The Road To The 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup
- Thread starter Diamond Geezer
- Start date
Yes, maybe Henderson not so daft after all
Not nearly as daft as some on here would have him.
100% - the last would worry me a bit as he was asked for a jump and didn’t give it. But that could have been Nico who is really out form, not riding his best!
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granger
Senior Jockey
When he sets off like a hound for hell in 4 weeks, you may be as Nicky positive
tiggers1972
Senior Jockey
Really nice from Champ that.
barjon
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Mmm, he (Champ not Nico) has been to Henrietta Knight for jumping help. Trouble is HK concentrates on letting the horse find its own stride into the fences and I’m not convinced Nico is fully in tune with that.
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Desert Orchid
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Doesn't Nico ride schooling for her?
I'm sure he was one of the 'only the best' jockeys she uses for schooling.
barjon
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If so, I stand to be corrected. It’s just that to my eye he seemed to push him into it - probably just me, I’m hardly any sort of expert in the matter.
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tiggers1972
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You're right.
Grasshopper
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Clearly, Nico has a few that don’t fancy him on these pages.
I don’t particularly subscribe to the ‘bad jockey’ theories, as I find all jockeys much of a muchness, but anyone crabbing him today is surely missing the bigger picture?
If we accept the fact that this was all about Gold Cup readiness, then surely an assertive-yet-mindful ride was exactly what was needed?
If so, then I’d say NdB has ridden something of a peach today. He’s taken them along at a fair old clip, ridden him into a few when he’s seen a stride, and generally got Champ jumping as well as he ever has. When the horse has put an extra one in at the last, he’s allowed him to pop it, and ridden him out to the line - almost certainly with the next day in mind.
I’ve said here before that I reckon Nico is a ride-to-instruction jockey. By my reckoning, he has probably expedited connections request to the letter today.
I don’t particularly subscribe to the ‘bad jockey’ theories, as I find all jockeys much of a muchness, but anyone crabbing him today is surely missing the bigger picture?
If we accept the fact that this was all about Gold Cup readiness, then surely an assertive-yet-mindful ride was exactly what was needed?
If so, then I’d say NdB has ridden something of a peach today. He’s taken them along at a fair old clip, ridden him into a few when he’s seen a stride, and generally got Champ jumping as well as he ever has. When the horse has put an extra one in at the last, he’s allowed him to pop it, and ridden him out to the line - almost certainly with the next day in mind.
I’ve said here before that I reckon Nico is a ride-to-instruction jockey. By my reckoning, he has probably expedited connections request to the letter today.
Frankel
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Correct.
Some of the stuff I read gives me a good giggle. Each to their own though!
I crab Nico every opportunity i can. I cant today though, not sure what he was mesnt to do with Champ, and he’s probably ran the best race possible given the circumstances
barjon
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Yes, I have always rejected the idea that he is a bad jockey. On the contrary he must be a good jockey otherwise he wouldn’t have lasted five minutes at one of the top two yards in the country. Henderson never wants his horses given a really hard time unless it’s in a race that really matters and is absolutely necessary. With those instructions it’s always easy to criticise Nico when he follows them. Nonetheless I didn’t see him “leaving Champ to it” as HK loose schooled him. Seemed to me there were a few iffy jumps early on until he found his rhythm and the fiddle at the last. Just an impression I gained, rightly or wrongly.
tiggers1972
Senior Jockey
It would seem that after yesterday that NJH (More festival winners than any UK trainer), and his stable jockey (last UK rider to be top festival jockey), actually know what they are doing.
Funny that isn't it!
Funny that isn't it!
Tigs, hope you mean re Champ as neither had a winner yesterday [emoji1787][emoji1787]
For clarity, I have a lot of time for Nico, but recently he has not been himself and hugely out of form with the way he’s riding! Think he’s lost some confidence for sure. 12% in the last 2 weeks... Chantry House at odds on is his only winner since the 9th which is crazy, with 7 short priced favs being over turned!
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tiggers1972
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Desert Orchid
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It's his form three weeks hence that counts.
Nico would be a 7lb claimer if he had to ride in Ireland and he wouldn't necessairly be value for the claim. He is awful, he can't settle horses. Now in genral the level of jockeyship is so awful in the UK that he gets away with it but no one can make a convincing case that he is riding well this year. There are countless examples of awful rides he was given horses.
archie
Senior Jockey
As we've found out with Kemboy, it's rather easier to get a horse into a good jumping rhythm on a course with several fences in long straights (eg Newbury, Leopardstown, Aintree) than on the New Course at Cheltenham. You couldn't crab what Champ did on Sunday but you can't see him being able to run a similar race at Cheltenham while being hassled by Frodon and Native River.
Does his prep mean that they are going to ride champ positively over the gold cup trip? Last in the RSA and earlier races they seemed determined to get him to settle off the pace.
Looks like there is going to be plenty of pace on with Frodon, Native River and perhaps champ too
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Looks like there is going to be plenty of pace on with Frodon, Native River and perhaps champ too
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He's a very short price to be ridden patiently.
Well then the prep run makes very little sense to me, both running over 2 miles and getting an aggressive ride over that trip!!
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I loved it. That will have sharpened up his jumping. Sceau Royal is a good horse and he hanged with him until the death.