The Hennessey Review Sunday Bob t

What an astonishing (to me) run from Denman  in a race where the ground would not have suited a fast race the Hennessey came up with the goods again.

 See that the time was only 0.7 sec outside the course record and that is little short of amazing.  Yes the writing was on the wall in the straight with Diamond Harry only making one error two from home was all over the winner and asserted well. But Denman and to his credit Sam Thomas put up an effort out of left field.

When I bet I bet with my head and not my heart and yet would have been happy this morning to be congratulating Denman fanatics if he had got home in front yes I layed it  but only on the record of the horse - When he nosed to the front for a while at the cross fence and jumped that hoodoo well only age and weight was going to beat him. He ran his heart out. His winning would have been the result NH jumping needs but he's been to the well too often in high class events and is my lay animal. There will be many who see that run as convincing for the rest of the season with an unshakeable conviction - I will not be in their number.  


 Stats said a 7 yr old but not one that had pulled up last time! - when the money came for Diamond Harry (as per usual a steady run of money late)  I put a small  win amount on - his record of 4 wins around here from 5 starts and the Williams /Jacobs making it an analyser animal.


 Of the rest - well Hey big Spender just went off like the terrier he is. He carted Colman into a lead and a pace that was going to be suicidal - he jumped like a cat till the back straight where he took off way to early (look at the race again you will see it front legs straight out and a sign of massive confidence only to catch the top of the birch - he then reverted to legs curled up instantly at the next fence- but the damage was done. He would have appreciated softer ground  but am not convinced he was handled kindly after that mistake. I would have liked him pulled up as he lost ground. The race will take some getting over for him. Colman should have been strong enough to curb his enthusiasm  and as soon as he went off like that put a lay in.


It was not pretty to see My main Bet Madison fall early - it was a real Newbury mistake as he tried to Match strides with the front runners - uncharacteristic of him as had fallen only twice before (at Aintree) out of  31 runs  and maybe age has caught up with him a bit because it was a knuckle under on landing rather than a fence error.

I did Not back Silver By Nature in the end as he looked mulish and nervy in the parade and the ground was just not right - he missed the First completely and  got impeded badly by the fallers but was treated kindly after and given a run that will still make him very attractive for the Welsh Grand National  if the ground comes up its usual bottomless conditions.


 Well Done to the Tony (anonymous) commentator for selecting Diamond Harry and hard luck you did not get the forecast with Denman - hope you will join us on the blog


 Bobt