Straight From The Trainers Mouth Day 1 12/3/13

Straight From The Trainers Mouth

Day 1 Cheltenham

The Supreme Novice Hurdle

My Tent Or Yours –

He is a very exciting young jumper and will go to Cheltenham with high expectations. If he runs up to the Newbury form, I will be delighted. – AP McCoy

He'd work at home, he doesn't need to go anywhere [for a racecourse gallop], but you wouldn't want to leave him alone for long. He goes for the Supreme. He didn't have a very hard race at Newbury. But he does need to work. You can see him there, for a young horse, he's a bull. [How good is he?] I don't know. It goes without saying, the sadness is that Darlan doesn't go there as well. It's hard to believe he isn't. You just know you're missing one and he should be there. The irony is, on the Monday you lose one and you think, where in the world are you going to replace him? And then on the Saturday, out comes that [MTOY] and suddenly looks as if he just wants to step into Darlan's shoes. But there's a long way to go yet. But he's done nothing wrong. I know AP [McCoy] thinks the world of him. It was a handicap. I still think you have to prove yourself at Grade One level before you go to the absolute championship – Nicky Henderson

Jezki –

We are all delighted with Jezki’s performance in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, would be an understatement. I was absolutely thrilled. He won more impressively here than he did in Fairyhouse and he never even came off the bridle. Probably the slightly better ground helped him and he just loves going left-handed, he's definitely better left-handed. They went a right good gallop, which was brilliant. The better the ground, the better for him. Robbie was also delighted and believed that that’s the best ground he's had all year and that's the best performance he's put up all year. Cheltenham is the plan and we need to get him there in one piece. He will probably take in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle on his way there. His future defiantly looks bright – Jessica Harrington

Jezki –

Don’t know what I’ll ride, waiting to see what the weather does. It does look between  My Tent or Yours and Jezki

and if you were to ask me for a bet, I’d say Jezki. Dodging Bullets has done nothing wrong this year. Won twice at Cheltenham and is a good price if rain  doesn’t arrive. – Ruby Walsh

Dodging Bullets –

Dodging Bullets is very much the forgotten horse of the Supreme, but go and take a look at his run in the Christmas Hurdle and you realise that he shouldn't be. He is very well and he will probably go straight to Cheltenham, though he will have an entry in the Dovecote. – Paul Nicholls

Melodic Rendezvous –
Obviously that was a very pleasing performance and I would like to be thinking he is improving with each race.
As far as Cheltenham is concerned he is in the Supreme and the Neptune novice hurdles and we will be deciding closer to the time about which one he runs in, but it will be ground dependent. – Jeremy Scott

Pique Sous –

We are very excited about him and the plan is Cheltenham and the Supreme as we feel he's got plenty of gears. I think last year's Bumper was one of the best ever run – even the horse who finished last (Ifandbutwhynot) is now rated 130 over hurdles. Champagne Fever won at Punchestown, The New One is second favourite for the Neptune and Jezki is favourite for the Supreme.We beat Jezki by nearly 10 lengths in the Champion Bumper and we were giving him 8lb. We are definitely the forgotten horse but that doesn't worry us – Steve Massey owner

Chatterbox –

He doesn't do anything spectacular at home, but he's very good when he goes on a racecourse. He's so like Bobs Worth it's untrue. I suppose he's in there(Cheltenham). I think he probably wants another year but he hasn't done a lot wrong.- Nicky Henderson

Champagne Fever –

He'll probably go for the Supreme now. It is always the hardest run race and on the softest ground so that's why we'll go for that race with him, it might just suit him better. – Willie Mullins

Cheltenian –
We're delighted with him. He jumped very well and was just a bit green at the end; he didn't know what to do by himself. (last race)
He would have needed the run but hopefully it's on to Cheltenham now for the Supreme as long as his legs are okay in the morning - that's the main thing. Sarah Hobbs
River Maigue –
Forget about what we were watching on Saturday. I think it was probably the stupidest race I'd nearly ever seen in my life. River Maigue either goes Supreme or King's Stand because he's proved he can sprint over three furlongs at Ascot, so I might keep him for that. – Nicky Henderson

River Maigue –

I’m not confident of getting the better of the top 3 here. In a normal year

Jezki

would be banker material, great depth in his form.  – Barry Geragthy

Flying Cross –

 is ex Aidan O'Brien who was rated 111 and was third in the Irish St Leger. He was a slow burner with tendon problems, but now seems really well and is improving every day. He has been with the yard nine months and will go there without a run.- David Pipe

Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase

Simonsig –

I half thought about the Pendil [Chase] on Saturday but in fact, the way he was, we didn't need to. And if you saw the way he worked on Saturday, you'd realise why. He just doesn't need to. He went nine furlongs with a 114-rated mile-and-a-quarter Flat horse, who got absolutely assassinated. I'm just going to have one session with Yogi [Breisner, jumping guru] next week with him. We discovered the only way of schooling him is working him first, taking the fizz out of him and then school him. If you went straight out to school, it was [attempts noise of a rocket]. He is just so quick. He seriously wouldn't be out of place in the Champion Hurdle. He's been very good each time [over fences], he's done everything we've asked of him. He will work and he will school and I want to get that all done by the week before, he's good fresh. He does not take a lot of work. [Yogi] Just gets him working it out for himself a little bit. If you just go jumping fences, it's just easy for him, he'd just rattle down and you're not really learning an awful lot. He had a sesssion with Yogi before his first run, did him the world of good. Just got that little bit of respect into him and instead of thinking it was very easy, he learned how to work it out. – Nicky Henderson

Simonsig -

is an unbelievable horse to work, could win listed on the flat. – Barry Geragthy

Overturn –

He's very enthusiastic at home but he still takes a bit of getting ready and he will be a good deal sharper and fitter come Cheltenham in March.

"That's the day when he can go out, heart on his sleeve, and show the real Overturn and although the likes of Simonsig and Arvika Ligeonniere are clearly very good horses, I wouldn't want to swap - he's a Champion Hurdle runner-up after all.

"It's been suggested that the prospect of a smallish field in the Arkle might help him but if I'm being honest, it won't make much difference if there are two or 22 runners - when he's on his game and he goes off like he can, they won't lead him!

I don't think anybody needs to question the way Overturn is ridden.
I keep reading about horses that are going to take him on, but he's led Chesters Cups, Northumberland Plates and Champion Hurdles so I don't see why anything should change his way of racing.
If something wants to go quicker than him, get on with it and good luck -  Donald McCain
Avril Legionnaire –

I will ride Arvika Legionnaire , it’s hard to say he’s even an e/w price given likely small field. I just love Simonsig ... – Ruby Walsh

14:40 JLT Speciality Handicap Chase

Our Mick –
McCain nominated Our Mick as his best chance of winning one of the handicaps at Cheltenham. “He was third in the JLT last year as a novice and made a couple of bad mistakes on the way round, but ran a screamer,” he said.
“He’s only a little bit higher in the weights than last year and was running a nice race at Cheltenham the other week when Jason decided to jump off him! I managed to persuade the owner to sit tight and wait for Cheltenham. I’ll be expecting a big run from him.”  - Donald McCain

Fruity O’Rooney –

He'll go back to the Festival for the same race he ran in last year. The handicapper has left him alone so he'll be 1lb lower than when second last year so you'd imagine he'd have a good chance – Gary Moore

Tour Des Champs -
He is in the various races -we don’t know where we are going with him yet but he has done really well this season.
“The weights are coming out this week for the handicaps – which races will he get in and what are they looking like? We will declare him in all of them and then have a think. He is improving – he made a bad mistake at Ascot last week and could have run a big race there because he really stays on. Hopefully, he is a RSA horse bit if he is he will definitely win the three-mile handicap (JLT Specialty Handicap Chase JLT Specialty Handicap Chase) – Nigel Twiston Davies

 15:20 Stan James Champion Hurdle

Binocular - 

There were mutterings after Ireland that he had not had a hard enough race but it was hard enough and he has come on an awful lot.

‘He jumped some hurdles the other day and was electric – that’s a barometer with him. You don’t have to take his temperature or test his blood.

‘A lot of things have conspired against him over the years. He has been a horse maligned and undermined– Nicky Henderson

Grandouet –

The filling in Grandouet's near fore has dispersed as we had hoped with exercise and is now negligible.

However, in view of the likelihood of very testing conditions at Wincanton and the fact that his training for this race has obviously been interrupted, we have all decided to forego a prep race and train him at home without a run before the Champion Hurdle.  

If it was the Champion Hurdle this weekend, he would be able to run but we feel under the circumstances a tough race in the ground would not be ideal and, like many of our others - Long Run, Bobs Worth, Simonsig, Rolling Star, Binocular, Riverside Theatre - will have a racecourse gallop between now and then.He is fit and well and, dare I say, fancied. – Nicky Henderson

Grandouet - The jury is out for me on

Hurricane Fly, I think he’s beatable. The course will suit Grandouet but I’d have a lot of respect for Rock on Ruby – Barry Geraghty

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Rock On Ruby –

Rock On Ruby is very well. Noel (Fehily) schooled him yesterday on the grass and he's as good as he has been all season. He's really coming into himself now and I just can't wait. It's 10 days away now and he really is peaking and it's very exciting.

