Champion Hurdle 2020

[TCH29]

I'm not sure why a 170 horse is expected.


But imo IF there's one there that's going to come on, and be an absolute super star. Its fusil raffles. And I'm going against my own bets there. He's the only one that hits the line hard going away. But he obviously needs to improve dramatically on his debut.

Interesting. Respect your view, Scooby. I still think Saldier but more inclined to climb into FR in the Christmas Hurdle now. There in person, so intrigued to see how he runs. Was so impressed with Altior years back in the novice race on Boxing Day it changed my view of the whole novice field that year.

[Lobos]

Really looking forward to the Xmas hurdle. Fusils v Epatante is a very intriguing match up and I wouldn't like to say how it'll go. Either of those could end up the new Churdle fav should they win well.

[Humble Pie]

Interesting discussion
Certainly thought provoking especially as I’ve cashed in FR .

Klassical Dream & Saldier v FR / Epatante / Coer Sublime
IMO I’m siding with KD and Saldier

Quality is certainly questionable
Quantity isn’t

[Birds Nest]

i could still see Melon ending up here again, i wouldn't back any of them to beat him , i think he's one more novice chase away from a re think.

[hardheld]

If the ground was no worse than good to soft on the opening day SHARJAH at 25/1 is very fair. He has won two grade 1s albeit quite weak ones and a Galway hurdle off top weight.

He has achieved far more the horses priced lower him. At this current stage he is the value

I will forgive him for his first run is season, he blew up on reappearance last season as well and then improved a lot.

BACKED at 25/1 EW with CASH OUT OPTION.

[Salubrious Chin]

Article on the HRI site today:

"Ruby Walsh has labelled the Champion Hurdle picture as foggy and believes Klassical Dream, the horse who gave him his 59th and final Cheltenham Festival victory in last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, could yet come good on the biggest stage, writes Brian Sheerin.

The two-mile hurdling division was dealt a blow earlier this summer when last season’s Champion Hurdle winner Espoir D’Allen suffered a fatal injury, while the former dual champion Buveur D’Air is out of action for the foreseeable future after picking up an injury in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle.

However, criticisms of the current crop of two-mile hurdlers is unjust according to Walsh, who won the race twice on Hurricane Fly and once aboard Faugheen and Annie Power.

The Paddy Power ambassador, who was speaking at a media event organised by the firm on Monday, believes it is far too early in the season to describe the division as weak, and admitted he would be keeping the faith with Klassical Dream, a general 4-1 favourite for the race.

Walsh said: “The Champion Hurdle picture is foggy, it's not weak. If Fusil Raffles bolts up in the Christmas Hurdle and Klassical Dream wins at Leopardstown, all of a sudden, what was this weak or glum picture becomes a lot more solid.

“It's only December and we're creating all this hype about it being the worst Champion Hurdle since the Champion Hurdle was invented. Please.

“I'd be keeping the faith with Klassical Dream and Sharjah did nothing wrong last year either. Saldier picked up a slight setback after winning the Morgiana but he'll be back in the new year and his form with Espoir D'Allen looks rock solid.

"I think people are drawing conclusions and a lot of it is hype driven because people want Envoi Allen to run in the Champion Hurdle.”

Asked his opinion on where Gordon Elliott's crack youngster should be aimed, Walsh replied: "When you're a novice you beat novices.

“That's my honest opinion. I work in media now, too, and I'm supposed to be hyping it up and creating the best events we can, but that's the way I'd be thinking.

“Alderbrook and Royal Gait won a Champion Hurdle as novices and Master Minded won a Champion Chase as a five-year-old. Of course it can be done, but it's not what I'd do."

[charlie]

Thanks SC. I am pleased with how comfortably Ruby mentions a 'slight setback' re Saldier and seems confident enough he'll be back in the new year. They don't sound worried at all and the push out in price has come right back.

[jack1092]

Thanks SC. I am pleased with how comfortably Ruby mentions a 'slight setback' re Saldier and seems confident enough he'll be back in the new year. They don't sound worried at all and the push out in price has come right back.

Haha Charlie this is the same guy who didn't even mention the fact he came out of the Morgiana wrong

[billymag]

Fear the worst till proven otherwise!!! Sorry said i wasnt going back there again!

[charlie]

Haha Charlie this is the same guy who didn't even mention the fact he came out of the Morgiana wrong

What should Ruby have said?

[Quevega]

What should Ruby have said?

Yep,
Some silly speculation really.
A horse not being quite right or the trainer not being quite happy is a different thing to an injured horse. You'd assume they do checks for anything underlying.
And Willie has shown great restraint with horses coming back from injury in the past and is probably just minding him really.
He did get his nose caved in the time before.
I see it as a good sign in that Willie minding him means they know he's one of the better ones.

Should we not see him again through injury. I don't think it's anything being kept from us. Although the doomsday merchants will be saying I told you so.

There'll be some twat in New Zealand sat on a street corner right now telling all and sundry that he knew the Volcano was ready to blow.

I changed C**t to twat.

[Anay Turge]

I don’t know why people are fearing the worst. Surely if it was that bad, they’d just say the horse was likely to miss the rest of the season? They have nothing to gain or lose, especially considering their initial hope for this race is still fit. Appreciate there is fear (as always in Antepost betting) but nothing Ruby and Willie have both said Saldier will return in the new year. Plot twist - the horse is actually fine, price drifts over Christmas due to the Christmas Hurdle results, Willie and his men pile in on Saldier, who goes straight to Cheltenham fresh

[Lobos]

What Ruby fails to mention which is so important is that both Alderbrook and Royal Gait were seasoned campaigners from the flat with around 30 appearances between them. Envoi only had a handful of Bumper runs. Huge difference. I personally don't think Envoi would win the Champion this season. Men versus a boy.

[Rhinestone_Cowboy]

Thanks SC. I am pleased with how comfortably Ruby mentions a 'slight setback' re Saldier and seems confident enough he'll be back in the new year. They don't sound worried at all and the push out in price has come right back.

Agree with most comments today that hopefully nothing to worry about with Saldier. That said I question the ‘price has come right back in’, he’s still 7s with a PP/BFSB and it looks like 365 have pushed him out to the same price today. 7.8 available on the exchange so not sure if he has come in a bit there. As someone who cashed out for x2 stake he is one who’s price I am keeping a closer eye on as happy to go back in at 7s as soon as his health is confirmed. Obviously if his price continues to drift in the meantime all the better

[charlie]

Yep,
Some silly speculation really.
A horse not being quite right or the trainer not being quite happy is a different thing to an injured horse. You'd assume they do checks for anything underlying.

Yep, standard. Wrong and slight setback are two different things Ruby wouldn't/shouldn't be expected to know about underlying issues, or break the news that Willie is not 100% happy