Bula Hurdle 2011

Huntey · 06-12-2011 5:12pm #1

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This looks a very decent renewal with a lot of progressive hurdlers.

Menorah is surprisingly switched back to hurdles and given the chance to retain his title here, but his form from last season looks pretty exposed.

Brampour is a progressive 4 year old who has looked very classy this season. His strong finishing win in the Greatwood shows he gets up the hill and he has to be respected on his seasonal form.

I don't think Overturn will run but even if he does I just think he might be caught for toe in this competitive Group 2, but he is still a quality animal.

Grandouet is the most exciting hurdler for me this season but he hasn't taken to the hill in his two previous races. He would have been a shoe in for the Christmas hurdle at Kempton but Henderson wants to see has he matured enough to take to the testing conditions of Cheltenham. He is still only a 4 year old and with the scope for further improvement, he would be my bet with Brampour the big danger.

NaiveMelodies · 06-12-2011 5:38pm

Menorah for me, Great record at Cheltenham, Champion Hurdle 5th not the worst when considering the form of the four that finished ahead of him.

Surely overturn won't run? McCain said he was putting him away for a while if im not mistaken

Also, Don't understand why Brampour is 10/3, can't be that short come saturday.

Huntey · 06-12-2011 5:48pm

Overturn at 3/1 is pretty miserable. Brampour is 9/2 with PP which seems fair enough.

premierstone · 06-12-2011 6:28pm

Really like Grandouet and think he is a serious player in this years Champion.

Clerks Choice is overpriced and is a great e/w bet only finished 2l behind Menorah in the Champion hurdle last year and is 4lbs better off and as he showed last year when romping home by 20l + in an amazing time goes very well fresh.

UnitedIrishman · 06-12-2011 10:19pm

I'd be on Grandouet or if it really buckets down and gets soft, Marsh Warbler could be worth a place.

premierstone · 07-12-2011 12:51pm

UnitedIrishman wrote: »

I'd be on Grandouet or if it really buckets down and gets soft, Marsh Warbler could be worth a place.

No rain forecast at all and they have even said they will have to water to keep it good ground.

RichieLawlor · 07-12-2011 1:06pm

Harry Derham keeps the ride on Brampour minus his claim. Ruby now on Sanctuaire

Jayo11780 · 07-12-2011 1:33pm

I cant see past Grandouet at all to be honest, with or without Overturn in the race.

At 3's or 10/3 or whatever he is I'd be getting on it!

The Champion Hurdle is certainly going to be the one of the most anticipated races again in 2012, Hurricane fly will have a lot of decent rivals for the race, Spirit Son, Zarkandar (can't wait to see him), Grandouet, Overturn and The real Article...

premierstone · 07-12-2011 1:43pm

Jayo11780 wrote: »

I cant see past Grandouet at all to be honest, with or without Overturn in the race.

At 3's or 10/3 or whatever he is I'd be getting on it!

The Champion Hurdle is certainly going to be the one of the most anticipated races again in 2012, Hurricane fly will have a lot of decent rivals for the race, Spirit Son, Zarkandar (can't wait to see him), Grandouet, Overturn and The real Article...

Agree re Grandouet for this weekend but in relation to the Champion in March relaistically the only rival to The Fly is injury, if he turns up im March he wins of that I have absolutely no doubt.

RichieLawlor · 07-12-2011 4:30pm

I heard a rumour that Spirit Son will be announced out for the season in the next few days

Huntey · 07-12-2011 4:36pm

RichieLawlor wrote: »

I heard a rumour that Spirit Son will be announced out for the season in the next few days

Interesting.

I haven't made much of him not been turned out so far this season because at times Henderson can be utterly incompetent at getting a horse ready.

NaiveMelodies · 07-12-2011 4:58pm

Surprised the Owners are letting Derham keep the ride. Doesn't happen often this day and age, that kind of loyalty.
On the other hand, Sanctuaire could run a decent race, will prefer the better ground, ran reasonably well in the greatwood, looked to be staying on well but didnt get up the hill as well as he has before, maybe needed the run or better ground. With Walsh on board I may well have an each way bet.
I think he'll beat Brampour anyway.

premierstone · 07-12-2011 5:42pm

RichieLawlor wrote: »

I heard a rumour that Spirit Son will be announced out for the season in the next few days

I have seen that aswell Richie, but he is rock solid on the machine and I seen on another forum that a source close to the yard says everything is fine with him and it was always the plan to wait till around christmass, interesting though!

handsomecake · 07-12-2011 7:12pm

premierstone wrote: »

Agree re Grandouet for this weekend but in relation to the Champion in March relaistically the only rival to The Fly is injury, if he turns up im March he wins of that I have absolutely no doubt.

what about zarkander?

gudede · 08-12-2011 10:18am

handsomecake wrote: »

what about zarkander?

