Champion Hurdle, 13-03-12

TheMilkyPirate · 14-02-2012 12:10am #1

Champion hurdle 2m Grade 1 Hurdle

The Champion Hurdle is the highlight of day one of the Cheltenham Festival and the most prestigous hurdle race run all season. It is open to horses aged four years old and upwards, and in 2011 carried a total prize fund of £370,000

Latest odds:

Hurricane Fly (5/6) , Grandouet (7) , Zarkandar (15/2) , Binocular (10) , Oscars Well (14) , Rock On Ruby (14) , Oscar Whisky (20) , Thousand Stars (25) , Overturn (40) , Brampour (50) , Mikael Dhaguenet (50) , Peddlers Cross (50) , So Young (50) , Zaidpour (50) , Celestial Halo (66) , Starluck (66) , Staying Article (66) , Dare Me (100) , Final Approach (100) , Flat Out (100)

Going with the obvious one here again and that is the imperious Hurricane fly, Looks better than ever this year and even 5/6 may look big come half 3 on the 13th of march. I've always liked Grandouet and he will be my bet w/o Hurricane fly.

HigginsJ · 14-02-2012 4:44pm

Zarkandar

Hard to put up any e/w alternative with any great strength of conviction. Overturn as a big priced e/w could at least give you a run for your money.

If HF turns up like he did in the Irish Champion it will be a cruise to a 10l victory. Winning margin might actually be a bet of interest over/under

Huntey · 14-02-2012 4:52pm

HigginsJ wrote: »

If HF turns up like he did in the Irish Champion it will be a cruise to a 10l victory.

He looks flashy over here because he is a speed horse, he won't ever look as dominant at Cheltenham because the track doesn't play to his strengths.

mallachyrivers · 15-02-2012 2:36pm

Huntey wrote: »

HigginsJ wrote: »

If HF turns up like he did in the Irish Champion it will be a cruise to a 10l victory.

He looks flashy over here because he is a speed horse, he won't ever look as dominant at Cheltenham because the track doesn't play to his strengths.

I think he looked different class over there last year! He will romp home again!

Huntey · 15-02-2012 2:40pm

mallachyrivers wrote: »

I think he looked different class over there last year! He will romp home again!

He is different class, but he won't be winning by 10 lengths on the bridle.

prettyboy81 · 15-02-2012 9:05pm

Zarkandar

Hurricane Fly will be more dominating in the race this year, can't see any horse getting with 5 lengths, just looked at last years race again on YouTube....what a race Peddlers Cross gave him!

ft9 · 15-02-2012 9:26pm

Zarkandar

Huntey wrote: »

He is different class, but he won't be winning by 10 lengths on the bridle.

I think he will win this by about 10 lengths Huntey, maybe not on the bridal up that hill.

I feel he is now going to show us the superstar in him by blowing opposition away. I simply can't wait for it.

I have a much bigger interest in Hurdles rather than Chasing, which may seem odd, and Hurricane is special, no doubt about it.

hucklebuck · 15-02-2012 9:40pm

Binocular

I think the only way he could win by 10 lengths is if it is soft or heavy which is very unlikely, he seems to handle the ground better than his 2 mile rivals like in the Irish Champion this year or the hurdle race in Leopardstown December 2010.

Even if I am wrong I can't see Ruby shoving him along if he hits the front on the steele and the rest are under pressure as he will more than likely run in Punchestown.

eoghan_85 · 15-02-2012 9:55pm

Zarkandar

Only worry for HF is the chance that his temperment might get the better of him in the next few weeks. I'm sure Mullins won't let that happen and if he arrives to the track unscathed no other horse will come near him. Last year they kept him away from the parade ring and brought him straight to the post to avoid him getting overly excited. This didn't stop some English report for C4 I think insisting on going down interviewing Ruby whilst on his way down. Could see Ruby uncomfortable with her being there. Was roaring at the tv for her to F off!

mdwexford · 15-02-2012 11:01pm

HF will be held on to as long as possible so it would be hard to put that much distance between himself and the field regardless of how well hes going.

