2014 Champion Hurdle

Huntley

I'm intrigued by the lack of discussion surrounding the running of the race. With five horses at the top closely matched, and two potential wildcards, I don't think there is one horse that will always win under different conditions. Establishing how the race will most likely develop makes finding the winner a significantly easier task.

zpehtsfd

Huntley wrote: »

I'm intrigued by the lack of discussion surrounding the running of the race. With five horses at the top closely matched, and two potential wildcards, I don't think there is one horse that will always win under different conditions. Establishing how the race will most likely develop makes finding the winner a significantly easier task.

We're all waiting to find out if UDS is running.

BumperD

I guess there will be plenty of front running types so that sets it up for those who like to sit off a fast pace and pounce late. HF,OC and MTOY, in that order, fit that bill unless I have missed one. Still siding with HF but OC improved the last day. From watching the interviews post race and the way HF met the crowd post race, I sensed that may be almost a farewell so am looking again at OC

hucklebuck

ste2010 wrote: »

People read far too into this given the owners are different, she is better placed in the champion than the world

Excellent English for a change, you must have cogged it

jimjamcos

Huntley wrote: »

I'm intrigued by the lack of discussion surrounding the running of the race. With five horses at the top closely matched, and two potential wildcards, I don't think there is one horse that will always win under different conditions. Establishing how the race will most likely develop makes finding the winner a significantly easier task.

Annie Power doesn't run. UDS sets a searing gallop, OC and TNO travel from off the pace, looking like they're going well and closing but UDS kicks on again to power up the hill to victory. HF a staying on 4th. Rest nowhere.

Its what dreams are made off!

mdwexford

BumperD wrote: »

I guess there will be plenty of front running types so that sets it up for those who like to sit off a fast pace and pounce late. HF,OC and MTOY, in that order, fit that bill unless I have missed one. Still siding with HF but OC improved the last day. From watching the interviews post race and the way HF met the crowd post race, I sensed that may be almost a farewell so am looking again at OC

Don't think HF is best suited a fast pace at all.
A dawdle on heavy ground would suit him nicely.

hucklebuck

BumperD wrote: »

I guess there will be plenty of front running types so that sets it up for those who like to sit off a fast pace and pounce late. HF,OC and MTOY, in that order, fit that bill unless I have missed one. Still siding with HF but OC improved the last day. From watching the interviews post race and the way HF met the crowd post race, I sensed that may be almost a farewell so am looking again at OC

I hope you are not including UDS as a front running type to set it up, he will take some catching.

mr.jingle

I'd love to see Un De Sceaux run with Hurricane Fly in the CH but don't think that will happen.
In a perfect world i'd have Quevega take on Big Buck's in the World Hurdle and let Annie Power mop up the Mares Hurdle and then move her up next year. Wishful thinking though as it will never happen as history is more important. It'd be nice to see if Quevega could put it up to Big Bucks.

Just looking at the festival card there and being honest it looks so diluted with uninteresting handicaps. Pity we'll never see the 3 day festival again and to be honest it will only be a matter of years before we see a 5 day festival with Conditional Mare handicaps, Mare Chases, a 2 miler Cross Country race, Novice Gold Cup or something along them lines!

BumperD

mdwexford wrote: »

Don't think HF is best suited a fast pace at all.
A dawdle on heavy ground would suit him nicely.

Would agree to an extent, but he can handle a fast pace better than most, but not all, in the field. He's quite adaptable.

BumperD

hucklebuck wrote: »

I hope you are not including UDS as a front running type to set it up, he will take some catching.

I was , wouldn't it be exciting with him in it.

longshotvalue

mr.jingle wrote: »

I'd love to see Un De Sceaux run with Hurricane Fly in the CH but don't think that will happen.
In a perfect world i'd have Quevega take on Big Buck's in the World Hurdle and let Annie Power mop up the Mares Hurdle and then move her up next year. Wishful thinking though as it will never happen as history is more important. It'd be nice to see if Quevega could put it up to Big Bucks.

Just looking at the festival card there and being honest it looks so diluted with uninteresting handicaps. Pity we'll never see the 3 day festival again and to be honest it will only be a matter of years before we see a 5 day festival with Conditional Mare handicaps, Mare Chases, a 2 miler Cross Country race, Novice Gold Cup or something along them lines!

:eek::eek:

Every Handicap at the festival is a strongly contested high class race with every horse trying, whats not to like...

Colonel Sanders

The novices handicap chase is a total joke. What place does a 0-140 handicap chase for novices have at the festival? And that's before you factor in there's now a Grade 1 run over the same trip. The Fred Winter clears some of the dead wood out of the triumph but again in itself isn't worth it's place at the festival. Ditto the X country

3 days was the job!

Anyway this post is all off topic

RichieLawlor

The Un De Sceaux hype is just laughable at this stage

klairondavis

I agree about the novice handicap chase. The Fred Winter and Martin Pipe races are others that add nothing to the festival.

Colonel Sanders

klairondavis wrote: »

I agree about the novice handicap chase. The Fred Winter and Martin Pipe races are others that add nothing to the festival.

Last time I go off topic

Completely forgot about the Martin Pipe. I'm not sure I've ever watched it live if I'm being honest. But agree with your sentiments

Let's hope Waley Cohen doesn't get his way & introduce another mares race FFS

mdwexford

BumperD wrote: »

Would agree to an extent, but he can handle a fast pace better than most, but not all, in the field. He's quite adaptable.

