On those hoses, make sure there's enough room for engine mount flex. The engine will move, the radiator will not, and very short pieces will eventually just tear. That's part of why factory hoses have the large bends in them, it gives plenty of wiggle room for the engine without transferring any of the wiggle stress to the rigidly fixed, thin metal radiator.
If you don't like the blue, an alternative would be a stainless mesh sheath to put over them.