Mersey Novices' Hurdle: Simonsig to star again

Latest News / Timeform / 13 April 2012 / Leave a Comment

Simonsig should have little trouble on Saturday

Simonsig will start a short-priced favourite in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree on Saturday....

Barry Geraghty partnered the Nicky Henderson-trained Simonsig to a smooth victory in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham to make it three wins and a second from four efforts and will again be in the saddle on Saturday.

"I'm mad about him. He's fairly exciting. He could have run over two miles at Cheltenham but I always felt that two-five would help his jumping a little," Geraghty told At The Races.

"He'll have no problem coming back to two miles over fences, he'll have more respect for them.

"He'll be a better chaser than a hurdler I'd imagine which would make him very exciting.

"I'm looking forward to this race with him but I'm definitely looking forward to next year."

Timeform Top 5 Weight-Adjusted Ratings
179p SIMONSIG
155 COLOUR SQUADRON (IRE)
153p SUPER DUTY (IRE)
152p BABY SHINE (IRE)
151p ALAND ISLANDS (IRE)

Timeform run the rule over the runners for the most famous race in the world, the Grand National at Aintree......

Sprinter Sacre will face just three in the Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree on Saturday......

Racecourse: Aintree First Race Time: 14:00 Going: Mildmay and Hurdles courses: Good, good to soft in places (watered) National course: Good to soft, good in places (watered) Other Information: Dry overnight. 3-5mm of irrigation applied to Mildmay course overnight with selective watering on National course....

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Nick Shiambouros' Neptune Novices' Hurdle 80/20 Bet

80/20 / Nick Shiambouros / 14 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Today's win and place bet comes straight from the horse's mouth!

Nick landed the place portion of his bet on Tuesday - can he go one better today?

Today's 80/20 is Monksland in the 14.05 at Cheltenham.

This talented individual beat Lyreen Legend in a valuable Grade 2 event at Naas in January. He took the lead on the run to the last and pulled clear to win with something to spare.

I do not think we have seen the best of him and he should go close at a fair price in this competitive event. At present he is trading at [6.6] on the exchange.

Nick takes his win and place bet to the biggest jumps festival in the world and he's picked a big priced runner in the opener......

A winner would be a Delight-ful way to kick the week off...

Nick explains why he expects an improved performance from today's 80/20......

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Supreme Novices' Hurdle: Henderson, Harrington & Longsdon all hopeful

News / Timeform / 12 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Who will win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle?

"I do think Darlan has that touch of class."

Find out what Nicky Henderson, Jessie Harrington and Charlie Longsdon had to say about their runners in Tuesday's Cheltenham curtain-raiser, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle....

Trainer Nicky Henderson expects Darlan to put the fall he had at Newbury behind him when he lines-up for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

The JP McManus-owned five-year-old was travelling as well as anything when he came down at the second-last flight in the Betfair Hurdle won by Champion Hurdle hope Zarkandar.

He had been unbeaten up to that point, and connections are full of hope Darlan can put the record straight in the Festival curtain-raiser.

"How Darlan took that fall I've no idea as he schooled well after Newbury," said Henderson.

"I do think Darlan has that touch of class. Tetlami, our other runner in the Supreme, you'd call a good horse but Darlan might be a touch better."

Darlan will be ridden by Tony McCoy, who admits he would not change mounts for anything else in the race.

"Darlan was going very well but it was a long way out at Newbury. Who knows what would have happened, but I wouldn't swap him," said the champion jockey.

"Steps To Freedom is a fair horse and apparently he's flying but I hope Darlan has got a very good chance."

Steps To Freedom's trainer Jessica Harrington reports everything has gone to plan since he beat Prospect Wells on this course in November.

"He is in flying form I could not be happier, he has done everything I have asked of him on the run up to this week," she told her website, www.jessicaharringtonracing.com.

"People question why I haven't run him since November but that was always the plan.

"I am really looking forward to him hopefully showing his true colours and to get the Irish off to a winner in the first."

Jockey Robbie Power is looking forward to a decent show from Steps To Freedom.

