Batfair Hurdle

Nicky Henderson's latest quotes since mad cow's disease set in.

"I think Sign of a Victory will win if the others don't go too fast for him"

"The horse is in great nick so one of the lads from the yard told me"

"I used to get Gin and Schweppes tonic free the race isn't what it used to be"

"I love the course you get a great view from the top of Cleeve hill"

" I think if Sign of A Victory runs well in the Schweppes on Saturday we'll go straight for the Betfair Hurdle after that"

:cool:

Now that was funny :lol: [for you]!
 
I'm going to make a case for one at a bigger price for the Batfair Hurdle. Wicklow Brave 33/1 E/W 5 places BET365. Based on the form of his 2 runs this season, you couldn't fancy this horse in a million years..... And I certainly don't for those 2 runs. However, this time last year heading to the festival he was OR 142 - which was higher than Arctic Fire (Now OR 162! - I think) at the time. He finished 6th in the Supreme, only 3 Lengths behind 2nd Josses Hill, after having lost 2nd 100 yards out. After that run he was raised to OR 145. I still hold some hope for his Novice form and I'm making the case now that this has been a potential plot. They've got him dropped to OR 140 now for this race. He's already been to Newbury in November, get a feel for the track. I'm taking the view they had him nowhere near right that day, and the run was all part of the plan. Finally... Initially WPM had about 6 entered for this, then narrowed down to 3, but Wicklow Brave now the ONLY WPM runner. (Daneking & Lucky Bridle not in at final decs). It definitely appears to be the primary target for Wicklow Brave, and maybe has been for some while. I fully appreciate there is a large leap of faith needed on recent form, but he was such a promising novice and I just can't believe he has gotten as bad as his last 2 runs looked. Will appreciate the soft ground and with his age and profile he should really progress and improve since last seen in November. WPM does not appear to have many other runners at Newbury on Sat, with a bigger crew of horses heading to Warwick by the looks of it. Low fair stuff in Navan in Ireland on Saturday too, so Jockey booking will be a further sign I hope. If Ruby goes to Newbury to ride Wicklow Brave it will shorten in the market. I think currently 33/1 e/w 5 places is great value.
 
Wish you'd kept that to yourself, DH :)

Wicklow Brave has been on my radar since the weights came out.

Along with half-a-dozen others, I should add!
 
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It's fiercely competitive, but with a top-rated of only 149, it's as poor a renewal as I can recall for a long time.
 
It's fiercely competitive, but with a top-rated of only 149, it's as poor a renewal as I can recall for a long time.

the last time i started a thread with a horse rated that low as top weight...it wasn't worth a thread:whistle:...

caspian gold cup

comments like

This used to be an historic race but it gets worse the more sponsors it get. Top weight is rated 149.

and

this is the worse race i've ever seen a thread on

and yet here we are discussing a race of just the same quality..which proves that those comments were wrong doesn't it?

you just have to wait a while you see
:D




 
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This is a showcase race, certainly one with history attached to it unlike the Cavier Gold Cup.

Quite frankly...the top weight could be rated 120 here for all the debate is worth, because The thread would still be running with as many pages! :)

Not a great renewal on paper but we'll see what happens...
 
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oh i agree..but the Caviar was just as good ratings wise as this showcase..or are we going to change the goalposts for measuring strength of race?

i'm only playing about here with Euro and the others that agreed with him..nowt serious..just play..hence smilies
 
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Does anyone know why Jamie Moore is riding Pine Creek and not Violet Dancer.

I ask because I have Pine Creek as one of the best handicapped horse in the race on my amateurish figures.

161Swing Bowler
160Sign Of A Victory
160Activial
159Pine Creek
158Calipto
158Wicklow Brave
158On Tour
157Violet Dancer
155Amore Alato
155Lightentertainment
154Balgarry
153Goodwood Mirage
153Bordoni
152Aso
152Arzal
152Fascino Rustico
151Vasco Du Ronceray
150Ballybolley
149Ebony Express
147Jolly´s Cracked It
147Chieftain´s Choice
147Forced Family Fun
145Sleepy Haven
138Cheltenian

<tbody>
</tbody>
 
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It's fiercely competitive, but with a top-rated of only 149, it's as poor a renewal as I can recall for a long time.

The race throws up a moderate renewal every now and again. What about the year the Moore horse Heathcote won? Recession Proof and Wingman weren't classy horses either, and I'd argue that Splash Of Ginge a moderate winner.

But it's all relatively speaking.

It's a hugely valuable race and stables don't target it unless they believe their horse has a chance and the top stables certainly don't target it unless they believe they have a very strong chance given they tend to have several inmates to choose from.

