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Horses to follow, National Hunt 2011 - 2012

  • 07-10-2011 01:55PM
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 60 ✭✭


    Hurdle

    The hurdles seem to be full of talent this year but the one I like most is Nicky Henderson's Grandouet . I'm not 100% sure he will be staying over hurdles but he did show some very nice form last season. His 15l loss to Sam Winner doesn't bode well for the form books but since then he has really improved. His race at Cheltenham may have come a little soon but he put up a gallant effort when coming third in the Supreme Novices. He was extremely unlucky at Aintree next time when he was brought down at the last when he looked the winner, and would have turned over form with Zarkandar. His 9l win at Punchestown was very impressive despite his main competition being the boiled over mare, Unaccompanied, from Dermot Weld's yard. If Henderson can keep this horse in good shape he will definitely be an interesting one to look out for.

    grandouet.jpg

    Uploaded with ImageShack.us

    Chase

    The horse who I am particularly looking forward to following this year is Mossey Joe. This lightly raced 8 year old has all the traits to become a very nice chaser who should be capable of winning a group 1 this season. His only poor effort over his 9 race career came last December, when he finished a 12 length 7th to Mourad over conditions that didn't suit. However, when he was sent back out on better ground he put up an impressive display at Punchestown where he came 2nd in a Group 2 hurdle, with many people feeling that Carberry left him with too much to do and it was one that got away. Two easy wins followed when he was sent back chasing with Barry Geraghty on board only for him to be very unlucky last time out when he sprawled upon landing when he seemed to be cruising. He is a very keen sort (touch of a lunatic about him) but it is promising that he was ridden more prominently in his recent races, as opposed to his older style of being held up. He really does require some sort of good ground so I won't be holding my breath on seeing him turned out much before the year is out, but it will be interesting to see how he holds up in group 1 company chases between 2m 5f - 3m. The novice differences between Ireland and England have resulted in him being ineligible for the RSA but I would be confident he will be aimed towards Cheltenham.

    mosseyjoe.jpg

    Uploaded with ImageShack.us

    Would be interesting for everyone to pick a horse or two for the coming NH season to keep an eye out for.

    *(The relevant links for the images have been inserted.)


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 43 wex_lad


    Thats a decent little post lad, thanks for that and well done. I like the look of Grandouet myself alright. Will be interesting to see how the NH season pans out. I can't wait to see the big guns back.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 60 ✭✭Montjeu


    Grandouet had that race at his mercy, thankfully the horse seems alright which is the main thing.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,669 ✭✭✭Colonel Sanders


    Not Paul Nolan's biggest critic nor fan but I was really impressed with, Noble Prince in the Jewson. The form with Wishful Thinking is absolutely rock solid after his wins at Aintree & Punchestown (gave the Galway plate winner a lump of weight in winning a handicap off 159)

    I think he could run a good race in a gold cup if stepped up in trip, and have had a few quid on at 150 on Betfair, although the Ryanair is probably Plan A.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,408 ✭✭✭ft9


    Did Grandouet have a bad fall?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 60 ✭✭Montjeu


    He stepped at it too early and his front legs went right into the hurdle, Barry was able to walk him back so hopefully everything is sound. Had a ton of horse under him though, would have won at a canter.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,408 ✭✭✭ft9


    Once the horse and jockey walked back is the main thing, thats a set back now for Cheltenham next week


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 25,953 ✭✭✭✭kryogen


    Will he run in the arkle gents?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,706 ✭✭✭premierstone


    kryogen wrote: »
    Will he run in the arkle gents?

    Who? Grandouet?

    Very much doubt it, he has Champion Hurdler written all over him and the only one he should really be afraid of is Hurrican Fly a horse who has missed two of the last three festivals so I wouldnt be changing to fences just to avoid a horse you may never meet and also you could conceivably beat.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,232 ✭✭✭meriwether


    Who? Grandouet?

    Very much doubt it, he has Champion Hurdler written all over him and the only one he should really be afraid of is Hurrican Fly a horse who has missed two of the last three festivals so I wouldnt be changing to fences just to avoid a horse you may never meet and also you could conceivably beat.

    You rank him as a better prospect than Spirit Son?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,335 ✭✭✭✭UrbanSea


    I've been following Kakagh since the start of last season. With a rating of 124 I think he could be really well in for a handicap over 2 and a half


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,706 ✭✭✭premierstone


    meriwether wrote: »
    You rank him as a better prospect than Spirit Son?

    Personally I do , I know it wont be the majority opinion, I just think as a 4yo he has so much scope to improve and he did with every run last year, would have gained revenge over Zarakandar in Aintree only for been brought down imo.

    I know Spirit Son is a very lightly raced 5yo and would appear to have plenty of scope for improvement aswell, I just have a personal preference for Grandouet at this point.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,873 ✭✭✭RichieLawlor


    Hurricane Fly is the best NH horse in training. Grandouet nor Spirit Son will be bothering him


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,706 ✭✭✭premierstone


    Hurricane Fly is the best NH horse in training. Grandouet nor Spirit Son will be bothering him

    I agree in principle but you can not get away from the fact that he has missed 2 of the last 3 festivals, so nice to have a plan b as such!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,172 ✭✭✭NaiveMelodies


    Hurricane Fly is the best NH horse in training. Grandouet nor Spirit Son will be bothering him

    Big time, if I had the patience for ante-post betting I'd have to fancy 7/4 for him, surely odds on on the day of the champion hurdle if he gets there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,706 ✭✭✭premierstone


    only1stevo wrote: »
    Big time, if I had the patience for ante-post betting I'd have to fancy 7/4 for him, surely odds on on the day of the champion hurdle if he gets there.