Lot of speed horses in it this year, hope its a breakneck gallop and the big guns are all swinging away on the bridal two out.

Juwwi · 18-02-2012 5:04pm

Binocular very impressive there maybe its going right handed thats the key to him.

His record right handed 1113111311 ( 8 from 10 )

His record left handed 211351342 (3 from 9)

Huntey · 18-02-2012 5:19pm

robbie1977 wrote: »

Binocular very impressive there maybe its going right handed thats the key to him.

His record right handed 1113111311 ( 8 from 10 )

His record left handed 211351342 (3 from 9)

It probably has more to do with the opposition he is coming up against.

Juwwi · 18-02-2012 5:32pm

Huntey wrote: »

It probably has more to do with the opposition he is coming up against.

He was fav in 8 out the 9 races but just noticed 3 of the defeats was first time out for the season.
Disregarding first time out runs it does'nt look as bad.

Shane732 · 18-02-2012 5:34pm

Zarkandar

Personally I think HF is every bit as good as Istabraq....

Binocular's race was a poor race today.

RichieLawlor · 18-02-2012 6:31pm

Zarkandar

Shane732 wrote: »

Personally I think HF is every bit as good as Istabraq....

Binocular's race was a poor race today.

While I'm a big HF fans aswell your second statement is bollocks.

Celestial Halo has been in super form and is always a good yardstick. Apart from HF in the Champion, binocular will be best of the rest

Huntey · 18-02-2012 6:35pm

RichieLawlor wrote: »

While I'm a big HF fans aswell your second statement is bollocks.

Celestial Halo has been in super form and is always a good yardstick. Apart from HF in the Champion, binocular will be best of the rest

It isn't bollocks Richard. Celestial Halo is a good handicapper at this stage. He certainly isn't a decent yardstick when talking about grade 1 horses.

Juwwi · 18-02-2012 6:38pm

Huntey wrote: »

It isn't bollocks Richard. Celestial Halo is a good handicapper at this stage. He certainly isn't a decent yardstick when talking about grade 1 horses.

On ratings he's only 1 pound behind Binocular.

Huntey · 18-02-2012 6:41pm

robbie1977 wrote: »

On ratings he's only 1 pound behind Binocular.

For somebody who isn't a big fan of Binocular I do think it is offensive to the horse to suggest he is only a lb better than Celestial Halo.

Hulk Hands · 18-02-2012 6:45pm

I dislike the horse, but my god evens was a gift there today. Was reasonably impressed. I think the 9's with hills is big, he's my idea of the runner up

hucklebuck · 18-02-2012 7:13pm

Binocular

Celestial Halo is a decent yardstick, I think he ran well today considering he won a tough handicap carrying top weight in heavy ground about a month ago.

After todays showing by Nicholls horses I noticed that Zarkandar is his only winner out of his last 30 runners. If the yard is in a flat spot that was one hell of a performance yesterday for a first run.

ste2010 · 18-02-2012 11:36pm

Zarkandar

Huntey wrote: »

RichieLawlor wrote: »

While I'm a big HF fans aswell your second statement is bollocks.

Celestial Halo has been in super form and is always a good yardstick. Apart from HF in the Champion, binocular will be best of the rest

It isn't bollocks Richard. Celestial Halo is a good handicapper at this stage. He certainly isn't a decent yardstick when talking about grade 1 horses.

Agree celestial halo isn't a good yardstick..he's a champ hurdle horse of the past. His price of 66-1 reflects that in antepost factoring in the fact e won't e going anyway. Major over reaction in my opinion by ladbrokes. 9/2??? No thanks

sting60 · 19-02-2012 10:45am

Mc Coy on numerous occasions has stated that Binocular won a poor Champion Hurdle.Talking to Frank Berry last year at a charity event and he said prior to 2011 CH that Hurricane Run is in a different planet to all other 2 mile hurdlers if fit and ready.Would Binocular beat him his answer was NO.If Hurricane Fly is fit and ready in three weeks he wins,there is no form with any other horse to suggest otherwise.

kiers47 · 19-02-2012 11:31am

Zarkandar

ste2010 wrote: »

His price of 66-1 reflects that in antepost factoring in the fact e won't e going anyway.

