Nicky Henderson interview on various sites, quick breakdown .............. SPRINTER SACRE - won't be going 3m so no King George, will go the same route as last year and is in great shape, roll on the Tingle Creek. SIMONSIG - could well be going King George as being a Neptune Hurdle winner he looks like he could stay. Doesn't take much to get fit and won at Cheltz last March (Arkle) even when scoping poorly, he's that good !! MY TENT OR YOURS - Champion Hurdle material, as is GRANDOUET (thought thy'd have went chasing with him). BOBS WORTH - won't run right handed so no King George, hates it and hopefully he will get more outings this year, the weather and bugs didn't help him last season, he was never fully fit.
Thanks for posting wuby Absolutely the right thing to do with Sprinter Sacre - for me he has got nothing to prove, he is the most exciting chaser I have ever seen. I would like to see Simonsig's jumping brushed up considerably before backing him in a King George - but I do think he will get the trip. Be interesting to see where they start him - the Peterborough Chase maybe? Henderson plundered the race in the 90s with Remittance Man and Travado. I can't be having My Tent Or Yours nor Grandouet as Champion Hurdle horses - for me they just don't hurdle fluently enough (too many "F"s in front of Grandouet's name and MTOY still looked very novicey last season - I guess he may improve his hurdling though). As for Bobs Worth, i would love to see him have another tilt at the Hennessey but I suspect the Betfair Chase might be more likely? I think he'd love the Welsh National too but would probably end up carrying 11-12 with the rest of the field on 10 stone dead. I think the Denman Chase will be his Gold Cup prep and if that all goes to plan, what about a tilt at the old Whitbread?
Agree Oddy it would be great to see him line up in a H'cap but the pattern race calendar is so over subscribed that most top 'chasers can go most of the season without meeting each other. The Whitbred could do with a boost. I'd of thought the Lexus at Leopardstown over Christmas might be a perfect event for Bob's Worth but it could be a tough race with the Irish currently having a few decent staying fencers for the first time in a few years.
Wasnât Sanctuaire sold for 6 figures to Willie Mullins??? I suppose the intention is to mop up all the 2 mile Graded Chases in Ireland that the likes of Big Zeb and before him Moscow Flyer did. Although personally I donât think heâs got the class that those 2 had. Interesting reading that Mr Nicholls interview. Although Rocky Creek winning the '2013 Hennessy' has to be the worst kept secret in racing!