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I am finally starting to get a strong view regarding the Champion Hurdle.
I think Yanworth is going to win it.
Firstly, he has won 7 from his 8 hurdles. Cliche coming "he just does enough" / "he keeps winning".
(Not 8/8) - True - I think his defeat in the Neptune was fair. I know people feel BG got it wrong, he may have been out paced. Either way, Yorkhill might be better than anything that is actually running in this race. The reason I am not dismissing him based on his Cheltenham defeat, is that I consider his 2nd, MUCH stronger than Buveur D'airs 3rd in the Supreme. Whether you believe Yorkhill was just 'idling' or not, Yanworth was sticking to his task well and even though he may not have got to Yorkhill EVER, he was still pulling away from everything else.
(Stays further / should go further / originally aimed at stayers hurdle) - All valid points, but not a HUGE negative in a strongly run champion hurdle. I can't think of any winner of this race that didn't stay 2 and a half miles.
(jumping isn't good enough) - Another fair critisism, but I haven't seen a horse take lengths out of Yanworth, he seems to get away from them well. Faugheen didn't jump well in his CH win either (not that Yanworth is in that league) ... The only really slick hurdler I can see in the field is Petit Mouchoir and I think that horse leads me on to the way I think the race will pan out....
Petit Mouchoir will make the running, a strong, even gallop and Yanworth will be cruising along for the first half of the race. I fully expect Buveur D'air and Brain Power to also be on the bridle too.... I expect, (Similar to The New One a few years back) ... that the pace will quicken and that will be make or break. He will either NOT be able to live with the pace quickening, and plug on for a place when one of those two "flashier, bridle hordes" OR, in a year with no obvious stand out classy horse) he WILL be able to be close enough to find for pressure and if he hits the front, I can't see a horse coming past him.
I think Barry will ride him. I think his unbeaten season over hurdles is much better prep than his main market rival (Buveur). I do like Petit Mouchoir but don't expect him to be able to hold on from the front - he'll just go off too quick and will need to hold off more than 1 challenge. I can understand people taking flyers at horses that are much bigger prices, but of ALL the horses in this field, Yanworth is the only one that I feel has the potential to be top class.
I think Yanworth is going to win it.
Firstly, he has won 7 from his 8 hurdles. Cliche coming "he just does enough" / "he keeps winning".
(Not 8/8) - True - I think his defeat in the Neptune was fair. I know people feel BG got it wrong, he may have been out paced. Either way, Yorkhill might be better than anything that is actually running in this race. The reason I am not dismissing him based on his Cheltenham defeat, is that I consider his 2nd, MUCH stronger than Buveur D'airs 3rd in the Supreme. Whether you believe Yorkhill was just 'idling' or not, Yanworth was sticking to his task well and even though he may not have got to Yorkhill EVER, he was still pulling away from everything else.
(Stays further / should go further / originally aimed at stayers hurdle) - All valid points, but not a HUGE negative in a strongly run champion hurdle. I can't think of any winner of this race that didn't stay 2 and a half miles.
(jumping isn't good enough) - Another fair critisism, but I haven't seen a horse take lengths out of Yanworth, he seems to get away from them well. Faugheen didn't jump well in his CH win either (not that Yanworth is in that league) ... The only really slick hurdler I can see in the field is Petit Mouchoir and I think that horse leads me on to the way I think the race will pan out....
Petit Mouchoir will make the running, a strong, even gallop and Yanworth will be cruising along for the first half of the race. I fully expect Buveur D'air and Brain Power to also be on the bridle too.... I expect, (Similar to The New One a few years back) ... that the pace will quicken and that will be make or break. He will either NOT be able to live with the pace quickening, and plug on for a place when one of those two "flashier, bridle hordes" OR, in a year with no obvious stand out classy horse) he WILL be able to be close enough to find for pressure and if he hits the front, I can't see a horse coming past him.
I think Barry will ride him. I think his unbeaten season over hurdles is much better prep than his main market rival (Buveur). I do like Petit Mouchoir but don't expect him to be able to hold on from the front - he'll just go off too quick and will need to hold off more than 1 challenge. I can understand people taking flyers at horses that are much bigger prices, but of ALL the horses in this field, Yanworth is the only one that I feel has the potential to be top class.
No ...should I be insulted 
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