Very unusual to see Mr Henderson, the forum’s favourite trainer, in the City tomorrow. No, no, no, no, no he’s not meeting his broker or old boy Banker but sending the dreaded 'Elite Racing Club’s' BARDD to Chelmsford to make his Flat bow (8.15).
This debut is somewhat belated given that Bardd is just a couple of weeks, or so, away from his 6th birthday. He’s had 9 spins in the old NH sphere though and commenced his career with a good couple of Bumper efforts – finishing 2nd at Hunters before winning at Sandown Park. Over hurdles though he hasn’t proved ‘the real deal’ remaining a maiden after 7 runs and he last ran off a perch of 110 (making him one of the lowest rated runners at Seven Barrows). He has though always been seen as having potential and amazingly in 9 runs has only once gone off bigger than 9/4 (9/2 when running in a 15 runner heat at Ascot).
Tomorrow’s run on the level could be viewed as Bardd’s last chance, a desperate final roll of the old dice or alternatively a change in direction and him aimed at a sphere in which he could excel. You pays your money and you takes your pick, people. I would say though that the 13 furlong maiden event doesn’t, to my eye, look particularly strong although, likely main danger, Prerogative did finish runner-up a staggering 8 times when trained by Dickie Hannon. His Flat rating though is just 73 and he made the worst possible debut, for his new barn, when falling at the first in a juvenile hurdle last month!
I would expect Bardd to win tomorrow and maybe the Flat will be more his game. And, of course, although Mr Henderson doesn’t usually run horses on the level when he does he’s a record the envy of most trainers! Recommended.
Good luck all.