    You just anwered the question as to why he is 7/4 :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,172 ✭✭✭NaiveMelodies


    You just anwered the question as to why he is 7/4 :D


    Ha too right!

    1/2 for the Morgiana looks generous too!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,438 ✭✭✭Morgans


    You need to have an awful lot in hand to be odds on at the festival. Hurricane Fly as good and all as he is, was pretty much all out to beat Peddlers Cross. Deservedly favourite, but by no means a certainty if the race was run tomorrow, and by no means a certainty for a race 4 months off. Plenty of time for a horse to impress in the english trials and challenge for favouritism. Id be surprised if he is odds on on the day.

    Big bucks was 10/11 last year.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,873 ✭✭✭RichieLawlor


    Morgans wrote: »
    You need to have an awful lot in hand to be odds on at the festival. Hurricane Fly as good and all as he is, was pretty much all out to beat Peddlers Cross. Deservedly favourite, but by no means a certainty if the race was run tomorrow, and by no means a certainty for a race 4 months off. Plenty of time for a horse to impress in the english trials and challenge for favouritism. Id be surprised if he is odds on on the day.

    Big bucks was 10/11 last year.


    HF was all out to beat Peddlers after pulling hard the entire way round, While i agree he is unlikely to be odds on at cheltenham you are doing the horse a disservice if you think he didnt have more in hand at the festival than the bare winning margin


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,438 ✭✭✭Morgans


    He pulled hard, but no guarantee that he wont do it again. I think he is a smashing horse, but he isnt as far clear as the odds are suggesting at the moment. I'd expect him to have better horses than Peddlers Cross (not at his best as a 2m hurdler IMO) to face next March.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,873 ✭✭✭RichieLawlor


    Morgans wrote: »
    He pulled hard, but no guarantee that he wont do it again. I think he is a smashing horse, but he isnt as far clear as the odds are suggesting at the moment. I'd expect him to have better horses than Peddlers Cross (not at his best as a 2m hurdler IMO) to face next March.

    Who do you think will come out as the biggesrt danger? Zarkandar maybe?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,438 ✭✭✭Morgans


    Spirit Son would be the obvious one for me. I thought Sprinter Sacre was the one to take out of last years supreme, but the fact that Henderson thought Spirit Son was their first choice says a lot. The trainers ability to progress 2m hurdlers is second to none. 12/1 is tempting from a value point of view. I think he could end up better than Grandouet and even Binocular as well.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,873 ✭✭✭RichieLawlor


    Morgans wrote: »
    Spirit Son would be the obvious one for me. I thought Sprinter Sacre was the one to take out of last years supreme, but the fact that Henderson thought Spirit Son was their first choice says a lot. The trainers ability to progress 2m hurdlers is second to none. 12/1 is tempting from a value point of view. I think he could end up better than Grandouet and Binocular as well.

    Agree with almost all of that. Id be afraid of the Binocular that turned up at cheltenham in 2010 though.

    I asked about Zarkandar because he didnt look like the speed horse he is meant to be at Aintree?

    Id steer clear of Grandouet for the moment, his confidence must be shot after falling again the other day.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,335 ✭✭✭✭UrbanSea


    I'd steer clear of Binocular too.

    The Binocular that turned up in 2010 has been nowhere as good since. I don't think he will be either,2 years after his win.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,706 ✭✭✭premierstone


    Agree with almost all of that. Id be afraid of the Binocular that turned up at cheltenham in 2010 though.

    They never come back Richie ;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,873 ✭✭✭RichieLawlor


    They never come back Richie ;)

    They never come back fron injury. Binocular hasnt been injured so your statement isnt relevant


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,706 ✭✭✭premierstone


    They never come back fron injury. Binocular hasnt been injured so your statement isnt relevant

    He has droped 7lbs in the official ratings and has only won one race of note in over 18 months, let it go!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 262 ✭✭BlueBaron


    UrbanSea wrote: »
    I've been following Kakagh since the start of last season. With a rating of 124 I think he could be really well in for a handicap over 2 and a half

    Running today, he is a morale at 2/1 i think!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,335 ✭✭✭✭UrbanSea


    BlueBaron wrote: »
    Running today, he is a morale at 2/1 i think!

    Too short for me today. I think he could run a nice one in a big field graded handicap in Ireland if he's around the 130 mark.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 262 ✭✭BlueBaron


    UrbanSea wrote: »
    Too short for me today. I think he could run a nice one in a big field graded handicap in Ireland if he's around the 130 mark.

    Im a fav backer, i was actually expecting around 6/4 on this mornings prices, quite surprised to wake up finding 2/1, really fancy him


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,340 ✭✭✭sting60


    Hebridean.He runs in a listed race at Dundalk tomorrow night but is very badly drawn.He at one stage was rated higher than any of the rest in the race.I think this horse could be a horse to watch over hurdles in big value handicaps ,maybe Christmas at Leopardstown.I would love this horse to be with Noel Meade or Willie Mullins as I think he is high class.If 16/1 or better I will be having a punt at Dundalk.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,219 ✭✭✭Goldcupfav


    sting60 wrote: »
    Hebridean.He runs in a listed race at Dundalk tomorrow night but is very badly drawn.He at one stage was rated higher than any of the rest in the race.I think this horse could be a horse to watch over hurdles in big value handicaps ,maybe Christmas at Leopardstown.I would love this horse to be with Noel Meade or Willie Mullins as I think he is high class.If 16/1 or better I will be having a punt at Dundalk.

    God you really aint a fan of Jessica Harrington as a trainer ...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,335 ✭✭✭✭UrbanSea


    BlueBaron wrote: »
    Im a fav backer, i was actually expecting around 6/4 on this mornings prices, quite surprised to wake up finding 2/1, really fancy him

    Good luck.


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