The 2017 Champion Hurdle

No don't do ap mugs game.

 

The unspoken truth.

 

You called them Grade Two when you described it as a Grade Two Champion Hurdle. (Given that they are intended runners)?

 

Well I termed the race collectively a Grade 2 yes, as it's not likely to have many Grade One winners in it, is it?

 

Only five 160+ rated hurdlers left with entries
Brain Power - 162
Jetzi - 167
Petit Mouchoir - 162
The New One - 162
Yanworth - 164

 

Who knows. Time will tell.

i think BD would have won every Grade 1 Hurdle in England had he not gone chasing. I think he'd have won the Christmas Hurdle easily.

I just worry about him on quick ground- didn't quite quicken up round the bend in the Supreme before keeping on just behind Min.

Whats easier for Yorkhill though- JLT or Champion? Personally I think the former.

 

Behind an injured Min

 

Lol, Min ran well but got smoked up the hill by a machine called Altior. I don't think there's any evidence that he performed below or on the day either in how he travelled or how he kept on up the hill. He hasn't looked markedly better to me this year?

 

Fact of the matter is BVD wouldn't have been let within a million miles of the Champion Hurdle if Faugheen or Annie Power were around. He got well beaten in the Supreme, in a typical year would we be seeing the Supreme third vying for favoritism in the next years Champion? Especially one whose been fecking well chasing most of the season!!! That tells you plenty about the standard of the race now.

 

He's trashed everything put in front of him.

 

Well he has, but then again beating Three Wise Men and Ordinary World is not much of a measuring stick. He trashed everything last season before Cheltenham and to be fair beat all but one in the Supreme.

 

Fair comment Oddy.

My own personal thoughts are that the 3rd in the Supreme and the 2nd in the Neptune might have achieved more than PM and Jezki is cracking on a bit these days.

But that said- only one way to prove it and that's on the day.

But I wouldn't touch the market right now, just wish I had BD at 33/1 single instead of in a speculative multiple with Min

 

Same with Altior.

 

Nothing left in the Champion Hurdle is good enough to win it. So it will be won by something that isn't good enough to win it. A lot of them have beaten each other. Every one I get interested in has some form that puts it out of the reckoning. Take your pick.

If it's heavy ground I think I would plump for BD but 4/1 is no price in an open renewal. Apples Jade ew at 25/1 (WH) for me

 

Ok I got one and reasoning behind it and may happen. Only one bookie has priced him up! UN DES SCEAUX there was arguments at the beginning of his hurdling career that he should have gone to Cheltenham. Has a won a couple of graded races over in France (I'm pretty sure he has won a grade one over there) Anyway reverted back to hurdles last summer to win a grade 2 in good style (didn't stay 3m the other day). The ground ok he prefers the soft ground but his chasing record isn't too bad over good ground - only beaten by the aeroplane. you know he handles Cheltenham, stays , goes off in front and will try to turn the screw early on and get the others off the bridle early as he can.

There's no strong candidate that you can say if he turns up he is going to win and there are questions Over the field with some of them are they really quick enough for a 2m champion hurdle, or how they gonna step up from handicaps. UDS currently on a hurdle mark of 156. Is there really a race for him at the festival? He could very easily slide in and fill the void left by Faugheen!

 

But then agin he probably won't run in and will just go to the Ryanair

 

Am somewhat pondering the jockey arrangements re that McManus chap having 2 so prominent in the betting. Who will climb aboard the Geraghty declined??? Will (i) the relevant trainer decide, (ii) the owner’s management make the decision, or (iii) will Mark Walsh be jetted over.

I’m guessing (but it is merely a guess) that the Geraghy lad will opt for Buveur so this could have serious implications for the 'county set'.

 

Mark Walsh get second pick. No question.