Champion trainer Paul Nicholls marks our card!
2010 Champion Hurdle Winner Binocular,would like to see him in that rug again in 2011. Here he's telling Channel 4's Alice Plunkett, how he did it!
Long Run, hopefully connections will be happier this season.MY TEN TO FOLLOW:NH SEASON 2010-11
Friday 12th November 2010.
With the Totesport: Ten To Follow about to blast off today & lists of horses flying around everywhere, I thought, everyone has an opinion, so why not share mine. Entries are all in and no-one can steal my list, thus halving my winnings!! For what its worth the following ten horses are the ones all my dreams and hopes are pinned to. I have been entering this competition since the very first one and hope, like every other single person, believe, that THIS year is finally my turn. Half a millioin quid will do very nicely! Seriously though, the way I have been tipping recently, punters may want to lay, lay, lay the lot of them!
Hopefully though, the following ten will do me justice and score loads of points. I am hoping for a shift in power away from the established stars and am pinning my hopes that a lot of lists that contain them will all go west. I will probably end up with egg on my face when Denman wins the Hennessy, Kauto the King George etc, etc..... but sometimes you have to take a risk and think outside the box.
The competition is strongly in favour towards the chasers with 10 of the 14 bonus races chase races. I reckon that 3 hurdlers and 7 chasers, was the way to go, with selections specifically targeted at as many of those bonus races as possible.
So here goes, here are my ten to go to war with, at the very least I will be logging their progress to see if a profit in punting them can be achieved.
1.LONG RUN(5yo)N.Henderson
This one could be the real deal, ran a cracker to finish 3rd, for such a young horse in the RSA at The Cheltenham Festival. Raced keenly that day and didn't quite home, but another year on will no doubt mean he's more the finished article. Looks a must have, as has early bonus race,The Paddy Power Gold Cup as his target and could even develop into a serious player in The King George at Kempton in December. Nice big scopey type who looks a top notch stayer in the making. Surely will go close in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and is a long term star in the making.
2.BINOCULAR(6yo)N.Henderson
Started season poorly last year, but really delivered when landing The Champion Hurdle last season. He could not have won that more impressively and his slick jumping was a joy to watch.if starting this season in the same form, could pick up some nice prizes on the way to defending his crown. Only a 6yo and Champion Hurdlers come back year on, year in, so there must be more to come.
3.BIG ZEB(9yo)C.Murphy
Classy and finally put his jumping in place to land The Queen Mother last season. Winners of that race come back and run well again, so looks a good bet to go close again, reminds me of Moscow Flyer,who improved with age and can pick up some nice prizes on the way back to defending his title. Not sure there is much in the way of 2 mile chasers to trouble him and Big Zeb can clean up. Won nicely on return, from an unlucky Golden silver who could be a threat, but the defending champ can only improve from that run as well.
4.GREAT ENDEAVOUR(6yo)D.PIPE
Won the Byrne Plate at last season's Cheltenham Festival in a time that was a lot faster than the Jewson & Ryanair run over the same distance on the same day. Obviously this one had a lot less weight than the winners of those races but looks a seriously progressive young chaser. Was very game that day and I liked his attitude when challenged, sticking his neck out and charging up the Cheltenham hill. Has the bonus races of The Paddy Power (looks laid out for this prize) & possibly the Hennessy as early season targets. A must have, who can hopefully develop into a very smart horse.I fancy he is one who could become a Ryanair horse himself, another bonus race.
5.TIME FOR RUPERT(6yo)P.Webber.
Developed into a smart stayer over hurdles last season and was the only horse who came anywhere near Big Bucks in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham last season, was well clear of the third that day. Will go over fences this year and has the size and scope to take to the bigger obstacles. Has no problem with stamina and will be just the right age to develop into a RSA type.
Makes fencing debut today at Cheltenham, which hopefully will be very informative.6.NACARAT(8yo)T.GEORGE
Ran an absolute cracker when landing this season's Charlie Hall on return to action. Looks a stronger horse and bearing in mind two of the bonus races are run at Kempton, a course this horse loves, he must be included. Ran a stormer in last season's King George trying to burn off the opposition after setting a relentless gallop in that contest. Also is a past winner of The Racing Post Chase, another bonus race, means he will probably be targeted at those races again. Sound jumper and if not committed too early can make them all go in this year's King George again. Can't help thinking the best is yet to come from this dashing grey, a la Monets Garden & Desert Orchid.
7.FORPADYDEPLASTERER(8yo)T.Cooper
Suffers seconditis but is far from ungenuine and ran a cracker to finish 2nd in this year's Queen Mother considering he had an interrupted preparation. This season could step up in trip and could finally land another big pot to add to his Arkle win in 2009. Could develop into a King George horse if he can prove his stamina but also has options at shorter, must have good ground.
Runs on Sunday at Cheltenham and hopefully can make a winning start.8.BURTON PORT(6yo)N.Henderson
Did brilliantly over fences last season. Ran a stormer,staying on strongly to finish 2nd to Weapon's Amnesty in last season's RSA(long Run in 3rd) then came out and won at Aintree, to prove he is as tough as teak. Not overly big but is as game as they come, could ruffle a few of the big guns feathers this year. Hopefully he can be this years Alberta's Run and rack up some big points. Good chance in the Hennessy if he goes there as the galloping track and stiff test of stamina will suit this strong stayer.
9.JONCOL(7yo)P.Nolan
Skipped Cheltenham last year, but has the size and scope to develop into major player in the top staying chases this year. Looks to need cut & a trip and looks the most likely for the Irish Hennessy where he will probably get both of those. That is another bonus race and this one can rack up a fair few points this season. Might make up into an outside Gold Cup horse, but whichever way he goes is an exciting prospect. Wasn't impressive on seasonal debut, but 2m trip nowhere near enough of a stamina test so entitled to improve for that.
10.ZAYNAR(5yo)N.Henderson
Ran a cracker to finish 3rd in last season's Champion Hurdle behind stablemate Binocular. It must be noted that Henderson's Punjabi and Binocular finished 3rd in The Champion the year before they came back to win the big one itself.However this one looks more of a staying type and though he has to improve massively to beat Big Bucks in the 3mile events, he can rack up a fair few points on the way to a crack at The World Hurdle. Big Bucks will be on everyone's list and will be hard to beat, but not sure he will run much and may even go chasing if Paul Nicholls' stable stars do not fire. Can always sub-in Big Bucks in the transfer window. Ascot will suit Zaynar when he makes his return and I like this one a lot.
Well there you go, my ten to follow can hopefully pay their way and give me an interest all season, where like every year, all roads lead to Cheltenham.
Good Luck & Happy Punting
Yours
Randy.
For more pics please go to Randy Rann's Racing Images( http://randyrannracing.foliopic.com/)
For all things Cheltenham check out JP Festival Flyer (http.//www.jpfestival.com)
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