I agree with all that MM. A real pity. I never quite trust that horses who miss a yr (obviously he has not quite missed a yr) will come back, but lets hope so.

Mono Man entered at Doncaster next week surprisingly. I suspect it is too late to make it to the Supreme though Oscar Whisky had his Supreme prep on 19 Feb following 1 prior hurdle run (in December, which he won).

At least it proves he is ok and there is still a small chance he may make it to cheltenham

Might have a nibble at the Supreme before Wednesday. Travels like a proper 2 mile horse to me.

Further entries next week over 2 and further. Looks like a run is imminent.

Needs to run this coming week and have an easy race if he is to line up in the Supreme. Looks like Donny Wednesday or Sandown/Warwick Friday. If he is declared for one of them, I'll have a litle bit for the Supreme before he runs.

Thanks TM

Missed that! Plot thickens then for Hendo and his novice hurdlers. I thought he would be campaigned at 2 miles.

Entered all over the place this week, which for me is a positive.

As either they could keep him as a novice for next season or they have bigger plans, that may include later festivals but its hopeful.

It looks like he will run in the 3:30 at Huntingdon on Thursday over 2m4f (well its the only one of his entries with Barry as a confirmed jockey).

About 95 on here for the Supreme and 25 for the Neptune (but you can still get 40's with the bookies)

Just found this blog on the RP bloodstock site (4th Feb 2012)

It is hard to select one horse from the Seven Barrows academy but the lightly raced Mono Man has the potential and ability needed to win this event.

The winner of two bumpers last season,Mono Man appeared to be outpaced when a staying-on third behind the useful pair It’s A Gimme and Colour Squadron at Newbury on his only start this term. A step up in trip at Cheltenham should benefit – his sire Old Vic has supplied four festival winners in the last nine years, all coming over a minimum distance of 2m5f.

Selection: Fingal Bay

Alternative: Mono Man (each-way)

scratched from Supreme

where can the revised racecards be found ?

Henderson is a dickhead of the highest order nap!

guineas

He's been scratched?

Starting to dislike Sir Henderson.

AP bets on Mono Man for the surpreme and Grandouet for the champion

Have I missed something last couple of days - why does someone want to back him for the Neptune?  Didn't think he was running.

Half fit or not IS yard was devastated that he didn't win on his hurdles debut at Newbury. He's clearly very talented but just as clearly fragile. A 6yo who's only been seen in public 3 times? Not one for me unless he goes to the Festival with at least 2 and possibly 3 successful runs under his belt.

I was at Newbury for the race above and actually backed Colour Squadron 2nd.  However, I thought the 4th ran well Broomfield, but has not been out since.  Anybody got any info?

Ibrahima, I am with you again this yr on this one, i think he is top class potentially. His bumper runs were mustard and I agree he had excuses at Newbury. I think he surely would have improved for the run, made an awful error at the last against horses who had had a run and were therefore likely to be fitter (and more experienced in Its a Gimme). I think Colour Squadron and Its a Gimme were badly campaigned thereafter.

I am not concerned massively about his few races so far. He may be fragile but I am not sure the indications are that he is overly-so. He ran in January having just turned 5 (lots of NH horses do not run in a bumper til 5), then ran a few weeks later before being put away(same owners had ERicht for the big bumpers, trainer is known for his aversion to the big festival bumpers anyway). He then returned in Newbury (a race he has targetted with his best novices over the yrs) and missed the rest of the yr. Maybe not ideal but maybe not the end of the world - Finians Rainbow made his bumper debut aged 6 (albeit missing a debut at 5) and his hurdles debut at 6 at the same November Newbury meeting.

More tricky for me is how hard it is to predict which way the trainer will send his horses at the Festival. We know how hard this had been to predict in the past. Being an Old Vic out of Quadrennial, high class with some toe, but looking like he has some stamina in all 3 races (always ridden prominent and delivered early, stayed on well each time, perhaps most obviously in his last race) I would think with another yr on his back he may want more than the minimum. Obviously a long, long way off, and speculative only, the trainer may run 10 in the Supreme but all things being equal at this stage he looks to me to have a couple who have more obvious speed.