Fighting Fifth Hurdle - Newcastle 30th November

Given the history of connections, even if it did turn up it wouldnt be fit.

The New One's next race is the International Hurdle at Cheltenham, then possibly Kempton at Xmas.

NJH got Binocular beaten in this race twice before winning the Xmas hurdle so he could use it as a prep.

Anyone know if Melodic Rendezvous is definitely going for this?

Not sure how far to the top he can go, but I have backed Grumeti ante-post at 12/1 eachway. Despite having form figures of 13 at Cheltenham he hurdles far more fluently and slickly on flatter tracks, just look at the errors he makes in the Triumph compared with his smooth wins at Kempton/Aintree.  NJH got Binocular beeaten twice at Newcastle before so it makes sense at the prices.

Melodic Rendezvous won nicely last time out, though Far West let the form down yesterday.

Ptit Zig is due to run the last I read.

an 80% MTOY wins this with ease. Melodic Rondevous's form with Far West seriously let down yesterday

Far west was way below his best yesterday,not bothered at all about that for Melodic.

I rate Melodic, but he has a serious task on beating MTOY if ground is no worse the G/S.  If it is softer I think he has a real chance but the forecast isn't for rain.

Agree,its going to be hard to beat MTOY on a flat track like Newcastle for sure,and I don't expect to see that happen.I do expect him to run well though.
But the CHurdle conditions should suit him better and I think he will be a threat.

I really like mtoy's for cheltenham, but I'm worried that saturdays race has all the hallmarks of a binocular come back run....hope I'm wrong, my TTF needs the points.

Wouldn't take odds on MTOY the way Hendersons are running first time out.  Melodic is match fit.

Don't think a stiff course like Newcastle is in MTOY's favour - looks all about speed. That being said, he coped well enough at Chelteham, and the pace probably won't be too hot here. Should win, but not a betting race for me.

Far West had a tough race in defeat by Melodic Rendezvous at Wincanton and only had 14 days off before his Haydock 4th. He possibly ran a bit flat on the soft ground, so i don`t think him getting beat knocks the form of Melodic Rendezvous. Plus Melodic would have won easier if he had not slipped on the bend.

He has a few pounds(only 5lb on his OR) to find with MTOY but he doesn`t know how to run a bad race and has fitness on his side. Henderson will have to have MTOY ready or else he will be turned over.

Would rather have a lumpy 20/80 win/place on Melodic Rendezvous than MTOY.

Is the weather a threat to the meeting?

ok at moment joci, mild today apparently, meant to be cold for weekend but should be no problem for saturday

Anyone remember MTOYS first race of the last campaign and a certain Nicky Henderson trained horse called Chatterbox

The stable staff had it right off in that did they not, bit of a Christmas bonus had

That was his 2nd race of last years campaign SEATHESTARS, and MTOY or was heavily punted from 1/2 into 4/11 and Chatterbox drifted.

Apart from that you have the game by the balls!

I dunno Angel, every one in my local Stans shop got on him at 20s for the supreme straight after that and 12s for the totesport! Each way of course! It was obvious to us the race was far from a straight one!

It`s hard to say because it was run on very heavy ground and suited the mud lover.

You would have thought that Chatterbox may have been punted but it actually drifted because of the support for MTOY.

Never heard of market manipulation

Ever heard of top hurdlers getting turned over in bad ground?

James Armstrong, Newcastle clerk of the course, tweets that My Tent Or Yours, Melodic Rendezvous, Grumeti, Cockney Sparrow, Cotton Mill, Duke of Navan, Stormy Weather and Rock Relief make the field for Saturday's race.

