[convert]

Play nice, folks. Next person who's 'naughty' or uncvil will be infracted. Final warning.

[Nulty]

Originally Posted by Huntley

I just have minimal time for idiocy Nulty, hence why I rarely converse with you.

Why won't you love me back Huntley?

[mdwexford]

Originally Posted by Morgans

Bums. I think FR was a clear winner of the Champion Chase, and I think SE has been the best around for a while. Constantly underrated I think.

Interesting to hear your opinion of what Sprinter Sacre beat this year. French Opera, Toubab, Cue Card and think its conclusive that looking back that mistake at the first was the end of Peddlers Cross chasing career. Even Al Ferof didnt get the chance to take him on properly. I cant remember a poorer bunch of 2m novices, outside the winner.

I think Sprinter Sacre is the most likely winner of the champion chase, especially given the noises of Barry Geraghty. However, he needs to improve to do so and 5/4 is nuts. 7/4 about Big Bucks. 7/1 about Finians Rainbow represents each way value. He deserves to be favourite and something like 9/4 would be about fair to my mind.

But I think it would be very wrong to pretend Sprinter Sacre was 5l or 10l better than he showed at the Arkle. Having had my nuts on, I was a) surprised at how close Cue Card was turning in, and b) nervous that a mistake at the last would allow him in. The most likeable thing about the Arkle was that a horse that can run so free picked up the hill.

Talk about how many lengths he will win by etc for the champion chase is very premature. Master Minded had far greater credentials and failed. There is always a rush for overegg a superstars performance.

It was a two horse race, Big Zeb was past it.

I backed Finians Rainbow and while he's a decent horse he's just lucky to have been around in an average year.

Sprinter Sacre ended up probably beating not much but the manner in which he did it was very classy. Pre Cheltenham all the talk was of a vintage Arkle. Al Ferof will be in handicaps next season. Menorah and Cue Card will win races.

5/4 I agree is a shocking price.
5/2 would be ok I guess.

Here is where we differ. I think he had plenty left, while he didn't pull away like I thought he was going to 4 out I think Barry went easy on him and he could have won by more.

He is clearly overhyped now and has lots to do to be mentioned alongside Azertyuiop and Moscow Flyer. Hopefully he is up to it.

[Morgans]

An example on how to argue a point.

I cant disagree with much of it - maybe it was talked about in terms of a vintage Arkle when Peddlers Cross was in the mix. Not a bad race still.

Big Zeb is gone, first signs being the Tied Cottage.

I actually think that Cue Card used up his energy chasing Sprinter Sacre down to the last, and had nothing left up the hill. I think Barry was conscious of the spectacle/cameras a bit and thought the race was put to bed when kicking on. I think he was surprised by Cue Card as much as anyone.

[Hulk Hands]

I think Finians is only 7/1 because Barry has said he is likely to step up to the Ryanair to avoid SS, and he proved his stamina at the Melling chase.

I can see both points, and SS didn't win the Arkle as comfortable as you would've thought turning in.He never really pulled clear of Cue Card, and I think he may still prefer flat tracks.

However, he wasn't got after by BG in any real way either, so I kind of inclined to believe that he is a total superstar until i'm proven otherwise. If he was in a Champion Hurdle run tomorrow i'd be backing him, to have that kind of speed and then jumping ability comparable to Azertyioup to top it off is something special.

Sanctauire's performance on Saturday was breathtaking. The bare form of beating Somersby that far is superb. Sandown is a bit like that though, horses can gallop away from the field. I remember Twist Magic beating a field including Big Zeb by 15l+ in a tingle creek. I can't see him getting away from SS, but it adds a bit of excitement to the Tingle Creek. I can't see Finians Rainbow and SS meeting at all on the track next year