Champion Hurdle

Gringo180

No thread yet for the biggest spectacle of the 1st day. BD surely gets a nice toe into the race and it will take a good one to beat the 2 time champion but something just tells me his form is NOT bomb proof. Laurina fans will be praying for rain as she is unknown on anything like decent ground and Apples Jade is a mare of a lifetime and if she turns up getting the 7lb allowance id be amazed if shes beaten.

RivetingRoger

Apples Laurina reverse forecast is a sure thing

TheMilkyPirate

The champ champ for me

Gringo180

If this Sharjah wins ill give up gambling. Backed him last year in the Supreme and wasnt even sighted

Father Hernandez

Can see Buveur d'air going off at close to 3/1 before the race.

Will be getting on that for sure

Daraa

Gringo180 wrote: »

If this Sharjah wins ill give up gambling. Backed him last year in the Supreme and wasnt even sighted

I'm just hoping he places!

NaiveMelodies

Espoir D'Allen to win his first of 3:pac:

Slattsy

Apples Jade. With the ground on the soft side its going to suit her even more. Absolute good thing!

Probably a no bet race for me in saying that

IAMAMORON

I am hoping that the top three flop/underperform and I am going ew on Sharjah.

In fairness the horse has won 2 grade 1's and the best handicap hurdle in the world. At 12-1 I think it is a good ew bet. The only negative I can find is that he did not run well in last years' supreme. Apart from that he could be a much improved horse this year. He burst a good few bubbles at Leopardstown at Christmas. The best horses will go on any ground.

WicklowBrave

Melon and coming around to Espoir D’allen.

carq

IAMAMORON wrote: »

I am hoping that the top three flop/underperform and I am going ew on Sharjah.

In fairness the horse has won 2 grade 1's and the best handicap hurdle in the world. At 12-1 I think it is a good ew bet. The only negative I can find is that he did not run well in last years' supreme. Apart from that he could be a much improved horse this year. He burst a good few bubbles at Leopardstown at Christmas. The best horses will go on any ground.

needs good ground no ?

PhuckHugh2

The best handicap hurdle is a bit of a stretch. Its run around a dog track. :pac:

IAMAMORON

carq wrote: »

needs good ground no ?

Good ground would be ideal. But the clerk of the course has stated that they are aiming for good to soft. That is the same as yielding ground over here. In fairness I would not be splitting too many hairs over the going. If he is good enough he will go on any ground. I would be more worried about his Supreme Novice run last year, that was poor. However he has done nothing wrong since. Ignore the run in Down Royal, that race is a head scratcher for me.

IAMAMORON

PhuckHugh2 wrote: »

The best handicap hurdle is a bit of a stretch. Its run around a dog track. :pac:

The richest handicap hurdle in the world. Galway is a brilliant track pal. Don't cod yourself.

PhuckHugh2

IAMAMORON wrote: »

The richest handicap hurdle in the world. Galway is a brilliant track pal. Don't cod yourself.

Ah i was only messing with you. I knew what you meant. Although we will have to agree to disagree on this point

IAMAMORON

No bother at all. But Ballybrit is a great track to test any animal. Some great horses have won races there and gone on to win at more prestigious events. You know it is true.:)

Joe_ Public

The mare has a great chance but surprised she’s favourite against a true champion like BD who, despite one setback, hasn’t looked like he’s regressing to me. Made a hash of one when he got beaten, but still the slickest, fastest jumper around and will remain BD all day long for me.

Johner

Buveur D'air for me.

I'd be worried about Apples Jade jumping right and I don't think Laurina screams Champion Hurdler.

Angliru

Yeah Laurina looks like a chaser to me. Coin flip between BDA and Jade for me. The mare hasn't put a foot wrong all season and BDA hasn't looked as unerring as usual, notably not cycling through the gears as easily as last year.

I'll thump someone if the likes of Melon and Sharjah are involved. Or Brain Power God forbid.

RivetingRoger

This place will go into meltdown when/if Laurina wins dancing!!!!

Angliru

Wouldn't mind her winning but I'd prefer not simply because I am convinced there's a better chaser in her than hurdler and she'll be stuck a hurdler for the considerable future if she wins.

