Champion Hurdle 2010

cson

What a performance from Khyber Kim, stayed on really well up that hill. For a horse Nicholls says he had in top condition for the race today, Celestial Halo looked a little laboured in my eyes. Punjabi well beaten, found nothing coming up the hill. That said he could do with the run. Last years market principles are struggling somewhat this year and I'm of the opinion something like Zaynar could hoover them all up come March. Continues his upward curve with a win today. Looking like its going to be one of the most competitive renewals ever!

mdwexford

Stick a pin in them at the moment.

Really is wide open, i still think Binocular is the one id want to be on if the race was on tomorrow.

Ive been a Zaynar fan since the Triumph and hes done nothing wrong since, still has to do it against something of note though.

cson

mdwexford wrote: »

Really is wide open, i still think Binocular is the one id want to be on if the race was on tomorrow.

Depends on his next run to be honest. I'd be on Binoculars side but the 5/1 about him is far too short considering the amount of decent rivals and the question mark from the fighting fifth over him.

deccy15

mdwexford wrote: »

Stick a pin in them at the moment.

Really is wide open, i still think Binocular is the one id want to be on if the race was on tomorrow.

Ive been a Zaynar fan since the Triumph and hes done nothing wrong since, still has to do it against something of note though.

Seriously????

Was he not beaten out of sight just 2 weeks ago, I'm not sayin they will win or anythin but surely it has to be solwhit or go native if the race was tomorrow as they have proved themselves most thus far this season!!

I do agree with you on Zaynar tho. I think Ebadiyan would have ran him quite close in the triumph and on a line thru his form he's miles off the top few!!!

mdwexford

deccy15 wrote: »

Seriously????

Was he not beaten out of sight just 2 weeks ago, I'm not sayin they will win or anythin but surely it has to be solwhit or go native if the race was tomorrow as they have proved themselves most thus far this season!!

I do agree with you on Zaynar tho. I think Ebadiyan would have ran him quite close in the triumph and on a line thru his form he's miles off the top few!!!

Im willing to forgive him that one time because hes proved hes better than that several times before, chance he wasnt as ready to run as they thought he was at home.

I have my doubts about the 2 you mentioned in a breakneck pace decent ground Champion Hurdle.

Zaynar would smash Ebadiyan now in fairness, imo at least.
He certainly is a player but being fav is perhaps a little bit premature.

Stewie Griffin

It's the most open CH in a while. It's hard to be dismissive about any of about ten horses really. The obvious form picks at the moment are Go Native and Khyber Kim and I reckon a strongly run CH will suit them both. Last year's Supreme was a fast race and GN cruised to the front on the bridle. KK did likewise today and looks like a battler too.

Long way to go though....

corny

Think the Novice form from last year is proving the better. Celestial Halo had no excuses today. Had a really strong pace from Ashkazar to work off, took it up when he wanted and was easily beaten in the end- Paddy Brennan said he got there too soon too. For me Punjabi and Celestial Halo were always vulnerable if they can't burn them off before the hill so, again for me, i'd write them off now.

Zaynar has to beat something first before i take notice but you'd be a fool to write him off given how impressive he's been to date.

Go native would be firm fav in my book at this stage.

Nulty

Lads, have you watched that race today or what?

Khyber Kim beat the Champion Hurdle 1,2 with hands and heels. Two slaps down the neck and that was it. :cool:

Fair enough punjabi has excuses but Khyber Kim is obviously able for much more. Wonder what he's capable of off the bridal?

Bluetonic

Nulty wrote: »

Wonder what he's capable of off the bridal?

He could produce nothing off the bridal, he wouldn't be the first horse Champion Hurdle horse who doesn't.

Morgans

I don't think Khyber Kim won with much up his sleeve yesterday. But to be good enough to win a champion, he doesn't need to have anything much up his sleeve. Has to be in the mix, especially as he travels so well over the course. If the horse was still with Henderson he'd probably be shorter again. Twiston-Davies always has his horses very fit this time of the year. If he was mine I'd be tempted to run him fresh in the champion, which isn't really Twiston-Davies's MO. Celestial Halo looking a bit exposed, Zaynar not as impressive as I had hoped (Cape Tribulation is a nice horse that said). Very very difficult at the moment. Gun to the head, probably Solwhit.

