Denman, Diamond Harry and Henrietta

Wasn't into racing when Best Mate was around, but can't see where the criticism stems from.

*stemmed

For me N.H racing is being built up far too much towards Cheltenham and we are not seeing the top horses out enough. It's a shame really that this way of training is starting to dominate the big races. I mean we either don't see them or they are clearly not fit enough and ridden accordingly to do themselves justice. Years ago the top horses met much more frequently and to then go on after a long season at Cheltenham was a much higher achievement IMO. Now we have horses who pretty much use the G.1's as prep races towards Cheltenham. Or we just don't see them very often. Shame really and this is why I fear racing for change should not ruin the flat calender because at the moment you get too see the best horses week in week out performing to a good level of their ability.

top trainers say top horses take very little racing and id say thats def true about diamond harry. tough race for denners too

I just think the ground may have gone for him by March and never really been convinced by him at Cheltenham. Even in his novice hurdle season, he struggled to beat Bensalem and Ernst Blofeld (I think, apologies if I'm wrong) on his favoured ground and ran down the final flight as though not totally at home on the track. That day he was also noted to have gone past his best physically by the Weekender paddock judge but it will be interesting to see how he holds his condition this year. They seemed to think on Racing UK that he had matured physically over the summer so he could just be a different horse. I'd still have to back him if he runs, he's a horse I love.

Diamond Harry that is.

I wouldn't worry too much about the ground. The ground yesterday on the chase course must have been good at worst. You don't get close to course records on ground with soft in it.

def good to soft id say

IM WITH FLYING BOLT

Apologies all, i started this thread then disappeared! I also probably should nto have out it on The Cheltenham Forum..

As an ante-post punter, i like lightly campaigned horses because it means IMO they have more chance of getting to their target (each time they runs adds risk, and as we all know, a horse can get injured in its box!). I also like seeing horses coming back yr in yr out and keeping the miles off the clock is one way of trying to achieve this.

In respect of the flat comparisson, its a bit easier for a sprinter to run 6 or 7 times on decent ground over 5f with 8st on its back than a 3m chaser on heavy ground possibly carrying 11.5 st doing the same.

Diamond Harry goes so much better 1st time out that he should go straight for the Gold Cup - maybe even save him for the 2012 Gold Cup