2017 Champion Hurdle

[Kevloaf]

I can't see it.
No evidence to suggest Elliott will be better with a mare, or a champion hurdle contender. If Gigginstown wanted AJ to go for this race, she would have done regardless of Mullins other runners so I am confused as to why people would be more tempted to back AJ for the CH now then when it was with Willie?

 

[jono]

An update on Faugheen in the Racing Post yesterday:

He’s good, says the Closutton trainer…he’s back in training, had a small setback last week and had a few days off, but he’d been back entering before that and he’ll be cantering again soon, so i’d say he’s where I’d want him to be at this stage.

The horses are doing all their training and we’re pushing them up a gear, and when the weather really breaks we’ll push them up another gear and we’ll see where we are.

We’re very happy with how he’s come back and how he’s training, he’s doing everything right and he gives us no more concern than any other horse.

He’s fully over his injury from last year and if we can get him back right for the big races, that’ll be good enough.

We haven’t looked at his options for the year or discussed plans with the owners yet, but there’s never been any question of anything other than a hurdling campaigning i’d say we’ll probably be looking at the Morgiana again, the same as last year.

He’s very very strong and in good shape. It’ll be our job to get him back to where he was, when he needs to be there, and i’d be hopeful he’ll get back to that and then improve from there into spring.

Not even a mention of the CH again just the 'big races' and a 'hurdling campaign'....he's going WH and Annie defends her crown :encouragement: In all seriousness I know it's best not to read too much into the yard's comments and ANYTHING can happen but i still think it's interesting the language used when talking about Annie and Faugheen and to me strikes that if they both have injury free seasons Faugheen won't be lining up in this race.

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

I'm going to start backing Faugheen at 7/4 to win any race, a much safer prospect than backing him for a particular race. Which ever race he lines up in, he'll start at odds on. 7/4 just seems too big to me.

 

[jono]

Yeah that's a pretty good route to go down. Be much less stress throughout the season too!!

 

[Istabraq]

A reminder of Mullins comments after Faugheen won the Neptune:

Mullins said of Faugheen: "He looks a fair sort. We always thought he was a chaser in the making and I'd prefer to go chasing with him next year.

I appreciate they're put on the spot with microphones thrust under their nose but I really would prefer nothing is said, I know people who took those comments literally and plunged in...

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

I try not to listen to him Ista. I may be wrong, but I'm convinced he enjoys putting punters away. I got lots of fancy prices on Faugheen the year he won the champion hurdle as a result of those comments. It took me a few years to stop acting upon his words though :sorrow::sorrow:

 

[jono]

I appreciate they're put on the spot with microphones thrust under their nose but I really would prefer nothing is said, I know people who took those comments literally and plunged in...

I agree to an extent but I also feel that the likes of Faugheen, Annie, Vautour, Douvan etc are so high profile that he would struggle to bat away the constant questioning of where they would end up if he just said nothing. He gets asked enough about them all even with this level of 'openness'. I tend to keep an open mind on what Willie and Ricci say (i think Ricci is actually very genuine, the problem is he just doesn't carry much weight in the final decision of the horses leaving it to Willie and Ruby) but I do take quite a big interest in what Patrick Mullins says.

 

[Kevloaf]

I'm going to start backing Faugheen at 7/4 to win any race, a much safer prospect than backing him for a particular race. Which ever race he lines up in, he'll start at odds on. 7/4 just seems too big to me.

I couldn't endorse this comment any more. Either race, if he turns up, he won't be this big.

I really should just start building a wedge on this.

 

[Kevloaf]

My gut does say WH for Faugheen, Annie for the CH and I think what jono said makes sense about "big targets" and "hurdling campaign" with regards to Faugheen... however, that could be a case of me finding things that I want to find!

I'll be trying to keep out of the debate about Mullins' comments

 

[Istabraq]

Jono - the statement Mullins made after his Neptune win was quite definitive, it suggests that Ricci pulled rank to me despite him insisting that Mullins decides targets.

If backing a horse this far out I'm a big fan of the 'any race' market, 7/4 appeals because if turns up healthy for any race he's likely to be shorter than that, however, any horse coming off a long absence through injury will be fragile and handled tentatively so if there's a horse who might not make the Festival at all it's this fella...

 

[Kevloaf]

Little bit on Yanworth...

http://www.skysports.com/racing/new...orth-set-to-reappear-in-coral-hurdle-at-ascot

Alan King has confirmed that Yanworth is to stay over hurdles this season and is likely to reappear next month.

