I think that guy from above clip has read my thoughts on this race![]()
Seems like decent analysis apart from watching a different race at Haydock to me, according to this guy TNO went on from three out whereas I seem to remember him struggling to get in front on the run in.
Think Neil meant Bertimont kicked on 3 out, and it was a tough race for The New One, who struggled to get on terms.
I had Faugheen in a double with Vautour for the Arkle, which has gone south...
Even though I have no real financial interest in the race, I can't wait to see these 3 battle it out.
Faugheen will not win.
He might have but has had a crazy prep.
Hurricane Fly is Willies favourite.
More on the other thread
Faugheen: "He is doing everything right. Nigel Twiston-Davies has questioned what Faugheen has beaten and I am going to side with him on that for the time being! I thought Faugheen might go chasing this season but, when we analysed everything and looked at the fact that he hadn't been beaten, everyone was keener for him to go back hurdling and Vautour to go chasing. To have a potential champion hurdler in the yard is huge, rather than a horse going for the Arkle. We thought Vautour could possibly win an Arkle and possibly be a Gold Cup horse one day and we weren't as sure about Faugheen doing that. I did not want to travel to England again for a prep run and I didn't want to take on Hurricane Fly in the Irish Champion. We prepared Faugheen for the Red Mills Trial but, after a good discussion with Ruby, we felt he didn't need any more experience. We looked up the stats and have seen plenty of horses that have gone straight from Kempton to Cheltenham without a run. I think people look too much into stats, especially ones only going back 10 years or so. I prefer to look back 25 or 30 years."
More on the other thread
Faugheen: "He is doing everything right. Nigel Twiston-Davies has questioned what Faugheen has beaten and I am going to side with him on that for the time being! I thought Faugheen might go chasing this season but, when we analysed everything and looked at the fact that he hadn't been beaten, everyone was keener for him to go back hurdling and Vautour to go chasing. To have a potential champion hurdler in the yard is huge, rather than a horse going for the Arkle. We thought Vautour could possibly win an Arkle and possibly be a Gold Cup horse one day and we weren't as sure about Faugheen doing that. I did not want to travel to England again for a prep run and I didn't want to take on Hurricane Fly in the Irish Champion. We prepared Faugheen for the Red Mills Trial but, after a good discussion with Ruby, we felt he didn't need any more experience. We looked up the stats and have seen plenty of horses that have gone straight from Kempton to Cheltenham without a run. I think people look too much into stats, especially ones only going back 10 years or so. I prefer to look back 25 or 30 years."
stats Like these![]()
Only Kribensis ’90 of the last 23 Kempton Xmas Hurdle winners was able to complete the Champion double.
All bar Rock On Ruby of the last 18 winners seen out since the Saturday before AIG Irish Champion Hurdle (26th January- 44 days).
All bar Rock On of the last 20 and 28 from last 32 winners all ran since Jan 1.
Rock On Ruby first since Granville Again to come straight from the Christmas Hurdle.
Even last year N Henderson brought out My Tent Or Yours to win a February jumpers bumper at Kempton
It's also true that he is one of only 2 Neptune winners out of the last 20 not to run in that calendar year and the only one to have his previous run over 3 miles so if he had beaten with these similar stats last year and easy six length winner of the Neptune would have been missed.