I've backed something of a cliff horse in the two handicaps for which he's entered.
He's also entered in the National, not surprisingly.
However, he still holds his entry for the Gold Cup.
I've backed him in all the races with the NRNB/BOG where offered.
Maybe I should mention its name: Tenor Nivernais
Once the guffawing stops, listen to my reasoning.
His win on Betfair Chase day last February was utterly sensational. I had it pretty much off the scale on my time ratings so presumed it must have been the only well-run race on a card full of slow-run races, including the big one won by Cue Card.
At that time, I was unaware of Simon Rowlands's sectional debriefs and only discovered them soon after.
Of the same races, he said:
It would be perverse to crab a 15-length success (by Cue Card in the Betfair Chase at Ascot) in a Grade 1 from a horse who has the best staying chase time of the season (in the Betfair Chase at Haydock), but consider this: there was a chase winner on the same card who ran a faster average speed and significantly faster closing sectionals than Cue Card despite covering nearly three furlongs further in all.
That horse was Tenor Nivernais, winner of a listed handicap off a BHA mark of 152 in a time nearly half a furlong quicker than recorded by Bigbadjohn in winning the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Chase at the same course and distance shortly before.
There may be doubts about Tenor Nivernais’ suitability for the Grand National at Aintree, and some incredulity as to where this effort suddenly came from, but there should be none about how spectacular an effort this was against the clock. It is a shame he is not in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Needless to say, I was more reassured than anything else that my time ratings weren't far wrong and the form of the race has certainly been franked into this season.
Anyway, for all he's been basically disappointing this season, I've found his runs gradually less discouraging, prompting me to believe that, whatever it may be, he has had a very serious long-term goal this season. I do wish I know what it is!
Anyway, I have him for the National at 250/1, the Gold Cup at 1000 (without the guarantees for either), 66/1 for the Ultima and 40/1 for the Brown Advisory (both with both guarantees and four places).
Let the guffawing resume...