Not going to express an opinion on what distance the horse will stay but agree 100% about how NJH approaches his entries.

Conti would win the king George shame he had already mapped out Al ferof and kauto stone. I get the feeling Hales had told nicholls he wants Walsh to ride Al ferof and nicholls didn't want to upset Hales, and obviously in the past Neptune being over looked cus of the kauto denman era think there may of been bit of love lost If I remember rightly.

PS - I actually can understand that Nicholls didn't want Kauto Star & Denman meeting more than once a season as it may have been internecine for his chasers, and compromised their chances in the one that mattered.

Sanctuaire kicked right on and if you think he'll get a lead like that again you truly are bonkers. - Never said that.

Was Sprinter Sacre going any faster than normal in the Tingle Creek? Nope....Sanctuaire was though which is why he didn`t stay the 2 mile trip at that speed and only finished 3rd.

Sprinter Sacre had settled after the first 2 fences but he was not travelling any faster than the chasing pack. Sanctuaire was scuttling ahead.

The Tingle Creek was the first time in his career that Sprinter HAS settled. He was able to because of the tremendous pace set by Sanctuaire.

All this talk of Sprinter "lobbing along" in a 3 mile race at 3 mile pace is nothing short of laughable.

Everyone seems to forgotten that he has already been tried at two and a half miles over hurdles.
He travelled superbly(pulling hard) until the 2nd last and then stopped as though he'd been shot.
His worst run by a considerable margin.

We'll just need to wait and see what Hendo says after the Champion Chase. He certainly won't be racing over anything other than 2 miles until then.

He did have an operation after the end of his hurdling career. He ran 3 times after that debacle and before the operation though and hacked up twice and finished 3rd in the Supreme all over 2m.
As you rightly say he's much better over fences. The fact remains however in that one run over more than 2 miles he showed form at least 20lb below anything else he has done. Obviously he is a much stronger and more mature horse now which may make a difference.

FB - do you think he'll go for the Melling and furthermore, stay the trip and win?
The possibility of Finian's Rainbow going there might scupper that (a true Henderson swerve) but it's also a possible that FR might head for the Bowl instead.

Budd - we're all entitled to our opinions mate and I think I'm more qualified than most to disagree with trainers - even Cecil gets things wrong now & again, and on the odd occasion, I've been spot-on!

If we all hung on to ever musing the trainers utter we'd be skint!
They lead us down the wrong path sometimes, and dress things up, when we KNOW they do not want a clash of their own stars!

AND...I don't get upset...I like others' views even when I strongly disagree, as long as there's some decent reasoning behind it.

I also have my doubts about 3M for Sprinter Sacre as I don't see how anyone could be confident of him getting that far (at this point in his career) but horses do change their characteristics as they mature.

Wayward Lad was a very smooth traveller in his early days but upped in trip, he ran some of his best races when rousted along with a fair bit to go - that's counter intuitive!
As I stated a few days ago...Floyd was a completely different animal as he matured, and there are many more examples I can think of.

I've got a lot of experience of this sport and if there's one thing I would instil into a newcomer, it would be to expect the unexpected!
I can give you dozens of examples of grade/group ones races where I STILL can't believe what I've seen...Solemia being the most recent!

Flyingbolt

The fact remains however in that one run over more than 2 miles he showed form at least 20lb below anything else he has done. No No  No....

Sprinter Sacre was beaten by Frascati Park over 20f - Frascati Park was a 132 Hurdler. In that race was Poungach 8L behind in 3rd. He went on to be a 152 horse over hurdles.

It was Sprinter Sacre`s hurdle debut. Where do you get this 20lb below anything else he has done crapola?? Look at his 2 NH races as well. Everything has been a natural progression. You are talking rubbish.

To be honest mate,Henderson is always saying he dont want to race his horses against each other,particularly in races leading up to the festival.
When i asked him about Finians defending his QM this season at the open day,he said to me we have Sprinter Sacre and Barry will have to decide.
Well Barry will be on SS,so if FR dont stay in the KG,what happens to FR?
Makes sense to me for trainer to tell owner that FR should be in Ryanair cos he might win that,he wont win the QM.

Im well aware of being careful listening to trainers,and jockeys and owners!!
All i was saying is what he said.
Whether we choose to belive them is up to us as individuals.

That brings us back to the question of TOO many of the top horses camped in the same two stables!
It's bad for the game

having looked at finians pedigree a good while back ,he is very stoutly bred indeed,owned  by the aga khan,and   by  tiraaz who ran and won or  placed in the prix cadran and also in the prix gladiator  the distances of these races are well in excess of 2 miles ,he also has strong gale in the dams side of his pedigree so the bloodline is  very strong on stamina . so could well be suited by 3m +.

Flyingbolt

I take it you are running and hiding rather than explaining this crapola..

The fact remains however in that one run over more than 2 miles he showed form at least 20lb below anything else he has done.

Yes it`s best to keep it sensible lad.

As for Poungach do you think he ran to 152 ???If not that comment is irrelevant.......or perhaps you think Frascati Park is a 195 horse ?

Have you always had a mental problem reading form

Well its best for horse and owner if the trainer finds the right races to give them the best chance of winning,and quiet often that will mean running them in different races.
If he puts them in the same race then straight away they know one of them aint winning!!

Just think theres a bit more to it then just saying a trainer does it all for his own ends,so to speak.
Yes he gains if he has 2 winners instead of one winner,but so do the owners.

We just have to try and work out when to take notice of them and when not to.

That aint easy!!!

I know that Budd, but it begs the question of would the game be better off if McCain, Hobbs or King had a few of Nicholls/Henderson FOURTH strings?

It's been worse in Ireland over the last few years with Willie Mullins!

I thought SS returned home a sick horse after the frascati park race, it was nearly 3 months before we saw him again.

I love the fact that SS will be kept to 2 miles as I personally prefer a potential superstar at this distance as I feel the king george and gold cup not the ultimate accolade tho i know I am in the minority.Personally SS could be so far ahead of any opponents that my theory will never be put to the test but going on racing notes I have made about this horse on its previous runs I truly believe he is a bridle horse albeit possibly one of the best I may ever see, I am not saying it is ungenuine or anything as ludicrous but if we find another horse who can run within 6lbs of its potential rating then I know which one I would be laying in run at odds on,now I could be talking absolute garbage (I have had a few so please forgive me) but its all about opinions and I do hope I am proved wrong,or possibly we wont come across another animal capable of putting my speculative theory to the test. As for staying further I dont really care I hope it goes unbeaten through its career at two miles and not spoiled by trying distances that may not suit,take care all.