Press Release: BURKE AIMING TO CONTINUE DREAM START TO TRAINING CAREER WITH HOLMWOOD LEGEND This yearâs Open at Cheltenham moves a step closer today with the unveiling of the weights for the £150,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup (2.35pm), highlight of Saturday, November 12, and the £100,000 Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (2.20pm), which takes centre stage on Sunday, November 13. The weights for the Paddy Power Gold Cup are headed for a second consecutive year by Poquelin (11st 12lb), who was fifth behind Little Josh 12 months ago prior to posting a pair of victories at Cheltenham in the Grade Three December Gold Cup and the Grade Two Masterson Holdings Trophy Chase. The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old is rated a 25/1 chance by Paddy Power as he bids to become the first horse to carry top-weight to victory in the two and a half-mile contest since Cyfor Malta triumphed for a second time in 2002. Nicholls is also responsible for Mon Parrain, who heads the market with Paddy Power at 11/2 following an impressive first season in Britain last term that included a facile Sandown handicap chase victory in March. The progressive five-year-old, who warmed up for his major autumn target by working after racing at Exeter racecourse yesterday, has been allotted 10st 8lb Kieran Burke, who saddled a winner with his very first runner on the same Exeter card since taking over from Pat Rodford, is looking forward to seeing Holmwood Legend (20/1 & 10st 3lb) return to Cheltenham for the Paddy Power Gold Cup. As a jockey, Burke enjoyed the biggest success of his career when he partnered Holmwood Legend to a storming victory in the Grade Three Byrne Group Plate over two miles and five furlongs at The Festival in March. The pair returned to Cheltenham the following month and ran another excellent race in defeat over the same course and distance when going down by half a length to Poquelin in the Masterson Holdings Trophy Chase, despite racing from 10lb out of the limited handicap. Burke commented: âHolmwood Legend is definitely on course for the Paddy Power Gold Cup. He improved more than any of us expected last season and we thought that his final run of the season behind Poquelin was better than his victory at The Festival. âHe was very impressive that day and he obviously loves racing at Cheltenham. We are hoping to try and go back there as often as possible this season, and I hope that he could also line up in the December Gold Cup âIdeally, we would like goodish ground for him - he has won on soft before but that was when his handicap mark was very low. âHe is 10 years old and we did very well with him last season. I know that I have a very tough task to keep improving him after such a rise in the weights but he loves Cheltenham and I am looking forward to seeing him back in action.â Other notable contenders for the Paddy Power Gold Cup include Noble Prince (14/1 & 11st 2lb), from the Irish stable of Paul Nolan, the Philip Hobbs-trained Wishfull Thinking (15/2 & 11st 6lb), and the Henry de Bromhead-trained Loosen My Load (16/1 & 10st 9lb), who finished first, second and third respectively in the Grade Two Jewson Novicesâ Chase at The Festival in March. Great Endeavour (12/1 & 10st 3lb), successful in the 2010 Byrne Group Plate, may line up for David Pipe, while the Ferdy Murphy-trained Divers (12/1 & 9st 9lb), victorious in the Listed Centenary Novicesâ Handicap Chase at this yearâs Festival, could bid to bounce back from a disappointing seasonal return at Carlisle on Sunday. Paddy Power Gold Cup - Paddy Power bet: 11/2 Mon Parrain, 15/2 Wishfull Thinking, 12 Divers, Ghizao, Great Endeavour, The Giant Bolster, 14 Noble Prince, 16 Loosen My Load, Quantitativeeasing, Tullamore Dew, Aerial, 20 Muirhead, Holmwood Legend, Dave's Dream, Noble Alan, Fine Parchment, Blazing Tempo, Quartz de Thaix, The Knoxs, Aigle d'Or, Shoreacres, Kauto Stone, 25 Gauvain, Oiseau de Nuit, Poquelin, Zaarito, Finger Onthe Pulse, Calgary Bay, Cape Tribulation, Pure Faith, Billie Magern, Gansey, Vino Griego, 33 Scotsirish, Tatenen, Araldur, Swincombe Rock, Hector's Choice, Nomecheki, Buck Mulligan, Pigeon Island, Stormin Exit, Persian Gates, Ad Idem, 40 Pickamus, Norther Bay, 50 Rio Gael, 66 Misstree Dancer each-way 1/4 odds, 4 places