"I've said all season we're very lucky to have a horse like him and to be going there in a race like the Champion Hurdle with the form he's in with as good a chance as any, very very positive about his chances. If it continues to dry or if the ground's no worse than good to soft, I think we'll take an awful lot of beating – Harry Fry

Zarkander –

This is the meeting where every jockey wants to be involved,' he said. 'I've been thinking about the race for weeks because we are going there with a right chance. Zarkandar doesn't glide through his races like a Bentley but he's so tough, really lion-hearted, and always finds more when you need it -  Daryl Jacobs Jockey

Our little Hurricane Fly: small, tough, keeps on winning. I think there's not a lot between Hurricane Fly, Rock On Ruby, this lad and possibly Grandouet, although he's had an injury, which isn't ideal before Cheltenham.  – Paul Nicholls

Hurricane Fly -

Last year didn’t go to plan, but the whole season didn’t,” Walsh told At The Races. He’s a really good horse but has only shown his true colours in the UK once. He’s bidding for a place in history and I’d love him to show them again. There’s nothing about Cheltenham that doesn’t suit him, it was just circumstances last year. It was a difficult year for him and he’s in a much better place this year.

You can only beat what is put in front of you. There’s different things horses do that impress you.
At Punchestown he was still in front, whether he’d have beat Go Native or not is irrelevant but that was a sprint.Thousand Stars went a really good gallop in the Irish Champion Hurdle and the power he showed turning in left Binocular standing still. They are different things you look at and he has won unextended (on) his last couple of starts.

It won’t be that straightforward in the Champion Hurdle but he’s a cracking little horse. He has pace, he has stamina, he’s slick and he has what you need.He’s more relaxed these days and Willie (Mullins) can do exactly what he wants when he’s training him.Of course I’d be disappointed if he didn’t win. – I’d hate to be laying Hurricane Fly . No idea why bookies are all out to get him. I hope he cleans Paddy Power out! I can’t wait to look Paddy Power in the eye after the race (when the money back special clicks). Ruby Walsh

Cinders And Ashes –
He's very much a decent-ground horse, The easiest thing for me would have been not to run him anywhere this season but that wouldn't have done him any good.
The worst thing that was going to happen was that he was going to get beaten, and he has been beaten a couple of times, but I don't think he can be judged until he gets his ground. I'd like to think we'll see a completely different horse in two weeks' time.
We're ready to go and he has a massive each-way chance. When he's had his ground, the form is there. – Donald McCain
Countrywide Flame –
He’s in good form, in fine fettle, said Quinn. He has worked well and he is an uncomplicated little horse. He likes this bit of better ground and, at the moment, it is quite dry.
It was a very good performance in the Fighting Fifth. You can only beat what is put in front of you and he slaughtered them. When he gets a proper end-to-end gallop, he stays very well.
I was pleased with him at Doncaster last time out. He was leading two very good horses (Rock On Ruby and Darlan) round into a strong head wind.
The Champion Hurdle winner went by him and looked like he was going to win by ten lengths. But he gnawed away at him and it was down to only three at the line.
They will go a nice gallop, he can get into a nice rhythm and be comfortable in his jumping. If he was staying right up to the second last, then he would get involved. He will stick on very well up the hill. – John Quinn

16:00 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase

Arabella Boy –
We'll have a few entries but I'd say Arabella Boy is the one. He was good in Punchestown a couple of weeks ago and also won at Punchestown earlier in the season.
My only worry is he might not like Cheltenham, as he unseated Nina (Carberry) there in the cross-country race in December and also disappointed in the four-miler a couple of years ago.
Maybe he's a bit older and wiser now, but I have a feeling he might just be a better horse in Punchestown. Anyway, he's a cross-country horse so we'll give it a go – Enda Bolder

Backstage –

He won a point-to-point at Tinahely. Jamie Codd, who rode him and had five winners on the day, described him as being 75% fit. He won by half a length and Jamie said he blew up a little bit two out.

