Champion Chase

wicorthered

Only 8 horses are declared to take on Sprinter Sacre at the latest forfeit stage. I'd imagine Sizing Europe, Cue Card and Finians Rainbow will all go for the Ryanair.

How many horses can people see going to post? I can see it being a 3-4 horse race!

Overthelast

A few might turn up but it will be a one horse race!

ste2010

Just like the arkle...shocking! I can appreciate the champion chase defectors but the arkle...no imagination whatsoever some trainers

Colonel Sanders

Bit of a farce but with the Ryanair as a consolation prize it's no surprise

Further evidence that the extra day is diluting the quality of a once great (3-day) festival

And diluting the fun for each way thieves such as my good self!!

Baggio1

real shame that flemenstar is out i think he would have given sprinter a serious test with his speed and terrific jumping, sprinter is veryy good but he still hasnt faced anything like sizing europe or flemenstar so IF neither of them are involved it will be a dull champion chase with a real lack of quality in it... see what happens...

byronbay2

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

Further evidence that the extra day is diluting the quality of a once great (3-day) festival.

Couldn't agree more, definite diminution of quality since 4th day was introduced. A 4-day festival also makes it a pain in the arse for people travelling from Ireland - 3 days was just about doable, 4 days is too much but then you miss one of the days travelling unless you go for the full 4! Lets just hope they never decide to make it 5!
However, on the other hand, I think that The Ryanair was the 1 great addition to the meeting, although I believe they should have added it to day 2 of a 3-day festival. You NEED a championship race at a distance between the sprint of the QMCC and the marathon of The GC.

premierstone

Champion Chase has never attracted a large field, not sure you can blame this on the four day festival, there has been 5 and 6 runner fields in the recent past long before Sprinter Sacre or indeed the Ryanair.

klairondavis

byronbay2 wrote: »

Couldn't agree more, definite diminution of quality since 4th day was introduced. A 4-day festival also makes it a pain in the arse for people travelling from Ireland - 3 days was just about doable, 4 days is too much but then you miss one of the days travelling unless you go for the full 4! Lets just hope they never decide to make it 5!
However, on the other hand, I think that The Ryanair was the 1 great addition to the meeting, although I believe they should have added it to day 2 of a 3-day festival. You NEED a championship race at a distance between the sprint of the QMCC and the marathon of The GC.

They already had one - the Melling Chase at Aintree.

byronbay2

premierstone wrote: »

Champion Chase has never attracted a large field, not sure you can blame this on the four day festival, there has been 5 and 6 runner fields in the recent past long before Sprinter Sacre or indeed the Ryanair.

I can't remember a 5-6 runner field in The CC (possibly Master Minded beat a very small field one year?) - you normally get a select field of 8-12 runners. The creation of The Ryanair has definitely affected the quantities of runners in The CC but I don't think any of the defectors would have won anyway.

Slightly different this year, with everyone seemingly desperate to avoid SS. I personally think that both Finian's Rainbow (I know it's the same trainer as SS) and Sizing Europe should take him on and put him under pressure. Let SS PROVE how good he is ffs!

Slattsy

Can a Mod get the finger out and merge these threads.
I've a feeling this could happen quite a lot on the run up to the fistival, cheers lads.

http://http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056858520