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2026 Champion Hurdle

FredFlintstone said:
PP have pushed Lossie out to 4/1 for the mares now. 5/2 champion
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I still make the Mares the more likely race for her, albeit less so. But 4/1 looks like a good bit of value to me. I'm happy taking that risk. Willie still likes to win the race he's most likely to, and that is still the Mares. I don't think he has another mare that would be fav for that race at this point in time. He does have a few who'd have a good chance in the Champion however, including Anzadam and perhaps Irancy.

As I see it, we'll have a firm indication of our fate upon decs for the Morgiana. If Lossie is declared that will imply a Champion Hurdle campaign. It was suggested that The Hatton's Grace was at least partly to blame for her being sluggish of 2m at Kempton. Willie won't do that again if he's planning a 2m campaign.
 
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Covered Golden Ace 40/1, I doubt lightining will strike twice..but stranger things have happened.
 
My mate just made a point, would it be mad for WPM to send Ballyburn this way? He’s got the engine and class potentially from his novice hurdle days, 7 going 8 so surely still not ‘slow’ in that respect.

edit - means the ones he plans to send chasing can still go chasing. Lossie goes mares, Anzadam has been fragile and Irancy would be marks ride anyway.
 
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I’ve just seen stateman is out! How typical as I just backed stateman in a few multis last night after looking through the potential Churdle field. Back to the drawing board I guess
 
Craigy14 said:
My mate just made a point, would it be mad for WPM to send Ballyburn this way? He’s got the engine and class potentially from his novice hurdle days, 7 going 8 so surely still not ‘slow’ in that respect.

edit - means the ones he plans to send chasing can still go chasing. Lossie goes mares, Anzadam has been fragile and Irancy would be marks ride anyway.
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This is the bet I've made given the prices. A year ago Ballyburn would've been a lot shorter for this before we knew he would go over fences. Since then we've learnt that he can't jump fences and is probably best when allowed to bowl along. I think 2m could end up making more sense than 3m. Not definite but I thought worth a little bit of the 40s on the bfx earlier.
 
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The Giant Bolster said:
This is the bet I've made given the prices. A year ago Ballyburn would've been a lot shorter for this before we knew he would go over fences. Since then we've learnt that he can't jump fences and is probably best when allowed to bowl along. I think 2m could end up making more sense than 3m. Not definite but I thought worth a little bit of the 40s on the bfx earlier.
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I was convinced that he was a champion hurdle horse 12 months ago. Not sure now. Perhaps a little soured?
 
The Giant Bolster said:
This is the bet I've made given the prices. A year ago Ballyburn would've been a lot shorter for this before we knew he would go over fences. Since then we've learnt that he can't jump fences and is probably best when allowed to bowl along. I think 2m could end up making more sense than 3m. Not definite but I thought worth a little bit of the 40s on the bfx earlier.
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Didn't Mullins say that he was sending Ballyburn down the handicap route ? Presumably because he didn't believe the horse was up to graded company, if this is still the case it wouldn't be an endorsement for a championship campaign.
If any of Mullins re-route to this race in the wake of the State Man news I suspect they start with Lossie, then Kargese then, dare I say it, abandon the chase campaign for Kopek Des Bordes...
 
I still think lossie goes mares again.Good shout with KDB rerouting to CH. looks worth a speculative double . Any thoughts on salvator Mundi staying over hurdles ? Or do you think they’ll stick with anzadam?
 
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Pisto said:
I still think lossie goes mares again.Good shout with KDB rerouting to CH. looks worth a speculative double . Any thoughts on salvator Mundi staying over hurdles ? Or do you think they’ll stick with anzadam?
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I thought this

I would be shocked if Kopek jumped a fence well, happy to be proven wrong. Then again, Willie doesn’t often switch a horse back to hurdle unless he really has to and often wait until the next season before making the move back

Willie has a few he could throw into the champ hurdle, kargese would be a shout although I like her for the arkle. Mundi… obviously Lossiemouth etc
 
opatcho said:
I would be shocked if Kopek jumped a fence well, happy to be proven wrong. Then again, Willie doesn’t often switch a horse back to hurdle unless he really has to and often wait until the next season before making the move back
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By all accounts, he's really good over them
 
He was a very poor hurdler so surely that makes the champion hurdle unlikely? He was very good in the supreme but the champion is a step up so to hurdle as poorly as he does it made total sense to go chasing with him imo.
 
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opatcho said:
I thought this

I would be shocked if Kopek jumped a fence well, happy to be proven wrong. Then again, Willie doesn’t often switch a horse back to hurdle unless he really has to and often wait until the next season before making the move back

Willie has a few he could throw into the champ hurdle, kargese would be a shout although I like her for the arkle. Mundi… obviously Lossiemouth etc
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He’s definitely a good jumper on homework. I’d say slim to no chance he stays hurdling. We’ll find out tomorrow morning anyway.
 
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I don't understand the clamour about Lossiemouth switching when they have Anzadam in the same stable and owned by the same people. Anzadam RPR 159 after two runs at 2 miles and aged 5. Huge potential for improvement. Lossiemouth best RPR over 2 miles is 152 when she was beaten by Constitution Hill. She is so much better over 2.5 miles. A number of horses are better than Lossiemouth over 2 miles. Zero Mares better than Lossiemouth over 2.5 miles. Anzadam Champion Hurdle. Lossiemouth Mares Hurdle. No drama. Simples. Am I wrong ?
 
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I've come to the conclusion that as long as Anzadam and Irancy are good enough he doesn't need to mess with anything already decided. Keep it simple.
 
If he's declared for Navan...

Anzadam a bit fragile to be Mullins only real dart in a Champion Hurdle? Mundi I'd have as most likely to divert though.
 
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