Champion Hurdle 2018

[Kevloaf]

Will Yorkhill's participation come down to whether Min or Melon are more likely to win their respective targets?

 

[Montjeu]

The more I think about it the more I believe we won’t see Yorkhill here, regardless of Willie’s other horses. Chasing was always the plan with him, and as it turns out he’s a bloody good chaser. He jumps and travels excellently, at least going left handed, so it would seem like a massive step back in his career to see him revert to hurdles. I think a crack at the Champion Chase this year would be perfect for him, see if they can settle him down for next year if they still want to make a Gold Cup horse out of him.

 

[TheRowebot]

Ricci on Faugheen:

When asked whether Faugheen will make the Champion Hurdle, Ricci told talkSPORT2: "Barring anything popping up of a more serious nature this week, absolutely. I think we'll crack on.

"Whether he goes to the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in the first week of February, or whether he'll go straight to Cheltenham, I don't know, but our intention at the moment is to crack on. He was fine after the race. We've gotten him home. He's normal. Everything's fine, which is good news. He's not lame. There are no leg issues.

"I'm just hoping that in the next day or two something comes out where he's been incubating a cold. I think that would be the best-case scenario."

 

[Hurricane fly]

The new one is going to keep an entry for the Champion Hurdle

NTD “with the way they keep mucking up he could get 3rd or 4th”

Another Cheltenham wasted then

 

[Scooby91]

The new one is going to keep an entry for the Champion Hurdle

NTD “with the way they keep mucking up he could get 3rd or 4th”

Another Cheltenham wasted then

I wouldn't knock that at all, common sense to go for the CH. Million pound mark in prize money. Im sure rhe owners are very happy with hiw hes been campigned.
Take what you can get instead of going into the unknown. They're well aware he won't win the CH but there's plenty of prize money there.

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

Zero chance TNO wins the champion hurdle. The definition of insanity and all that!

I much prefer going for the unknown, when the known is clearly not good enough.

 

[Scooby91]

Zero chance TNO wins the champion hurdle. The definition of insanity and all that!

I much prefer going for the unknown, when the known is clearly not good enough.

If you leased him for free. Get to keep all prize money. Where would you send him?
I'd 100% send him CH personally.

Every one is well aware he won't win the CH. But he's more than earned his place in the field.

 

[Kevloaf]

If you leased him for free. Get to keep all prize money. Where would you send him?
I'd 100% send him CH personally.

I don't think the owners of The New One are in it for the prize money though? (not solely)

400k prize money with no chance of winning
300k prize money with chance of winning

Certainly not a no brainer?

 

[Scooby91]

I don't think the owners of The New One are in it for the prize money though? (not solely)

400k prize money with no chance of winning
300k prize money with chance of winning

Certainly not a no brainer?

Its a no brainer for me personally but I can see why other people would think he could win a stayers. But financially and with what he's done this season, ran a cracker against melon/ mtoy, and in the Christmas hurdle, faugheen disappointing, never ran at 3, that would be some call if they ran in a stayers. £450,000 prize money in the CH. Any horse can fall.
Your basically taking atleast a £60,000 punt that he's going to go very close in the stayers. And the horse might not even enjoy himself.

 

[Kevloaf]

Its a no brainer for me personally but I can see why other people would think he could win a stayers. But financially and with what he's done this season, ran a cracker against melon/ mtoy, and in the Christmas hurdle, faugheen disappointing, never ran at 3, that would be some call if they ran in a stayers. £450,000 prize money in the CH. Any horse can fall.
Your basically taking atleast a £60,000 punt that he's going to go very close in the stayers. And the horse might not even enjoy himself.

If I owned him, I'd try him over 3m in the Cleeve hurdle. Then make my mind up.

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

In the last 3 Champion Hurdles he has finished 5/4/5 so it's hardly a massive payday for him, when hes finishing out of the places.

 

[Montjeu]

Min 14/1 NRNB with 365, hugely unlikely he lines up but I have a few pts to spare after the festive racing, and if he lined up he would arguably be disputing favouritism? Although very possible BVD has improved past him and/or Min has regressed since his injury.

 

[Kevloaf]

Min 14/1 NRNB with 365, hugely unlikely he lines up but I have a few pts to spare after the festive racing, and if he lined up he would arguably be disputing favouritism? Although very possible BVD has improved past him and/or Min has regressed since his injury.

I put that in my slip then took it out as I didn't want to tie up 2 pts.

Faugheen, Melon, Yorkhill, Arctic Fire more likely runners?

Arctic Fire is 20/1 NRNB or 40/1 without that concession which is mildly interesting too

 

[Istabraq]

If I owned him, I'd try him over 3m in the Cleeve hurdle. Then make my mind up.

That ground can get deep Kev, can ruin a horses season.
That trend about Gold Cup winners who can't win the race having run on heavy earlier in the season is an eye opener, similar coudl apply for the Stayers.

The deep ground in Jan was the end of the greatest of the lot in Big Bucks...

 

[Kevloaf]

That ground can get deep Kev, can ruin a horses season.
That trend about Gold Cup winners who can't win the race having run on heavy earlier in the season is an eye opener, similar coudl apply for the Stayers.

The deep ground in Jan was the end of the greatest of the lot in Big Bucks...

Wasn't aware of that stat... I'd need to see it in full before I made my plans for The New One then

 

[Kevloaf]

Just read Philip Hobbs has belatedly revealed that Defi Du Seuil scoped dirty after his Ascot defeat behind Lil Rockerfeller in November, like a number of his horses at the time. The yard went on to endure an uncharacteristically poor December with just one winner from 41 runners – both numbers being well down on the norm.

Still 20/1 available, with an excuse now given for that run at Ascot, with doubts around Faugheen.... I sitll think he'd struggle to get a place but the price isn't bad to find out

 

[The Lick]

I think 20/1 as am ew bet could be good value

 

[Al Ferof]

Any word on his next run? Defi is the one possible forgotten horse here really, even with the poor trend for 5 year old runners.

A couple of months away from Cheltenham and with few other surprises expected in the CH market, 20/1 could be more than fair, especially if he trots up and shows well-being in any half decent little race. Could easily go off 10/1 or under in that case.

Equally, another poor run and your dough is done, but can see the possible value.

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

I couldn't back him at 20/1 without nrnb.

 

[KingSprinterSacre]

Arctic fire retired