"The plan's gone perfectly well with him, and he won over course and distance around there in November, which at Cheltenham is a major help," he said.

"We know he handles the track and he has been going well at home.

"For every race at Cheltenham you need a little bit of good luck, he's a tough horse off the Flat and had plenty of hustle and bustle in the bumper at Aintree last year."

Charlie Longsdon feels his two runners, Vulcanite and Hazy Tom, have sound each-way claims.

"Vulcanite seems in great form and he should get the strong gallop that he needs. Hazy Tom needs a good pace as well. That's important," said the Chipping Norton trainer.

"They will be massively improved for their last run and I think they are solid each-way horses."

Vulcanite will be ridden by Paddy Brennan, who said: "I didn't get it right on him last time, he got left in front, but he's a very exciting animal.

"In the schooling field I've not sat on many horses like him."
..........
Timeform TV Focus callers enjoyed over £2500 profit (to £20 level stakes at Betfair SP) in our first year. Call TV Focus for tips on all Cheltenham CH4 races.

Connections of Binocular are expecting a big run from the 2010 winner, who was unable to defend his crown 12 months ago......

Nicky Henderson is hoping Sprinter Sacre can succeed where stablemate Finian's Rainbow failed in Tuesday's Arkle Chase at Cheltenham......

Timeform look back at the highlights from the weekend, which included the Imperial Cup at Sandown and Super Saturday at Meydan......

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Supreme Novices' Hurdle: Henderson, Harrington & Longsdon all hopeful

News / Timeform / 12 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Who will win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle?

"I do think Darlan has that touch of class."

Find out what Nicky Henderson, Jessie Harrington and Charlie Longsdon had to say about their runners in Tuesday's Cheltenham curtain-raiser, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle....

Trainer Nicky Henderson expects Darlan to put the fall he had at Newbury behind him when he lines-up for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

The JP McManus-owned five-year-old was travelling as well as anything when he came down at the second-last flight in the Betfair Hurdle won by Champion Hurdle hope Zarkandar.

He had been unbeaten up to that point, and connections are full of hope Darlan can put the record straight in the Festival curtain-raiser.

"How Darlan took that fall I've no idea as he schooled well after Newbury," said Henderson.

"I do think Darlan has that touch of class. Tetlami, our other runner in the Supreme, you'd call a good horse but Darlan might be a touch better."

Darlan will be ridden by Tony McCoy, who admits he would not change mounts for anything else in the race.

"Darlan was going very well but it was a long way out at Newbury. Who knows what would have happened, but I wouldn't swap him," said the champion jockey.

"Steps To Freedom is a fair horse and apparently he's flying but I hope Darlan has got a very good chance."

Steps To Freedom's trainer Jessica Harrington reports everything has gone to plan since he beat Prospect Wells on this course in November.

"He is in flying form I could not be happier, he has done everything I have asked of him on the run up to this week," she told her website, www.jessicaharringtonracing.com.

"People question why I haven't run him since November but that was always the plan.

"I am really looking forward to him hopefully showing his true colours and to get the Irish off to a winner in the first."

Jockey Robbie Power is looking forward to a decent show from Steps To Freedom.

"The plan's gone perfectly well with him, and he won over course and distance around there in November, which at Cheltenham is a major help," he said.

"We know he handles the track and he has been going well at home.

"For every race at Cheltenham you need a little bit of good luck, he's a tough horse off the Flat and had plenty of hustle and bustle in the bumper at Aintree last year."

Charlie Longsdon feels his two runners, Vulcanite and Hazy Tom, have sound each-way claims.

"Vulcanite seems in great form and he should get the strong gallop that he needs. Hazy Tom needs a good pace as well. That's important," said the Chipping Norton trainer.

"They will be massively improved for their last run and I think they are solid each-way horses."

Vulcanite will be ridden by Paddy Brennan, who said: "I didn't get it right on him last time, he got left in front, but he's a very exciting animal.

