International Hurdle

Grasshopper

Grasshopper

Senior Jockey
Joined
Nov 14, 2006
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Arney-Charley-Farley has Albert Hall entered in this at the weekend.

His French hurdles form barely entitles him to be lining-up against the likes of Grandoeut, Zark and RoR, but I'm a sucker for French yokes which travel over here, and have availed myself of some of the 50's knocking about - just to give me an interest in the race (think Zark will win, but not interested at price).

Albert Hall was well beaten in his hurdle races at Auteuil, though has winning hurdles form on quicker ground in the Provinces, and may leave the Auteuil form behind on faster going at Chelts. That could still leave him 30lbs short of what's needed, and he might not even make the journey, but I'm a sap for these types and can't not have a small throwaway dash.
 
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Grasshopper said:
Arney-Charley-Farley has Albert Hall entered in this at the weekend.

His French hurdles form barely entitles him to be lining-up against the likes of Grandoeut, Zark and RoR, but I'm a sucker for French yokes which travel over here, and have availed myself of some of the 50's knocking about - just to give me an interest in the race (think Zark will win, but not interested at price).

Albert Hall was well beaten in his hurdle races at Auteuil, though has winning hurdles form on quicker ground in the Provinces, and may leave the Auteuil form behind on faster going at Chelts. That could still leave him 30lbs short of what's needed, and he might not even make the journey, but I'm a sap for these types and can't not have a small throwaway dash.
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I am always interested in french horses when going to run in the isles,
I have this one in a 145 mark, and being a french 7yo he will not have much scope.
The big 3 are well ahead on figures for me to have a touch.
 
sunybay said:
I am always interested in french horses when going to run in the isles,
I have this one in a 145 mark, and being a french 7yo he will not have much scope.
The big 3 are well ahead on figures for me to have a touch.
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I have Albert Hall about 10lbs lower, suny. Every chance he'll be pulled-up in this kind of company, but like I say, can't not have a go.
 
Zarkandar is a bit of a puzzle to me and never know quite what to make of him.

When he won the Betfair Hurdle you'd have to say he was somewhat fortunate when Darlan came down and interfered with Get Me Out Of Here. But for that incident Get Me Out OF here might have beaten him but then he was getting 7lbs.

The problem I have with that is Jonjo wouldn't even consider running get Me Out Of Here in a Champion Hurdle as he knows he wouldn't have a hope in hell of winning it.

PN however ran Zarkandar but using the logic he's not that much superior to Jonjo's horse he finished where you'd expect.

His performance in the Elite Hurdle was excellent on his return but he was entitled to beat Prospect Wells who wasn't sighted in the Greatwood.

He's a very good horse who is certain to be fit but I honestly don't see any reason why he should be favourite.

Zarkandar has a massive 7 lengths to find with Rock on Ruby who no longer has the name Paul Nicholls next to his name but I doubt if Paul Nicholls ever saw the horse bar at the races last season so I am damned if I know where they expect to find enough to turn the form around.


Rock On Ruby never put a foot wrong last season. He kicked off like Zarkandar did this season by giving lumps of weight away to a would be stable companion only he didn't just get home by a neck he thrashed the second by 6 long looking lengths.

For a horse so inexperienced he's done amazingly well to have run Binocular on a going day to a neck Then he's pi$$ed up in the Champion Hurdle proper.

At Aintree he may well have been over the top but even if he wasn't he was taking on the best 2m4f Hurdler around at his own game.

He'll have to gone back some or Zarkandar will have to improved a load to beat him.

I've backed Grandouet so many times for the Champion Hurdle in March I've lost count.
There can be no excuses for him on Saturday. If the news of him is to be believed he is in brilliant form and has been for some time so there should be no question of him needing the run.

On a line through Overturn on the book ROR has the beating of him but Grandouet could have given weight to Overturn that day instead of getting weight and beat him just as far. It was simply a press the button job.

My hope is there's plenty of pace in the race as Grandouet will be cruising through the race no matter how fast they go which will give him a huge advantage if his main rivals are in top gear off a good pace from the top of the hill.

I think he's a bit special and we were unlucky not to see him at his very best last season due to a minor setback.

Like Sprinter Sacre he was a big baby when the hill caught him out at the Festival.

Back on a flat track at Aintree to my eye he clearly was going to reverse that form with Zarkandar when he was brought down 2 out.

I'll be amazed, if he truly is spot on for this, if he doesn't kick Zarkandar into touch. He already showed he had matured a fair bit last season and he's no longer a big baby like he was at Chelternham.

I expect him to win this with a bit in hand from Rock On Ruby and in turn becoming clear favourite for the big one in March.
 