FLYNN AIMING TO ROLL THE DICE ONCE MORE IN GREATWOOD HANDICAP HURDLE Trainer Paul Flynn is aiming for another big handicap hurdle prize with his progressive hurdler Moon Dice, who has been allotted 10st 6lb for the £100,000 Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (2.20pm), which takes centre stage at Cheltenham on Sunday, November 13. The six-year-old gave the handler from County Longford, Ireland, the biggest success of his training career to date when storming to a four and a half-length victory in the lucrative Galway Hurdle at the Galway Festival on July 28. He is currently rated a 12/1 chance for the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle with Paddy Power. Flynn revealed: âMoon Dice is in great form and he will definitely run in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle. The race was the main target that we had in mind after he won at Galway and we gave him a good break to freshen him up. âI feel that he has improved since Galway - he is only six and I think that he has got stronger. It will be a better race than Galway but I think that he idled a little bit there and the Cheltenham hill should suit him. âI can see him turning into a potential Arkle horse in the future. We will keep him over hurdles this year and I think that he will be another 10lb or 15lb better over fences. I have ridden Whatâs Up Boys to win a Hennessy Gold Cup and Farmer Jack to win the Old Roan Chase, but Moon Dice is probably the best horse that I have sat on, let alone trained. âHe will prove me right or wrong next weekend but I think that he will run a cracking race.â The weights for the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle are headed by the Donald McCain-trained Overturn (16/1 & 11st 12lb), who carried top-weight to victory on his latest start in the Scottish Summer Champion Hurdle at Perth on August 20. Others contenders include the Nicky Henderson-trained Grandouet (9/1 joint-favourite & 10st 12lb), who was third in last seasonâs Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle before beating the Alan King-trained Kumbeshwar (10/1 & 10st 4lb) in Punchestownâs Grade One 4YO Champion Hurdle in May. Grandouet is joined at the top of Paddy Powerâs market by the Paul Nicholls-trained Brampour (9/1 joint-favourite & 10st 11lb), who captured a Listed handicap hurdle at Ascot on Saturday. A Media Luz (12/1 & 9st 9lb) and Gibb River (16/1 & 10st 1lb) also feature among a strong Henderson-trained trio, while Gary Moore could be represented by Sire de Grugy (12/1 & 10st 5lb). Greatwood Handicap Hurdle - Paddy Power bet: 9 Brampour, Grandouet, 10 Domtaline, 12 Sire de Grugy, A Media Luz, Moon Dice, 14 Khyber Kim, Kumbeshwar, 16 Third Intention, Overturn, Kalann, Sanctuaire, Jack Cool, Gibb River, Oldrik, Via Galilei, 20 Celestial Halo, Marsh Warbler, Alarazi, Olofi, Elsafeer, Pateese, Topolski, Ultimate, Inspector Clouseau, 25 Alasi, Bygones of Brid, The Betchworth Kid, Act of Kalanisi, Tawaagg, Palawi, Harry Tricker, Abergavenny, Priors Gold, Alazan, 33 Nearby, Son of Flicka, Drill Sergeant, Viva Colonia, Deutschland, Tarkari, 40 First Fandango, Andhaar, Eightybarackstreet, Wee Giant each-way 1/4 odds, 4 places