"In the schooling field I've not sat on many horses like him."
..........
Timeform TV Focus callers enjoyed over £2500 profit (to £20 level stakes at Betfair SP) in our first year. Call TV Focus for tips on all Cheltenham CH4 races.

Connections of Binocular are expecting a big run from the 2010 winner, who was unable to defend his crown 12 months ago......

Nicky Henderson is hoping Sprinter Sacre can succeed where stablemate Finian's Rainbow failed in Tuesday's Arkle Chase at Cheltenham......

Timeform look back at the highlights from the weekend, which included the Imperial Cup at Sandown and Super Saturday at Meydan......

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Neptune Novices' Hurdle: Fingal Bay ruled out of Festival

News / Timeform / 29 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Fingal Bay will miss Cheltenham.

"Unfortunately time has beaten us and Fingal Bay won't make Cheltenham..."

Philip Hobbs has admitted defeat in the race to get Fingal Bay to the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival...

The unbeaten six-year-old, rated 156p by Timeform, suffered a setback last week and while the injury is only minor, it has come at the wrong time of the season.

Having been ante-post favourite for the race for most of the season, the news is another blow for punters after the likes of Grandouet and Minsk were ruled out of their respective targets in recent days.

"Unfortunately time has beaten us and Fingal Bay won't make Cheltenham," said Hobbs.

"Thankfully, it is not a serious problem which is the silver lining as we'll have him for Aintree and Punchestown.

"He just needs another week which we haven't got."

Simonsig now heads the market for the Neptune at [4.9], but there is still a possibility that he will run in the Supreme, for which he can be backed at [16.5]. Boston Bob, who heads the Albert Bartlett market, is currently trading at [5.3] for the Neptune with Monksland third-best at [8.8].

For the second year running there has been an above average winner of the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield with the unbeaten More Than Ready filly Samaready dominating last Saturday's field....

Cirrus Des Aigles will step up his preparations for next month's Dubai World Cup night with a run in the Prix Meydan Hotel at Chantilly on Saturday......

Nicky Henderson is predicting an ultra-close fifth clash between Long Run and Kauto Star in the Gold Cup......

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Supreme Novices' Hurdle: Freedom bypasses Dundalk run

News / Timeform / 16 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Steps To Freedom will head straight to Cheltenham.

Jessica Harrington has decided against running Steps To Freedom at Dundalk on Friday and he will now head straight to next month's Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham...

The six-year-old completed a hat-trick of victories over timber at Prestbury Park in November and he is now towards the head of the market for the Festival curtain-raiser.

Harrington had suggested her charge would make an appearance on the all-weather this week, but she has had a change of heart.

The trainer said: "Everything is fine and we've just decided that we'll go straight to Cheltenham.

"We just thought about it and thought we'd go straight there."

Steps To Freedom, rated 144p by Timeform, currently trades at [11.0] for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Sprinter Sacre steps out of novice company for the first time in the rescheduled Betfair Super Saturday Chase at Newbury on Friday......

Last week the world's highest Timeform rated sprinter Black Caviar (135+) put to rest any doubts about her handling 1400m with an emphatic victory in the G1 C F Orr Stakes at Caulfield however on Saturday she faces a new challenge....

Leading RSA Chase fancy Last Instalment has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival with a leg injury......

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Supreme Novices' Hurdle: Dundalk still on Steps agenda

News / Timeform / 08 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Jessica Harrington: Trainer of Steps To Freedom and Oscars Well.

"He'll run in Dundalk on Friday week in a mile-and-a-half race and he then may go to Leopardstown for a gallop after racing on March 4..."

Current Supreme Novices' Hurdle favourite Steps To Freedom remains on course to have a run on the Flat at Dundalk on Friday February 17...

Unbeaten in three starts over hurdles, Jessica Harrington's six-year-old has plenty going for him with the Festival in mind, not least that he is already a Cheltenham winner having struck there in November.

Harrington has given her exciting youngster, rated 144p by Timeform, a winter break since but he will soon be back in competitive action.

"He did a breeze on Friday and worked yesterday (Tuesday) and I'm very happy with him," the trainer told At The Races.