149 is probably quite a low top rating and it means further down the weights some unexposed types are getting in whereas in a year with the likes of Rooster Booster off something like 166 they wouldn't get a sniff of a run.

Splash Of Gine got away with dictating a moderate pace in soft ground so that when he kicked on it was impossible to peg him back in the ground. A similar scenario might happen on Saturday if the ground is soft again.

I hope not, unless it's one of the ones I've backed...
 
Can't believe you have Cheltenian bottom of the pile EC :blink:, he was a good fourth in this last year and although Hobbs had one who didn't get in, he has pulled a couple of others out and looks to have left this one in by design. More than a social runner I reckon and I think he will be placed again.
 
Can't believe you have Cheltenian bottom of the pile EC :blink:, he was a good fourth in this last year and although Hobbs had one who didn't get in, he has pulled a couple of others out and looks to have left this one in by design. More than a social runner I reckon and I think he will be placed again.

ill double check DG...at my age 3's look like 8's ..or 5's ..could have put put wrong number down quite easily
 
it looks a poorly handicapped horse imo DG..its a great under achiever over hurdles..yes it was a good run in this last year off 134..now 141 without anything really to show for the increase.

others look way better handicapped imo
 
I'm going to make a case for one at a bigger price for the Batfair Hurdle. Wicklow Brave 33/1 E/W 5 places BET365. Based on the form of his 2 runs this season, you couldn't fancy this horse in a million years..... And I certainly don't for those 2 runs. However, this time last year heading to the festival he was OR 142 - which was higher than Arctic Fire (Now OR 162! - I think) at the time. He finished 6th in the Supreme, only 3 Lengths behind 2nd Josses Hill, after having lost 2nd 100 yards out. After that run he was raised to OR 145. I still hold some hope for his Novice form and I'm making the case now that this has been a potential plot. They've got him dropped to OR 140 now for this race. He's already been to Newbury in November, get a feel for the track. I'm taking the view they had him nowhere near right that day, and the run was all part of the plan. Finally... Initially WPM had about 6 entered for this, then narrowed down to 3, but Wicklow Brave now the ONLY WPM runner. (Daneking & Lucky Bridle not in at final decs). It definitely appears to be the primary target for Wicklow Brave, and maybe has been for some while. I fully appreciate there is a large leap of faith needed on recent form, but he was such a promising novice and I just can't believe he has gotten as bad as his last 2 runs looked. Will appreciate the soft ground and with his age and profile he should really progress and improve since last seen in November. WPM does not appear to have many other runners at Newbury on Sat, with a bigger crew of horses heading to Warwick by the looks of it. Low fair stuff in Navan in Ireland on Saturday too, so Jockey booking will be a further sign I hope. If Ruby goes to Newbury to ride Wicklow Brave it will shorten in the market. I think currently 33/1 e/w 5 places is great value.

I'm going to make a case for one at a bigger price for the Batfair Hurdle. Wicklow Brave 33/1 E/W 5 places BET365.

Based on the form of his 2 runs this season, you couldn't fancy this horse in a million years..... And I certainly don't for those 2 runs. However, this time last year heading to the festival he was OR 142 - which was higher than Arctic Fire (Now OR 162! - I think) at the time.

He finished 6th in the Supreme, only 3 Lengths behind 2nd Josses Hill, after having lost 2nd 100 yards out. After that run he was raised to OR 145. I still hold some hope for his Novice form and I'm making the case now that this has been a potential plot.

They've got him dropped to OR 140 now for this race. He's already been to Newbury in November, get a feel for the track. I'm taking the view they had him nowhere near right that day, and the run was all part of the plan.

Finally... Initially WPM had about 6 entered for this, then narrowed down to 3, but Wicklow Brave now the ONLY WPM runner. (Daneking & Lucky Bridle not in at final decs). It definitely appears to be the primary target for Wicklow Brave, and maybe has been for some while.

I fully appreciate there is a large leap of faith needed on recent form, but he was such a promising novice and I just can't believe he has gotten as bad as his last 2 runs looked. Will appreciate the soft ground and with his age and profile he should really progress and improve since last seen in November.

WPM does not appear to have many other runners at Newbury on Sat, with a bigger crew of horses heading to Warwick by the looks of it. Low fair stuff in Navan in Ireland on Saturday too, so Jockey booking will be a further sign I hope. If Ruby goes to Newbury to ride Wicklow Brave it will shorten in the market.

I think currently Wicklow Brave 33/1 e/w 5 places is great value
 
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