Anyone else excited about seeing him in his first chase tommorow? The Pipes certainly aren't easing him in, and have put him up against some other high profile horses in Cue Card, Champion Court and Zaynar in what is usually a very strong novice chase. Time For Rupert won the same one last year. Champion Court and Cue Card have the advantage of experience, but they do have 5 pound penalties to contend with, so provided Grands Crus jumps well enough, then his engine should be to much. 6/4 anyone?
Not a brilliant price considering the quality he's up against who have jumped fences. If he smashes this lot he's a serious contender.
A contender for what exactly? His next engagement is the Betfair Chase. Maybe the Pipes have been schooling him all summer, and he's pinging them like Dessie
Only novice chaser i'm waiting on is Bob's Worth, horse won me a fortune last year and he should be a beast over fences. RSA bound i'm sure and i fully expect him to be in the mix at the business end of that race when it comes around.
I was on Bobsworth at Cheltenham aswell Hardy, I backed him at 4/1 on the Monday, and when Rock On Ruby went so close in the Neptune Bobsworths price collapsed. I'm not sure were he will be making his debut, hopefully it will be soon
I think the trip is more in Cue Card's favour than Grand Crus. I love both horses though and hope they both have really good seasons.
It will be interesting to see how Grands Crus jumps. I know there's been a few alternative theories as to that made on here so tomorrow should give an indicator as to whether going chasing with this one was the right choice or not. Personally I'd lean towards Cue Card in this, as he did jump OK on his debut.
On looks and style I have to go with Cue Card tomorrow - a real chasing type whereas Grands Crus always looked a bit small and awkward over hurdles to my wine-sodden eye
Grand Crus a horse I like for sure after his performances against Big Bucks. He didn't jump very well when only 6th of 10 at Auteuil in June over hurdles that looked more like mini fences . Will probs be daft enough to back him at 2/1 now though
I can just see Cue Card quickening clear with this one tomorrow with a clear round. Grand Crus might need more of a trip, he was eased into contention late on in his hurdle races and I think he'll be settled towards the rear again tomorrow. By the way, I think Cue Card will actually be a Jewson horse this season. Tizzard has dropped his boldest hint yet that he thinks Cue Card is heading further up in trip when he said 'he lacked the kick of the out and out 2 milers', but also said that 3m was a long term plan. So I think antepost for either Arkle or RSA will be pointless.
I've backed Champion Court for tomorrow at 7/1. jumped really well and beat a group of decent chase prospects last time out.
I would have been on him EW but i just think with just the 7 runners and therefore two runners the value isn't there for me. The trouble is that he could run a cracking race and finish 3rd . . . I am one who is slightly suspect of Grand Crus potential jumping. His balance is so 'downhill' that i do wonder how he will cope with the bigger obstacles. I also thought he was a little 'guessy' at his hurdles. Those two combined would certainly put me off backing him until i had evidence that he could jump a fence. He would be the opposite to Peddlers. I never had any doubt that he would be a good jumper because he was measured over his hurdles. Grand Crus struck me as getting from one side to the other more by luck than judgement. It wouldn't surprise me at all for him to put in a poor round of jumping tomorrow.
Yes! I looked on here to see if anyone was talking about him and see he's been given his own thread He was the horse I most enjoyed watching, last season. I'm really looking forward to seeing him in his chase debut, tomorrow (probably from behind the sofa).
David Pipe on Sporting Life: "Cheltenham is as good a place as any to start off so I hope he runs well. He was always going to start around this time of year but he has probably come to hand a little quicker than we expected. "I'm sure he'll improve for his first run but he's quick enough to do himself justice. We would want the ground softer but as long as it is safe he'll be fine." Hardly brimming with confidence.
That does sound a little pessimistic Oddy. I do think he's worth opposing tomorrow but i will be more than happy if he makes me look an idiot!
Zenyatta.....I realy don't understand how you can be so critical of Grands Crus hurdling, he always looked a very slick and economical hurdler to me. The only worry over the larger obstacles would be that he's not the biggest in the world, but there have been plenty of others who have succeeded over fences, without being that big. Grands Crus is a far classier horse than the 2 he's up against tommorow, and he is receiving 5 pounds from the pair of them. Provided he jumps round there can only be 1 winner
He might have been an adequate hurdler but to my eye he was not assured. Everything happened more by luck than judgement and he never struck me as knowing exactly what he was doing. He will need to be clever to negotiate fences and i didn't see that over hurdles. I may be wrong, and i would be delighted if i am because it is always nice to see a really smart prospect emerge. However, on the evidence i have to go on, which is his hurdling, i have my doubts.
I've backed Champion Court, I can't back Cue Card at his price espcially with the likes of Grands Crus making his chase debut. If Grands Crus makes a sound round of jumping he will be there or there abouts but I think the distance maybe too short for him although he will love the ground at Cheltenham. Champion Court as looked a top prospect and after unseated Tony McCoy at Perth he beat some nice prospects last time out and I've really liked the horse since his Cheltenham win in the Neptune. He didnt replay that form in his next couple of races but hes a top prospect and provides the value in the race... 1. Champion Court 2. Grands Crus 3. Cue Card
Few errors from Grands Crus but hardly shattered his confidence. I decent enough display on his first start over fences as I said in my last post I think Champion Court is a decent horse so its not a bad win for Grand Crus. Cue Card still novicey and showed that getting in abit short, He did the same on his debut over fences but got away with it but you can't make them mistakes against some of these horses. Grands Crus loves that hill at Cheltenham... RSA here we come!