"He'll run in Dundalk on Friday week in a mile-and-a-half race and he then may go to Leopardstown for a gallop after racing on March 4. It depends how he comes out of the race in Dundalk.

"He was out in the field for six weeks and then we brought him back in and we've just been building him back up. He seems to be fresh and well.

"The great thing was we got him to Cheltenham in November and he travelled over well and he's got experience of the course now. So when he goes back there in March, he'll know where he is."

Steps To Freedom is currently trading as the [10.5] favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Another major Festival hope for Harrington is Oscars Well, who bears a Timeform rating of 164, and would have gone very close to winning last season's Neptune Novices' Hurdle but for stumbling at the final flight.

His latest run behind Hurricane Fly in the Irish Champion Hurdle was his best of the season and Harrington is hopeful her charge can get closer to the reigning champion granted better ground for the Champion Hurdle itself.

"He stepped up again and he's been improving all winter," Harrington added.

"He has a high cruising speed and I'm not saying he'll ever beat Hurricane Fly, but as I've said to the owners, with some reasonable luck we'll run into a place in the Champion Hurdle.

"I think he ticks all the boxes as he likes good ground, he seems to like Cheltenham and he loves races that are run at a fast pace.

"Hurricane Fly is a very good horse. He's probably one of the best hurdlers we've seen since Istabraq, if not better.

"He's won 10 Grade Ones now and that's an amazing record."

Oscars Well can presently be backed at [18.5] for the Champion Hurdle, with Hurricane Fly heading the market at [1.96].

The Roger Varian-trained Eton Forever features among 97 initial entries for the Lincoln at Doncaster on March 31......

Unbeaten champion Black Caviar will face eight rivals in Saturday's $400,000 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield (due off 04:50 GMT) when she goes for her 18th straight victory and her eighth at Group 1 level......

With Saturday's card at Newbury at the mercy of the elements, Betfair have opened a market regarding whether racing will take place......

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Cheltenham Festival: Supreme Novices' Hurdle 2012

Ante-Post Betting / David Cleary / 05 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Supreme 2011 winner Al Ferof

"The Supreme market is currently headed by Steps To Freedom and Cinders And Ashes."

With a large field, which includes horses with entries in other big races, the Supreme Novices' hurdle is a tough one to assess early on. David Cleary discusses some of the key runners...

Compared to the last two years, when the previous year's Champion Bumper winner was a short-priced favourite to gain a second Festival win, the Supreme has a very different ante post look to this time around. In the event, of course, both Dunguib and Cue Card were beaten, a pointer to just how competitive and how different it is to most of the trials for it. Finding a way through the large entry is further complicated by several strong candidates also holding an entry in the Neptune.

Notable among this group are Simonsig and Sous Les Cieux, and, unfortunately, it's hard to tell whether either has this race as first preference. Simonsig's second to Fingal Bay is the best piece of form shown so far by a Supreme entry, and although that came over two-and-a-half miles, Simonsig looked all over the winner before being outstayed by a horse currently favourite both for the Neptune and the Albert Bartlett.

Sous Les Cieux has won at two-and-a-half miles, but his victory in the Royal Bond over two miles at Fairyhouse, beating the smart Flat performer Galileo's Choice impressively, suggests he'd have no trouble with the trip in the Supreme. The Royal Bond is traditionally one of the strongest pointers to the order of merit among the Irish novices. Galileo's Choice may well have more to offer as a hurdler; he and Sous Les Cieux both have an entry in the Deloitte at Leopardstown next weekend, sure to be a key race in the build-up to the Supreme.

The Supreme market is currently headed by Steps To Freedom and Cinders And Ashes. Both were smart in bumpers and have made a good start over hurdles. Steps To Freedom was a narrow winner of a novice at the Open meeting, just outpointing Prospect Wells in a test of speed over the Supreme course and distance. The Flat-bred Steps To Freedom wouldn't be sure to improve for much more of a test of stamina. Cinders And Ashes, on the other hand, will benefit from a proper test kept at two miles. He has won his last three starts over hurdles, all on heavy ground, much the strongest form shown when he beat Keys at Aintree in the first of them.

