Queen Mother Champion Chase 2020

[delsie777]

Couldn't put it any better myself!

Re Willie's number 1, I'd have CE @ 10/1 vs CPS @ 4/1 any day of the week.

I wouldn't go that far - I still think that CPS could improve for his first run and, at times, in that race looked very promising indeed. But I do think that CE is the unknown in the race and might well have a say. Defi was impressive in yesterday's set up but I think that the proximity of Marracudja leaves him short of being 'the banker of the festival'. If they all show up, we could have one hell of a horse race. The ingredients are all there. A Plus Tard would be a good participant too - setting a really strong pace would only add to the spectacle. Douvan too? Too much to hope for - but what a line up it would be. Dublin? The hors d'oeuvres before the feast might tell us a lot about the potential challenge to Defi.

[Lobos]

Watched Altior races back last night of Arkle and his two Champion Chase victory's. All 3 are identical. Hit flat spot at same time but just came alive with a slap and devouring the ground/hill from the last fence. Defi is without a doubt a big challenger to his title but anyone who says Altior is regressing needs to re watch his Cheltenham victory's. He simply owns that hill. He's still the one to beat and will still go off fav after winning the Game Spirit at Newbury. Long live the King.

[Scooby91]

Watched Altior races back last night of Arkle and his two Champion Chase victory's. All 3 are identical. Hit flat spot at same time but just came alive with a slap and devouring the ground/hill from the last fence. Defi is without a doubt a big challenger to his title but anyone who says Altior is regressing needs to re watch his Cheltenham victory's. He simply owns that hill. He's still the one to beat and will still go off fav after winning the Game Spirit at Newbury. Long live the King.

He was nowhere near as good in last Years qmcc/sandown imo.

[jonthehammer]

Listening to Patrick on one of these podcast things he said he wouldn't be surprised if CPS and CE are very well matched and both will improve. I think both have decent chances as well. I like CE though, he has something about him and expect him to be there or thereabouts. This race really isn't a given like some seem to think.

[charlie]

I wouldn't go that far - I still think that CPS could improve for his first run and, at times, in that race looked very promising indeed. But I do think that CE is the unknown in the race and might well have a say. Defi was impressive in yesterday's set up but I think that the proximity of Marracudja leaves him short of being 'the banker of the festival'. If they all show up, we could have one hell of a horse race. The ingredients are all there. A Plus Tard would be a good participant too - setting a really strong pace would only add to the spectacle. Douvan too? Too much to hope for - but what a line up it would be. Dublin? The hors d'oeuvres before the feast might tell us a lot about the potential challenge to Defi.

It's just a price thing. CPS might improve for his first run, he might not. No reason to think Cilaos Emery couldn't be improving too, but based on what I've seen so far if the race was run tomorrow I'd have Cilaos Emery to beat CPS based on what we know now. At nearly 3 times the price its the value play, but obviously all could change after DRF

[Lobos]

He was nowhere near as good in last Years qmcc/sandown imo.

Just as good to my eye. Always looks in danger of getting beat at some stage but then makes proper fools of us all.

[Philg123]

Think he just beat the most bang average field ever last year and struggled doing so! Was never right last year but still found a way to win. Can’t disagree with a horse who has won 4 Cheltenham races in a row and also built up that winning sequence. Just think after another bad prep he has a horse in Defi du Seuil who could go past him. Also chuck in the possibility of Mullins sending all 3 of Chacun Pour Soi, Cialois Emery and Douvan to the race we have an absolute cracker (touch wood)

[Scooby91]

Think he just beat the most bang average field ever last year and struggled doing so! Was never right last year but still found a way to win. Can’t disagree with a horse who has won 4 Cheltenham races in a row and also built up that winning sequence. Just think after another bad prep he has a horse in Defi du Seuil who could go past him. Also chuck in the possibility of Mullins sending all 3 of Chacun Pour Soi, Cialois Emery and Douvan to the race we have an absolute cracker (touch wood)

Agreed he Struggled against rubbish.
Was ridden way earlier. Took way longer to respond.

