• 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!

2026 Champion Hurdle

How the fuck has this turned into an argument. We are one or two posts away from descending into all the stuff that surfaced when Gordon sat on a dead horse. We had rural versus urban debates. We had Irish versus British debates. We had one camp accusing another camp of not caring, we had the other camp accusing people of being ridiculously sentimental . Nobody on this forum (at least to my knowledge) has responsibility for the image of racing. He will either run or he won’t regardless of what any of us on here thinks. If he runs he will either fall or he won’t. If he jumps round (especially if he wins) some of us will feel vindicated. If he falls and causes injury to either himself, other horses or jockeys then there will be a monumental shit storm of crap coming racings way. Those of you that want him to run cannot hide from that reality and you have to accept any consequences should there be any whether you like it or not. There will be no fucking point then going on a forum and moaning about what comes next.

Decisions have consequences it’s called being a fucking grown up. The only thing none of us should do is pretend that we are in a different reality to the one we are in. A decision here is going to be made. I don’t want him to run. If he does it will be the first champion hurdle in more than 40 years I won’t have watched live. I will be hoping and praying that he and every horse and jockey comes back safe and sound. I will go for a walk round the block and then return to my mate and he will give me an update. If everything is good I will move on to the next race and get on with my festival. If something shit happens then those that believe it was worth it to preserve the integrity of the sport will be helplessly waiting like the rest of us to see what happens next. I will not feel vindicated, I will feel fucking shit.

I don’t think people that want him to run are wrong I just don’t feel the same way. This has the ability to get a little silly. Let’s try and prevent that from happening.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Johnoman66, Big Bucks, Runragged and 5 others
Could you imagine if all the fat jockey members wives got round a table together to read and discuss the drivel we find ourselves posting on here. Their eyes would be rolling out their heads xd.
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: opatcho, EnvoiAlien and Many Clouds
Agree completely with everything that Rooster Booster has said. I too will be watching through my fingers.

Fwiw whilst I totally agree that horses are bred to race (I wouldn't be watching the sport otherwise) and that fatal accidents can happen in the stables, on the gallops and in flat races, in the world we live in you can not simply ignore the fact that he has made catastrophic jumping errors in 3 of his last 4 races (4 of his last 5 if you count the one at the last in the International). If you decide to persevere then that's fine but you have to accept the consequences if the worst happens - and in this instance, particularly given the status of the horse that would be extremely bad for the sport as a whole, the regulators that allowed it to happen and the connections that took the decision.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Quevega and Carnage at Taunton
There’s no discussion for me. Has to run in the CH and anyone, anyone suggesting they can’t watch etc really really needs to have a think about whether they’re a fan of the sport or not.

This is only a discussion point because Constitution Hill is the best hurdler of the last 50 years (at least).

The only logical conclusion if you’re against him running over flights is for the sport to end.

Which is totally fine, it’s a valid position.

Just not for a fan of the sport to hold.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pisto, Black Dog and Killiney
Garrison Savannah said:
There’s no discussion for me. Has to run in the CH and anyone, anyone suggesting they can’t watch etc really really needs to have a think about whether they’re a fan of the sport or not.

This is only a discussion point because Constitution Hill is the best hurdler of the last 50 years (at least).

The only logical conclusion if you’re against him running over flights is for the sport to end.

Which is totally fine, it’s a valid position.

Just not for a fan of the sport to hold.
Click to expand...
I am afraid that I can't agree with this. There is something like a 1.5% fall rate in jumps racing - it has been somewhere between 1.5% and 2% for as long as I can remember. This is an acceptable risk to me as a fan of the sport. However, when any horse shows that its risk of falling is substantially higher than this then I think its encumbent upon the sport and its participants (including punters) to question whether it should be allowed to continue to participate. You may disagree whether 3 falls in 4 races is sufficient evidence but it should at least be up for debate.
 
  • Like
Reactions: The Giant Bolster, robith, Danman and 2 others
riccirich said:
Can we get our focus back onto more important topics please.

I haven't heard any updates about the current state of the water table in days.
Click to expand...
Got it's own thread r.r. , daily rainfall readings c/I Prestbury Park
 
Prestbury said:
I am afraid that I can't agree with this. There is something like a 1.5% fall rate in jumps racing - it has been somewhere between 1.5% and 2% for as long as I can remember. This is an acceptable risk to me as a fan of the sport. However, when any horse shows that its risk of falling is substantially higher than this then I think its encumbent upon the sport and its participants (including punters) to question whether it should be allowed to continue to participate. You may disagree whether 3 falls in 4 races is sufficient evidence but it should at least be up for debate.
Click to expand...
I think he told you in his first 5/6 words that replying is pointless (have we lost emojis)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Prestbury and Carnage at Taunton
Lobos said:
He was talking about arguing with CH Carnage
Click to expand...
Prestbury said:
I am afraid that I can't agree with this. There is something like a 1.5% fall rate in jumps racing - it has been somewhere between 1.5% and 2% for as long as I can remember. This is an acceptable risk to me as a fan of the sport. However, when any horse shows that its risk of falling is substantially higher than this then I think its encumbent upon the sport and its participants (including punters) to question whether it should be allowed to continue to participate. You may disagree whether 3 falls in 4 races is sufficient evidence but it should at least be up for debate.
Click to expand...
Absolutely, agree with every word of that.
 
Catching up on this thread this morning was a little bit painful, but it proved one thing to me, we need Constitution Hill, and when I say we, I mean NH racing. You could argue flat racing could do with him as well, but this isn't the part of the forum to discuss flat racing, so I won't bother.

The attention he attracts to the sport is remarkable. Just look at the discussion on here, the discussion every year, in fact, on here, on social media, in the media, look at Southwell on a Friday evening, he's the one the majority of us want to see in the flesh, and to see him go and win, whichever race that may be.

He's the Frankel of the NH scene for me. Generational.

I've given up debating any point as to where he should go, I'll leave that up to the rightful people, the owner and the trainer.

Up the Con Hill :love:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Black Dog, EnvoiAlien and The hill
Corals offer 1/2 he runs and 6/4 he doesn't
 
Garrison Savannah said:
There’s no discussion for me. Has to run in the CH and anyone, anyone suggesting they can’t watch etc really really needs to have a think about whether they’re a fan of the sport or not.

This is only a discussion point because Constitution Hill is the best hurdler of the last 50 years (at least).

The only logical conclusion if you’re against him running over flights is for the sport to end.

Which is totally fine, it’s a valid position.

Just not for a fan of the sport to hold.
Click to expand...
I just made a post on the Ryanair thread but then realised I didn’t get your permission first. I would have put a smiley face emoji but I’ve lost access to them :)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Lobos said:
Corals offer 1/2 he runs and 6/4 he doesn't
Click to expand...
These are gimmick markets designed for marketing reasons, you might get away with a tenner on either but ask for 50 quid or more you'll be referred, likely refused, and definitely monitored/restricted going forward...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Black Dog
Was 8/1 to not run before Southwell
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom