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Champion Hurdle 2019

Champion Hurdle 2019

  • Total voters
    75
People were saying the same thing about Melon this time last year.

The CH route is exactly the same for her as the Mares Hurdle route. They'll make all the entries and decide the weekend before the Festival.
 
archie said:
People were saying the same thing about Melon this time last year.

The CH route is exactly the same for her as the Mares Hurdle route. They'll make all the entries and decide the weekend before the Festival.
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Yes, but as you have said, Melon was always going for the CH (one of your ante post bets I believe).

Whereas Laurina has another alternative altogether.
 
Summerville Boy could improve plenty for his debut. I take it everyone has written him off since Newcastle?

Hopefully Laurina does the biz, but she really has to step up, some of that mares novice form is horrid.
 
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Innoko said:
Yes, but as you have said, Melon was always going for the CH (one of your ante post bets I believe).

Whereas Laurina has another alternative altogether.
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There were plenty prepared to doubt Melon's target, wanting him to go the Arkle route. As I said, Laurina's programme will be designed to get her to Cheltenham in peak form and the final decision on which race will be left as late as possible.
 
archie said:
There were plenty prepared to doubt Melon's target, wanting him to go the Arkle route. As I said, Laurina's programme will be designed to get her to Cheltenham in peak form and the final decision on which race will be left as late as possible.
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Out of interest Archie (and I wont hold you to this), where do you think she will end up?
 
Innoko said:
Out of interest Archie (and I wont hold you to this), where do you think she will end up?
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I honestly haven't a clue. My point is that no-one else does either and the situation won't be changed by her first run.
 
It may not cement her target but depending on the result, it may edge towards one or the other.
Melon got beat in this and finished near some champion hurdle also rans. She improved by March time.
If Laurina were to win easily then I'd say they'd (owners in particular) be more than encouraged.
 
jack1092 said:
Summerville Boy could improve plenty for his debut. I take it everyone has written him off since Newcastle?

Hopefully Laurina does the biz, but she really has to step up, some of that mares novice form is horrid.
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I'd written him off as the CH winner prior to that run, HOWEVER, I expect him to come on hugely from that seasonal debut. It had been pointed out on here (and by the trainer) that his need their first run of the season, and it was the same last season too.

I just wrote a big post about what I'd do at the prices if Laurina was too short, or Summerville Boy way too big, but then realised the prices will be up, and I see around 5/4 and 4/1 - so I wouldn't be too excited about backing either really.
 
Looking like no Laurina on Sat.

"Because of the ground situation at Cheltenham and the dry forecast, we are have a serious rethink about running Laurina on Saturday and its looking unlikely that she will travel." Willie Mullins
 
KingSprinterSacre said:
Looking like no Laurina on Sat.

"Because of the ground situation at Cheltenham and the dry forecast, we are have a serious rethink about running Laurina on Saturday and its looking unlikely that she will travel." Willie Mullins
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Gutted if that's the case!
 
KingSprinterSacre said:
Looking like no Laurina on Sat.

"Because of the ground situation at Cheltenham and the dry forecast, we are have a serious rethink about running Laurina on Saturday and its looking unlikely that she will travel." Willie Mullins
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That's a shame. Most exciting horse at the weekend
 
KingSprinterSacre said:
Looking like no Laurina on Sat.

"Because of the ground situation at Cheltenham and the dry forecast, we are have a serious rethink about running Laurina on Saturday and its looking unlikely that she will travel." Willie Mullins
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The forecast for Saturday is currently 'rain' so how he thinks that is dry is beyond me.

I was in Winchcombe last weekend, about 15 minutes from the racecourse and the ground there was still good/soft, unless they've had a heatwave or hurricane I don't know about I can't see it what the problem is, it will only get softer on Saturday.

Probably got the 'bad prep' excuse ready for the Mares Hurdle she goes for.
 
ComplyOrDie said:
The forecast for Saturday is currently 'rain' so how he thinks that is dry is beyond me.

I was in Winchcombe last weekend, about 15 minutes from the racecourse and the ground there was still good/soft, unless they've had a heatwave or hurricane I don't know about I can't see it what the problem is, it will only get softer on Saturday.

Probably got the 'bad prep' excuse ready for the Mares Hurdle she goes for.
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http://maps.turftrax.co.uk/latestgoingreport.asp?course=Cheltenham

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/gcnx37bj9#?date=2018-12-13
 
i'm about half hour away from course. We've had no rain all week and everything has dried out very quickly here. It would have to take a fairly substantial amount for the ground to be anything other than good, given how well cheltenham drains
 
No rain until Saturday lunchtime and currently a strong drying wind.
 
archie said:
No rain until Saturday lunchtime and currently a strong drying wind.
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Must be the wind then. Wasn't windy when I was there, so presume it's dried quite a bit (in 4 days) and if that's the case then I retract what I said previously, apart from the Mares' comment ;)

She still seemingly needs a bog though. He's been reluctant to race her on anything other than 'Soft' at best.

I'm wondering whether she'll even turn up for the festival myself.
 
ComplyOrDie said:
The forecast for Saturday is currently 'rain' so how he thinks that is dry is beyond me.

I was in Winchcombe last weekend, about 15 minutes from the racecourse and the ground there was still good/soft, unless they've had a heatwave or hurricane I don't know about I can't see it what the problem is, it will only get softer on Saturday.

Probably got the 'bad prep' excuse ready for the Mares Hurdle she goes for.
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Looking more and more likely unfortunately, he's got previous.
 
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