Nicky Henderson Stable Visit

[drobgod]

Hi All

I'm going to be visiting Nicky Henderson's stable on Monday for his annual pre-festival media visit. I'm not sure if I'll be able to ask many questions or if it's just a case of listening to his views, but just in case I do get a chance to talk to him are there any questions you would like me to ask?

Maybe you are keeping an eye on one of his horses that's likely to run in a handicap or you are interested in ground preferences for a particular horse or maybe a horse is doubly engaged?

As I say I can't promise anything, but I will do my best to ask/find out if you want me to.

I aim to post a report either late Monday or early Tuesday about the day which will include any news received while there and I'll try to tweet live also so you can follow that on @drobgod.

Cheers

Dean

[budgie27]

Hi Dean - any news you can get on Grandouet will be interesting - surprised that Zarkandar shortened up today but perhaps Khyber Kim gives him a good insight? So be interesting to hear what he thinks re the relative merits of those horses. I see Ladbrokes are longest re Grandouet and that is a concern, I've not heard anything negative re Grandouet but be interesting if you can see what you find out. Is Une Artiste going to the OLBG race would be an obvious starting point as she surely has an obvious chance if lining up. Does he think her foibles re starting have been overcome or is there still a chance she will just sit and not go? Have they done work on that?

[ebookconverter]

His intended runner(s) in our race would be good to pin down if possible, but I'd like to know what he himself thinks is the horse he's sweetest on the chances of at the Festival.
_________________
----
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ebook_olbg
My OLBG Blog: http://www.olbg.com/blogs/ebookconverter
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ebook.converter.7
-- There's only one guarantee in betting - you'll back losers. Be disciplined.

[nors]

We expect nothing less than information on a 2013 Nicky Henderson 5 timer.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/mar/15/cheltenham-accumulator-nicky-henderson-stable-lad

[drobgod]

Just back from the Nicky Henderson stable visit and unfortunately we didn't have time for a one to one with him, but most of the leading questions were asked and I noted all of the answers which I've written for you all below.

I did ask Nicky's partner if I could e-mail him any questions you the members have asked that weren't covered and she said he'd be delighted to answer so I'll get that off tonight and let you know what he says as soon as he replies.

Oscar Whiskey – Dai Walters (owner) is visiting the stable in the morning, but it's 99.99% sure he'll be going for the World Hurdle. They may ride the horse more positively now they know he stays well enough rather than hold him up at the back. Nicky did admit however that if there was a suitable race at 2 1/2m that's where he'd be going.

Binocular – Now this horse really interests me after visiting the stable. I get a feeling Nicky fancies it to run a really big race. Apparently he was electric over four flights of hurdles the other day and goes to Kempton Saturday for a racecourse gallop. He basically just thinks the horse has been very unlucky through his career and that we should totally ignore last years race after the front two just got away from the others.

Also when somebody mentioned My Tent or Yours going for the Champion, he just said why when we have Binocular. Now most bookmakers were going to install MTOY at around 5/1 if he ran in the Champion where as Binocular is 14/1.

Grandouet – Banged inside of joint recently and it blew up like a balloon, luckily it's fine now, the horse doesn't need lots of work as he's a very clean winded sort, so all systems go.

Simonsig – Worked great on Saturday, may go to Kempton for a spin after racing Saturday with a few of his. Said the horse wouldn't be out of place in the Champion Hurdle.

My Tent or Yours – Spoke to JP McManus recently and unless something out of the ordinary happens MTOY will run in the Supreme. As mentioned earlier he said JP has Binocular for the Champion. He will be joined in the Supreme by River Maigue.

Finians Rainbow – Barry Geraghty has always says the horse hates soft ground, but they had to run him Saturday because he was in desperate need of a run. Queen Mother probable target and expect better if the ground isn't too soft.

Riverside Theatre – Nicky was always convinced something was wrong with this horse last year even when he won the Ryanair. They took him to a vet in Bristol and they found the horse was suffering from ulcers. That has now been cleared up and he expects a big run.

Sprinter Sacre – Just the obvious quotes that the horse is a machine!!

Molotof and Captain Conan – Both will go for the Jewson, with Conan in great shape and better than he showed at Sandown.

Oscar Nominee – Interesting one here, runs tomorrow at Taunton and goes for Martin Pipe Conditional at the Festival a race in which he finished third last year.

Finally in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual, the race which is named after his late-father Nicky will be running five and they are:- French Opera, Kid Cassidy, Petit Robin, Tanks For That and Anquetta.

[deswalker]

[drobgod]

Just received a nice e-mail from Nicky Henderson where he told me the following about his mares:-

"The mares all seem to be going well. The plan is for Une Artiste to run in your race at Cheltenham and if it wasnt for Quevega she would have a very good chance, but I do think she could be placed. Ma Filleule is in everything and Utopie des Bordes who won at Sandown will go for the Albert Bartlett."

And a word about Rolling Star:-

"As for Rolling Star, I do think he is up to standard, he is going to work at Kempton on Saturday and he would compare favourably with our previous Triumph hurdle horses, although perhaps another run would have been beneficial."

[budgie27]

Cheers for that - I'll have a few quid EW on Une Artiste on the back of that - looks like being a small enough field so 1/4 odds 3 places 8/1 looks OK at this stage, granted Quevega of course is probably unbeatable but it's a horse race, she might not turn up, might not turn up in form, might clout one, might fall, might scoot away and win by 4Ls!