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2017 Champion Hurdle

I think Annie has to go for the world hurdle, probably not too the liking of ruby as he will see a potentially good ride missed up on either shaneshill or Nichols canyon in the race, but I know who I'd be on, the mare!!

Faugheen has proven stamina and form over 3m if you look back when he was a novice, Annie's beaten the only time she tried? I know I said the two will go Champ Hurdle and I stick by this but if one was to go World Hurdle, I think it would be Faugheen for them, especially as the emphasis is on stamina not speed regarding his injury?
 
Ricci never wants two runners in the same race. I can only think of a small number of occasions and none when both runners were at the head of the market.

Spot on, remember this....
 
Yes Faugheen did win over 3m in heavy as a novice, but receiving weight from the second, winning by 5 lengths and from what he beat is a far far stretch from a 3m world hurdle at Cheltenham, I don't doubt the horse can do it, I just feel with Faugheen there will be no experiment, the horse has a massive fan base and one of, if not riccis flag bearer, they will stick to what they know with him, with Annie receiving the 7lb and having already coming a good clear 2nd in the world they already know she gets home, yes she got beat but her beating is worth more the Faugheens win, no doubt about her staying the trip
 
Can anyone elaborate on the reason you "need a stayer to win the CH" and that Supreme horses have a poorer record.

Altior has a C&D winning time of 1 second slower but Yorkhill (and to some extent Yanworth) would probably be just as well fancied for this race based on the fact they can stay further.

What I get confused with, is that Yanworth improved for the step up, and Yorkhill was (in my opinion) though of as not good enough to beat Altior, then why would that change for a Champion Hurdle over the Supreme C&D.

I have heard this explained before and I think it was something to do with the way the race is run, but I have forgotten it and at the moment I think it is just another racing cliche. "You need something that stays further than this race over x" or if it is over further "they have a good chance because they have the speed over shorter"....
 
I've always been off the opinion that the Neptune is a better guide to the Champion Hurdle than the Supreme, and I think the stats back that up. However Altior's performance was the best I've seen since Back In Front, against what I think will turn out to be a stronger field.

Bridle merchants very rarely win Champion Hurdles as there's no hiding places in the Championship races and they start racing from a long way out. A combination of speed and stamina is required, as shown by recent winners Faugheen, Annie Power, Hurricane Fly etc
 
What I am saying though is "there's no hiding place" shouldn't affect Altior if he can record that time. If other horses want to take each other on earlier, trhey don't finish any faster ... the times are really comparable... If Altior ran his own race, then he'd be in the mix, so a year older he would be (you'd guess) able to improve to be coming very hard and fast after the bend...
 
Is Peace & Co finished ?

Ran like a horse with an issue last year.
 
Haven't heard anything mayo but he wouldn't be the first horse to be ruined by a Triumph, Henderson stable tour might provide the answer....
 
Seems too weak on betfair - they are a gambling stable.

Might be other issues but needs a jockey with better hands to settle him than he had last year.
 
Where have you read this Billy? Nothing on social media that I can find.
 
I hope Billy is correct.

I would love to see Altior line up in the Arkle
 
Altior goes chasing

Not cost me any AP vouchers but I really hoped the horse would win a CH first....
Best priced 5/1 unchanged ? So maybe not yet certain ?
 
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Would make sense with Yorkhill shortening for the JLT earlier in the week?

I am not on Altior for the CH but it'd make it a cracking race.... however if you're Hendo, you can see why they've done it! 5s could look very big... sucks for my Min / Yorkhill double though :encouragement:
 
Not seen any confirmed quotes for altior, however what interests me is Paul Ferguson's opinion which he makes altior his best chance of tipping a festival winner, and it's for altior in the arkle... Would have thought he would have some sort of inside knowledge/information, and does slightly explain yorkhills drift in the arkle market even this early in the season and without any concrete knowledge
 
Can't really say where I got it from, but it's 100% reliable, the plan is defo chasing
 
Thanks Billy. The last thing I heard was they were going to target a hurdle race and go from there. Hendo is definitely of the impression that Altior could be a champion Hurdle horse.

He is the only horse that could have put it up to the Mullins battalion IMO.
 
Hendo does like a 2 mile chaser though doesn't he, and the Arkle looks the easier route and the CC the year after if Douvan gets moved up in trip.... can always revert back to hurdles too can't he... I think I would get him over a fence.

If Mullins wanted to he could make sure every single time Altior had a race it was a tough one and he'd have ammo left over to win the Champion Hurdle.... The Arkle looks easier at this stage, obviously. Not as exciting but thinking long term, a 2 mile chaser to put it up to Douvan even might be exciting?!