Keys, along with Simonsig, is part of a strong Nicky Henderson entry. Darlan figures at the head of that group at the moment and a bold showing in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury next weekend would see his Supreme odds shorten considerably. His mark for that race looks stiff, however, and he'll have his work cut out. Another Henderson entry Tetlami has impressed in both his wins. His Sandown form working out well, while his defeat of the good Flat horse Vulcanite at Kempton was a useful effort with more to come. The Dovecote at Kempton seems the likely next step for him.

Vulcanite needed the experience that day and, although he beat nothing when winning next time, he has potential. However, his stable companion Hazy Tom may be the better longer term prospect. Hazy Tom is best excused his run last time and will be worth his place in whichever event he contests at the Festival.

Paul Nicholls doesn't seem to have so strong a team as usual for this. It seems likely that one of his juveniles, possibly Pearl Swan, will be switched here from the Triumph. Prospect Wells is clearly a candidate and his poor run last time (in the Tolworth, as an afterthought) is easily forgiven. Ted Spread, another with smart Flat form, has impressed with his progress over hurdles too, though both could conceivably be switched to the County Hurdle.

Irish stables have a strong record in the Supreme, and aside from those already mentioned have serious contenders in Midnight Gale, Distant Memories and recent impressive Punchestown winner Trifolium.

With so many unexposed potential runners and multiple options, the Supreme is a hard race to call. Simonsig and Sous Les Cieux would go top of the list were they to become definite runners in this. Of those with this as their clear aim, Simonsig's stable companion Tetlami is probably overpriced, currently at 19.0 in the win market on Betfair.

Supreme Novices' Hurdle build up: key dates

Betfair Novices' Hurdle & Betfair Hurdle (Handicap), Newbury, February 11
Molson Coors Novices' Hurdle, Exeter, February 12
Deloitte Novice Hurdle, Leopardstown, February 12
Next declaration stage, February 21
Dovecote Novices' Hurdle, Kempton, February 25
paddypower.com Novice Hurdle, Naas, February 26

David Cleary searches for value in the ante-post betting for the Triumph Hurdle...

Cheltenham Festivals come and go, but the more things change the more one essential truth remains the same: there is no such thing as a certainty! Head of Research and Development Simon Rowlands explains......

With the Cheltenham Festival only six weeks away, Timeform's Adam Brookes previews the Ryanair Chase on Thursday March 15 and highlights a runner he believes to be value at the current prices......

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Supreme Novices' Hurdle: Montbazon eases clear at Plumpton

News / Timeform / 30 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Montbazon was successful at Plumpton.

"We won't have learned a lot from that but he's a smashing horse..."

The Alan King-trained Montbazon got back to winning ways at Plumpton on Monday...

Considered a live contender for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, Montbazon had finished just a length behind Colour Squadron on his first start over hurdles at Newbury in December.

The only brief moment of concern for Wayne Hutchinson was when Montbazon jumped to the right at the third-last and cannoned into Victor Leudorum.

But he quickly recovered to finish 15 lengths in front of that rival.

"We won't have learned a lot from that but he's a smashing horse," said King.

"I'd like to give him a bit more practice and we might look at the Listed hurdle at Exeter in a couple of weeks."

Montbazon is currently trading at [20.0] for the Supreme, with Steps to Freedom heading the market at [9.4]. Cinders and Ashes ([12.0]), Darlan ([12.5]) and Simonsig ([14.5]) are also prominent in the betting.

Diamond Harry will be checked out for a possible breathing problem after his run at Cheltenham on Saturday......

Timeform take a look at a number of three year-old's from the Roger Charlton yard, reviewing what they have achieved to date and what they may go on to accomplish in the coming Flat season......

Timeform look back at a weekend dominated by Cheltenham Trials day on Saturday and some top-class action from Ireland on Sunday, including the return of Champion Hurdler Hurricane Fly......

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