Champion Hurdle 2014 thread

SRFC

No point in running it next season just let HF fly parade around and crown him the champion imo.

rossom

It'll take some feat as a 10 year old and we'll have to see how good Our Conor and The New One turn out to be but certainly looks by far the most likely winner to win again.

prettyboy81

What a horse, hopefully he makes it back to Cheltenham 2014 in tip top shape to defend his crown.

He will go down as one of the all time great 2mile Champion Hurdle horses.

Johner

I just can't see Hurricane Fly winning it.We've never seen him at his best at Cheltenham and it will never be his course imo and with the amount of serious contenders coming through I think he'll find it very tough. He could prove me wrong though!

Gringo180

Lads having a bit of a debate with the mate and he reckons HF would easily beat Istabraq, I personally don't think there is much between them but I would be of the opinion if both horses where at there best Istabraq would come out on top, what does you's reckon?

SRFC

Gringo180 wrote: »

Lads having a bit of a debate with the mate and he reckons HF would easily beat Istabraq, I personally don't think there is much between them but I would be of the opinion if both horses where at there best Istabraq would come out on top, what does you's reckon?

HF would eat him imo and I'd bet accordingly if thet met tomorrow,Only for injury hurricane fly should have about 4 champion hurdles won,Like I said Rock on rubys win was a fluke and he'd never beat him again.

Johner

At Cheltenham Istabraq all day every day. In Ireland Hurricane Fly.

Gringo180

Johner wrote: »

At Cheltenham Istabraq all day every day. In Ireland Hurricane Fly.

I would agree with that myself, I don't think the punters across the water have seen the best of Hurricane Fly as he really doesn't seem to take to Cheltenham, I would love to see him at Kempton in something like The Christmas Hurdle I reckon he would love the track there.

RichieLawlor

On Heavy ground in Ireland I think Hurricane Fly is unbeatable, against anything.

At Cheltenham, he wouldn't see which way Istabraq went

UrbanSea

RichieLawlor wrote: »

On Heavy ground in Ireland I think Hurricane Fly is unbeatable, against anything.

At Cheltenham, he wouldn't see which way Istabraq went

Dunno Richie, your dad's horse would have given him a run for his money yesterday.


Fancy My Tent or Yours for next year's champion but I'd like a little bigger than 6/1

SRFC

UrbanSea wrote: »

Dunno Richie, your dad's horse would have given him a run for his money yesterday.


Fancy My Tent or Yours for next year's champion but I'd like a little bigger than 6/1

He needs to settle to have any chance,he couldnt pass champagne fever up the hill,CF wouldnt get within a mile of HF.

UrbanSea

No but only a novice could improve a load (physically)

jimjamcos

I'm hoping that Hurricane Fly will give Our Conor a good beating on bad ground in Ireland (very likely) so I can get a better price on Dessie Hughes' horse come Cheltenham.

shy-tall-knight

Will Rock on Ruby go chasing now I wonder? What other contenders are there? Hurricane Fly, Our Conor, Jezki, My Tent or Yours,The New One....what about Annie Power? I think Willie said that after her last win that she could be a champion hurdle horse, or something to that effect anyway.

jimjamcos

shy-tall-knight wrote: »

Will Rock on Ruby go chasing now I wonder? What other contenders are there? Hurricane Fly, Our Conor, Jezki, My Tent or Yours,The New One....what about Annie Power? I think Willie said that after her last win that she could be a champion hurdle horse, or something to that effect anyway.

Mullins is going to have to split up his hurdlers somehow. Annie Power looks a weapon and with Quevega going back for the Mares 6 in a row, she could be an option for the World Hurdle. Distance doesn't look an issue to Annie Power at all, she has a serious engine.

The other horse of Willies I could see in Champion Hurdle is yesterdays winner Un De Sceaux. Think he has said he'll stay hurdling so if he learns to settle better, he could go right to the top. Ran way too free yesterday but jumps hurdles brilliantly and showed a considerable engine and turn of foot to win the way he did in terrible ground.

kiers47

jimjamcos wrote: »

Mullins is going to have to split up his hurdlers somehow. Annie Power looks a weapon and with Quevega going back for the Mares 6 in a row, she could be an option for the World Hurdle. Distance doesn't look an issue to Annie Power at all, she has a serious engine.