Nulty

Bluetonic wrote: »

He could produce nothing off the bridal, he wouldn't be the first horse Champion Hurdle horse who doesn't.

Thats what I was thinking

cson

Nulty wrote: »

Lads, have you watched that race today or what?

Khyber Kim beat the Champion Hurdle 1,2 with hands and heels. Two slaps down the neck and that was it. :cool:

Fair enough punjabi has excuses but Khyber Kim is obviously able for much more. Wonder what he's capable of off the bridal?

2.5 lengths isn't exactly a hands and heels display. He earned that win and even Paddy Brennan said he got there too early.

meriwether

Just had a quick look at the odds there - best odds for all are:

Zaynar 5/1
Hurricane F 11/2
Binocular 11/2
Solwit 7/1
Celestial h 10/1
Go Native 12/1
Khyber Kim 12/1
Punjabi 14/1
Dunguib 16/1
Voler la Vedette 16/1
Medermit 40/1
Subllimity 40/1.

I have to say that the value there for me is Go Native at 12/1. I know there are cribs about the fighting fifth, but he has won a Supreme Novice hurdle over course and distance.

I also think there's value in the bottom 2 - Medermit at 40 and Sublimity at 40.
We know Sublimity will definitely be aimed at it.

Nulty

cson wrote: »

2.5 lengths isn't exactly a hands and heels display. He earned that win and even Paddy Brennan said he got there too early.

What do you mean hands and heels 'display'? He didn't pull the whip. Maybe the whip doesn't make a difference to Khyber but it doesn't take away from the fact that the horse beat the CH 1,2 without taking a lash.

Shan75

I think there's enough question marks about the majority of this field.

I'd be concerned about backing Binocular in the Champion as he has now come up short twice at the festival after twice beating Celestial Hero, including last years Bula which I suppose at least shows he can win at Cheltenham, and also winning a couple of mickey mouse races.

I think the form of last year's Champion Hurdle is very questionable with horses that will beat each other depending on which day it is run.There is no stand out performer from that race as all the first three have been well beaten as has the 5th and lots of others have gone on to chasing.

Solwhit is still of interest provided he shows the Newcastle race was a one off blip.

Go Native is interesting after his demolition job at Newcastle but he has twice been blown away by Hurricane Fly.Provided Hurricane Fly's last outing was a blip he along with Zaynar are the most interesting for me at this moment but there is a long way to go yet and still the AIG to be run.

Whyno

meriwether wrote: »

Just had a quick look at the odds there - best odds for all are:

Zaynar 5/1
Hurricane F 11/2
Binocular 11/2
Solwit 7/1
Celestial h 10/1
Go Native 12/1
Khyber Kim 12/1
Punjabi 14/1
Dunguib 16/1
Voler la Vedette 16/1
Medermit 40/1
Subllimity 40/1.

I have to say that the value there for me is Go Native at 12/1. I know there are cribs about the fighting fifth, but he has won a Supreme Novice hurdle over course and distance.

I also think there's value in the bottom 2 - Medermit at 40 and Sublimity at 40.
We know Sublimity will definitely be aimed at it.

In BG`s interview after saturdays race he stated that there wasnt a horse going to beat him 2 out and then Punjabi blew up. Its a well documented fact that punjabi needs his first run to blow the cobwebs off. Unlike last year when he had 2 preps on the flat he had no prep this year and thus paid the price. 14s for the champion hurdler is a massive price and hes seriously underated imo.
With the way all the fancied horses are getting turned over its throwing the form book into disarray. I think Khyber Kims win was impressive at the weekend but he is a bridle horse and a horse with a massive amount of speed. Can twiston davies have him in the same condition come march. He`ll be a live contender if so but he will have to battle a lot harder in march i feel.
As it stands i`ll stay on the ditch for another while but leopardstown at christmas and kempton should hopefully start to clear the mucky water we have atm.

mdwexford

Shan75 wrote: »

I think there's enough question marks about the majority of this field.

I'd be concerned about backing Binocular in the Champion as he has now come up short twice at the festival after twice beating Celestial Hero, including last years Bula which I suppose at least shows he can win at Cheltenham, and also winning a couple of mickey mouse races.

I think the form of last year's Champion Hurdle is very questionable with horses that will beat each other depending on which day it is run.There is no stand out performer from that race as all the first three have been well beaten as has the 5th and lots of others have gone on to chasing.

