Handicappers' Corner: Who is Henderson's top hurdle hope?

Handicappers' Corner / Timeform / 29 November 2011 / Leave a Comment

Binocular: The winner of the 2010 Champion Hurdle

"Binocular arguably isn’t even the best Champion Hurdle hope in his own yard, with younger stable-companions Spirit Son (h159p) and Grandouet (h158+) both snapping at his heels..."

It was the hurdlers' turn to take centre stage this weekend as, seven days on from Haydock's Betfair Chase, Newcastle staged the first Grade 1 hurdle to be run on British soil this season...

In contrast to the Haydock race, however, it seems unlikely that both principals from the latest renewal of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle will play a major role at Cheltenham come next March. Admittedly runner-up Binocular (Timeform rating h163) has yet to show his very best in three attempts at the Newcastle showpiece (including when it was rerouted to Newbury last year!), with lack of peak fitness again probably to blame for this latest reverse, but it increasingly looks like he'll struggle to recapture the form that saw him land the 2010 Champion Hurdle (when rated 5 lb higher than now).

If anything, the two-mile hurdling division seems stronger than it was then, whilst Binocular arguably isn't even the best Champion Hurdle hope in his own yard, with younger stable-companions Spirit Son (h159p) and Grandouet (h158+) both snapping at his heels. The latter gelding won nicely at Haydock on his completed outing this autumn, whilst the former has had his reputation enhanced by others in recent weeks - including Newbury winner Rock On Ruby (h158+) - despite the fact he's yet to run in 2010/11.

The highest-rated hurdler in the Henderson yard, meanwhile, is Oscar Whisky (h171) and he is no forlorn hope to improve upon his 2011 Champion Hurdle third if kept to shorter trips this winter, particularly if the somewhat fragile Hurricane Fly (h174) is unable to defend his crown (missed Cheltenham Festival in both 2009 and 2010). Indeed, Oscar Whisky's form actually received a boost in the Fighting Fifth as it bears repeating that he'd seemed set to successfully concede 8 lb to Newcastle winner Overturn (h165) when a final-flight faller at Ascot the previous weekend.

If the ante-post betting is to be believed, it would appear Oscar Whisky will be upped in trip at Cheltenham next March for a crack at Big Buck's (h176+), who is the highest-rated hurdler in training and extended his unbeaten record to thirteen with a smooth reappearance win in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury. In truth, Big Buck's didn't have to run up to anything like his best to see off stable-companion Five Dream on Saturday (as had been the case when winning the 2009 and 2010 renewals), but he scored with stacks in hand and looks every bit as good as ever despite the fact he's now rising nine.

The main race at Newbury on Saturday, of course, was the Hennessy Gold Cup, which attracted a typically competitive field of eighteen, though one rather lacking in potential future stars, a view which is backed up by the fact that victory went to Carruthers (c150) twelve months after he'd finished only sixth in the same race (admittedly from a 10 lb higher mark). All four handicap chases at the Berkshire course on Saturday seemed to favour those who raced prominently, which makes the performance of Hennessy fourth Great Endeavour (c158) all the more meritorious, particularly as the longer trip just stretched him in the end after he'd travelled best under a patient ride - he remains well handicapped even from his revised BHA mark.

Incidentally, Saturday's big-race wins by Carruthers and Hey Big Spender (c158) paid a big compliment to their Cheltenham conqueror Galaxy Rock (c146) and clearly the form of that race is stronger than it appeared at the time, particularly as Hennessy third Fair Along (c144) also emerged from it. Several of these names are possible Grand National contenders, though the pair who arguably shaped best with that race in mind this weekend were Hennessy fifth Beshabar (c147) and Prince de Beauchene (c147), the latter shaping well on his debut for Willie Mullins when fifth in the Troytown Chase at Navan on Sunday.

Elsewhere, it was another productive few days for what continues to look a vintage crop of home-trained novice chasers. Grands Crus (c154p) followed up his chasing debut win with another highly satisfactory display in Grade 2 company at Newbury on Thursday, when defeating the unbeaten hurdler Sonofvic (c145p), to whom he was conceding 7 lb. Peddlers Cross (c154p) matched that lofty rating with an imperious display at Bangor some forty-eight hours later, where he gave 7 lb and a eight-length beating to Grade 1-winning hurdler Minella Class (c137p).

It seems unlikely the pair will meet this term, with the RSA Chase and Arkle Trophy their long-range targets respectively. Grands Crus could well bump into Bobs Worth (c142p) at some stage, though, and Nicky Henderson's exciting gelding seems set to take a high rank in the staying novice chase division, for all he needed every yard of the two-and-a-half-miles to pip Cue Card (c149) at Newbury on Friday.