Cheltenham Festival
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02 Sep 11
19:01
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Date Joined:
05 Jan 10
Wetherby's Charlie Hall Chase after being out of action for nine months.
Nick Williams' charge landed the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbuy last November but has been out of action ever since with a suspensory ligament injury meaning he had to sit out the Cheltenham Festival in March, where he was tipped to make an appearance in the Gold Cup.
The eight-year-old's problems appear to have subsided and he has trained well over the past few weeks, leading connections to target the West Yorkshire showpiece on October 29 as a possible outing for the talented star.
Owner Paul Duffy revealed that he has looked good on the gallops and may well feature at the end of October if the ground suits.
"I went down to see him recently and he's fine," he said.
"He looks a stronger horse now than he was last year.
"We're actually looking at the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby as a possible starting point for him, as long as the ground is not too firm."
A defence of his Hennessy title has not been ruled out but connections do not want to get ahead of themselves after Diamond Harry's extended period of inactivity.
"We'll obviously look at the Hennessy but he would probably be near the top of the weights this year and it's something we would need to assess. We'll just take it one race at a time," added Duffy.
"We've had to be patient with him but he looks well and Nick is very happy with him."
Nick Williams' charge landed the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbuy last November but has been out of action ever since with a suspensory ligament injury meaning he had to sit out the Cheltenham Festival in March, where he was tipped to make an appearance in the Gold Cup.
The eight-year-old's problems appear to have subsided and he has trained well over the past few weeks, leading connections to target the West Yorkshire showpiece on October 29 as a possible outing for the talented star.
Owner Paul Duffy revealed that he has looked good on the gallops and may well feature at the end of October if the ground suits.
"I went down to see him recently and he's fine," he said.
"He looks a stronger horse now than he was last year.
"We're actually looking at the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby as a possible starting point for him, as long as the ground is not too firm."
A defence of his Hennessy title has not been ruled out but connections do not want to get ahead of themselves after Diamond Harry's extended period of inactivity.
"We'll obviously look at the Hennessy but he would probably be near the top of the weights this year and it's something we would need to assess. We'll just take it one race at a time," added Duffy.
"We've had to be patient with him but he looks well and Nick is very happy with him."
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Replies: 69
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hink still harry has another big un in him
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Lovely, lovely strong travelling horse, the kind one enjoys watching.
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jolly good podt neil
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Thought he may have gone straight to Haydock tbh, decent record there after all. Goes well fresh etc
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Thought he may have gone straight to Cheltenham.
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wouldn't have surprised me
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, Howdi, didn't even realise I'd done it, the time of night tells a lot, I'd had a few. |
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you always have
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If he is at his Haydock brush hurdle level, he is arguably the best staying horse in training, seriously.
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Will do the usual trick of winning first time out and then not doing owt after being hyped for Cheltenham
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Will do the usual trick of winning first time out and then not doing owt after being hyped for Cheltenham
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IMO not a spring horse an not a Cheltenham horse. Should be aimed at the King George.
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If he goes to the King George Im taking my wheel barrow will have them all at it. Never truely got credit for Henn win he never came off the bit.
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I think it would really suit him.
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King George would seem an ideal race for me too, has bags of speed
One concern though, he's never raced right handed? |
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had a small few bob on at 25/1 earlier in the yr. never raced right handed but most horses lead with their right leg so if anything generally only have issue with left handed tracks. it wouldnt worry me tbh! the kg will be a super hot race this year tho and whatever wins will be a warm order for the gc!
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Why not another Hennesssy? I know he will have a lot of weight but it didn't stop Denman.
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revedesivola
05 Sep 11 23:56 Joined: 14 Sep 10 | Topic/replies: 10,575 | Blogger: revedesivola's blog had a small few bob on at 25/1 earlier in the yr. never raced right handed but most horses lead with their right leg so if anything generally only have issue with left handed tracks. it wouldnt worry me tbh! the kg will be a super hot race this year tho and whatever wins will be a warm order for the gc! Denman,punchestown?[:x] |
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generally
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Sage - I think a run in the Hennessey would be a good prep for him for the KG, but I doubut he'd win - he's likely to run into something well handicapped. Denman was a freak, not a guide to the norm. Problem might be that DH doesn't seem to take much racing so they may not want to give him 3 races before Christmas if they want to aim him at the Festival. Personally, I'd run him 3/4 times by Januiary then put him away for the year.
