Novice Hurdlers 2012-13

Hamm said:
I think you are all looking for something that isn't there - Henderson nearly always runs his best 2 milers in small races till they have had a couple of runs; Sprinter Sacre and Spirit Son to name but two.
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And McManus likes to run his best novice hurdlers in the Betfair Hurdle; GMOOH and Darlan to name but two. :p :D
 
That too, but that can be forgotten about if Taquin du Seuil wins today, as MTOY will be raised as well.
 
Hamm said:
I think you are all looking for something that isn't there - Henderson nearly always runs his best 2 milers in small races till they have had a couple of runs; Sprinter Sacre and Spirit Son to name but two.
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Maybe but an ew bet on Geraghty could be the way to go.
 
David Pipe trains a horse called Gevrey Chambertin. Just had the two runs over hurdles, both times winning and subsequently the form looks strong. First he beat a horse called Many Clouds trained by Oliver Sherwood who went on to win a class three hurdle by four lengths next time. Then, he beat Corrin Wood from Donald McCains yard giving him seven pound, a horse who won his novice hurdle by 11 lengths next time.So I think formwise he's beaten good horses so far, and with just the four runs must have any amount of improvement in the tank. He's won on different goings in his two novice wins and I think that sometimes can mark out a potentially smart one. He is entered on New Years Day in the novice hurdle which unfortunately looks like it won't get the go ahead, but in any event forumites could do worse than take the 25/1 on offer for the Neptune in advance of his next run over hurdles.
 
Brother of grand crus.Backed it last year for the bumper.landed a nice touch last time by a nose if I remember,I know they rate it
 
Hamm said:
My Tent isn't currently his number one, River Maigue is. Despite any closeness between the two there is no way Henderson will be weakening a horse of his chances. And that is assuming Jezki has a better chance than one of his on the day.
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That's the point most are missing Nicky has other horses yet to jump a hurdle who could turn out to be a lot better. He was open enough to say he had a couple yet to run after River Maigue won but of course stopped short of saying which ones.

Tistory is one horse yet to appear, bought in France after winning 2 bumpers from 3 starts he really looked the part when readily holding Court Minstrel in a Ludlow Bumper last season.

Tistory is typical of the type of horse Nicky has run in Jan/Feb and turn the Supreme or Neptune market on it's head.

He also has JP's Snake Eyes who cost over 100k and ran promisingly enough in a couple of bumpers to suggest he'll make the grade.
 
BennyB said:
I fancy Puffin Billy to win whichever race he contests at the festival. Promlem is I don't know which one!
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Looks as if the trainer has just helped you out as he has told ATR he is very likely to be upped to 2m4f next time. Personally, think this might well be a big mistake. It seems a bit late in the day (relative to the Festival) to be experimenting with trip. Even if all goes well and he wins it would be no surprise if the Neptune takes a good deal more winning than the Supreme. On the downside should the experiment fail it is going to very hard to then drop back in trip with the horses confidence dented. We know if he went to post for the Supreme tomorrow on all known evidence he would have an excellent chance so what are they looking for? I hope it has got nothing to do with the availabilty of Barry Geraghty.
 
sunybay said:
I think Puffin Billy will run in the Supreme
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I thought so until about three hours ago. If he was definitely going Supreme no reason to expect anything other than another confidence booster over the minimum followed by a nice break. Trainer looking for another shot at the big time clearly thinks he will be giving himself more options but in doing so he may end up removing both of them.
 
As far as i can recall since riding for Henderson - Geraghty had one arrangement the first year namely that he could ride Big Zeb otherwise he has ridden the Henderson horses .

If you had the second favourite for the Supreme with Henderson and Geraghty rode Jezki and AP was on one for JP I think the owner would be entitled to be very pissed off .

On the day Jezki won and Geraghty was allowed to ride him - Henderson had three runners - one in a conditionals hurdle , a horse that Overturn was always going to lap and a bumper horse ridden by AP that bombed - hardly conclusive evidence that he will be let off in a race t the Festival !! .

