punchestowns

Nothing much NH wise yet...expect lot more interviews/reports over next couple of weeks as the main season draws nearer.

If they get real he will be kept to sub 3 mile trips otherwise he will be a tired horse at the top level blundering fences from 3 out. His jumping hasnt been great and when you add this to Long Runs below average fencing Henderson may not have much joy this season with these two in good senior company.

^ Biggest poser of the season ahead for me, because:

A) I agree - Punchestowns has never looked a stayer and didn't jump well... but...
B) I think he is potentially the classiest chaser on the scene to take over from Kauto Star if and when the king starts to decline

As Fidway asks, I think it'll be very telling what his aims are for the year. If they decide to skip Cheltenham and tackle the graded route from 2m4f to 3m in Ireland he could make hay. I don't know whether Kauto star is in decline yet - very much a debate for another thread - but Punchestowns' ideal target on British shores would be the King George for me.

Never looked a stayer? I think he's always looked a stayer.

Interesting from Henderson before this years festival.

“Punchestowns stays three miles but is very good at two and a half – he’s not a slow horse,” said Henderson. I’d actually love to take Big Buck’s on again one day and come from behind him. But that would only happen if his chasing career falls apart"

Can't see how trying to beat probably the best staying hurdler of modern times is a better idea than another season chasing - though as has been pointed out, there's no chance he's going to get the Gold Cup trip, imho...

Big Bucks aside...you have Zaynar up in trip and potentially Peddlers Cross, Quevega, Time For Rupert...subject to some going chasing.  Restless Harry is also staying hurdling...so its not the worst division next year.

yes but after big bucks anialates the lot fot hem people will question the opposition much like floyd mayweather pasting every opponent he has people always want to criticise

3132 there is no way that Peddlers Cross or Time for Rupert will run in the World Hurdle.
With Mullins stating that Quevega likly to stay over 2m4f. I think this seasons divisons looks weaker than lasts at this time.

I don't see the point in Big Bucks going for another World Hurdle. Although if Questarabad(why is he 33s?) goes for the race i guess it will add excitement to any potential spectacle.

Where would you run him Graeme in the Gold Cup ?

He has the chance of making in 3 and writing himself into the history books....doesnt look the toughest race on paper at present and is worth £150k so cant see any real drawbacks.  He's likely to be campaigned similarly to last year you would suspect with the race in mind.

Punchestowns jumping looked brilliant on his debut, then he fluffed his lines a bit at Sandown, but still won easily despite this.

I think he'll end up a very good chaser once he gains more experience, apparantly they are aiming him at Graduation chases to gain some. Has a handicap mark well below his hurdle rating, surely a decent handicap is on the cards at somepoint?

I don't get the idea he doesn't stay 3miles, he was second to one of the best staying hurdlers ever in The Stayers.

Normally 2 Graduation chases at Exeter and start of December at Sandown he might target. They won the Sandown with Barbers Shop previously from memory.

"Where would you run him Graeme in the Gold Cup ?

He has the chance of making in 3 and writing himself into the history books....doesnt look the toughest race on paper at present and is worth £150k so cant see any real drawbacks.  He's likely to be campaigned similarly to last year you would suspect with the race in mind."




Yeah i think they should have went the Gold Cup route. Other horses he beat last year are going chasing so he should as well because there's hardly anything to beat, and he's not getting any younger. He's staying over hurdles though so we can all see him on the bridle against horses that can't get near him. He's a smashing horse but if Questarabad or Portals Toy don't turn up then we've seen it all before.

big bucks shopuld stay over hurdles. machineeeeeeeeeeeee

French horses such as Questarabad and Portal's Toy are reluctant to come over to Britain because the ground is usually different and the prize money in France is so much better

I have to agree with the lads here..How many times dows a horse need to flop before the penny drops he's simply not that good.

Punchestowns was the subject of massive hype last season and the season before but he's no Gold Cup horse.

Take away Kauto Star and Imperial Commander and he still wouldn't win a Gold Cup. When push comes to shove he's a very good chaser but below top class. Even if Kauto retires after this yaers King George Nichols will simply switch Big Bucks to fencing so it's going to be just as hard a race to win. BTW there's not a hope in hell Big Bucks will swap to fences as long as Kauto Star is around.

