The CLASS of 2012 – by Blue Sky Racing

FOURTH ESTATE  Ex Godolphin son of Fantastic Light.  I loved the stallion as a racehorse and he has stamped his mark on this fellow, albeit he is bigger than your average Flat racer, which is why he never made it to the Flat given that he was weak and backward as a yearling and juvenile and snapped up for just 4500pounds.  Literally cruised to victory in his bumpers last season at Doncaster and Ayr, the latter on Scottish Grand National day.  His owner is Scottish and loves to have his horses win north of the border.  He now goes novice hurdling. GRANDOUET  A very forward going individual “ he always looked like a most likely Triumph Hurdle candidate, and so it proved. “  He was blessed with the precocity typical of the top French National Hunt horses and is very much expected to make the leap into contesting top grade Championship Hurdle races this season.  Many second season hurdlers fall at this particular juncture in their careers but he is not expected to follow that trend.  He is a rangy type who has the physique to make the grade as a chaser and has the stamina imparted by the distaff side of his DNA to suggest 3 miles will be well within his compass.  We may well see him over both types of obstacle this season. KID CASSIDY  It wasn’t his fault that he got so wound up at Newbury before he was withdrawn from his intended race that day.  He was still mentally getting over it when next seen and could finish only 3rd at Sandown.  However all that was behind him when he won at Punchestown in April.  He is rated 144 and is most definitely on that basis a stone or more well in and what he can achieve.  I will be very disappointed if he doesn’t win a top top handicap hurdle this season. LONG RUN  The Betfair Chase in November and the Martell Chase in April will see the Gold Cup winner on his way to West Lancs in pursuit of two major prizes.  In between, if all goes to play, he will take in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day and the Gold Cup in March.  There is little more for me to add now. MOLOTOF  Another recruit from the winter circuit at Pau.  Once again he was the subject of ‘rushing’ him to be competitive from January onward last season.  After finishing second to Zarkandar in the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton he could only manage a mid division effort in the Triumph Hurdle.  “  He has grown and strengthened considerably for his summer break and one would like to think he would be as good a maiden as is left over from last season. “ N Henderson.  Big words indeed of which we must take heed. OSCAR WHISKY  If there is a horse at Seven Barrows who could be good enough to take on BIG BUCKS in the Championship Staying Hurdles this winter it is this fellow.  After finishing an honourable third to Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle the step up to 2m 4f at Aintree saw him put in a spectacular performance to land the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle.  Henderson has decided to take the Hurdle route this season as opposed to going novice chasing.  Given that knowledge he has to be a major player for the CLASS OF 2012 and for your Tote/Racing Post 10 to follow entries. SPIRIT SON  This is the Champion Hurdler waiting to happen.  My Lambourn man of many years standing had been talking this horse up to me since his arrival in the Henderson camp in Autumn 2010.  And by god was he right.  After winning at Huntingdon and Exeter he finished second in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Festival to Paul Nicholls’ AL FEROF.  The form is good but the factors which sway me ever more to this fellow are;  his routing of a good field at Aintree where he had behind him Cue Card and Barry Geraghty’s comments this autumn.  “ This fellow has gears, serious gears. “  Geraghty’s career was in the descendant a few years ago before Nicky Henderson made the move to ‘get him’ when Mick Fitzgerald was forced to retire.  Nobody on both sides of the Irish Sea doubted Geraghty’s talent but it was common knowledge that he had taken a bit of a wrong turning.  Firmly back on track and enjoying his immensely successful association with Henderson the duo are a most formidable force. [caption id="attachment_1018" align="aligncenter" width="150" caption="Click here to see Blue Sky Racings profile and stats."][/caption]]]>