2026 Champion Hurdle

[Craigy14]

Pretty sure he'll be perfectly ok. He's not slow at all. The great Sea Pigeon won an Ebor and was 6th in the Derby so I don't see any issues for him over a mile and a half.Red Rum won over 5f !!

I wouldn’t know I wasn’t born but you’re comparing to a horse from just shy of 50 years ago. I’m sure didn’t have any of the issues constitution hill has had in his career.

The field doesn’t look ‘great’ to be honest so he may get away with it but I can’t see it. Sooner it’s over the better and hopefully the circus can roll on elsewhere for me.

 

[Craigy14]

I don't think his racing ability is in question for me, his jumping ability however, that is the problem really, isn't it?

That’s true, he came down so early at Newcastle but other than that all we have to go on was Punchestown where he was tailed off. I was sure I read he was struck into at Punchestown when he was tailed off so maybe explains that performance.

I’m maybe being overly critical because as I’ve said before the whole situation is a fucking farce to be honest.

 

[Lobos]

That wasn't my question

But fair enough if that's your opinion

Can't imagine many on here having a different opinion? Wonder what Willie would have done....

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Can't imagine many on here having a different opinion? Wonder what Willie would have done....

Initially, after the fall, I was of the opinion he should maybe call it a day with regards to hurdles, but letting the dust settle, I had a re-think and believe IF and only IF he is still showing zest for his racing then he should end up running.

I don't live by many famous quotes through my life but "we only regret the chances we didn't take" is one I have tried including in recent years, for varying reasons. I believe I'd have this attitude with a racehorse if I owned one. As much as I love the horses, they are there to do one thing, run in the races.

You brought Willie up, so tell me this, we know Lossiemouth can win the Mares Hurdle again, and I'm not saying Willie is pressured into the decision but say he runs her in the Champion Hurdle and god forbid she came down and didn't make it, is he sitting at home thinking he's never running a mare in the Champion Hurdle again? Or Galopin Des Champs, he's won them two Gold Cups, he's looked out of sorts this season though, does he need to run in the Gold Cup again after being beat in it last season? What if something were to happen to him. Guess what though, Willie will run him in the race. They move on, as do we.

It takes one mistake for any horse running on any day to end up on the deck, and one positive is at least Constitution Hill knows 'how to fall' without getting himself hurt. Three times, at the speed he goes, anyone would think he's doing it on purpose

Could go back and forward all day, every day, with differing opinions, at the end of the day they are race horses, if they are still good enough to perform at the level required then they should be running, in my opinion.

 

[EnvoiAlien]

El Fabiolo took 3 bad falls in 4 races, no one even questioned whether the horse should still be jumping, there was no opinion pieces daily on what should be done or what could happen, no one quizzed the trainer about how it may impact the sport if the worst happened next time he was asked to race...but we move on.

 

[Craigy14]

I think in part is because the UK media built up Constitution Hill as the poster boy for racing the last few years and to see their beloved horse, that was going to be better than Istabraq et al, have more letters than numbers in his form was always going to come under scrutiny, by guess what, the media who built him up in the first place.

But with all due respect I think this flat race is the worst thing that could happen for the horse and his future career. And connections are to blame for doing this nobody else, why are they running on the flat with a view to Cheltenham? It’s just absolute fucking nonsense. So whatever happens post race and then at Cheltenham if they go it’s all on them.

Edit - going for this flat race they should have come out and said they are aiming for a year or 2 on the flat and we can all ignore him for Cheltenham. The will he or won’t he is not good for national hunt racing.

 

[Quevega]

I think your examples are poor COD.

The difference here is that he's fell in 3/4 of his last hurdle races.
So for any horse in training there would normally be some sort of care plan/thoughts going forward.

But to then leave him off the track since November, run him on the flat at Southwell and then turn up in the champion hurdle is a massive risk from a PR perspective. And not IMO acting in the best interests of the horse or the sport.

All they have done is massively increase the pressure on the horse and everyone else involved as well as the sport in general.

Too much fuss has been made to the point that it's become almost impossible for them to make a sensible decision.

In the aftermath of the fall last time they should have held their fucking tongues, and not waffled on about the flat options for a fucking 9yr old.

Then they could have come back to the subject (especially after Gino got hurt) and ran him the other day in the grade 2 at wincanton.

They jumped the gun with this project whilst they thought they had the champion hurdle in the bag.
There was no need whatsoever to be fucking about with flat racing in February.

Why ? "lets see if he's good on the flat and if not we'll risk him in the champion hurdle"
I don't buy the whole getting his confidence back argument whatsoever.

Had they had more patience - with a view to going on to the champion hurdle. It would have been not only more sensible but also palatable to the public and everyone involved in racing to come back in the grade 2. Had he fell at Wincanton, assuming unhurt then they could retire him from NH and go messing about on the flat.

The risks are always there, but they should always be mitigated and not exasperated.

They have backed themselves into a corner with this farce at Southwell IMO.

I'll only forgive them if they commit to flat racing after tonight and scratch him from the champion hurdle.
Even then it's damaging that they have left him in the champion hurdle.

I'd be fairly sure if Sir Gino was odds on Fav for the champion right now they would have already made their minds up.
That's what stinks to me, because it smacks in the face of all the talk about welfare.
But I can't prove that because Gino ain't there.
So benefit of the doubt and all that.

 

[ComplyOrDie]

I think your examples are poor COD.