BumperD

IAMAMORON wrote: »

Good ground would be ideal. But the clerk of the course has stated that they are aiming for good to soft. That is the same as yielding ground over here. In fairness I would not be splitting too many hairs over the going. If he is good enough he will go on any ground. I would be more worried about his Supreme Novice run last year, that was poor. However he has done nothing wrong since. Ignore the run in Down Royal, that race is a head scratcher for me.

My only concern is he’s on the go since last summer. It’s near impossible to get them peak twice in a season especially if they are on the go so many months. It would be great if he did it. I can see him stalking them approaching the last if he’s 100% but that’s the doubt, getting him there on peak form after such a long season for him. Good luck with it

dk6dk6

I think Espoir Dallen is a great each way bet.

Chesty08

On Laurina since November! Still convinced she wins

Motivator

Chesty08 wrote: »

On Laurina since November! Still convinced she wins

Ah come on, this talk is really starting to annoy me now. Still convinced she wins based on what exactly? Highest rated horse she has beaten has been 147 and both of those horses ran about 10lbs below their best. This reminds me of all the talk about Melon and worse again that grey yoke that was fav for the Supreme having never even seen a racecourse.

Betting and racing is all about opinions and everyone is entitled to theirs, but there’s nothing worse than someone throwing out a line and not being able to back it up. In my opinion, nothing she has shown makes her a Champion Hurdle contender never mind a Champion Hurdle winner. Anyone backing her musn’t like having money.

For what it’s worth, I think Buveur D’Air wins.

OsmosisJ

Motivator wrote: »

Ah come on, this talk is really starting to annoy me now. Still convinced she wins based on what exactly? Highest rated horse she has beaten has been 147 and both of those horses ran about 10lbs below their best. This reminds me of all the talk about Melon and worse again that grey yoke that was fav for the Supreme having never even seen a racecourse.

Betting and racing is all about opinions and everyone is entitled to theirs, but there’s nothing worse than someone throwing out a line and not being able to back it up. In my opinion, nothing she has shown makes her a Champion Hurdle contender never mind a Champion Hurdle winner. Anyone backing her musn’t like having money.

For what it’s worth, I think Buveur D’Air wins.

brave call

Motivator

OsmosisJ wrote: »

brave call

Bet with your eyes lads not with your ears.

The White Wolf

I've Sharjah backed but will back BD on the day when I get the nice drift.

HarshOstrich

Buveaur D’air wins easy for me, but I’m a little worried of laurinas potential.
Apples jade will be eased off when everything is running by her.

Motivator

The White Wolf wrote: »

I've Sharjah backed but will back BD on the day when I get the nice drift.

I really like Sharjah, possibly just a couple of lbs below top class but I think he’s been on the go too long. I think he’s had 9 races since Cheltenham last year and he’s been on the go all summer. It’s a big ask to get him ready again for Tuesday but he’s an admirable horse who’ll battle away. I would just be wary of him having too much racing.

The White Wolf

Motivator wrote: »

I really like Sharjah, possibly just a couple of lbs below top class but I think he’s been on the go too long. I think he’s had 9 races since Cheltenham last year and he’s been on the go all summer. It’s a big ask to get him ready again for Tuesday but he’s an admirable horse who’ll battle away. I would just be wary of him having too much racing.

True Motivator but I'm sticking with him. I didn't back Dodging Bullets in 2014 because he was on the go all season and was kicking myself in the bollox over it. Win or lose won't make that mistake again.

posturingpat

Backed Brain Power antepost thinking neither of the Mares would turn up.
Give him little chance now but you Never know could be placed.
Think Laurina will be hit with a big culture shock and might not be involved at the business end.
Between BDA and AJ and i think its Aj for me and im looking forward to her performing something special, slight worry about the course but by God shes just been too impressive this season to let it put me off.

zpehtsfd

Last year Buveur D’Air beat Melon (who has never won a Grade 1) by a neck and 3 lengths back was the 150's rated Mick Jazz.

In his preps this year he's 2/3 against some 150's rated horses.