The other horse of Willies I could see in Champion Hurdle is yesterdays winner Un De Sceaux. Think he has said he'll stay hurdling so if he learns to settle better, he could go right to the top. Ran way too free yesterday but jumps hurdles brilliantly and showed a considerable engine and turn of foot to win the way he did in terrible ground.

I would imagine Ricci would want to go the champion hurdle route with Annie Power.
I'm not really sold on Un De Sceaux. Was there on Friday and Didnt really like the look of him in the parade ring but my worries were firmly squashed in what looked an alright event. I wouldn't be a layer but I'm not sure I would want to be taking any short prices about him in the future.

Backstreet Moyes

kiers47 wrote: »

I would imagine Ricci would want to go the champion hurdle route with Annie Power.
I'm not really sold on Un De Sceaux. Was there on Friday and Didnt really like the look of him in the parade ring but my worries were firmly squashed in what looked an alright event. I wouldn't be a layer but I'm not sure I would want to be taking any short prices about him in the future.

I thought it was probably the most impressive horse all week. Pulled so hard and still won on the bridle and jumping flawlessly.

kiers47

Nuts102 wrote: »

I thought it was probably the most impressive horse all week. Pulled so hard and still won on the bridle and jumping flawlessly.

Definitely I couldn't argue with that he won how he wanted. We shall see what happens next season.
FWIW I agree that he was 1 of the more impressive hurdle winners of the week along with Jezki. I thought the bumper horse on the Saturday was another interesting winner of the week for me. The BOC horse.
I was waiting for the horse to run since I seem him win his p2p on paddys day and was glad to see him win as he liked.

SheldonC17

Would it be a smart idea to put money on HF now at 5/1 as he will likely only get shorter?

kiers47

SheldonC17 wrote: »

Would it be a smart idea to put money on HF now at 5/1 as he will likely only get shorter?

It really depends on what you consider value. 10months is a long time to be waiting for a 5/1 shot IMO. And i believe there is absolutely no value in the current 5/1. But its all speculation and opinion.
Im sure there are lads here who think 5/1 is one of the bets of the year!

Slattsy

Jezki will win it!

jimjamcos

SheldonC17 wrote: »

Would it be a smart idea to put money on HF now at 5/1 as he will likely only get shorter?

Well it comes down to whether you think he'll win his Irish races between now and Cheltenham. It's very likely that he will and that he'll turn up at Cheltenham unbeaten and shorter than 5/1. I wouldn't like to be backing a 10 year old to win the CH and particularly one who I still maintain does not fully like the track, regardless of his 2 wins. There are a host of up-an-coming youngsters who will at least put it up to the champ nest year.

mdwexford

Dont back anyone for the next six months anyway.

kfallon

Slattsy wrote: »

Jezki will win it!

I would much rather be on MTOY than Jezki. Reckon come March next year it'll be billed as Ireland v England, The Champ v The New Pretender, The Fly v My Tent Or Yours

Colonel Sanders

I can see MTOY coming to Cheltenham unbeaten having not run over the course all season. So could be a back to lay proposition

Whether he'll be outstayed up the hill again is open to debate however

droidman123

I have a feeling mtoy is gonna be another menorah.

jimjamcos

Our Conor to be beaten on soft in Ireland before reversing form come Cheltenham.

the groutch

I think that there is going to be another "changing of the guard", such is the strength in depth of this year's novices that Hurricane might not even get a look in.

UrbanSea

Heard rumours Camelot has taken very well to hurdling, backed it at 10/1 ante post with PP for next year's champion

Colonel Sanders

UrbanSea wrote: »

Heard rumours Camelot has taken very well to hurdling, backed it at 10/1 ante post with PP for next year's champion

Shrewd move, will be 2/7 on the day

jimjamcos

UrbanSea wrote: »

Heard rumours Camelot has taken very well to hurdling, backed it at 10/1 ante post with PP for next year's champion

On Frankel for Supreme and Black Cavier for Mares. Very confident in both.

droidman123

jimjamcos wrote: »

On Frankel for Supreme and Black Cavier for Mares. Very confident in both.

Frankel is going for the county .

SRFC

the groutch wrote: »

I think that there is going to be another "changing of the guard", such is the strength in depth of this year's novices that Hurricane might not even get a look in.

Sign yourself into the mental home mate seriously,If that bridle horse MTOY who doesnt come up the hill beats Hurricane fly I'll do a lap of the cross country course in the nip,Jezki never won on the course has no hope of winning it against a reigning champion in HF,the rest well good luck to them passing HF it will take an act of god to beat the champ.