Solwhit is still of interest provided he shows the Newcastle race was a one off blip.

Go Native is interesting after his demolition job at Newcastle but he has twice been blown away by Hurricane Fly.Provided Hurricane Fly's last outing was a blip he along with Zaynar are the most interesting for me at this moment but there is a long way to go yet and still the AIG to be run.

This is the way its been in 2 mile hurdles since Istabraq retired really.
Nothing between lots of them and just whoevers in tip top shape on any given day.

Colonel Sanders

This year's race is very tough to call

Zaynar is still unbeaten but odds of 1/5 beforehand prove that he only did what was expected

Binocular ran poorly first time out (altho see the Solwhit comments below) and has been beaten twice at Cheltenham.

Hurricane fly was stuffed by Solwhit first time out, but may have not been ready and Mullins horses have been very in and out for a while now

Solwhit was my pick at the start of the year and if you can forgive the Newcastle run (no pace, turned into a 4 furlong sprint) is still a major contender. We'll know more after his next run

Celestial Halo won well first time out. Albeit a weak race he was giving lumps of weight away. Thought he was a stone cold certainty Saturday but looked to have no excuses bar a few sloppy jumps

Go Native has won 2 from 3 this year and the ground may have been against him, according to Meade, when beaten up North

Kyber Kim was very impressive on Saturday. He received 4lbs from the runner up but he'd have beaten CH with an extra 4lbs on his back IMO. That's 2 good performances back to back in Cheltenham. I'm always wary of NTD horses come the festival tho, he seems to get them to peak early in the year

Punjabi travelled really well on Saturday but seemed to blow up. Needs to be given another chance before making a firm judgement

SO to summarise I haven't got a bloody clue

bit of a bogey

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

This year's race is very tough to call......
.......SO to summarise I haven't got a bloody clue

Who does! Its brilliant tho! A race thats filled with class but is completely wide open. I dont think punjabi will win a 2nd champion hurdle in a row even though I wudnt mind the run the weekend. Barry was very easy on him and only giving him a blow out.

I would however mind Celestial Halo's run and I'll be laying him. I do think he was primed to go but just came short up against a superior horse. Khyber kim was very impressive and still had plenty left in the drawer. I would be afraid that he's peaking at the wrong time of year tho. Twiston Davies always has his yard in tip top shape at the start of the season and more often than not are burnt out come new year. He did say he's not goin to work kyber kim too hard which definitely gives me hope. He looks something special!

Zaynar still has it all to prove with the big boys. Solwhit is a very useful sort but may come up a little short. Hurricane Fly will certainly improve from his last run. Binocular will be there abouts. Volar la Vedette could be anything and Go Native must be seriously considered!

I do not think Dunguib will go in the champion hurdle but paddypower offering 4/1 with a run is a great price! I reckon the only way Dunguib will go champion hurdle is if he runs with the big boys and wins the irish AIG in style. If that happens he'll go off shorter that 4/1 in march! If he doesnt win the AIG in January then you'll get your money back! not a bad bet in my opinion.

(im also tempted to back dunguib to win the supreme novices by 4 1/2 lengths or more! http://www.paddypower.com/racing/cheltenham-betting/cheltenham-specials )

Shan75

mdwexford wrote: »

This is the way its been in 2 mile hurdles since Istabraq retired really.
Nothing between lots of them and just whoevers in tip top shape on any given day.

I'd agree with you but at least Hardy Eustace was able to win it 2 years in a row but yes we have not had a consistently brilliant performer since the mighty one retired.Competitive races are good but having one or two horses of supreme class is always great.At least we have it in some of the other divisions I suppose.

mdwexford

bit of a bogey wrote: »

Who does! Its brilliant tho! A race thats filled with class but is completely wide open. I dont think punjabi will win a 2nd champion hurdle in a row even though I wudnt mind the run the weekend. Barry was very easy on him and only giving him a blow out.

I would however mind Celestial Halo's run and I'll be laying him. I do think he was primed to go but just came short up against a superior horse. Khyber kim was very impressive and still had plenty left in the drawer. I would be afraid that he's peaking at the wrong time of year tho. Twiston Davies always has his yard in tip top shape at the start of the season and more often than not are burnt out come new year. He did say he's not goin to work kyber kim too hard which definitely gives me hope. He looks something special!