I backed Zarkander in Champion last season after his impressive return in that handicap. I thought the four year olds from the previous year were a decent bunch but you will recall Nicholls horses were running like stink in Chellers in March (RoR was not in the yard) and Nicholls had to rush Zark before the Champion. He drifted like a barge on the day and he was ridden like he was being minded. He stormed up the hill. This season has been different and I think he could win the Champion in March.
 
Cantoris said:
I backed Zarkander in Champion last season after his impressive return in that handicap. I thought the four year olds from the previous year were a decent bunch but you will recall Nicholls horses were running like stink in Chellers in March (RoR was not in the yard) and Nicholls had to rush Zark before the Champion. He drifted like a barge on the day and he was ridden like he was being minded. He stormed up the hill. This season has been different and I think he could win the Champion in March.
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I was amazed at his comments when he said he wasn't please when he saw Zarkandar in the paddock:blink: WTF? doesn't he look at them in the yard? It got the impression he wasn't too happy that Rock on Ruby had won and the horse he trained "Zarkandar" got stuffed.

That aside you are correct Zarkandar did storm up the hill and was finishing stronger than anything. The fact he did that I wouldn't be putting forward him not being right as an excuse.

4 Out he split Hurricane Fly and Binocular and when the pace quickened the 2 previous Champion Hurdlers picked up..more so Hurricane Fly but Zarkandar was left for dead like a horse who lacks the mid race pace to win a Champion Hurdle,

Maybe like PN said it was a year too early for him but he never gave me the impression he was immature when he won the Betfair....far from it.

No doubt he's improved some but then Rock on Ruby should also be a better horse this year I imagine but the one who really looked like to the eye that he'd come on from a 4yo to 5yo was definitely Grandouet.

A 6yo in March he might just be a bit special if he has gone the right way.......I reckon the 1of the 3 that shows the most promise whether he wins tomorrow or not will be the one to be on at Cheltenham
 
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I expect Zarkandar to win tomorrow - it will be one hell of a performance to give him weight . I do wish that the Bula Hurdle was the Grade 1 and the Christmas Hurdle Grade 2 .
 
Imo, both Zarkander and Rock On Ruby ideally need further, and it's hard to see where they'll get the strong pace they need to be competitive.
Grandouet has no such problems, ought to handle the ground equally as well, and a racecourse gallop suggests he'll lack nothing in fitness. Underrated for his win in this last year, he may prove the best of these, both tomorrow and ultimately.
 
I don't reckon he'll run, was pulled out of Fighting Fifth and I reckon they'll do the same tomorrow and wait for Kempton.
 
I don't reckon he'll run, was pulled out of Fighting Fifth and I reckon they'll do the same tomorrow and wait for Kempton.
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Trainer doesn't give that impression in the SL preview; more that the Fighting Fifth was a prep for the Xmas Hurdle, and this is the new plan.
 
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Dunno EC, the only time ROR ran at Kempton, last Boxing Day, he only got beat a neck by Binocular so I reckon he handles the course.
 
Diamond Geezer said:
Dunno EC, the only time ROR ran at Kempton, last Boxing Day, he only got beat a neck by Binocular so I reckon he handles the course.
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he was always struggling to pull B back there though DG..whereas over a stiffer course and stronger pace in March he reversed that easily

Kempton imo needs a nippier horse..a bit of speed rather than stamina after the last
 
How do you come to that conclusion EC? He ran Binocular to a neck there as your man said.

He did reverse form with Binocular by some way at Cheltenham but then Overturn was beaten 7 lengths by him at Kempton and only 3 behind him at Cheltenham and AP rode a shocking race on Binocular in the Champion Hurdle.

He's won at Newbury which is a flat galloping track and a won his bumper round Taunton which has some of the sharpest bends in the country.


You could be right but is far from cast in stone that he needs a stiff track and as Binocular is probably the best of those likely to run I doubt if you'd have much running for you bar him.
 
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This is a mouth-watering race. Grandouet (176+ adj to 12-0) was my ‘Rooster Booster’ last season. I’d backed it several times leading up to its withdrawal from the Champion Hurdle and I think he might have won it. He gets the chance to test that here as he meets the winner, Rock On Ruby (180p) at levels. Zarkandar (179+p) was very impressive at Wincanton when Nicholls insisted he was undercooked so expect a big run and he should be favourite in receipt of 4lbs from the other two. I hope the ground dries out a bit and that none is inconvenienced. I really want Grandouet to prove me right - I backed him last night for the big one - but I’m prepared to back against him if there’s better value elsewhere in the market.
 
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