The point was they are 'what if' scenarios, just like this is for Constitution Hill.

@EnvoiAlien made a better point about El Fabiolo, who I had forgot about.

 

[Quevega]

The point was they are 'what if' scenarios, just like this is for Constitution Hill.

@EnvoiAlien made a better point about El Fabiolo, who I had forgot about.

El Fab has gone back hurdling though.

 

[ComplyOrDie]

El Fab has gone back hurdling though.

Yes, now they have, but they didn't after the first or second fall, so is the cut off point 3 falls and you're out?

Is that the line?

 

[Quevega]

Yes, now they have, but they didn't after the first or second fall, so is the cut off point 3 falls and you're out?

Is that the line?

There is no line

 

[Quevega]

That's the point.
Connections drew their own fucking lines.
But this one has gone very wrong

 

[FinalFurlong91]

Anybody else going to be looking at the prices to lay con hill 3, 4 and 5 places later?

 

[ComplyOrDie]

That's the point.
Connections drew their own fucking lines.
But this one has gone very wrong

On what basis?

No matter how he performs tonight, imagine if he were to go and win the Champion Hurdle, would it not look a genius move?

It may end up very very wrong, come the festival, we won't know unless they take it up though.

 

[Quevega]

On what basis?

No matter how he performs tonight, imagine if he were to go and win the Champion Hurdle, would it not look a genius move?

It may end up very very wrong, come the festival, we won't know unless they take it up though.

I've outlined what I think and why we are at this point. I can't explain it any clearer.

There is nothing about it that is remotely genius IMO.
They have landed here because of the reasons I've given.

Mostly selfish, ego driven and self serving reasons.

They might as well have wanked him off on Pornhub on a live stream pay per view.
Just as many would have tuned in as are going to Southwell, if not more.

And if he wins the champion hurdle that will not change, my opinion.

 

[Craigy14]

Yes, now they have, but they didn't after the first or second fall, so is the cut off point 3 falls and you're out?

Is that the line?

They didn’t talk about going flat racing though did they?

 

[ComplyOrDie]

They didn’t talk about going flat racing though did they?

No, but fences back to hurdles.

Hurdles, to where? Wouldn't be over fences.

Flat race, IMO, will only be to get him spot on for March. I don't see it as a serious campaign.

 

[Rooster Booster]

Are we all ready for the hysteria after the flat race tonight?

Regardless, whether he wins or loses you just know social media will go into some sort of meltdown!

We’ve been known to have the odd meltdown of our own where this horse and these connections are concerned. Let’s be honest there’s some stuff we’ve come up with about connections that friends and family would find pretty hurtful.

I accused Hendo of being fucking ridiculous just a few days ago. I used to spend a lot of time in Lambourn and if I bumped into him at a local watering hole I would be happy as Larry to strike up a conversation with the guy and would likely be thoroughly entertained and I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t tell him that he is fucking ridiculously sentimental. It’s not just social media that become warriors behind a keyboard. It appears I do as well.

 

[Quevega]

No, but fences back to hurdles.

Hurdles, to where? Wouldn't be over fences.

Flat race, IMO, will only be to get him spot on for March. I don't see it as a serious campaign.

It's not a serious campaign now Sir Gino is out of the way.

They made it a welfare issue after his last fall with lots of what if's.

"if we run him again and something happens to horse or jockey" with tears in the eyes

They didn't need to do that as most people in racing would not have baulked if they said they would give him some time and then likely move on to a hurdle race in the new year. Because most people in racing know they cannot speak like that. Horse's die and get hurt all the time and so do jockeys, they know it, so they are not going to play up the risks if they can help it.

The only ones that would have questioned a decision to keep hurdling would be those that question horse racing in general every day of the week.

The idea behind this flat race was to see if that was a viable option instead of NH racing.

It is not for fitness or confidence, but you can bet your bottom dollar that's how they'll play it, if it suits them to do so.

Not once when this race was announced did they say it was the plan for it to be a prep for Cheltenham.
And no one in racing if they had made that intention clear, would have thought "What a great idea"

At the time it was announced Con Hill was out to 16's and 20's in most places. They were fully expecting him not to turn up in the Champion hurdle cos they had the Fav.

Like I said, if he's successful tonight and they say they are staying on the flat, then that's cool, and I'd apologise for casting aspersions.

I do not believe for a minute that a horse that has fell in 3 of his last four hurdle races and all but pulled up in the other, should be then thrown into a champion hurdle because a flat race at southwell has supposedly helped his cause.

He might have a pleasant experience tonight and not fall over, but I'm sure he'll be aware he hasn't jumped any hurdles either.
So lining up at Cheltenham he'd be back to square one IMO.

 

[Quevega]

We’ve been known to have the odd meltdown of our own where this horse and these connections are concerned. Let’s be honest there’s some stuff we’ve come up with about connections that friends and family would find pretty hurtful.

I accused Hendo of being fucking ridiculous just a few days ago. I used to spend a lot of time in Lambourn and if I bumped into him at a local watering hole I would be happy as Larry to strike up a conversation with the guy and would likely be thoroughly entertained and I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t tell him that he is fucking ridiculously sentimental. It’s not just social media that become warriors behind a keyboard. It appears I do as well.

I would tell him to his face (a bit more politely maybe )
The reason why ?
Because I'd expect him to have self awareness.
I wouldn't expect that of everybody, but I think he knows who he is.
And there is nothing wrong with it. It's just in his character. Which I'd also make clear.