So you Know for a fact he wont be going? Where do you get your info?

RichieLawlor · 19-02-2012 11:48am

Zarkandar

kiers47 wrote: »

So you Know for a fact he wont be going? Where do you get your info?

I think Celestial Halo is going to run in the World Hurdle. To be a pacemaker for Big Bucks to make sure Oscar Whisky doesn't catch him on the hop in a slow run race.

kiers47 · 19-02-2012 12:13pm

Zarkandar

Huntey wrote: »

It isn't bollocks Richard. Celestial Halo is a good handicapper at this stage. He certainly isn't a decent yardstick when talking about grade 1 horses.

He has won a grade 2 or better every season since arriving at Nicholls calling him a handicapper is bollocks. Im with Richie here. He is a very good yard stick.

RichieLawlor wrote: »

I think Celestial Halo is going to run in the World Hurdle. To be a pacemaker for Big Bucks to make sure Oscar Whisky doesn't catch him on the hop in a slow run race.

I think they will stick to the champion. His Cheltenham form is actually quite good so id say they'll let him take his chance for some place money.

sting60 · 19-02-2012 1:10pm

In order of betting for the Champion Hurdle here are the offical ratings.Hurricane Run 173,Zarkandar 151,Grandouet 164,Binocular 166,Oscars Well 157,Rock On Ruby 158,Celestial Halo 165.Going strictly on ratings Zarkandar has no chance,infact the handicapper was not impressed after his win yesterday dropping him 3lb.Put pure and simple HR in a handicap would be giving the next best Binocular 7lb and the second fav Zarkandar 22lb.

UrbanSea · 19-02-2012 1:18pm

Grandouet

Where did you see he dropped him 3 lbs? I struggle to believe that

Colonel Sanders · 19-02-2012 1:21pm

Zarkandar

Celestial Halo is rated 160+ & managed to win a handicap of that kind of mark on soft ground. While I don't think he has the speed for 2m any longer to say he's not a solid yardstick is ludicrous IMO & Binocular smashed him yesterday. Add in the fact that it was an after thought after Grandouet picked up a knock & I think it was a very, very decent effort

Last time I posted a detailed reply re. the champion the front 3 hasn't run yet this season so my opinion was HF would win if he lined up fit & well & I liked Bino without

Now HF has run in & demolished the Irish Champion, Spirit Son is out & Zarkindar has won a fiercely competitive handicap when Nicholls has warned he wouldn't be fully tuned up

I was looking at Binocular in the w/o HF market & didn't think he'd run again before the festival but may have missed the boar now

Also re. Ladbrokes quote of 9/2 they were 11/2 before yesterday so obviously don't want to lay it

RichieLawlor · 19-02-2012 1:21pm

Zarkandar

UrbanSea wrote: »

Where did you see he dropped him 3 lbs? I struggle to believe that

I've never in my life seen a horse dropped 3lbs for winning the biggest handicap hurdle of the year on his first start for 10 months.

So ya, that's complete nonsense

Colonel Sanders · 19-02-2012 1:21pm

Zarkandar

Didn't explicitly say but think it was obvious, for me HF wins if he gets there fit & well

kiers47 · 19-02-2012 1:24pm

Zarkandar

sting60 wrote: »

In order of betting for the Champion Hurdle here are the offical ratings.Hurricane Run 173,Zarkandar 151,Grandouet 164,Binocular 166,Oscars Well 157,Rock On Ruby 158,Celestial Halo 165.Going strictly on ratings Zarkandar has no chance,infact the handicapper was not impressed after his win yesterday dropping him 3lb.Put pure and simple HR in a handicap would be giving the next best Binocular 7lb and the second fav Zarkandar 22lb.

*Fly!!!

Champion Hurdle, 13-03-12

Who's going to win the Champion Hurdle 115 votes

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