SO here’s a question for you. Is Greaneteen a really good horse or is he a massive over-achiever? I’m not sure.
Paul Nicholls’ warrior is primed for today’s Grade 1 Betfair Tingle Creek Chase, one of the most anticipated two-mile events of the season.
If all six declared runners turn up — lack of give in the ground could rule a couple out — I’ll be disappointed if Greaneteen is good enough to win.
After all, rivals will include one of the true stars of recent seasons in Shishkin and Arkle hero Edwardstone.
That’s not even to mention Gentleman De Mee, Willie Mullins’s Irish raider who looked a machine at Aintree last season.
Bet of the day
I EXPECT Nicky Henderson to enjoy a big-race double with Shishkin and Jonbon but HERMES BOY (2.20 Sandown) is the best bet.
A right-handed track and this trip suits.
But Greaneteen picks up the pieces time and time again.
And while opposition is expected to be hot this afternoon, there are some with plenty of questions to answer.
Greaneteen is clearly no mug. The eight-year-old is a multiple Grade 1 hero and is the defending Tingle Creek champ having defeated stable companion Hitman last year.
That was a race in which Chacun Pour Soi flopped badly, while Greaneteen again had little to defeat when denying Sceau Royal and Nube Negra in another Sandown Grade 1 in April.
My gut feeling is Nicholls has played a blinder with Greaneteen, and has achieved more than his natural ability should have allowed.
Evidence comes from the 2021 Champion Chase, a race in which Chacun Pour Soi once again let his backers down, where Greaneteen was only fourth.
He wasn’t beaten far, but the race was weak. Greaneteen also struggled when just fourth in a Grand Annual.
Nicholls is in no doubt Greaneteen is the real deal.
I tried to rile the champion trainer by suggesting otherwise, but he merely told me: “He is a really good horse. You are not stirring me up! Bring it on.”
It has to be said, Greaneteen looked great on his return this term, landing the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter from Dolos and War Lord while humping 11st 12lb.
It was a good performance, for sure, but is he really a superstar?
Perhaps I’m just being very harsh on a horse who has won nearly half a million pounds in prize money.
Time will tell.
As for Shishkin he certainly is a class act but must prove the fire burns bright.
The winner of 11 of his 13 races, I adore Shishkin and he has established ability having taken the Supreme at Cheltenham in 2020 and the 2021 Arkle.
He also denied Energumene in a thriller for last season’s Clarence House.
However, in the Champion Chase Shishkin was pulled up and subsequently diagnosed with a rare bone condition.
Nicky Henderson said: “We have to hope the Shishkin we had at Ascot for that epic clash with Energumene in the race of the season is back.
“If he is, then he’ll be highly competitive.
“I can’t guarantee that, but I can guarantee he’s over the problem he had after Cheltenham.”
This time next year it might be Jonbon who heads the market for the Tingle Creek, although today he puts his big reputation on the line in the Grade 1 Close Brothers Henry VII Novices’ Chase.
Jonbon is the general 2-1 ante-post favourite for the Arkle after an impressive debut win over fences at Warwick last month.
He should win this afternoon and looked a natural over the larger obstacles when disposing of useful Monmiral.
I’m very lucky to be heading to Chepstow today for Sky Sports Racing, and I can’t wait to see Secret Reprieve in the Coral Welsh National Trial over nearly three miles.
You will remember in 2021 Secret Reprieve ran in two Welsh Nationals, and looked a possible Gold Cup contender when bolting up in the marathon in January.
He came back to finish fifth in December.
Since then the wheels have fallen off, but Secret Reprieve is only eight and is well handicapped again so he could easily bounce back to his best for Adam Wedge.
Elsewhere, another staying chaser hopes to get his career back on track when Ahoy Senor tackles Chantry House in the Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase at Aintree.
Both of those chasers have to convince me they are the real deal.
A bit like Greaneteen!
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