Zaynar still has it all to prove with the big boys. Solwhit is a very useful sort but may come up a little short. Hurricane Fly will certainly improve from his last run. Binocular will be there abouts. Volar la Vedette could be anything and Go Native must be seriously considered!

I do not think Dunguib will go in the champion hurdle but paddypower offering 4/1 with a run is a great price! I reckon the only way Dunguib will go champion hurdle is if he runs with the big boys and wins the irish AIG in style. If that happens he'll go off shorter that 4/1 in march! If he doesnt win the AIG in January then you'll get your money back! not a bad bet in my opinion.

(im also tempted to back dunguib to win the supreme novices by 4 1/2 lengths or more! http://www.paddypower.com/racing/cheltenham-betting/cheltenham-specials )

I stopped reading after this comment, i may have to put you on ignore now im afraid.

bit of a bogey

I do think thats a good price as the only way he'll run in the champion hurdle is if he blows the opposition out of the water in the AIG. If he does that he'll definitly go of shorter than 4/1. Lay him off at about 11/4 champion hurdle day and you have a free bet! No???

corny

mdwexford wrote: »

I stopped reading after this comment, i may have to put you on ignore now im afraid.

I'm sure that will really f*** up his day.

mdwexford

bit of a bogey wrote: »

I do think thats a good price as the only way he'll run in the champion hurdle is if he blows the opposition out of the water in the AIG. If he does that he'll definitly go of shorter than 4/1. Lay him off at about 11/4 champion hurdle day and you have a free bet! No???

He wont run in the Champion Hurdle and to be honest id rather take the chance and take the 27 on Betfair if i really believed there was any hope of him ending up there. 4's is so short it makes me want to cry thinking about it.

corny wrote: »

I'm sure that will really f*** up his today.

Doubt it very much.
Oh wait you were being sarcastic.
hahaha :rolleyes:

sting60

Zaynar/alan kings,choc thorntons mount.i dont know his name yet but i hear he is a superstar.this used to be an irish banker race.are Willie Mullins horses over hyped .Its ok winning here by half the track when gun put to the head their either not good enough or some lame excuse about injury.Where are all these bumper winners over last few years???

Colonel Sanders

sting60 wrote: »

Zaynar/alan kings,choc thorntons mount.i dont know his name yet but i hear he is a superstar.

Going by Alan King's comments from the day the horse set foot in the yard you could be referring to Lidar

And he's out for the season after a disappointing start to the 2009/10 season

Colonel Sanders

sting60 wrote: »

Where are all these bumper winners over last few years???

This is a pretty naive comment

2008 Cousin Vinny - winning hurdler with a grade 1 2nd to his name. Would have won a grade one on Hennessy day but for unshipping jockey at final hurdle.

2007 Cork All Star - Hurdle winner. Would have a grade 1 over hurdles on his CV had he not made a mess of the last in the Royal Bond IMO

2006 Hairy Molly - Hurdle and chase winner altho in fairness failed to set the world on fire

2005 Missed that - Grade 1 winning chaser, unfortunately died before making his 2nd season chase debut

2004 Total enjoyment - hurdle winner but unfortunately died prematurely. Not sure she'd have made a great hurdler as she was a very small mare

2003 Liberman - One of the worst winners ever of this race IMO. 2nd place horse won an RSA chase and a Hennessy

2002 Pizarro - Earned another placing in the 2003 festival and won 2 grade one's over fences in his novice year. 2nd horse turned into a top class novice hurdler starting favourite in the next year's champion. 3rd placed horse won the following year's Supreme novice

2000 Joe Cullen - See Hairy Molly!!

1999 Monsignor - Top class novice hurdler who won the following season's RSA hurdle. Would have made an incredible chaser had he stayed sound IMO

Morgans

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

Going by Alan King's comments from the day the horse set foot in the yard you could be referring to Lidar

And he's out for the season after a disappointing start to the 2009/10 season

Lidar's bubble has been well burst, and he is a novice and will be next year. I'm pretty sure that if there was a potential champion hurdler in King's by now, we'd know about it. Think Medermit has an outside chance, but if I was going to make a stab at the horse that it COULD be, unlikely that it is, its probably Walkon, whose form ties in with Zaynar.