In sandown sceau royal hit the last or hed have been bang there again. And still was there after the mistake with gods own.

As much as I hate to admit it, altiors had an easy ride. Until now.

[Lobos]

Agreed he Struggled against rubbish.
Was ridden way earlier. Took way longer to respond.

In sandown sceau royal hit the last or hed have been bang there again. And still was there after the mistake with gods own.

As much as I hate to admit it, altiors had an easy ride. Until now.

But he always finds a way to win and just does enough every time whatever the opposition, ground, course. He won the CC in 2018 off the back of 1 run in Game Spirit so I'd not be worried at all about an interupted preparation. In fact, it could help him.

[Quevega]

I fully understand the opinion that Defi comes here as he's won the key trials.
But at the start of the season they pretty much said Ryanair was the end game. After Altior went chasing rainbows, Hobbs pretty much said, with him out the way, I'm going to mop up some grade one 2 mile races and prize money against the dross that Altior has been beating at long odds on every time, and an ageing legend who cannot be at his peak.
mission accomplished so far.
But they have a headache now (a nice one) in making a decision.
I'd say they will almost certainly go champion chase now, given the manner of his victory yesterday (even though the opposition was poor /average for a grade 1).
But it's not completely out of the question he sticks to his original target.

[Kevloaf]

I fully understand the opinion that Defi comes here as he's won the key trials.
But at the start of the season they pretty much said Ryanair was the end game. After Altior went chasing rainbows, Hobbs pretty much said, with him out the way, I'm going to mop up some grade one 2 mile races and prize money against the dross that Altior has been beating at long odds on every time, and an ageing legend who cannot be at his peak.
mission accomplished so far.
But they have a headache now (a nice one) in making a decision.
I'd say they will almost certainly go champion chase now, given the manner of his victory yesterday (even though the opposition was poor /average for a grade 1).
But it's not completely out of the question he sticks to his original target.

As has been completely ignored yesterday, Phillip Hobbs literally said the decision hasn't and won't be made yet, and at the moment it's "a little bit more likely" that they go Champion Chase.

I don't think he's lying.



There won't be anyone that thinks the Ryanair is more likely at the moment, so unless that's somebodies opinion it's probably not worth discussing anymore

[Quevega]

As has been completely ignored yesterday, Phillip Hobbs literally said the decision hasn't and won't be made yet, and at the moment it's "a little bit more likely" that they go Champion Chase.

I don't think he's lying.



There won't be anyone that thinks the Ryanair is more likely at the moment, so unless that's somebodies opinion it's probably not worth discussing anymore

Yep I agree, I referred to what he said earlier in this convo

[archie]

DDS was visually very impressive but even if you give him another 10 lengths margin for easing down, the proximity of Marracudja in 3rd means that the form isn't worth much and UDS must have run well below his mark. In 25 chases, Marracudja has never been rated higher than 147 and has spent most of that time within a few pounds of his current 143. It's hard to believe that he ran to 158 yesterday and even 148 would make it a career best (DDS 166) so the only explanation would be UDS well below his best and DDS no better than previous form. Still good enough to beat Altior, of course.

[Kevloaf]

DDS was visually very impressive but even if you give him another 10 lengths margin for easing down, the proximity of Marracudja in 3rd means that the form isn't worth much and UDS must have run well below his mark. In 25 chases, Marracudja has never been rated higher than 147 and has spent most of that time within a few pounds of his current 143. It's hard to believe that he ran to 158 yesterday and even 148 would make it a career best (DDS 166) so the only explanation would be UDS well below his best and DDS no better than previous form. Still good enough to beat Altior, of course.

Interesting point.

What odds is Marracudja for the Grand Annual

[Middle_Of_March]

Just ignore it mate

I should. I really should.