2026 Champion Hurdle

[Benjy23]

20s Ballyburn you could say the same about...

I'd have thought the only way he runs here is if he wins (or goes very well) over 2 miles at DRF. No idea if he's actually going to run it that race mind but I'd expect to get my money back for this one if he didn't.

Almost convinced myself

 

[Istabraq]

I've just backed El Fabiolo 12/1 win only.
I have no idea if that's a shit bet or a great bet, 12/1 when 25/1 in the normal market is a fair percentage to give up for NRNB insurance but it's all on next weekend, a positive run and his price is probably slashed to around that 12/1, a poor run and he surely doesn't go...

 

[wecandream]

If and I know it’s a big if but if constitution hill jumps round he wins the champion hurdle

 

[Istabraq]

If and I know it’s a big if but if constitution hill jumps round he wins the champion hurdle

3/1 NRNB
I could get interested in that...

 

[Evesham Road]

20s Ballyburn you could say the same about...

I'd have thought the only way he runs here is if he wins (or goes very well) over 2 miles at DRF. No idea if he's actually going to run it that race mind but I'd expect to get my money back for this one if he didn't.

Almost convinced myself

I've just posted the same on the NRNB thread without seeing you had said this first! Good to know that a similar line of thinking exists elsewhere...

 

[Benjy23]

I've just posted the same on the NRNB thread without seeing you had said this first! Good to know that a similar line of thinking exists elsewhere...

Yea, I've also taken it. Even considering it some sort of cover for my Lossiemouth bets, as the DRF result should dictate both.

 

[Lobos]

The scenes on here when PT picks Ballyburn over Lossiemouth

 

[ComplyOrDie]

I've just backed El Fabiolo 12/1 win only.
I have no idea if that's a shit bet or a great bet, 12/1 when 25/1 in the normal market is a fair percentage to give up for NRNB insurance but it's all on next weekend, a positive run and his price is probably slashed to around that 12/1, a poor run and he surely doesn't go...

Probably went unnoticed but his form from LTO took a step forward as Glen Kiln won the Limestone Lad yesterday.

Glen Kiln was giving El Fabiolo 4lbs that day, but was race fit having run in the Morigana & Hattons Grace, plus El Fab was coming off of a fair break and won very easily too.

 

[Istabraq]

Probably went unnoticed but his form from LTO took a step forward as Glen Kiln won the Limestone Lad yesterday.

Glen Kiln was giving El Fabiolo 4lbs that day, but was race fit having run in the Morigana & Hattons Grace, plus El Fab was coming off of a fair break and won very easily too.

It's rare that I could ever be described as on the ball but this wasn't lost on me, and was part of the thinking, that was probably a decent Limestone Lad renewal too, a couple of unexposed types behind.
We know El Fabiolo goes on any ground and when he knew how to jump fences we knew he was an exceptional horse, the lingering doubt of course is will he look to bulldoze his way through hurdles or will he make at least a token effort to clear them....

 

[Quevega]

As I reminded people yesterday.
Lossiemouth also beat Glen Kiln in the Morgiana and he also had the perceived fitness edge that day.
I think it's easy to work out the weights and lengths and how much El Fabiolo has to find on that piece of form.

So anyone backing El Fabiolo off that form line is probably not being sensible IMO.

Backing El Fabiolo on the hope he can reproduce his top chase form over hurdles is fair enough.
But that sort of thing rarely happens at this level.

 

[ComplyOrDie]

As I reminded people yesterday.
Lossiemouth also beat Glen Kiln in the Morgiana and he also had the perceived fitness edge that day.
I think it's easy to work out the weights and lengths and how much El Fabiolo has to find on that piece of form.

So anyone backing El Fabiolo off that form line is probably not being sensible IMO.

Backing El Fabiolo on the hope he can reproduce his top chase form over hurdles is fair enough.
But that sort of thing rarely happens at this level.

Ah yeah, not for one minute am I thinking or believing he's at the level of Lossiemouth. There is a case for improvement from that seasonal debut though and with him coming back over hurdles, as you and @Istabraq both note, his top chase form brings him into contention should he find that level again.

I would have Lossiemouth to beat El Fabiolo every time, the issue with Lossiemouth is which race will they run her in?

She should absolutely be going to the Champion Hurdle, but I don't trust them to go that route until final decs are done, no matter what anyone says on this forum!

