 |
| Time For Heroes - No More Heroes can land the Albert Bartlett on his way to superstardom. |
Some of these star names however have suffered shock reverses already this campaign, with the likes of Milsean and Tell Us More tasting defeat at skinny prices and thus being labelled as having failed to live up to the hype.
However one Gigginstown novice hurdler has so far this season actually exceeded the lofty expectations that we had for him this campaign and although he is now much shorter than when he was flagged up as one of my ten to follow this season he still looks a good price to me for a race that has been a showcase for top chasers to be to strut their stuff in.
And make no mistake, No More Heroes will be a top chaser – possibly even a Gold Cup winner in time – but for now over the smaller obstacles he will aim to emulate the likes of Bobs Worth and Weapons Amnesty by landing this on the way to Grade 1 success over fences.
No More Heroes began his rules career last season in a novice hurdle, finishing fourth which was not a bad effort considering, and the form has worked out well since.
It was in two bumpers last season though that he really marked himself down as one to watch, sauntering home by a distance in the first (beating Bosman Rule in the process who is no mug) before beating his better fancied fellow Gigginstown representative Milsean in a Naas bog with a battling effort.
Many, including myself, expected big things this season as a result and a facile debut win at long odds on did nothing to temper enthusiasm.
He was entered up and then not declared in the aftermath of his debut for races that would surely have been too short a distance for him – staying is without a doubt his game.
He lined up again some four weeks later at Navan in a Grade 2 event over, what in my eyes was, an inadequate 2m4f taking on some decent sorts, none more so than Willie Mullins’ ante-post favourite for the Neptune at the time Shaneshill, who predictably began the race odds on.
When Shaneshill and No More Heroes made their challenge close to home the writing appeared to be on the wall and most expected the Mullins horse to put the race to bed with his speed, but Gordon Elliot’s brute of a horse was having none of it and out battled the favourite proving he had the speed for 2m4f as well as the strength to outstay his rivals.
That performance catapulted him to the head of the betting for the Albert Bartlett and there have been few real ripples beneath him since.
A possible for Leopardstown on Sunday, another performance of the level he achieved last time out will surely see his odds fall further, and let’s not forget this is all before he tackles the trip that will surely see him in an even better light.
With very little coming through in the form of opposition, No More Heroes – as much as you can say this at this stage – is my idea of one of the bigger certainties of the week and I genuinely believe this horse can become a superstar in time.
He has all the assets you would want in a staying chaser but in the meantime, in spite of being built like a monster which can sometimes hinder horses simply biding their time to go chasing when they go novice hurdling, he can make hay over timber before beginning his rightful career and winning next year’s RSA!
Betfair Sportsbook has the stand out 6/1 at the moment and although the fancier prices long since went that still looks value to me.
Willie Mullins unsurprisingly spearheads the likely opposition with Black Hercules, fourth in last year’s Champion Bumper after trying to run them all in to the ground. He flopped in the Punchestown equivalent at the end of last season but has impressed on his two hurdles starts to date winning a Grade 3 event at Cork last time.
Willie Mullins is yet to win the Albert Bartlett, though he’s gone close, and Black Hercules will surely give a bold account of himself again.
Blaklion is probably still a bit overpriced for this, being available at a stand out 11/1 with Paddy Power, having run well all season in a typically aggressive Nigel Twiston-Davies campaign.
His best performance was his lone start at the Albert Bartlett trip of 3m having been vulnerable to a turn of foot over 2m4f. He has two Grade 2 victories to his name and has valuable experience at Prestbury Park; we know he can power up the hill and he looks the leading British challenger for the race.
Nicky Henderson has Out Sam and Vyta Du Roc prominent in the betting at present but after the former scrambled home at the weekend it was suggested he’ll miss the festival, however the latter only lost his unbeaten record by a neck in the Challow and does look more of a grinder so could thrive if stepped up in trip.
Value At Risk brings strong bumper form from last season to the table and was highly impressive on his lone hurdles start to date now switched to Dan Skelton.
We’ll know more about him after the weekend if he takes his chance in the Neptune trial at Cheltenham, but he does perhaps look more likely to go for the race of the same name at the festival than this at this point.
Harry Fry’s Fletchers Flyer also looks a stayer going places and could be somewhat underestimated in the market at present, however he may prefer some give underfoot.
While you cannot fail to have been impressed by Tea For Two’s Lanzarote procession earlier this month and it would be no surprise to see him pitch up here now with his handicap mark pretty much destroyed, were that to happen his chance would obviously be respected.
Ultimately though, it comes down to a horse living up to the hype in a division full of horses that have failed to.
In time No More Heroes will be a star chaser, but in the interim he looks a rock solid favourite for the Albert Bartlett and can hopefully mirror Bobs Worth by taking this on his way to glory in the biggest festival race of them in the not too distant future.
Recommendation:
No More Heroes 1pt win @ 6/1 (Betfair Sportsbook)
No comments:
Post a Comment