JP McManus' gelding won his first four starts over timber last season before finding only Yorkhill too strong in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The trainer said: "Yanworth is going to stay hurdling and he will start at Ascot in the middle of November in the Coral Hurdle. We will start him off over two and a half (miles) and then take a view to go up in trip or come back."


CH or WH... keeping the options open. Will be one to keep on side of though

 

[Kevloaf]

Gordon Elliott has confirmed Apples Jade will be aimed at the Champion Hurdle today

 

[Istabraq]

Gordon Elliott has confirmed Apples Jade will be aimed at the Champion Hurdle today

Mistake for me, or perhaps the start of the Giggs v Mullins war ?

 

[Kevloaf]

Mistake for me, or perhaps the start of the Giggs v Mullins war ?

Perhaps, and not mutually exclusive!

Will add some spice I suppose but I'll be hoping it gets beaten!

 

[KingSprinterSacre]

Mistake for me too. Shes still very young, a year against her own sex might have been the best way forward. I dont trust juvenile form. Personally think IvanGorb is ungenuine and very ground dependent (though she still done it impressively). Whole different ball game against Faugheen or Annie

 

[Leman14]

I know that Alan King kept him options open with his statement (posted by Kevloaf - thanks), but what does everyone THINK he will be aimed at?
AP, Faugheen and Apples Jade are the top three in the betting, but Altior and VVM are likely to go elsewhere - which brings me to Yanworth.
If campaigned over 2 to 2.5 miles - 16's looks value and there is no other horse at a bigger price that I would have any faith in.

 

[mayo]

I know that Alan King kept him options open with his statement (posted by Kevloaf - thanks), but what does everyone THINK he will be aimed at?
AP, Faugheen and Apples Jade are the top three in the betting, but Altior and VVM are likely to go elsewhere - which brings me to Yanworth.
If campaigned over 2 to 2.5 miles - 16's looks value and there is no other horse at a bigger price that I would have any faith in.

World Hurdle unless CH cuts up.

MTOY out on Sunday - I think he might still be ew value for March.

 

[jono]

MTOY out on Sunday - I think he might still be ew value for March.

Fully agree. The fact Henderson has managed to get him out this early suggests he may be able to get a full season under his belt and put his injury problems aside which would be huge. Was a storming run to come second last year and the runs after for me were a combination of wrong trip at Aintree and the Cheltenham/Aintree races taking it's toll come Punchestown. He'll be 10 come March but having missed a large chunk through injury that isn't a concern for me.

I expect Yanworth to end up WH so wouldn't be surprised if we see Geraghty ride MTOY in this race and I think he'll be a LOT shorter than he is now. Though I wouldn't expect him to beat either Annie or Faugheen 33's EW is big.

With the recent news that Buveur D'air is likely to go chasing MTOY is likely to be Henderson's only shot at the race

 

[Kevloaf]

Not unlike JP to keep his 'stars' apart though... I wouldn't think that MTOY affects Yanworth as much as you guys seem to be suggesting. Different trainers, they'll go for whichever race they feel is best for each horse, regardless of being in the same ownership. If both turned up I'd expect Yanworth to be BG's choice as MTOY has had a go a couple of times and came up short. He might get it wrong but I'd be disappointed if MTOY was good enough. I do think 33/1 is a good price to 'place' but I wouldn't have any money on it ante post with the injuries it has had... even if things looked good now.

** had to go back and put the ' ' around stars haha

They'd have Jezki for the WH too so either way it is lining up against something?

 

[jono]

Fully agree Kevloaf that JP won't mix and match his horses and races. The fact he ran both Jezki and MTOY's is an example of 2 high profile horses in the same race, plus he often the likes of Captain CeeBee as a pacemaker at times. I don't think Yanworth would have an effect on MTOY's target but just that Geraghty may not have another to ride. Saying that Winter Escape is quite highly thought of going into this season so he is also another possible JP in the race. Also agree that I wouldn't at all be seeing anything other than the ew coming in but I also think once targets are confirmed the likes of Altior, Yanworth, VVM, Yorkhill, Buveur D'air, Min will all be out out of the market leaving very little so that's wehere the 33's could interest me if I wanted to have the bet.

Saying that I was shocked Henderson pulled him out because

I got cold feet at the end of the day

. If he wouldn't run on this weekends ground where will he run!