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strot, i doubt hed win too with the weight hed carry and i doubt theyd want to run him in a race they wouldnt expect to win. last years novices is where to look for the winner i suppose!
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DH is up 12 lb. for his win last year and because he did not run again, that could still be a competitive mark. He was rated 165 over hurdles so 168 over fences may be fair. The real issue is whether the injury leaves a permanent mark. Many Hennessy winners have hard races later in the season and never recover from the experience but at least he has had the rest of the year to recover.
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Sage, I agree, he's not without a chance given how handily he won last year, and the prize money is very good so (as I said above) it would be worth a run. But something like Weapons Amnesty (for example) could be 20 lbs in front of the handicapper. You can always run in to one in a good handicap.
Let's hope he does recover well - same for Burton Port and Weapons Amnesty. |
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I seem to remember Nick Williams saying last year that he didnt see DH as a King George horse.
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The horse loves Newbury, I hope he turns up in the Hennessey.
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Betfair Chase Haydock imo,likely to get cut in the ground and likes the course
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Can't see him facing Long Run and Kauto that early in the season, we don't get that lucky do we?
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I've already booked my tickets and mouth is watering at a clash between Long Run and Kauto, surely won't get even more superstars lining up?
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I've got mine as well. £17 in the County Stand a bargain! Cant wait.
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He's good enough to beat anything on soft ground, fresh and a flat left handed track. I'd still back him in the Hennessy off his current mark as I can't see anything in last year's novices to beat him. Biggest dangers probably Aiteenthirtythree and Michel Le Bon but surely they couldn't stay with him.
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i like him but it is concerning that williams states that he's not in the same form now as he was at this stage last season.
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Surely 4-1 too good to miss. He's done me loads of favours and owes me nothing but his record under these circumstances is phenomenal. Heard they're watering up there and surely will want him to turn up but just think the course will be tailor made. I know the trainer says he's not pleasing like last year but this isn't the Hennessy and his record fresh speaks for itself.
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At Wetherby for The Charlie Hall, that is.
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Time for Rupert for me in the Charlie Hall, 9/2 is far too big and he's the best long term prospect out of these.
I'd rather just watch Diamond Harry on his first run back; just don't know how fit he is or if the injury has left a mark and the 5/2 and 9/4 is far too short imo. Nacarat is getting on, and this is a much hotter race than last year, and Poquelin is a complete unknown at this trip. Midnight Chase's limitations were highlighted in the Gold Cup, and Chicago Grey has been firmly put in his place by Time for Rupert in the past. Backing Weird Al would take a big leap of faith at the moment. All points to one horse for me.... |
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Agreed chief don't usually like getting stuck in this early in the season but have made an exception for this one.
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Diamond Harry is still widely available at 7-2. No one needs to take 5-2 or 9-4 but I will agree that the only 2 plausible dangers are Poquelin and Time For Rupert.
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Poquelin?? The race is 3m 1f,why is that plausable,never been further than 2m5 i believe.
Rupert i agree,think he will win if hes fit. |
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Nicholls seems to think he needs the step up in trip. That's what the jockey said after The Ryanair and he's top rated in the race. He's normally best fresh and should travel well on the bridle for most of the race but I don't think he'll see which way Diamond Harry goes. Apart from the top 3, the others would need to improve loads to have any chance.
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Ok,i shall watch and see re Poquelin,of course he may be better over further,but its taken him a long time to work that out if it is the case.
DH been off for near on a year,bit risky imo at the prices. TFR would be a tentative choice,but really i think a non betting race. Be watching with interest though,could have the future Gold Cup winner on show. |