Nicky might just follow suit.
Rudey I do think Nicholls is straight,I have no problem with him at all.As Beefy said above he does tend to over exaggerate some of his runners though.
When you have got a Kauto and a Denman and a Big Bucks and a Master Minded in your yard, you have a good festival! When you have an Old Guard, a Saphir De Rheu, a Dodging Bullets- it's just not quite so good and that's no disrespect to those animals. Hendo had Bobs Worth, Simonsig, MyTent, Riverside Theatre, Sprinter Sacre a couple of years back. Mullins carries that ammunition now- Min, Faugheen, Vautour, Annie Power, Don Poli et al. It's just the cycle. Good trainers will rise again, though without Skelton and Fry in the yard Nicholls is having his Michael Stoute moment in having to silence his doubters.
its a bit early yet Oddy can count on two hands and two feet the number of jump races ive watched this season, didnt think it was possible but its been even worse than the last flat season, never looked forward less to the first day of Cheltenham either, 3 odds on snorefests and two lotteries, being generous I suppose the Supreme is bordering on interesting.
Nicholls has received some expensive French purchases from the recent sales Ste and I think within the next couple of year, he may well have some stars back among his yard...like TopClass said, these things are often cyclical and with all the money splurged you'd be hoping a few stars will emerge.
Annie Power runs tomorrow then. Based on quotes from the wonderful Mr Ricci, that means a date with Thistlecrack in the World Hurdle is in the offing... **** just got interesting!