Yes well he wouldnt be the horse he is and won what hes won if not but it definitely doesnt see him at his best imo. Not to mention does the course suit him at all.

Hes winning Champion Hurdles because hes so talented rather than the conditions of the race and the course suiting him.

Hulk Hands

mdwexford wrote: »

Hes winning Champion Hurdles because hes so talented rather than the conditions of the race and the course suiting him.

Exactly why he's ahead of Istabraq imo. He's a montjeau and wins at Cheltenham in spite of a track he dislikes. Virtually unbeatable elsewhere. If he was brought to Aintree hurdles and Christmas Hurdles at Kempton he'd have 4 each of those crowns too.

redzerdrog

UDS wont win the Champion Hurdle either way but I hope he doesn't run because i do think him running will hinder hurricane fly

Harry Angstrom

klairondavis wrote: »

I agree about the novice handicap chase. The Fred Winter and Martin Pipe races are others that add nothing to the festival.

The only good thing about the Fred Winter is that it gets rid of a lot of the dead wood from the Triumph Hurdle. The Triumph has become a much easier race to predict since the inception of the FW. No more Ikdams and Rare Holidays (hopefully).

hucklebuck

RichieLawlor wrote: »

The Un De Sceaux hype is just laughable at this stage

Who will win it and why?

You are always quick to try rubbish horses and hindsight peoples selections but very little in the way of assessment of future races.

Balls out of the bath Richie.

RichieLawlor

hucklebuck wrote: »

Who will win it and why?

You are always quick to try rubbish horses and hindsight peoples selections but very little in the way of assessment of future races.

Balls out of the bath Richie.

The New One is the champion in waiting. They won't see which way he goes

UDS at his current price on what he has actually done is worse than all that Grandouet nonsense the last few years

BumperD

Richie, Urban pm'd me to say your family is sponsoring the bumper tomorrow in Gowran. Any chance you'd lob a few free tickets to your fellow boardies?

RichieLawlor

BumperD wrote: »

Richie, Urban pm'd me to say your family is sponsoring the bumper tomorrow in Gowran. Any chance you'd lob a few free tickets to your fellow boardies?

I've sent Urban 20 tickets he said he would pass them out as he knew more boardsies than me

UrbanSea

The bumper is being sponsored by Richies cousin Ronan. Richie said he will meet anyone interested in a few at the gate to PM him for his number and snap chat name if interested

madmoose

Uds declared to face 3 trees this weekend.

RichieLawlor

madmoose wrote: »

Uds declared to face 3 trees this weekend.

Surely be shorter in the CH market after running all over these

premierstone

Huntley wrote: »

I'm intrigued by the lack of discussion surrounding the running of the race. With five horses at the top closely matched, and two potential wildcards, I don't think there is one horse that will always win under different conditions. Establishing how the race will most likely develop makes finding the winner a significantly easier task.

Good point huntley and tbh its one of the reasons I am so bullish about Hurricane Fly, I have no doubt he is the most versatile of the leading contenders, yes he would prefer going with Soft in it somewhere and the race ran at a sensible even pace, which would allow him to maximise his excellent turn of foot and tactical speed, but he is by no means dependent on it. The New one needs everything to fall into place imo and can only win being literally droped on the line, Jezki has never looked comfotable in traffic, MTOY lacks the turn of foot and battle, Our Conor needs to improve on all evidence known and while this is possible and likely I don't think it will be enough, teh lasy victory was a bit more convincing than some are giving credit for, Hurricane was pulling away and won snugly, was conceeding 2lbs, made his first ever jumping mistake and of course the Champion is likely to be a more tactical affair and Ruby>>>>>>>Danny Mullins!

mdwexford

That is an awful analysis.

How can you say MTOY has no turn of foot and doesn't battle, what absolute nonsense. Either you haven't watched his races or you don't know what those things mean.

No idea what you mean with TNO either, not like he's a complicated ride at all.

With so many unexposed horses it's impossible to be bullish imo but I wouldn't put anyone off any of the big 4 and wouldn't be surprised by any of them winning.

Moon Dice

Its an absolutely fantastic race to look forward to. I really dont know who will do it but i cant wait

RichieLawlor

premierstone wrote: »

Good point huntley and tbh its one of the reasons I am so bullish about Hurricane Fly, I have no doubt he is the most versatile of the leading contenders, yes he would prefer going with Soft in it somewhere and the race ran at a sensible even pace, which would allow him to maximise his excellent turn of foot and tactical speed, but he is by no means dependent on it. The New one needs everything to fall into place imo and can only win being literally droped on the line, Jezki has never looked comfotable in traffic, MTOY lacks the turn of foot and battle, Our Conor needs to improve on all evidence known and while this is possible and likely I don't think it will be enough, teh lasy victory was a bit more convincing than some are giving credit for, Hurricane was pulling away and won snugly, was conceeding 2lbs, made his first ever jumping mistake and of course the Champion is likely to be a more tactical affair and Ruby>>>>>>>Danny Mullins!

None of the New ones victories have relied on him being dropped on the line? My Tent or Yours lacks a turn of foot? You are thinking of some other horse, he is a ball of speed. Also Kempton showed he isn't afraid of a battle?

Loads of random made up stuff