THE PADDY POWER GOLD CUPClass 1, Grade 3, £150,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.35pm, Cheltenham, Saturday, November 12, 2011. For four-year-olds and upwards, two and a half miles. Penalties: after October 30, a winner of a chase 5lb. No penalty to increase a horseâs weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed October 25, entries revealed October 26 (51 entries), weights revealed Wednesday, November 2, five-day confirmation stage November 7, final declaration stage 10.00am, November 10. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Tuesday, November 1. May not include some overseas form. Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer 25141-5 POQUELIN (FR) 8-11-12 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls 12121-1 WISHFULL THINKING 8-11-06 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs 1221-F1 NOBLE PRINCE (GER) 7-11-02 Des Sharkey Paul Nolan IRE 12142-1 MEDERMIT (FR) 7-11-01 (5lb ex) The Dunkley & Reilly Partnership Alan King 261103- KAUTO STONE (FR) 5-10-11 Robin Geffen Paul Nicholls 21152-4 GHIZAO (GER) 7-10-11 The Johnson & Stewart Families Paul Nicholls 1//15520- GAUVAIN (GER) 9-10-11 Jared Sullivan & Simon Brown Nick Williams 153363 SCOTSIRISH (IRE) 10-10-10 Double R Stables Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE 03124-3 OISEAU DE NUIT (FR) 9-10-09 Terry Warner Colin Tizzard 43-2512 LOOSEN MY LOAD (IRE) 7-10-09 Alan & Ann Potts Partnership Henry de Bromhead IRE 12/5312- MON PARRAIN (FR) 5-10-08 John & Barbara Cotton Paul Nicholls 125-214 BLAZING TEMPO (IRE) 7-10-08 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE F1F0/2-6 ZAARITO (IRE) 9-10-04 Victoria Syndicate Colm Murphy IRE 41/62F6- GREAT ENDEAVOUR (IRE) 7-10-03 David Johnson David Pipe 1340/10- DAVE'S DREAM (IRE) 8-10-03 David Murdoch & Jenny Murdoch Nicky Henderson 631410 MUIRHEAD (IRE) 8-10-03 Mrs Pat Sloan Noel Meade IRE 52F112- HOLMWOOD LEGEND 10-10-03 Brian Derrick Kieran Burke 1F1UF-4 THE GIANT BOLSTER 6-10-02 Simon Hunt David Bridgwater 300-001 FINGER ONTHE PULSE (IRE) 10-10-02 J P McManus Tom Taaffe IRE 56242F- CALGARY BAY (IRE) 8-10-02 Camilla Radford Henrietta Knight 363100- TATENEN (FR) 7-10-01 The Stewart Family Richard Rowe 40/1P22- CAPE TRIBULATION 7-10-01 J David Abell Malcolm Jefferson 22211-2 ARALDUR (FR) 7-10-00 David Sewell Alan King 21F342 PURE FAITH (IRE) 7-9-12 P Bowling, S Scott, R Harvey & Karen Bowen Peter Bowen 13F0-4U NOBLE ALAN (GER) 8-9-12 Craig Bennett Nicky Richards 0/0112-0 QUANTITATIVEEASING (IRE) 6-9-12 J P McManus Nicky Henderson 1/114P-2 SWINCOMBE ROCK 6-9-10 Mills & Mason Partnership Nigel Twiston-Davies 5F4012- AERIAL (FR) 5-9-10 Tony Hayward and Barry Fulton Paul Nicholls 12123-5 TULLAMORE DEW (IRE) 9-9-10 Give Every Man His Due Nick Gifford 30/02P-2 NOMECHEKI (FR) 9-9-09 The Stewart Family Nick Gifford 15(0)11-P DIVERS (FR) 7-9-09 Let's Live Racing Ferdy Murphy 4/031P-1 HECTOR'S CHOICE (FR) 7-9-09 James and Jean Potter Richard Lee 2122-P2 AD IDEM 7-9-09 Mrs A F Mee/T J Cunningham Pauline Gavin IRE 35020-1 BILLIE MAGERN 7-9-09 Roger Nicholls Nigel Twiston-Davies 1021U-2 FINE PARCHMENT (IRE) 8-9-08 N W A Bannister Charlie Mann 05/FF11- THE KNOXS (IRE) 8-9-07 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls 60/10-53 AIGLE D'OR 8-9-06 J P McManus Nicky Henderson 010FP-3 GANSEY (IRE) 9-9-05 Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith 5F06F-2 PICKAMUS (FR) 8-9-04 Neville Statham & Family Henry Daly 1-35422 BUCK MULLIGAN 6-9-03 L Fell Evan Williams 563234- VINO GRIEGO (FR) 6-9-03 C E Stedman Gary Moore 66110-P QUARTZ DE THAIX (FR) 7-9-03 ROA Arkle Partnership Venetia Williams 3-F124U NORTHER BAY (FR) 8-9-02 Martina Griffin Eoin Griffin IRE 300304- PIGEON ISLAND 8-9-02 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies 0010-61 STORMIN EXIT (IRE) 8-9-00 Fyffees & Robinson Jim Goldie 3F/10-F5 SHOREACRES (IRE) 8-8-13 David Nash Brendan Powell 3R4215 RIO GAEL (IRE) 5-8-11 Karen Bowen Peter Bowen 41-211F PERSIAN GATES (IRE) 7-8-11 Mrs Robert Bingley & Mrs Bryan Spooner Chris Bealby 14U34-6 MISSTREE DANCER 7-8-05 Sarah Faulks Nick Mitchell 49 Entries remain 9 Irish-trained THE FOLLOWING TWO HORSES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: GILBARRY (IRE), SUNNYHILLBOY (IRE)