UrbanSea

SRFC wrote: »

Sign yourself into the mental home mate seriously,If that bridle horse MTOY who doesnt come up the hill beats Hurricane fly I'll do a lap of the cross country course in the nip,Jezki never won on the course has no hope of winning it against a reigning champion in HF,the rest well good luck to them passing HF it will take an act of god to beat the champ.

Doubt it will hardly take an act of god to beat him as a ten year old, beaten last year and next year's line up looks infinitely better than the crowd he beat this year, he hardly blew them away over there

droidman123

SRFC wrote: »

Sign yourself into the mental home mate seriously,If that bridle horse MTOY who doesnt come up the hill beats Hurricane fly I'll do a lap of the cross country course in the nip,Jezki never won on the course has no hope of winning it against a reigning champion in HF,the rest well good luck to them passing HF it will take an act of god to beat the champ.

Omg I,m imaging SRFC chasing home big Shu in the cross country chase in the nip....not a pretty sight

jimjamcos

droidman123 wrote: »

Frankel is going for the county .

Ah fuck that. Trust Cecil to play it safe with him! :P

SRFC

UrbanSea wrote: »

Doubt it will hardly take an act of god to beat him as a ten year old, beaten last year and next year's line up looks infinitely better than the crowd he beat this year, he hardly blew them away over there

He was beaten because he wasnt right please dont be using that as a stick to poke at him,As Ive said hundreds of times rock on ruby would not beat HF ever again it was a fluke result,im sure he will have his opposers this year again but ill be on him and will enjoy taking the layers money again for a 3rd time at the festival.

jimjamcos

SRFC wrote: »

He was beaten because he wasnt right please dont be using that as a stick to poke at him,As Ive said hundreds of times rock on ruby would not beat HF ever again it was a fluke result,im sure he will have his opposers this year again but ill be on him and will enjoy taking the layers money again for a 3rd time at the festival.

Would you (honestly) have backed him in running half way through this years CH SFRC?

Yes or no answer please.

SRFC

jimjamcos wrote: »

Would you (honestly) have backed him in running half way through this years CH SFRC?

Yes or no answer please.

Honestly thought he was beaten over the far side,felt sick as I had probably too much on him for my heart but when he came swinging two out it was all over,so the answer would be no,as I do say if the champion hurdle was ran at leopardstown every year he'd be 1/5,Im not stupid and blinkered to think he handles the track perfectly but he's still 2/3 which is a testament to him.

jimjamcos

SRFC wrote: »

Honestly thought he was beaten over the far side,felt sick as I had probably too much on him for my heart but when he came swinging two out it was all over,so the answer would be no,as I do say if the champion hurdle was ran at leopardstown every year he'd be 1/5,Im not stupid and blinkered to think he handles the track perfectly but he's still 2/3 which is a testament to him.

But it's not. He's won 2 Champion Hurdles on his class and class alone. Thanks for the honest answer though.

droidman123

SRFC wrote: »

Honestly thought he was beaten over the far side,felt sick as I had probably too much on him for my heart but when he came swinging two out it was all over,so the answer would be no,as I do say if the champion hurdle was ran at leopardstown every year he'd be 1/5,Im not stupid and blinkered to think he handles the track perfectly but he's still 2/3 which is a testament to him.

I,m genuinely not being funny,but that is a very fair synopsis Srfc, nobody could argue with that. I have always said that last year rock on ruby was a fair and worthy winner on the day. I have stated on here on numerous occasions that it was extremely unfair to make excuses for all the other horses rather than give credit were its due for r.o.r. I don't know if h.f was right or wrong last year,but for won the race on merit.

SRFC

droidman123 wrote: »

I,m genuinely not being funny,but that is a very fair synopsis Srfc, nobody could argue with that. I have always said that last year rock on ruby was a fair and worthy winner on the day. I have stated on here on numerous occasions that it was extremely unfair to make excuses for all the other horses rather than give credit were its due for r.o.r. I don't know if h.f was right or wrong last year,but for won the race on merit.

