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Houdini

No better cure for the blues than some good pussy.
Jul 10, 2006
56,725
78,457
What a shit day for the favourite backers,.......?
 

poc

Well-Known Member
Aug 6, 2004
3,235
3,652
anyone else been watching racing at Longchamp today

Yeah it was like finding an oasis in the desert :) had a couple of winners which was nice been watching a fair bit of Gulfstream as well.
 

tototoner

Staying Alert
Mar 21, 2004
29,387
34,059
Lockdown runs today 3.05 Newcastle and is fancied

surely a topical winner
 

tototoner

Staying Alert
Mar 21, 2004
29,387
34,059
shocking story this and not sure how Elliott will come back from it, be interesting what his top owners like Gigginstown and Cheveley Park do between now and Cheltenham

 

tototoner

Staying Alert
Mar 21, 2004
29,387
34,059
Massive blow for Elliott this but at least it means they can run at Cheltenham

 

tototoner

Staying Alert
Mar 21, 2004
29,387
34,059
NH preview from one of the tipsters I follow

National Hunt Season 2021/2022 Preview



Well October is suddenly upon us and it means the superstars of the National Hunt brigade will soon be waking from their slumber and setting pulses racing as we start a new jumps season.



With so much to discuss, I can but brush the surface and give a flavour of what to expect in these next seven or so months.



Trainers: I think it fair to say Gordon Elliott will be wanting to make headlines for all the right reasons this year and I expect to see him hit the floor running….fast. The loss of some huge names will have impacted him, but the signs are this is no broken man and everything he sends out over the opening weeks will be trying its best. The last thing he needs is for people to suggest horses aren’t ready, or being given soft rides. Once we get under way and the winners start rolling in and Elliot has been suitably humbled, I think we can expect things to return to normal, with him regaining his status as the main challenge to Willie Mullins, at least numbers wise.



Over in England, I said last season the trainer to follow was Fergal O’Brien. I don’t think he let me down! With the recent merger with Graeme McPherson likely to bring an even better quality and quantity of owners and horses to the yard, he will continue to be a name to follow and I expect that particular project to blossom over the next few years as this “Dream Team” continues to thrive.



Joining Fergal in the chase for numbers will be Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton and I expect to see the Apprentice finally become the Master as Skeltons strength in depth improves year on year.



Lower down the pecking order I am expecting to see Chris Gordon make more of the right noises this year and I can see Kim Bailey continuing his climb back up the ladder, with a wealth of super young horses in his care.



Jockeys: Brian Hughes just seems to keep getting better and some of the rides I have seen him give in the North, even this early in the season, have been near perfection. It can only be a matter of time before some big money offer comes in to ride for one of the “Big Boys”. I fancy this year could have plenty of Deja Vu about it, because Harry Skelton seems to have pulled so much confidence from winning the title last year, I would be so bold as to suggest his riding has improved again and he has oozed a new level of confidence in some of his early season rides. My subscribers can expect me to focus on these two when there are difficult decisions to be made.



From an apprentice standpoint, I was critical of Luca Morgan on several occasions last season, as he seemed to get over excited in races and was losing winning opportunities by going too soon. However, as the season developed, so did he and I think he is a name to follow this year. His current claim is a gift. Kevin Brogan is also someone who looks further polished this season and he will be high on any trainers list when a claimer is needed in the big races.



Horses: I can see the Gold Cup being a rematch between my favourite horse Minella Indo(my horse to follow last year) and A Plus Tard, for the next couple of years. Indo is rock solid and A Plus Tard, I felt just lacked a little maturity over the Gold Cup trip as a seven year old, but could come back better and stronger than ever this year. What a year it would have been with Monkfish eh?



It will be the novices, in both codes, that generate the most interest, certainly this side of Christmas. We have the likes of Sir Gerhard and Kilcrut going hurdling and I am sure Kilcrut will turn out to be the better horse this year. Over fences, we are simply blessed this season with Appreciate It, My Drogo and the mighty Bob Ollinger, as the obvious names to follow, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see names like Ferney Hollow, Monmiral and Bravemansgame being horses that make just as much of an impact as they change disciplines.



However the horse that could steal all their thunder is Galopin Des Champs, who helped my subscribers nail a fine end to the Festival when finally realising some of that potential that had excited Willie Mullins, when he first arrived at Closutton



It is hard to look beyond Honeysuckle for the Champion Hurdle and if all the best novices go chasing then I hope Willie Mullins decides to drop Concertista in trip to also take advantage of the mares allowance. There isn’t much else in the market that looks like making that leap in grade.



If Hendo is being serious and Shishkin has grown and developed then it is hard to see beyond him for the big two mile races That said, Chacun Pour Soi finally got it together at the end of last season and I look forward to their first big clash. If Energumene stays at 2 miles, it will be mouth watering.



The staying hurde division is a minefield and had me tied up in knots last season. If Klassical Dream stays sound and with his head screwed on, he could rule the roost.



As ever, it looks like being a wonderful winter. The next few weeks will see the reappearance of so many old favourites and the key to success is to try not to get too emotionally involved with old favourites, detach yourself from “cliff horses” and study the form and watch the market just before the off.



Have a great National Hunt season
 

Sandro30

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2011
2,855
12,322
I’ve won a pair of tickets to Cheltenham tomorrow, does anybody want 1?
 
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