 

[Eggs]

P Mullins is confident that Anzadam will be more tractable in the Irish Champion than he was over Christmas, when he raced too keenly down the back straight in the December Hurdle and faded into fourth behind Lossiemouth.

“There was talk of maybe letting him make the running or dropping in last next time,” he said.

“I think the way this race sets-up will suit him much better. I think they’ll go a stronger gallop with Brighterdaysahead, it looks like there will be less no-hopers so you can probably settle in at the back off a strong gallop and I think he would settle.

“Basically, I was using his jumping last time, and it got him through a gap, and once he was through it he was gone, so you probably wouldn’t use his jumping until later on in the race on Sunday. But with the benefit of that experience from Christmas I think we’ll be able to manage him at the weekend.”

 

[ComplyOrDie]

P Mullins is confident that Anzadam will be more tractable in the Irish Champion than he was over Christmas, when he raced too keenly down the back straight in the December Hurdle and faded into fourth behind Lossiemouth.

“There was talk of maybe letting him make the running or dropping in last next time,” he said.

“I think the way this race sets-up will suit him much better. I think they’ll go a stronger gallop with Brighterdaysahead, it looks like there will be less no-hopers so you can probably settle in at the back off a strong gallop and I think he would settle.

“Basically, I was using his jumping last time, and it got him through a gap, and once he was through it he was gone, so you probably wouldn’t use his jumping until later on in the race on Sunday. But with the benefit of that experience from Christmas I think we’ll be able to manage him at the weekend.”

All ready for that upset so Lossie can go Mares

 

[Carnage at Taunton]

As I reminded people yesterday.
Lossiemouth also beat Glen Kiln in the Morgiana and he also had the perceived fitness edge that day.
I think it's easy to work out the weights and lengths and how much El Fabiolo has to find on that piece of form.

So anyone backing El Fabiolo off that form line is probably not being sensible IMO.

Backing El Fabiolo on the hope he can reproduce his top chase form over hurdles is fair enough.
But that sort of thing rarely happens at this level.

Yep, to me it’s all about hoping he can be grade 1 level over hurdles
I’m happy to have him onside.
Find out soon hopefully.

 

[Wayward Lad]

P Mullins is confident that Anzadam will be more tractable in the Irish Champion than he was over Christmas, when he raced too keenly down the back straight in the December Hurdle and faded into fourth behind Lossiemouth.

“There was talk of maybe letting him make the running or dropping in last next time,” he said.

“I think the way this race sets-up will suit him much better. I think they’ll go a stronger gallop with Brighterdaysahead, it looks like there will be less no-hopers so you can probably settle in at the back off a strong gallop and I think he would settle.

“Basically, I was using his jumping last time, and it got him through a gap, and once he was through it he was gone, so you probably wouldn’t use his jumping until later on in the race on Sunday. But with the benefit of that experience from Christmas I think we’ll be able to manage him at the weekend.”

Sounds like Patrick is looking to ride a Sharjah esq kind of race at the weekend, if he’s on Anzadam

 

[Quevega]

Yep, to me it’s all about hoping he can be grade 1 level over hurdles
I’m happy to have him onside.
Find out soon hopefully.

Patrick just mentioned that there will be less no hopers so not sure we;ll see him at the weekend
Seriously though, I don;t expect Mullins to stack the field Saturday like he might've done before Gino.
He might though, and if he does then I expect some of his will be kept well out of the way of the main protaganists.

 

[Carnage at Taunton]

Patrick just mentioned that there will be less no hopers so not sure we;ll see him at the weekend
Seriously though, I don;t expect Mullins to stack the field Saturday like he might've done before Gino.
He might though, and if he does then I expect some of his will be kept well out of the way of the main protaganists.

cheers for that!!
Will be eagerly awaiting final decs
After his last run and the fair chance of improving for a first time out effort, i would be very disappointed were he not to run.

 

[Odddog]

So is Patrick basically saying he gave Anzadam a shit ride at Christmas?

 

[Pisto]

All ready for that upset so Lossie can go Mares

Anzadam Ch lossie mares double. I’m sure most on already

 

[opatcho]

Think most are hoping

So is Patrick basically saying he gave Anzadam a shit ride at Christmas?

I watched that race back, not sure if Patrick could control the horse after he bolted but did notice they were hugging the rail where the ground had been heavily beaten up

Townend, Walsh and Jack where riding wider on fresher ground

I’m still struggling to see Anzadam as a CH winner… despite the race cutting up