I love Zarkander but the problem with him is Ruby is on board. Ruby doesn't like the horse and doesn't rate the horse. I saw a interview at the start of the year and he was asked about rides/horse's he is looking forward to and the guy asking the question had to bring up Zarkander and Ruby just said "Ya he's alright"......What!!!!!!!.....BUT JACOB BACK ON BOARD (I taught he give the horse a better ride compared to Ruby)

Another note with Zarkander is how the wip rule will effect him. All his races he seems to be riden along way out.

Harry Angstrom · 08-12-2011 1:02pm

handsomecake wrote: »

what about zarkander?

It's always worth taking on a Triumph Hurdle winner in his following season. I know Katchit managed to win a Champion Hurdle the season after he won a Triumph, but he was the exception to the rule.

I think Menorah looks the classiest horse in the Bula but I'm a bit worried about Philip Hobbs's horses being a bit in and out lately. Quinze was tailed off again the other day and Captain Chris reportedly has some sort of virus.

Huntey · 08-12-2011 3:06pm

gudede wrote: »

I love Zarkander but the problem with him is Ruby is on board.

I wouldn't consider that a problem for any horse.

gudede · 08-12-2011 3:37pm

Huntey wrote: »

I wouldn't consider that a problem for any horse.

It does when Ruby doesn't rate the horse.

Huntey · 08-12-2011 3:59pm

gudede wrote: »

It does when Ruby doesn't rate the horse.

How so?

Are you implying that Ruby is detrimental to Zarkandar because he doesn't "rate the horse"?

premierstone · 08-12-2011 4:51pm

handsomecake wrote: »

what about zarkander?

Its just my own personal opinion really and I thought Grandouet was the one to take out of last years Triumph as a Champion contender, so much room for improvement and travels beautifully, I'm probably in the minority but I think Grandouet is the classier, slight reservation about the hill, saturday will hopefully remove that!!

TheMilkyPirate · 08-12-2011 4:59pm

Gotta agree with premierstone, I'm all over grandouet at 3/1.

Johner · 08-12-2011 7:40pm

Grandouet for me as well.

Is that Menorah's chasing career on hold until next year? I'm a bit surprised he is back hurdling.

Colonel Sanders · 08-12-2011 8:08pm

Johner wrote: »

Grandouet for me as well.

Is that Menorah's chasing career on hold until next year? I'm a bit surprised he is back hurdling.

Hobbs said they'd go for it as they'd only get 2-3k for winning a mickey mouse beginners chase. This way if he wins the Bula they can go the champion hurdle route (with his novice status intact) & if not they still have their options open come the new year

UrbanSea · 08-12-2011 8:41pm

Just backed Grandouet at 11/4. Don't like Menorah at 3/1 giving weight

ft9 · 08-12-2011 9:10pm

Grandouet difficulty with the track is stopping me from lumping on.

UrbanSea · 08-12-2011 9:28pm

I don't necessarily think he has a difficulty with it 9. When he was second behind Sam Winner it was still a better run than at Wetherby,when he was beaten fifteen lengths by a horse now rated 126.

Marsh Wabler out.

UrbanSea · 08-12-2011 9:58pm

I didn't see the two latter runs so can't comment.
I just remember being in Celtic on Eyre Square when that Wetherby race was won by the 200/1 shot,was the highest priced winner of the year at the time. I'd Two Kisses each way.
Why am I telling you this? I don't know.

But I was going to say that too,about him maturing. We'll know Saturday about the hill anyway.

Huntey · 08-12-2011 10:00pm

UrbanSea wrote: »

I don't necessarily think he has a difficulty with it 9. When he was second behind Sam Winner it was still a better run than at Wetherby,when he was beaten fifteen lengths by a horse now rated 126.

You can draw a big black line through the Wetherby run Urban, he was lit up like a Christmas tree that day, hit the front far too soon and payed for it.

When he was beaten by Sam Winner he was off the bridle at the turn and a tiring horse so that wasn't a conclusive result as to how he took to the steep incline.

The Triumph is the one that has me worried about the hill, travelled like a dream but the minute he hit the rising ground his action went to dirt and he looked very flat footed. He just wasn't comfortable at all.

Usually horses get up the hill or don't, but as he is only four there is a definite possibility that he has matured enough since to handle the conditions better this time.

Wouldn't touch Menorah all the same, 2 miles over good-firm ground will result in him being inevitably caught for toe here. He powers up the hill though but his 2 mile form looks very exposed.

(Apologies quotes went tits up there)

UrbanSea · 08-12-2011 10:03pm

Haha I hadn't a clue what had happened there for a second.

See a bit of money for Pittoni,don't think he's up to this level.

Huntey · 08-12-2011 10:10pm

Probably not, looks like he wants nothing to do with good ground anyway for a start.

Johner · 09-12-2011 5:41pm

Just backed Grandouet in William Hill. Should be a great race anyway.

Huntey · 10-12-2011 1:34pm

Ground seems deadish, I wouldn't think it is genuine good ground. If that is the case it is Menorah's race.

Goldcupfav · 10-12-2011 2:51pm

Going to take a chance on Brampour here looks to be improving with every run. Love the way he won the Greatwood the last day and will prob be around the 8/1 mark at the off.