The next race for him is at Cheltenham. It will either be the Foxhunter or the cross-country. We would prefer the Foxhunter but we’ll wait and see what comes out of both races -  Gordon Elliott

Outlaw Pete –

He enjoyed the soft ground and also ran well over the Cheltenham cross-country track at the November meeting when third to Uncle Junior. I don't think we'll get the same conditions at the Festival but god willing, we'll go back. Cheltenham is the ‘only’ track and it’s wonderful to have a winner there. – John Halley

Boston Angel  -

I was thrilled with him at Cheltenham. He's had problems but the cross-country gave him a new lease of life and hopefully he'll be back there in March -  He clearly loves it and will be back in March, where he will stand a very good chance of winning at the Festival for a second time.   – Jessica Harrington

Sizing Australia –

He will appreciate much better ground and has good course and distance form so he will go and we will have a few others as well. – Nick De Bromhead

Poker De Sivola –

is very well and fresh for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. He finished sixth in the race a couple of years ago but we were using that as a prep for something else to sweeten him up.

We had been looking to the Grand National with him but he won't get in it this year, so this is the target. The plan is the cross-country race and then we'll put him away for the year and work towards the Becher Chase and then hopefully the National. He's a classy horse. – Ferdy Murphy

16:40 OLBG Mares Hurdle

Quevega –

Hurricane Fly worked Tuesday morning for the first time since he ran and went well and Quevega also worked and really pleased me. I was expecting her to be a bit stuffy as she was coming back having not worked for a while, but she worked very well and I am really happy with her. – Willie Mullins

Quevega –

I hope Quevega can do the 5-timer. The dam’s pedigree got better as they got older. She’s in great order, a cracking little mare. – Ruby Walsh

Une Artiste –

We are getting to the point where we will have to go for the David Nicholson - unless Quevega goes for the World Hurdle instead, questioned Henderson. I think there's another two-and-a-half mile race at Sandown later in the season too – Nicky Hnederson

Une Artiste –

Une Artiste is suited by step up in trip and ground and could be the best Quevega has come up against but

Quevega is very hard to beat. – Barry Geraghty

Alasi –
I think she will probably have to (take on Quevega again)," Webber said. "We have enormous respect for Quevega, but you can't be scared of just one horse.
"She's in the best form of her life, as she showed last time, but over fences she just seems to better going right handed, so we will go back over hurdles at Cheltenham.
"At Aintree last year, she just jumped a bit right and in these top-class events you want everything in your favour. We we were thinking about a Coral Cup entry but she's not actually that well-handicapped over hurdles – Paul Webber
Kentford Grey Lady –
She has come out of the Cleeve in super form and we were all really happy with how she ran," said Lavelle.
"Off the back of that, although there is no getting away with the fact she ran a fantastic race, she is not going to win a World Hurdle, so we're going to aim for the mares' race.
"She hasn't had much racing this season, so she will probably go to Haydock first for the Rendlesham Hurdle, and then on to Cheltenham from there.
"They should go a good gallop at Cheltenham, which will suit her. It is no easy task to beat Quevega - no horse has beaten her in a long time - but she's a year older now and we'll give it a go. – Emma Lavelle

17:15 Pulteney Land Novices' Chase

The Cockney Mackem –

Was an excellent second to Salut Flo is last year's Festival. He had a serious colic problem at the start of the season which severely interrupted preparations. However, an encouraging run over hurdles suggests he is back to somewhere near last year's form and he goes for the Centenary Novice Chase which he qualifies for as he has yet to win a race over fences. – Nigel Twiston Davies

Carlito Brigante –

We're very happy with him and he's had two very good runs at Cheltenham this season," said Elliott.

“Obviously the ground is the key to him. There has to be ‘good’ in it and he likes Cheltenham.

“The plan has been the novices’ handicap chase. We'll put cheekpieces on him, he's in good form and we are looking forward to it.

“We sent him there (Cheltenham) earlier in the season for experience and he ran a very good race against Dynaste and was upsides at the second last fence, but we didn't knock him around when it was obvious he would be beaten.

“He's got loads of experience around there, which is important, and he seems to like it.

“We sent him to Dundalk to wake him up a bit as he's a bit of an old pet around the place now so we just wanted to open him up.

“We had him as a three-year-old. He's a Cheltenham winner so if he never did another thing he wouldn't owe us anything, but I'll be surprised if he's not in the money.” – Gordon Elliott

Vulcanite –

A lot will depend on JP's plans where Vulcanite runs. As they also have Colour Squadron with a similar profile, I'm not sure they would want to run them both in the same race and I'm sure A P McCoy will have a big say.

“Vulcanite has been crying out for two and a half miles on better ground but I haven't wanted to run him over that trip on heavy ground.

“I think he's well handicapped. He's rated 145 over hurdles yet only 137 over fences. I'd like to run him in the Pulteney Land Investments and I'd love AP to ride him but if he doesn't, Noel Fehily would.” Charlie Longsdon

Ackertac  -

has come across some very nice types and improving horses but he’s in great heart and off not too bad a mark.- Nigel twiston Davies