Long Run wasn't far behind Punchestowns when it came to hype but he has a chance of progressing but not in the Gold Cup he'll be much better suited by the trip in the Ryanair and if Nicky gets his way with Walley Cohen I think that's where they will aim him.

Nicky's best chance of future Gold Cup success lies with the horse he always regarded as a future Gold Cup winner: Mad Max

He's had massive problems with his breathing which if last season is anything to go by are well behind him.

His win at Aintree over Somersby who is a very high class animal seems to have gone un-noticed, He jumped and travelled brilliantly and showed he had improved way past the Nightingale who finsihed well in front of him in MickyD's race at the festival over hurdles.

The fact he has been overshadowed by hs 2 hyped stable companions is probably why he's being overlooked because if he was trained by another top yard he'd be getting hyped to hell as a gold cup prospect and be half the odds he is now. IMVHO.

Not that it matters if the real Kauto Star turns up.

Rondetto - 'Take away Kauto Star and Imperial Commander and he still wouldn't win a Gold Cup. When push comes to shove he's a very good chaser but below top class'.

What on earth is that based on? Reasoning, please? He looked brilliant the 2 times he jumped fences, the third time he jumped femnces he got injured, so please enlighten me?

"French horses such as Questarabad and Portal's Toy are reluctant to come over to Britain because the ground is usually different and the prize money in France is so much better "



I'm sure they said Questarabad is coming over, they just didn't know what race ?

i do agree punchestowns hasnt a hope in hell iof ainning a gold cup. i dont know what it is weve these henderson horses but they all seem a bit soft to me. punchestowns wont battle and long run is a mardy horse who woukldnt stay 3 miles at chelters in an aeroplane

dananders, i love your input, because i listen to everything you say, then conclude the opposite is true. Thanks for your help.

Might get a better idea next week when Henderson's interviewed in the RP.

Being aimed at the Sandown Graduation Chase early December as he's a bit behind in preparation.

NH says he was lame in near hind and had chipped bone in the hock after Chelt.

Only just returned to training and Sandown over 2m 4f is the target.

hendersons horses are mentally soft every last 1 of them

There's nothing like a sweeping generalisation, is there?

dan, could you not talk out of your backside for once please?

cheers

barbers shop a prime xample

what about punjabi,geos,bacchanal,katarino etc?

dananders - i know you only started watching racing 6 weeks ago, but please, you are a comedy genius! keep them coming!

dan, on what basis are you assuming that Punchestowns is soft?

The two beatings by one of the greatest staying hurdlers ever? Or fracturing a hock in the RSA?

see you then was soft no heart at all achieved feck all

there is a difference in mentally soft and unable to compete at the top level on account of bein slightly worse. dont think hendersons horses are mentally soft and i do think that punchestowns is very good. what do you attribute the "softness" to....?

i was just being silly fellas. but i believe long run will not battle for a win and same with babrbers in particular . i just dont like henderson im a nicholls fan myself

like both NJH and PFN but am a true nick williams fan

by the way dananders its good of u to say!

cant fink y ure a nick williams fan reve de sivola.

as in its obvious with the name or ur not a fan?

Does Long Run go for the Ryanair and Punchestown for the Gold Cup you think? Or will they just go with Burton Port and put both in the Ryanair

A 6yo in Gold Cup would be wrong wrong wrong. Especially with THREE 180+ horses in there. So can't see them throwing Long Run in.

i agree with the gold cup statement cvb. I think there are races which would suit him better like the ryanair. would be a shame to increase his workload too much too soon

Imperial Commander went Ryanair then Gold Cup with total success. So I would assume as Long Run will only be 6 that they will go that way too.

Unless they follow Kauto's route and go and win a couple of Tingle Creek's, have a go in the Champion Chase, before winning the Gold Cup. But I can't see it.

ryanair is a good race without being quite as taxing as the gold cup

I read Henderson say that Long Run was going for the paddy power, and then hopefully the King George.

Sounded like Punchestowns was a more likely candidate for the ryanair.

"French horses such as Questarabad and Portal's Toy are reluctant to come over to Britain because the ground is usually different and the prize money in France is so much better "

I checked some winner prizes and it would appear that the World Hurdle has a bigger first prize than anything he's won. I maybe be wrong but what makes you think the prize money in France is so much better than what he could win considering we're talking a one off race.