You can't fault him too much as he keeps winning but he's up against it this year with the super mare and the potential super mare turning up. Last couple of CH have been dismal. imo

zpehtsfd

Apples Jade for me.

Joe_ Public

Thought Barry was in front a good bit too soon last year, don’t think that was the plan. Can see him getting a lovely toe off AJ all the way up the straight this time.

yaboya1

The White Wolf wrote: »

True Motivator but I'm sticking with him. I didn't back Dodging Bullets in 2014 because he was on the go all season and was kicking myself in the bollox over it. Win or lose won't make that mistake again.

Why were you kicking yourself? He got beaten.

WicklowBrave

Motivator wrote: »

I really like Sharjah, possibly just a couple of lbs below top class but I think he’s been on the go too long. I think he’s had 9 races since Cheltenham last year and he’s been on the go all summer. It’s a big ask to get him ready again for Tuesday but he’s an admirable horse who’ll battle away. I would just be wary of him having too much racing.

Really? Horse has a never struck me as a battler. Thought he was a bit of a dog as a novice. Downed tools in the Deloitte and dogged in it Tipp last summer and even in the Galway Hurdle only he’d 20lbs in hand he’d an awful head carriage. Very classy animal who’s got his ground on his last two starts and both races sort of fell into his lap. Been on the go since September 2017. Wouldn’t be for me now.

The White Wolf

yaboya1 wrote: »

Why were you kicking yourself? He got beaten.

Sh1t sorry 2015.

That was the same year Annie Power upset the acca lads.

HarshOstrich

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Thought Barry was in front a good bit too soon last year, don’t think that was the plan. Can see him getting a lovely toe off AJ all the way up the straight this time.

Agree
Could see a similar performance to Newcastle earlier this season v samcro, powering away after the last hurdle.
I know samcro was poor the next time but that doesn’t mean he performed the same at Newcastle.

dk6dk6

dk6dk6 wrote: »

I think Espoir Dallen is a great each way bet.

Pockets full for the rest of the week. Absolutely hosed up

Father Hernandez

dk6dk6 wrote: »

Pockets full for the rest of the week. Absolutely hosed up

Great shout

HarshOstrich

I backed buveur d’air, but I was never happy with how he was traveling, Barry was nudging him into the bridle most the way, I don’t believe he would have won had he jumped like some posters.

WicklowBrave

WicklowBrave wrote: »

Melon and coming around to Espoir D’allen.

Didn’t back Espoir D’Allen but I am convinced we still we haven’t seen anywhere near the best of Melon yet. There is a masheen of a horse in there somewhere if they can get it out of him. Going jumping next year Mullins said with Laurina aswell.

RivetingRoger

So at this stage do we just say the evidence points to AJ just is not a Cheltenham horse ?

Trio123

Delighted for Mark Walsh, a top jock!

Father Hernandez

RivetingRoger wrote: »

So at this stage do we just say the evidence points to AJ just is not a Cheltenham horse ?

Without doubt yeah, surprised if AJ races at Cheltenham again

HarshOstrich

HarshOstrich wrote: »

Buveaur D’air wins easy for me, but I’m a little worried of laurinas potential.
Apples jade will be eased off when everything is running by her.

Was spot on with apples jade, now watch paisley park get stuck in the mud.

The White Wolf

Don't think it's a case of not liking Cheltenham. Some punters on here have claimed she had beaten nothing or horses regressing this season. I wouldn't say that myself but do feel it was a combination of that and it being a level too far for her.

She died a death today her worst performance by a mile at the course. It's not a simple case of her not liking it there.

Angliru

2nd in the Triumph and has won a Mares already. Wouldn't say she's bad at the track, just probably doesn't suit her as well as others. She's still a hell of a horse and I'd nearly back her blind for a Stayers next year. If Samcro didn't get sick and ran here today then she might have very well hacked up in the Mares again...

Scott Tenorman

AJ has never performed as well at Cheltenham as she has at any other track.

She should have skipped the festival and went to Aintree and/or Punchestown

HarshOstrich

Every time she gets beaten people make excuses, but it’s usually when she goes up a notch in class where she struggles.
She’s a very good mare but she has won poor grade 1s.
Don’t be fooled again by her at punchestown.