THE GREATWOOD HANDICAP HURDLE Class 1, Grade 3, £100,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.20pm, Cheltenham, Sunday, November 13, 2011. For four-year-olds and upwards, two miles and a half furlong. Penalties, after October 30, a winner of a hurdle race 5lb. No penalty to increase a horseâs weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed October 25, entries released October 26 (45 entries), weights revealed Wednesday, November 2, six-day confirmation stage November 7, final declaration stage 10.00am, November 11. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including Monday, October 31. May not include some overseas form. Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer 12503-1 OVERTURN (IRE) 7-11-12 Tim Leslie Donald McCain 333210- CELESTIAL HALO (IRE) 7-11-08 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls 121/406- KHYBER KIM 9-11-02 Caroline Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies 2113B-1 GRANDOUET (FR) 4-10-12 Simon Munir Nicky Henderson 3/F301P- SANCTUAIRE (FR) 5-10-12 Jared Sullivan Paul Nicholls 111-0 TOPOLSKI (IRE) 5-10-12 P M Claydon David Arbuthnot 250-131 KALANN (IRE) 4-10-12 K McConnell Sabrina Harty IRE 3100-1 BRAMPOUR (IRE) 4-10-11 Banks, Blackshaw & Gannon Paul Nicholls 31110- MARSH WARBLER 4-10-10 Dan Gilbert & Kristian Strangeway Brian Ellison 0-22320 NEARBY 7-10-09 Andy Ash Philip Hobbs (6)U0202- BYGONES OF BRID (IRE) 8-10-08 James Callow Karen McLintock 012-153 JACK COOL (IRE) 5-10-07 Relic Pride Partnership Charles Byrnes IRE 2346-11 MOON DICE (IRE) 6-10-06 Three Friers Cross Syndicate Paul Flynn IRE 5322F-0 SON OF FLICKA 7-10-06 Twenty Four Seven Recruitment Donald McCain 2(4)1113- SIRE DE GRUGY (FR) 5-10-05 Preston Family & Friends Gary Moore 12201-6 THIRD INTENTION (IRE) 4-10-04 Robert and Sarah Tizzard Colin Tizzard 3322-20 KUMBESHWAR 4-10-04 McNeill Family & Nigel Bunter Alan King 310F-1 DOMTALINE (FR) 4-10-02 John & Barbara Cotton Paul Nicholls 1235-42 VIA GALILEI (IRE) 6-10-02 C E Stedman Gary Moore 3P/4040- THE BETCHWORTH KID 6-10-01 Henry Ponsonby Alan King 1110- GIBB RIVER (IRE) 5-10-01 Corbett Stud Nicky Henderson 42-0105 DRILL SERGEANT 6-10-00 Tim Leslie Donald McCain 2342-01 ALASI 7-10-00 Shully Liebermann Paul Webber 203232 INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU (IRE) 6-9-13 Allan McLuckie Willie Mullins IRE 0-32110 VIVA COLONIA (IRE) 6-9-13 Bolingbroke Racing, Mersey Racing David O'Meara 1041- ACT OF KALANISI (IRE) 5-9-12 C E Stedman & Dr Richard Newland Dr Richard Newland 322104- ALARAZI (IRE) 7-9-12 Johnny Eddis Lucy Wadham 13-0034 TAWAAGG 7-9-11 Eamonn Duignan Willie Mullins IRE 0PF-400 DEUTSCHLAND (USA) 8-9-11 Allan McLuckie Willie Mullins IRE 0211F-4 PALAWI (IRE) 4-9-11 Bob McMillan John Quinn 20520/5- OLDRIK (GER) 8-9-10 D J Jones Philip Hobbs 110-3 FIRST FANDANGO 4-9-10 WRB Racing 40 & Premier Chance Racing Tim Vaughan 2F1P0-3 A MEDIA LUZ (FR) 4-9-09 Richard & Lizzie Kelvin Hughes Nicky Henderson 111 ABERGAVENNY 4-9-06 Dan Gilbert & Kristian Strangeway Brian Ellison 4/2530-4 OLOFI (FR) 5-9-06 R & L Channing S & F Roberts McNeill Family Tom George 23F323 PRIORS GOLD 4-9-05 Sean Gallagher Gordon Elliott IRE 41130-0 ANDHAAR 5-9-05 P J Martin Steve Gollings 214164 EIGHTYBARACKSTREET (IRE) 5-9-05 N Hartery Thomas Cooper IRE 5035P-1 ULTIMATE 5-9-04 Dan Gilbert Brian Ellison 212110 ELSAFEER (IRE) 6-9-04 Delamere Cottage Racing Partners (1996) Tim Vaughan 321230- PATEESE (FR) 6-9-04 The Test Valley Partnership Philip Hobbs F/11(4)4-0 HARRY TRICKER 7-9-01 Richard Green Gary Moore 1410-03 ALAZAN (IRE) 5-9-01 Caren Walsh & R J Budge Philip Hobbs 004053 WEE GIANT (USA) 5-9-01 Sandra McCarthy Willie Mullins IRE 0-03550 TARKARI (IRE) 6-9-00 Clive Cook & Irving Struel Evan Williams 45 Entries 9 Irish-trained
Many thanks PN. Can't for the life of me make any reasonable case for Wishfull Thinking finishing in front of Noble Prince - at levels Paul Nolans charge proved he was too good in the Jewson now the runner up has to give Noble Prince 4lb and yet is rated a 15/2 chance against the 14/1 Noble Prince ? I am going to assume I've missed something....
