Darlan

I had the sense after his last run they were trying to race and talk him into a handicap.

I think you must be right because if he runs well at Newbury he's bound to go up by more than the 3 lbs he's now come down. Nicky just seems to be having a little strop.

Not surprised they are going into Handicaps. He is no Grade 1 beast imo.

The reason Hendo is pissed is because he has been given a ridiculous handicap mark on 146 & even 143 is too big. I mean he's rated 5lb below Zarkandar & 2lb below Soldatino. How can he have run anywhere near the level of those two Triumph winners in a few very average novice hurdles? The handicapper has tried to be clever basically and all he's done is put connections off of running in a handicap. If he's not a graded horse he won't be doing too well in handicaps off that mark. Bearing in mind Fingal Bay has won 3 grade 2's & a grade 1 and is only rated 149. The horse has clearly been aimed at the race and probably has plenty left to work on but the handicapper has taken all that into account and chucked a few lbs more on for good measure.

I agree that he has every right to be p1ssed off. I just dont see how they have got to that mark.

Fickin shame poor old Nicky!

Given that his two short victories were against horses who have since been stuffed in handicaps off 122 and 136 he has great point.

It's fair enough to complain about the handicap mark. I agree that horses in the top yards are often officially over-rated. Masterminded, you make an excellent point and there are many examples of similar things.

However, that's no reason to throw a hissy fit about the Tote Trophy. If the horse runs off its high mark and runs well it would go up anyway. If it runs badly, which it should if it's carrying too much weight, it's the start of the process of going down in the handicap. One of these thigs will have to happen eventually.

3 lb seems neither here nor there in a race that's likely to be won by a well handicapped improver.

the fairness of the mark isnt really my point...the fact he was happy to run off 146 but now isnt cos the horse will be 3lb lower in future hcps suggests he's thinking of handicaps primarily, which would be significant given he's 2nd fav for a non-hcp (the Supreme)

Personally don't think that's the way they are thinking. They got 3 races into him very quickly for a Hendo horse. Purely to get a mark for the Betfair hurdle. Think they were going to go down the same route as Get Me Out Of Here if possible using it as a springboard for the Supreme. I would be surprised if we have seen anything like the best of him yet this season.

Hendo said in an interview today on RUK it was always the plan to use the Betfair as a springboard to the Supreme. He didn't seem to concerned about his mark more towards him having to run 3lbs higher than he should be. Sounds like he's very much still an intended runner though.

cheers MM...didnt see that