Colonel Sanders

Morgans wrote: »

Walkon

Aside from novice's it strikes me as the only horse it could be

And he supposedly misses this season too

cson

Kings yard is in rotten form at the moment.

Whyno

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

2003 Liberman - One of the worst winners ever of this race IMO. 2nd place horse won an RSA chase and a Hennessy

McCoy carried this lad up the hill that day.Landed a massive gamble to.Never was right after this race.

I think i remember reading an Alan King interview stating that Walk On was to run in novice chases this season. Could be wrong on that.
But he could be the only concievable horse that king has in his yard that could possibly be up to champion hurdle standard barring one of the rag he has in the yard got a ferrari engine installed over the summer

handsomecake

medermit for me e/w

Colonel Sanders

Whyno wrote: »

Landed a massive gamble to.

I remember this well, was my first time at the festival

One horse book would be an understatement, he was smashed into

prettyboy81

Go Native for me & also to win the Christmas Hurdle this saturday....

bit of a bogey

handsomecake wrote: »

medermit for me e/w

Medermit is certain to improve but personally I just dont think he's going to improve enough. For me Volar la Vedette has the most scope. It'll be interesting at christmas to see what direction she'll go!

Colonel Sanders

bit of a bogey wrote: »

For me Volar la Vedette has the most scope. It'll be interesting at christmas to see what direction she'll go!

entered in the big festival hurdle at Leopardstown

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=racing/09/12/21/RACING_December.html

mdwexford

Hurricane Fly injured, definitely misses December Hurdle and possibly the festival as well.

bit of a bogey

mdwexford wrote: »

Hurricane Fly injured, definitely misses December Hurdle and possibly the festival as well.

Disastrous news! Was looking forward to seeing how he'd fair!

kildareman09

hurricane fly will be out for the season id say

bit of a bogey

Could have been exciting!

Whyno

Dammit anyway...Now no of our questions will be answered on this fellow......

Rio 2016

One disaster after another for the Willie Mullins camp. What on earth is going on in that stable?

Baggio

Rio 2016

seems bizzar baad luck with Willie Mullins hurricane fly out, cooldine "held up", and even mikael d'ageney has had a "couple of setbacks!"....what on earth is happening there??? nothing seems to be going right........terrible shame...

we have dam all top notch chasers over here now apart from cooldine and Mikael and MAYBE joncol/notre pere who have a lot of proving to do.......so last thing we need is a load of bad luck going about!

bit of a bogey

Has anyone heard any word on Quevega?

Colonel Sanders

Right, will probably be laughed off the forum for saying this but, is there a chance Mullins could keep Mikael over hurdles this year an aim him at the champion (altho he is entered in a beginners chase at Leopardstown over Xmas?

Won the 2m 5 novice at Cheltenham last year but also has bags of pace. A mate suggested this to me a while back, saying if it was after Xmas when he finally was ready to run and/or if anything happened to Hurricane fly they might give it a go. Didn't think anything of it then but he's only rising 6 so plenty of time for fences next season

mdwexford

Guess its possible, and he would be a VERY interesting contender.

Baggio

doubt it he's 6 which is for many horses the ideal novice chaser age, anything after that and your chasing the clock really...i'd say he'll do novice chasing and go to bigger things next year at 7...thats what most top notch horses do.

Kauto

Would not have the pace for the champion. Would be struggling even if it came up bottomless at cheltenham.

finbarrk

I have Zaynar backed for the Champion, 5/1 Ladbrookes. It's in a treble actually with Big Bucks and Kauto Star. 40/1 the treble.

Rio 2016

bit of a bogey wrote: »

Has anyone heard any word on Quevega?

The last I heard Mullins said he would be quite happy to send her staright to the Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham. The reason for that is anybodys guess.

Whyno

Baggio wrote: »

doubt it he's 6 which is for many horses the ideal novice chaser age, anything after that and your chasing the clock really...i'd say he'll do novice chasing and go to bigger things next year at 7...thats what most top notch horses do.

Its different for french breds though. They start jumping at an earlier age and finish there careers earlier also.
Cant see MD reverting to hurdles barring he doesnt take to fences but he has jumped fences in france already so i`d see him jumping over here with no problems and thus if getting to cheltenham winning the RSA chase.