If it does happen it might be a rather short sighted step by the jockey .
 
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Henderson and Harrington are tighter than two coats of paint. If she wanted Geraghty that bad, Henderson would release him without question (imo) telling the owner to remove his horse if he felt it necessary. It's not like there won't be a queue of people looking to fill the empty box.

It's a question of how much JH wants Geraghty to ride. Only in the event of a serious NJH hot-pot emergeing, could I see him not extending the favour to Mrs Harrington if she asked for it.
 
Grasshopper said:
Henderson and Harrington are tighter than two coats of paint. If she wanted Geraghty that bad, Henderson would release him without question (imo) telling the owner to remove his horse if he felt it necessary. It's not like there won't be a queue of people looking to fill the empty box.

It's a question of how much JH wants Geraghty to ride. Only in the event of a serious NJH hot-pot emergeing, could I see him not extending the favour to Mrs Harrington if she asked for it.
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Are you on the sauce ? Can you really see him asking Michael Buckley to remove his horses if he wanted Geraghty to ride River Maigue ????
 
Ardross said:
On the day Jezki won and Geraghty was allowed to ride him - Henderson had three runners - one in a conditionals hurdle , a horse that Overturn was always going to lap and a bumper horse ridden by AP that bombed - hardly conclusive evidence that he will be let off in a race t the Festival !! .
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Aye, plus whatever he'd have run had BG been available, and a few outside rides too, no doubt.
The fact that he made a rare Irish Saturday appearance, on a day when there were 3 NH meetings in the UK, was fair warning of the esteem the horse was held in, and who they wanted to ride him.
 
An outsider in the Supreme I'm quite fond of at a price is Pique Sous. 2nd in last years bumper Mullins has repeatedly said he's a good ground horse and has been put away for the winter with a spring campaign in mind. While I accept that he'll have to improve a lot from what he showed on his last few runs, it's very possible and getting 25/1 as a result. I like his attitide and he's got gears. Tracking him with interest and look forward to seeing him in the spring.
 
Hadn't even thought of Henderson/Harrington angle but it's extremely relevant...they are extremely close and will be well aware of plans, not to mention ability of respective horses

The Harringtons stay with Henderson for Cheltenham and vice versa during Punchestown,

I'm sure BJG will be on who he thinks is best and, right now, that's Jezki
 
I'll be looking through the race card hoping to see this in one of the big two hurdle races

211/1-11 Tistory 5.11.00 Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty


He is a half brother to Puchestown so I suppose he may go Neptune but he looked to have plenty speed in his bumper.

No one will be discussing riding plans right now least of all Nicky Henderson who changes his mind with the weather through no fault of his won.

Jetzki is obviously useful having won 4 or the trot but how many times do these Irish novices turn out to be totally misleading. The difference between running in poorly contested novice hurdle on soft ground in Ireland and flying round Cheltenham on good ground is night and day.

Maybe Jezki will handle the different conditions and pace but I wouldn't be taking 5/1 at this stage to find out.

I'm still very keen on Ned Buntline. He was held up way of the pace in his latest outing and when asked cut effortlessly through the filed to come there at the last and won much easier than the 2 lengths margin would suggest. I doubt if the 2nd would get anywhere near him in a hotter race.

He's still got a bit of improving to do but he's learning quick and if the ground did come up goodish at Cheltenham that would suit him to a tee.
 
I think the Royal Bond represents the best form race. It wouldn't be a surprise if Champagne Fever steps up in trip and wins a Neptune and Zuzka bolted up next time albeit in a mare's race.

Connections have suggested Ned Buntline wants better ground but his action would suggest otherwise and that comment might just be wishful thinking in response to his two runs over hurdles which haven't really set the world alight. In my view Jezki much the more likely of the two to handle quicker ground but does have that one blemish on his record at last year's Festival.
 
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