Both look top class renewals. Yet to have a proper look at the races but will do so as soon as i get a chance. At first sight both races look a little lopsided with Poquelin and Overturn pushing the majority to the bottom end of the handicap. 4 on 11 stone or above in the Paddy Power and only 3 in the Greatwood. There must be a whole heap with potential improvers who think their horse is 'thrown it' as it were.
Think he is an intended runner at Down Royal this weekend in the race won by The Nightingale last year.
Woolcombe, Kauto Stone is due to run on Saturday at Down Royal in an intermediate chase for second season chasers. For that reason I'd expect him to be scratched from the Paddy Power. The word on the street is Mon Parrian is very much fancied for this by the stable.
Got to be a cert hasn't he if he's anywhere near as good as the rumours. He came with a tall reputation and didn't do it much harm last year, will surely have benefited from a good summer on his back and should take all the beating here. Unlike Long Run i think he will have the necessary pace for the trip. I'll have a look once the field gets thinned a little but he looks an obvious candidate and must have a huge chance at the weights.
He's certainly an exciting jumper of a fence. Was electrifying to watch last year. Though, without meaning to rain on the parade, I've stopped becoming believers in handicap good things or certs in these ultra competitive races Agree with Grizzly that Noble Prince would have the beating of Wishfull Thinking all day long on these terms but I think the reason for the strange pricing of these two is that I'd be most doubtful of Noble Prince taking part.
Absolutely agree. How many handicap certs have we seen go down the drain over the years?! You only have to look back to Long Run last year who was supposed to be a 'cert' for this very race. Or the 'Group horse in a handicap' line on the flat?! Even at 5 Mon Parrain was one of the best jumpers of a fence i think i've ever seen. He was electric both over the stiff fences at Sandown and over the big ones at Aintree. He must surely improve this season and looks an exciting horse, that's for sure. Edit: Master Minded when he's on song is pretty good on reflection . . .
It'll be a fascinating race and whilst I'm not convinced Mon Parrian is going to win, I'd be even more surprised should he not place at least. From that point of view at 5s or whatever price he is currently you'll get a good run for your money. The more I look at Wishfull Thinking though I do like his chances. I seen him run them ragged under top weight at Punchestown in rain softened ground (hard to forget as it was the race before the Hurricane turned the Grade One Hurdle into an absolute procession, I love that race )... Wishfull has therefore shown he can carry weights albeit it in a much weaker field than this but it was still a hell of a performance in my opinion so he's got to be in the reckoning. If Noble Prince does turn up though that's where my money would be going, seeing as he won the Jewsons fair and square and is due to receive weight this time around also.
I think Mon Parrain is the exciting horse of the Nicholls yard this season. I know you should not read into these things, but I think the fact he galloped alongside Kauto Star and Big Bucks in public perhaps hints at the regard he is held in. He jumped like an absolute champion last season, I still cannot believe he did not win at Aintree. What would you guys map out as the season plan for him?
I suppose a lot depends on his performance next weekend. At this stage i would think Nicholls at least has in mind the big prizes - King George and Gold Cup - but it's difficult to know with the evidence we have available. I must admit to counting my winnings at Aintree. I was stunned that he didn't win.
Mon parrain is such a brilliant jumper and i do get the feeling they think a lot of him, however i get the feeling he could be better over further. I cant wait to see kauto stone out this year, he beat mon parrain in france last year in the race that long run won before coming to these shores.
