I'm sure if everyone was asked what would be the most unusual race in which Mr Henderson would run a horse everyone would respond 'an apprentices only heat at old Ffos Las'. Well guess what tomorrow Mr Henderson is indeed set to run one in an apprentices only heat at old Ffos Las (4.00). Sistine, what a lovely name for a filly by the way, has her first start for Mr Henderson here after 4 runs earlier in her career for James Given. During her time with the latter she earned a rating of 60 and her best run was at Carlisle when finishing 3rd. Sistine will go juvenile hurdling in time but before then this lowly heat, across the Welsh border, is of obvious interest. But on her first run for almost 3 months is she a creditable challenger of the morrow??? A great many of her opponents, to be frank, appear somewhat exposed and fairly moderate and the contest would, on closer inspection, appear to be between probably no more than about half a dozen of the field. I think 60 is more than fair for her perch as Lucky Legs who she finished one place behind, off level weights, at Carlisle (albeit 6 lengths in arrears) has since won twice, including last time off 78, and She's Got The Luck (who Sistine beat in the same race, off levels, by 4 lengths) has since won off 64. You then need to factor in the nigh on certainty that the move to Mr Henderson will have benefited Sistine enormously and that the great trainer will have eked out considerable improvement. Meanwhile, Mr Henderson has shrewdly secured the services of leading apprentice Sean Levey. He has booted home 33 winners so far in 2011 so Sistine shouldnât want for lack of assistance in the saddle â something that may not be the case with a few of the other runners. I see that Sporting Life are currently predicting 10/1 re this one chances and it will be interesting to see how those bookie chappies react when they open their markets on the event. I think this a most intriguing entry and look forward to the market opening and the race itself greatly. Anyone rate Sistineâs chances or can see any noteworthy challengers emerging to her??
Given that she's had two last places and a 7th from 11 runners- out of her 4 runs total- she seems to take after her dam (Fickle). Apart from the fact that Henderson trains her, wouldn't she be better off doing other things?
Barney, on a more serious note, I see Henderson has Dave's Dream making his seasonal debut in the Paddy Power- and the horse has never lost first time out. He also has Quantitativeeasing engaged. What do you think?
Tam, I don’t think she’ll get a huge number of chances at Seven Barrows and would be moved on if she doesn’t do it quickly over hurdles. Sistine is owned by the ‘dreaded’ Elite Racing Club so would probably then be moved to one of their ‘lesser’ trainers if she wasn’t that great. But this is her big chance to shine under Mr Henderson and she’ll certainly never get a better tutor. On Dave’s Dream he is a total enigma and has so often promised to make a huge breakthrough to the next level but never really delivered. His wins/runs ratio is also very, very good (close to 50%) but undoubtedly any bet on him is fraught with risk as he is equally likely to run a stinker. Personally, at this stage, he wouldn’t be for me, in the PPGC, as I think Mon Perrain could be thrown in off 152. Also, should the weights rise I don’t think my old fave Vino Griego (currently 11 pounds ‘wrong’ is not without chances at what I would expect to be huge prices.
Sistine was due to go hurdling and hence the move to Nicky Henderson. She is a 3/4 sister to the dam of Camelot though.
