• HELP US - Become a Patron - Fat Jockey is a horse racing community focused on all the big races in the UK and Ireland. We don't charge users but if you have found the site useful then any support towards the running costs is appreciated ... a small donation each month would be a huge contribution. Become a Patron!

2017 Champion Hurdle

Annie withdrawn from the Hattons Grace. Faugheen still in. Yorkhill isn't declared either.

Yorkhill been taken out of the Drinmore as well too.
 
Last edited:
There is surely something not quite right with yorkhill, why not make a decision it's December most of willies must be at least in full work and just about ready to run.. Maybe they are hiding something? I think they are not all together happy with Annie and faugheen and are waiting on them to perform before committing yorkhill
 
There is surely something not quite right with yorkhill, why not make a decision it's December most of willies must be at least in full work and just about ready to run.. Maybe they are hiding something? I think they are not all together happy with Annie and faugheen and are waiting on them to perform before committing yorkhill

..yard slow to get going this year. Funny how these things can happen. Henderson had an outstanding year when he won championship but stars struggled the next year. Did chasing GB title leave a mark on some of Willies ?
 
Yorkhill is one of those horses who falls into the bracket of running at all 3 festivals, then on top of that a run in America.... was really looking forward to this horse but starting to doubt the wellbeing now, and my ap bets on the JLT!!
 
After the Vautour episode last season I thought the yard may have been a little more open this year - seems it's got even worse!

Now there is the problem that yards can be too open. I remember the Final Furlong pod and some other articles which mentioned if the public knew how many knocks/bad workouts/niggles etc that horses picked up day to day then you'd never have a bet! So i'm not expecting a bulletin every day but unless i've missed it why has there been no mention of why Annie hasn't been declared for the Hattons Grace? Last mention was she was going to be checked out over the weekend but nothing since almost 2 weeks later?! Especially after the rumours of her retiring last week.

I'm sure there's a lot more going on with his horses - in particular with Annie Power and Faugheen and they are in much worse state then what they are trying to make us believe. Why the secrecy though? It's pretty obvious Yorkhill is being held back on a decision to go chasing because of the possibility of needing a champion hurdle horse
 
Yanworth looking like a runner in this now which will please plenty? Going to be avoiding Unowhatimeanharry and a bit of blue on oddschecker for the CH. Bit of 16s available still, solid each way.

Also, a little thought about Petit Mouchior... after Apples JDae beat VVM today, Cooper said he stil lthinks he was right to not pick her last week for the Fighting Fifth and thinks he would have won... 33s are available and can't see where else they'd send it?

With the doubts around for AP and Faugheen it can't be stupid to have some double figures in the book.... :)
 
Think it's very wise to have some backups in this race considering the fragility of the main 2.

Here's the quotes on Yanworth:

He is going to have an entry in the International at Cheltenham, but I suppose My Tent Or Yours (who is also owned by McManus) will have one as well, and he will possibly have one in the Christmas Hurdle.

I think we are going to try to keep the two apart (Yanworth and Unowhatimeanharry), but I will have to speak to the boys.

All options are open."

I think he'll do best over further but you can see why they'd look at the 2mile option, not only because of their options for the World Hurdle but also because races like the International could be easy pickings leading up to March. Just look at the graded races The New One was winning over the last few years.
 
I've backed Chitbello at 50/1. Happy to add Petit Mouchior at 33/1 too. I'm going to have all the rags running for me at this rate!
 
I've backed Chitbello at 50/1. Happy to add Petit Mouchior at 33/1 too. I'm going to have all the rags running for me at this rate!

Might only be rags in the race come race-day :)
 
Most of mine will probably be lining up in the county hurdle though :highly_amused:
 
I backed Petit Mouchoir each way now... at 33/1 1/4 the odds I think that is fair enough. Can't see any other possible race for him and Cooper thinks he is better than AJ over 2m, and I was happy enough backing her at 10s for this race!
 
I'm starting to like Yanworth's chances....
 
I missed this from Sunday but good to hear Ricci come out and say Annie is fine and the retirement talk was nonsense

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rich Ricci was very pleased with Bapaume's run and also says Annie Power and Faugheen are "both fine": <a href="https://t.co/NMLNfKJ8X6">https://t.co/NMLNfKJ8X6</a></p>— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) <a href="https://twitter.com/AtTheRaces/status/805396112639037441">December 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Top class RR, I like the bloke.. I think he is true and honest with everything he says..
 
I'm starting to like Yanworth's chances....

Strange that our has taken UNWIMH to put him into the picture for this because everyone has been tipping him up for a strong run 2 mile to suit ...

King saying he will go for the Christmas hurdle so likely to face Faugheen on his seasonal debut? I wouldn't wait until then to back him .... maybe get closer than he should and shorten .... would be hard to see him getting pushed out for losing?
 
Last edited:
I don't really get all the love for Yanworth. He failed to impress at the Cheltenham festival last season and I was underwhelmed with his comeback run.

I'm not convinced the form of the Neptune is all that great and I'm keen to take on Yorkhill and Yanworth this season.
 
FM - with so many health questions about the main challengers if Yanworth heads for this, which now seems likely, he has to go there with a chance.
Always like the Neptune form for CH horses and although he let down his army of backers at Cheltenham he was given a poor ride and Ruby took advantage.
I wasn't too down on his reappearance, he won comfortably enough and the third, a very decent horse in his own right, a long way way in third, Yanworth will improve for the run too....