Do you honestly think HF would be hard pushed at any track to only be half a length in front of binocular,sure even overturn being 2nd is very questionable,he's decent but champion hurdle class he's not,anyways Im sure there'll be plenty of debate come winter time,Im starting to get bored of the whole season being used as a spring board to Cheltenham lately,HF's wins in Ireland are magnificent and so dominant people just take him for granted when he hammers thousand stars and the like,but then again thats for another thread.

droidman123

SRFC wrote: »

Do you honestly think HF would be hard pushed at any track to only be half a length in front of binocular,sure even overturn being 2nd is very questionable,he's decent but champion hurdle class he's not,anyways Im sure there'll be plenty of debate come winter time,Im starting to get bored of the whole season being used as a spring board to Cheltenham lately,HF's wins in Ireland are magnificent and so dominant people just take him for granted when he hammers thousand stars and the like,but then again thats for another thread.

I think you completely missed my point, I was saying ror won the ch last year totally on merit, he wasn't lucky to win it, he was the best horse on the day. Do you agree with that?

klairondavis

My Tent Or Yours does not look like a Cheltenham horse. He looks like one of those types that will be pulling a roller swinging in but will need oxygen by the time he's half way up the run in. He'll probably win impressively at flat tracks like Newcastle and Kempton next season but he'll be readily opposable at Cheltenham.

The New One's jumping needs to improve a lot.

Our Conor has a serious future ahead of him and might just have the latent ability to defy the age stats but you sense he might need another year on his back before he's a Champion Hurdle winner.

I don't think Jezki is good enough for a Champion Hurdle and he should be going chasing IMO.

It all boils down to Hurricane Fly again. If he retains 90% of his ability he will probably win again. He was struggling at half way this year but he still won quite impressively with a fair bit up his sleeve.

Colonel Sanders

Jezki doesn't strike me as having the size to jump fences

While 5 year olds haven't the greatest win record in the champion plenty have been placed over the last 5-6 years and IMO apart from Binocular none of them looked to be anything close to Our Conor as juveniles. Since Katchit won as a 5yo in 2008:

- 5yos finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th in 2009
- A 5yo finished 3rd in 2010
- No show in 2011 but both 5yos that lined up were no hopers IMO eventhough Mille Chief started 16/1
- 3 lined up in 2012, 2 of which were no hopers and Zarkandar finished 5th over what now looks to be an inadequate trip off an interrupted prep
- Countrywide Flame finished 3rd this year and the only other 5yo lining up was a complete no hoper

I wouldn't let the 5yo stat put me off Our Conor at all

klairondavis

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

Jezki doesn't strike me as having the size to jump fences

While he does not stand out as a chasing type, he has a fair bit of scope. I think they are wasting their time hurdling with Hurricane Fly still around and Our Conor potentially stepping up against the older brigade. They messed up Oscars Well by keeping him hurdling. His brains were blown against the top hurdlers and he picked up bad habits jumping the smaller obstacles for so long. That has denied him the chance to become a top level chaser.

Johner

Jezki got an awful ride at Cheltenham dived at the second last and clattered the last. I would not write him off based on that run.

UrbanSea

SRFC wrote: »

He was beaten because he wasnt right please dont be using that as a stick to poke at him,As Ive said hundreds of times rock on ruby would not beat HF ever again it was a fluke result,im sure he will have his opposers this year again but ill be on him and will enjoy taking the layers money again for a 3rd time at the festival.

It's a fact he was beaten, it's no stick to poke him. Do you really think if he ran the same race that won it for him this year that it'd be good enough next year with the horses that are coming through? No way

RichieLawlor

klairondavis wrote: »

While he does not stand out as a chasing type, he has a fair bit of scope.

Doesn't look to me like he has the scope for fences. Saw him at punchestown and he's tiny.

premierstone

UrbanSea wrote: »

It's a fact he was beaten, it's no stick to poke him. Do you really think if he ran the same race that won it for him this year that it'd be good enough next year with the horses that are coming through? No way

I see no reason why a repeat of this years run wouldnt be good enough, proven championship form over potentail, of what is admittedly a strong looking bunch of second season hurdlers, I take the former anyday.

Off course the big question is whether at 10 HF will retain he's ability, again he has not been heavily raced and has won most races so easily I see no reason why he wont retain he's ability, injury free I expect him to be favourite on the day, but I would not back him now and have my monet tied up for 10 months on a horse who has missed two festivals.

mdwexford

Far too early to be saying MTOY is not a Cheltenham horse.
The same could have been said about Binocular after his Supreme Novices.