1     2F8-4    Cotton Mill21 b1    6    11-7    John Ferguson63    Denis O'Regan     147    144    159
2     1411-    Duke Of Navan289      5    11-7    Nicky Richards50    Brian Harding     148    127    155
3     131/4-    Grumeti224      5    11-7    Alan King36    Wayne Hutchinson     151    139    163
4     2111-1    Melodic Rendezvous21      7    11-7    Jeremy Scott67    Nick Scholfield     155    155    165
5     21121-    My Tent Or Yours239      6    11-7    Nicky Henderson56    A P McCoy     160    160    170
6     0128-P    Rock Relief28      7    11-7    Chris Grant100    Peter Buchanan     123    81    131
7     0-5361    Stormy Weather45 p      7    11-7    Brian Ellison60    James Reveley     129    120    135
8     1211-1    Cockney Sparrow28      4    11-0    John Quinn50    Brian Hughes     141    136    155

Melodic Rendevous for me. I think he is the value as Henderson's have been needing the run and I remember Binocular getting beat in races like this and then going to improve later on in the season.

I'd be gutted if MTOY's can't see off MR here, yes MR is race fit but this track and ground couldn't be further away from his ideal against a real CH class horse and couldn't be any more suitable for MTOY's, he simply should have too much pace for him.

should have gone chasing with MTOY likely to end up not good enough for the CH and the extra season or two compromises his chase career

should be running in the Arkle in March and be favourite

Hendo blames the changes to the nov chase programme and he's right it is bad

I imagine the owner of Grandouet was eager to try his horse over fences and JPM wanting a crack at the CH to see what improvement comes from MTOY this term. After all he is 3rd fav and with a good chance of the CH.

Hendo is a victim of his own success with the quality of hurdlers he sends chasing or has plans to, he doesn`t like them taking each other on and the changes by the BHA have not helped his cause like you say Judo.

There's a grade 2 2m4f Novice chase £30k at Newbury tomorrow and Henderson entered only Close Touch at the 5 day stage, who is now out.  Surely he could've entered Oscar Whisky aswell or others instead of complaining about lack of opportunity.  5 runner race and he doesn't have a runner.   JOKE.

Sorry it's a bit off thread.

why is the market suspended ?

no, you're right

they should take advantage of all the opportunities, I know Hendo sends some to Fakenham, he started SS at Doncaster but he does not seem to look at enough tracks for his novice chasers

Longsdon sent Pendra to Lingfield the other day, that would have been a suitable starting point for MTOY over fences, then Kempton on Boxing Day, the Game Spirit and the Arkle

yes sorry to go off topic too

NJH is talking b0llocks. There are opportunites for his novices he just not enter them up enough to give himself options, now he wants to blame everyone else. T1t.

At least that is something Willie Mullins gets right. Making sure you cover all bases with various entries.

If they wanted MTOY to go chasing they would have gone, Hendo is just using MTOY`s name as to highlight his feelings on the novice chase reductions by the BHA.

In reality they want to try and fill the boots of Darlan over hurdles as their profiles are very similar.

Easy winner though he was, Our Conor's form in the Triumph is looking increasingly weak. Melodic Rendezvous beat Far West at Wincanton. Both since beaten.

And it looks that after rolling stars very impressive run last week that he just didn't run his race in the triumph.

it wasn't the same rolling star last week that run in the triumph was it.

I thought Samtegal's 2nd off the 144 in the greatwood was a boost for the Triumph form.

Like AP said after the race, he was entitled to win well.
Does need to hurdle a bit slicker imo, does seem to take a chance at some of them.

MTOY deserves a crack at the Champion but how the bookies cut his odds???? Absolute c###s Mr McManus I think you should sack Mr Henderson and send all of your horses to Judorick!!!! As he is a genuis or at least he thinks he is!

judo is o.k , he puts usefull insight and debate and his and jocci clubs festival  trends threads are invaluable to me and save me a lot of time , he may be a bit voiciferous than some but different strokes for different folks imo ,by the way wheres eric morris ?

Judo is a good egg, just strong opininions and sticks to them, puts in the time and effort.

Eric Morris posted once on the Kingman thread during the flat but not been spotted since. Expect an aftertime sooner or later, probably around March when he's landed a 200/1 acca on the first day.

Judo is only missing a P in his name

Darlan was a tragic loss to connections but now it looks like MTOY is on a par and they are very similar types. Henderson was talking tosh that he would have sent MTOY chasing if it wasn`t for the dearth of novice chases since the BHA reduced them.

They were always going to go down this avenue especially with the sentimental value.