Grandouet

Trainers are creatures of habit and for some reason, Hendo seems to like taking horses to Kelso for this race. With the weather closing in a bit, entirely possible that he will end up in the Kingwell anyway. Not too many more options, are there?

No too many options I agree but one seems a lot better than the other to me. Not sure why he likes this race.....remember his Zaynar beaten here at 1/14 a few years back !

....and Zaynar then went on the come 3rd in Champion Hurdle I believe as a 5 year old.......so might be method in the perceived madness.......I hope so coz I am on Grandouet EW from early days at a decent price.

Should run in Kingwell for me.

I'm on Grandouet at 7-1 and quietly confident. I don't want him having a race in a bog so soon to the Festival but if he did run at Kelso would it not be an exercise canter? Who would he face of relevance?

Good point Bd. Maybe he had too hard a race in the International and Hendo just wants a public school round, pick up the prize money then home to put the finishing touches on him for the 12th.

Not likely to be much in the way of opposition alright....but I would hope if the ground is really bad they would go to Wincanton. If he's going to win a CH they shouldn't be afraid of what he might meet in the Kingwell either

My only fear with Grandouet is whether he can battle to win a Champion Hurdle. I can see Zarkandar off the bridle turning for home, Rock On Ruby being pushed along with Grandouet and Hurricane Fly on the steel then it's a matter of finding up the hill.

Think he showed enough in the International to be hopeful on that score.....the ground on the day is going to have a big bearing on the outcome IMO

I just cant see anything to suggest he can beat Zarkandar myself. Has failed in all 3 attempts so far.

agree with CCM wholeheartedly

I think he showed enough the last time to suggest that he is capable. He was a year out and conceding 4Ibs on desperate ground. The green paper was down on the fav that day.

Supporters of Grandoeut must have a slight nagging feeling regarding his inability to go past Zarkandar on 3 different occasions.

Did he not fall in one of the races against Zarkander when travelling(like always) much the better.Aintree i think?

Think he was brought down at Aintree. Fell at Wincanton.

Think he's different gravy to Zarkander, and other than the Fly (and the flights of hurdles) I don't see any dangers.

Champion hurdle course favours a speed horse,Grandouet and the Fly jumping the last.

I can see there being 4/5 horses bang there at the last with a chance and it will come down to who jumps that last flight the best and then can battle up the hill

Don't fear Zarkandar at all to be honest despite 3 defeats

grandouet only beaten 2 lengths giving zar 4lb lto.....heavy ground favoured zar more than grandouet ( im not saying ideal conditions for either)  .....nicholls said before race zark very fit whilst hendo and bj said grand would need run ...to get that close considering all that....grandouet doesnt even need good ground,ground on the soft side will suffice.....just need a good pace

That's what causes the connundrum. There will definitely be a hotter pace than The International. Will that suit Zarkandar or Grandoeut more? I'm convinced it will suit Zarkandar more. On the other side of the coin I think the old course will suit Grandoeut more.

Regarding his form with Zarkandar the change in course is very significant imo.

The Triumph Hurlde and Bula course has a very long run between the last 2 flights and suits the grinders. The Champion Hurdle course is much better for the bridle horses - though as the wonderful Harchibald found out you still have to battle a little bit.

Kelso on Thursday still seems to be the plan it would appear. Only Raya Star to get anywhere near him, so as long as its not a bog ('soft' at present) - could turn out to be the ideal prep.

Interesting all the actors are having their last dress rehersal before the big day. Wouldn't want a run too much later than the end of this week. Nice four week recovery from any execursions.

On the drift???

He's not running this week

Sky Bet are among several leading bookmakers to have suspended betting on next month's Stan James Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The ante-post market for the blue riband contest has been suspended amid rumours that Grandouet could miss the race for the hurdling crown.


Paddy Power and Coral are other firms to have suspended the market while Ladbrokes have withdrawn the Nicky Henderson-trained runner from their ante-post list.


As yet, there has been no confirmation of the rumours.

FFS **** **** ****

What does Henderson do with his horses?? Always seem to have knocks/scares at the last hour ffs

Or perhaps they don't happen at the last hour but only become public knowledge then....

All trainers not just NH have problems with horses. Alferof, Big Bucks, Last Instalement and Weapons Amnesty just to mention a few. Only when it happens to the good ones do we hear anything about it. The poor horse I am afraid was probably designed on a Monday and in the morning at that.

Racing Post ‏@RacingPost
Grandouet will not run in the Kingwell Hurdle on Saturday Nicky Henderson has announced.

At least he is still on course for Cheltenham (until the next scare anyway!!).

He will have been off the course for a much shorter time than before his previous run on Trials Day! I don't think lack of a run since will make much difference to his CH chance at all. The master will ensure that he is cherry ripe on the day. What he really needs is better ground.

The owner thinks Raya Star is a big price at 50/1.

But Cheltenham is not a flat track.

The Chemical One at it again?