Afternoon folks, Dont usually post unless i'm after a bt of advice which is why I have set up this thread. I am a huge fan of Grandouet ever since he joined the henderson yard. I backed him blindly last year losing a fair bit at Wincanton, recouping at Cheltenham when beating Overturn in the International and then losing again on the antepost for he champion hurdle last season. I have recently started to put a couple of quid on him each week for the champion hurdle but I am getting a little concerned as I haven't actually heard anything rearding the horses plans Can anyone shed any light? I know he was injured last season so Im unsure on the effect this might have had on him. I thought Mr Henderson would have run him in the elite this weekend. Apart from that does anybody think he has a chance in the big one? He always looks full of runnning despite being keen and if he settled (and all is well) I think he has a huge chance! Cheers
I've heard very little about him for months and a quick scan of the net revealed nothing. Possibly gearing him towards the Christmas Hurdle? I think he is around 12/1 for the Champion Hurdle at the moment which doesn't appeal for a horse that has been off the track for so long. I would wait for him to have a run before backing him, I doubt he will shorten much from 12s ante post for winning a modest prep race. Or at least wait until he has been declared to run somewhere and whether that actually looks likely. TBH I'd be more tempted by a little e/w antepost dabble on Go Native at 25s
I've not heard anything but i'd want to see him run before backing him ante post for the Champion Hurdle. If he doesn't come back at his best he won't win the Champion Hurdle.
I would imagine he’ll be back in something next month – Cheltenham’s International (which he won last year) being the most likely race. I would certainly agree that, if remaining sound, he would have a big say in the Champion itself next March and if someone held a gun to my head, although I’m sure that no-one would ever want to do that, then at the moment I’d nominate Grandouet as the most likely winner of the race. Mr Henderson though looks to have a might hand in the contest, at this stage with other possibles being Darlan, my old fave Binocular, Oscar Whisky and Simonsig should they elect to remain over timber with him. I just can’t have either of the market leaders for the heat (the last 2 winners Hurricane Fly and Rock on Ruby) and would see Cinders and Ashes as the main danger to Mr Henderson regaining his ‘Champion Hurdle Crown’ amid loud cheers from the racegoers.
Cheers guys. I wondered if anyone had read anything in Mark Howards Jumps book as Henderson is sually one of the stables featured. I honestly believe if he comes back the sae horse then he has a huge chance of winning the CH. Beat overturn comfortable at Chelts who is a good yardstick. Agrre completely with Sir Barney, Henderson has a huge hand regardless
I like this horse to. If i remember correctly the injury was not major but they decided to put him away for the season anyway and have a proper crack this year. Just checked Mark Howards book and it's not clear if he wrote this or it's a direct quote but it say's amongst other things. - high class, missed chelt because of swelling in lower hind leg, seemed of little consequence to begin with. deteriorated and turned in to internal infection of the joint. we hope to be back on track and there is no reason he shouldn't return to where he left off.in which case, he is still a live champion hurdle contender. From the racing post guide to the jumps i found this, again not clear who from, but seemingly direct Henderson quotes. grandouet is over the leg infection, he'll stay over hurdles this season. He's very very good and the champion hurdle will be the aim again. He's a genuine 2 miler and genuinely gets up the hill(cheltenham). Where Darlan doesn't go, he will, and where he doesn't Binocular will. it's a nice problem to have. indeed it is a nice problem to have. as it was an infection and not a problem with bone or muscle i see no reason why he can't come back as good. or better being only 6 now i think.
Nice one Hawkeye. He travelled so well behind overturn at Cheltenham at went past easily. Should be even stronger this year too. Will be very interesting to see where they all line up. There's the international, fighting fifth or Xmas hurdle. Looking at the king George entries I can't stop thinking how great competition there is over the the different distances. Could be a year to remember
I've been doing the same over the past month or so, having small wins bets on him at 12s. So far i'm upto £16. On atr Mr Henderson said this about him ................... Top-class, two-mile hurdler, successful in November and December last season and rated 166 going into the Champion Hurdle but ruled out through injury. “Going very well at the moment, touch wood. Top-class and perfectly entitled to be where he was in the betting before the Champion Hurdle. He’s a stronger horse this season and a very talented one, too. It’s possible he could go for the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, too.”
I think Grandouet is due back this season and he is ready to roll. Obviously there is always a risk antepost with injuries but Grandouet has been reported as fit for a new campaign.
Oddy, big fan of Go Native too. He is such a classy horse and travels so well throughout his races and is very easy on the eye but my only concern is that when he get's into a tough battle he doesn't seem to have much, think the Cheltenham hill may be a tough one for him to climb in front, I do agree though, 25's could be big for him if he can improve on that area, undoubtedly has the class there. What are your view's in relation to this?
He got up the hill OK in the Supreme Novices, and that from horses who are now getting further (Medermit and Somersby). I think he can idle in front (Christmas Hurdle being a classic example) and his defeat by VLV still has me perplexed. I would think he would find it difficult to reverse form with Hurricane Fly if that one was at his best BUT it would depend how the race were run. I think we saw HF exposed in the CH in March as being not so effective off a very strong pace, whereas I think Go Native would have thrived on that. If this season's CH pans out to be a similar affair I would give Go Native a chance. It's still a long way back for him, he has yet to jump a hurdle in public since his injury, but his motor is clearly still there and his antepost odds make more appeal than Grandouet to me.
Change that top £21, had a fiver on him last night. Also double him up with Dodging Bullets (Supreme).
Hopefully Grandouet will return to his best form this coming season, and if he does, he definitely has a chance in the Champion. But I certainly think anyone who writes off Rock on Ruby is cruising for a bruising, as I think he is a top animal, who brings top class form to the table, and could well do it again. Also don't forget Cinders & Ashes who won the Supreme, despite taking half the hurdles home with him, that takes some doing round Cheltenham! Throw in Zarkandar, Hurricane Fly, Go Native, Darlan, Binocular, Overturn etc, could be 8 or 9 in with a great chance
Rock on Ruby looked the winner 3 out he was that good on the day but I think he thrived off of the pace set by Overturn who, at the minute, is taking on fences. Will anything else go off that quick this time round?
Yep, i would tend to agree with ya Oddy, i really hope he does continue to progress in the right direction and do well for himself and connections. Also Grandoutet no doubt a very good horse but as already said, i'd wait until we see him in action before investing anything, but goodluck nontheless.
McCain has now had the last two second placed horses in this race. Clearly he can ready one perfectly for the occasion and I'll probably be taking the hint this year with Cinders and Ashes who I think will be a decent price come March.
Yeah I'm with you on that one Boston, think Cinders & Ashes will be one of the ones in with a great chance providing all goes well this season. I remember being stood on the rail on festival Tuesday back in March laughing my head off at my dads selection (Cinders) as he hit every other hurdle and thought he had no chance, as Darlan who I'd backed moved stylishly into the race. Couldn't believe it when the winner came storming past us in front despite another go at kicking the final flight back into the town centre! To my eye it was a very strong performance and providing they improve his action over a hurdle, he could be the one to be on. Long long way to go before then though
He kicked two hurdles... I went that day with a mate who said you should back the one you fancy for the Supreme for next years Champion Hurdle. That was Cinders and Ashes but I didn't do it. The morning of the Supreme he 100/1 for this years Champion!
