Hobbs gives Saddler's Risk a break
January 28, 2012 10:39:59 UK
Philip Hobbs has taken his very special novice Saddler's Risk out of today's Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle Trial (12.55).
However, with big-day favourite Baby Mix and Grumeti going head to head, a fascinating duel opens today's brilliant card at the West Country track.
Baby Mix is 2.75 to win the race while Grumeti can be backed at 2.75.
However, with Hobbs believing that Saddler's is among the top horses he has ever had through his hands, the race will prove less instructive than we might have hoped. 'Dicky ' Johnson let the cat out of the bag in a recent interview when making it clear that Hobbs had given more than the impression that Saddler's is among the very best horses he's handled.
As a result it will be a very brave man indeed who refuses to have something on him each way or to win at 6.50 for the Triumph itself when it comes around.
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Today, however, all eyes are on the Tom George and Alan King pair and, given the latter's high view of Grumeti, he may well be the one to be on.
Although he fell (or rather slithered) on landing last time, he does look a machine in the making and a clear round may well be enough to overcome Baby Mix who beat Hinterland seven lengths around Cheltenham on his last appearance. However, come March, I'll want to be on Saddler's following his 17-length slaughtering of Otto the Great at Kempton Park on debut.
The absence of Nicky Henderson's brilliant Sprinter Sacre from his Doncaster trial will disappoint many although his ante-post backers will be pleased as it means his odds are unlikely to shorten too much on what they will see as their banker Festival bet.
The decision to withdraw him appears to make it a match between another Henderson animal - Kid Cassidy and Menorah - with no doubt AP McCoy giveing Henderson as much information as possible on the Philip Hobbs should he need it.
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