1. FESTIVAL BANKER: Another awesome performance from Dunguib, this time in the prestigious Deloitte Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday, means the Phil Fenton trained seven year old is surely now the Festival banker…providing, of course, connections opt to go down the novices’ route.
That seems increasingly likely, given that his jumping was rather novicey here. However, that may simply have been because the field wasn’t going fast enough for him - he didn’t have to come off the bridle here and may well not do so at the Festival either.
Like many others, I’d love to see him run in the Champion Hurdle instead.
2. GOLD CUP: With the Gold Cup apparently a two horse race between Paul Nicholls’ superstars, Kauto Star and Denman, and with the ante post market reflecting their dominance, many people will look to the market without the big two for some Festival value.
Joncol’s connections ruled him out of the big one some time ago, and after his victory in the Hennessy at Leopardstown, even a tilt at the Ryanair looked unlikely, so in the aftermath of the race attention turned to the performance of Cooldine – second here and third favourite for the Gold Cup.
Connections made no secret of the fact that he needed this run, so this was a commendable effort, especially after two disappointing performances on his previous starts.
However, he has a mountain to climb to match the Nicholls pair on official ratings and Imperial Commander surely looks the one to be on in the “betting without” market.
Looking to the 2011 Gold Cup, the patience Joncol’s connections are showing will surely pay dividends in the long run and this giant horse could be a serious player in the Gold Cup in a year’s time.
3. HANDICAPS: Continuing our theme of keeping an eye out for possible Cheltenham Festival handicap clues, Fiendish Flame was an impressive winner of a Novices’ Chase at Mussleburgh and, given that he is suited by decent ground, he might be capable of a bold show in the Jewson.
Friday, 12 February 2010
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Three things we learned on Saturday (6th February)
1. THE HENDERSON HORSES: It was a mixed day for a number of Nicky Henderson’s Cheltenham hopes.
Triumph Hurdle market springer, Accepting, was a well beaten favourite on his debut at Sandown. He pulled far too hard early on and will surely prove a good deal better than this in time, but hopes for a Festival victory look nothing more than a pipedream at the moment.
There was a much better showing from Punchestowns, who having made a shocking mistake at the seventh - in the Scilly Isles Chase on the same card - rallied to comfortably beat Tchico Polos. What was impressive was the ease with which he made up the lost ground after that mistake, over a trip short of his best.
It is easy to forget what a high class hurdler Punchestowns became at the end of last season and few horses with his hurdles rating have been sent over fences in recent seasons. He should talk all the beating in the RSA Chase.
Binocular’s effort, in the first at Sandown, was harder to assess because, easily though he won in the end, it looked like a struggle for a long way and his jumping was sloppy at times.
It is odd to be critical about a horse after it has won so easily, but my initial impression was that Binocular has a mountain to climb to even repeat, let alone better, last year’s performance in the Champion Hurdle.
2. THE ARKLE: Punchestowns’ continued progress in the staying division may persuade connections of stablemate, Long Run, to head for the Arkle, which means now may be the time to snap up the double figure prices still available for him in that contest.
Long Run’s form received a boast on Saturday when Tazbar hacked up at Doncaster, beating a decent field in the process.
In addition, slightly disappointing efforts at the same track from Bedlam Boy (behind Tazbar) and Mad Max (another stablemate of Long Run) this time in the Lightening Novices’ Chase, can also have only served to increase Long Run’s Arkle chances.
Tazbar is starting look a very decent prospect in his own right, but looks set to swerve Cheltenham.
3. HANDICAPS: The handicaps are coming and the entries for many of those contests will be published shortly. That means now is a good time to keep an eye out for handicappers running into form at the right time.
Those that impressed on Saturday without winning, and suggested there is more to come, included Racing Demon (Coral Cup?), Silk Affair (David Nicholson or Coral Cup?), Saticon (Coral Cup?) and Tartak (in a chase over 2½m plus).
Triumph Hurdle market springer, Accepting, was a well beaten favourite on his debut at Sandown. He pulled far too hard early on and will surely prove a good deal better than this in time, but hopes for a Festival victory look nothing more than a pipedream at the moment.
There was a much better showing from Punchestowns, who having made a shocking mistake at the seventh - in the Scilly Isles Chase on the same card - rallied to comfortably beat Tchico Polos. What was impressive was the ease with which he made up the lost ground after that mistake, over a trip short of his best.
It is easy to forget what a high class hurdler Punchestowns became at the end of last season and few horses with his hurdles rating have been sent over fences in recent seasons. He should talk all the beating in the RSA Chase.
Binocular’s effort, in the first at Sandown, was harder to assess because, easily though he won in the end, it looked like a struggle for a long way and his jumping was sloppy at times.
It is odd to be critical about a horse after it has won so easily, but my initial impression was that Binocular has a mountain to climb to even repeat, let alone better, last year’s performance in the Champion Hurdle.
2. THE ARKLE: Punchestowns’ continued progress in the staying division may persuade connections of stablemate, Long Run, to head for the Arkle, which means now may be the time to snap up the double figure prices still available for him in that contest.
Long Run’s form received a boast on Saturday when Tazbar hacked up at Doncaster, beating a decent field in the process.
In addition, slightly disappointing efforts at the same track from Bedlam Boy (behind Tazbar) and Mad Max (another stablemate of Long Run) this time in the Lightening Novices’ Chase, can also have only served to increase Long Run’s Arkle chances.
Tazbar is starting look a very decent prospect in his own right, but looks set to swerve Cheltenham.
3. HANDICAPS: The handicaps are coming and the entries for many of those contests will be published shortly. That means now is a good time to keep an eye out for handicappers running into form at the right time.
Those that impressed on Saturday without winning, and suggested there is more to come, included Racing Demon (Coral Cup?), Silk Affair (David Nicholson or Coral Cup?), Saticon (Coral Cup?) and Tartak (in a chase over 2½m plus).
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