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2017 Arkle Trophy Chase

Not sure there is anything at Cheltenham over hurdles for Buveur d'air
He doesn't have the class to win a champion hurdle at this stage
Maybe the 2 1/2 mile race at Aintree would suit
Think they will run in jlt
Does anyone think there should be a grade one hurdle race at Cheltenham over 2 1/2 miles ?
A Ryanair for hurdlers,surely would of been a better option than the mares novice hurdle
 
No. That would be the worst idea ever Liam.

How many horses would Faugheen run against if there was another option for most of the field. It would ruin the champion hurdle. Plus, the grade 1 at Aintree is three weeks later and is a great race in its own right.
 
Why not the County ?
Hurdle rating of 151 - have to say I thought he was higher than that, he probably won't have top weight with that....
 
I don't understand why they would go back over hurdles, he's been impressive to my eye.
 
Liam I think that 2m 4f G1 hurdle race will happen but when you look what effect the Ryanair has had on Champion Chase and Gold Cup fields they may give this extra thought.

Along with a Veterans race a 2m 4f hurdle would take the total races to 30, perfect for a 5 day festival, which I also think will happen....
 
Agree Istabraq
I think they will push for a five day festival
However,this will be for money generating purposes and not for the benefit of racing
I would hate to see it,especially if gold cup day was a saturday
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
Is there?

Nicky said he'd go for the Scilly Isles at Sandown in February, which is run over 2.5 miles
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KSS on Jlt thread a couple of weeks ago ...

Seen this elsewhere - Apparently Buveur D’Air could be back over hurdles – Aidan Coleman told Seven Barrows he was far from impressed with him over fences at Warwick over the weekend.
 
Old Vic said:
KSS on Jlt thread a couple of weeks ago ...

Seen this elsewhere - Apparently Buveur D’Air could be back over hurdles – Aidan Coleman told Seven Barrows he was far from impressed with him over fences at Warwick over the weekend.
Click to expand...

Yep and hes entered in the champion hurdle. I say they will give him 1 more go over fences before the festival then make their decision
 
Scilly Isles next then on to the JLT. If the SI doesn't go to plan, I'd imagine it'll be the Champion Hurdle. I think he's far too good to revert to handicap hurdles at this stage.
 
I'm surprised by some suggesting handicap hurdling with Buveur D'Air. I think he's a very good horse and would be bang in the mix of challengers for the CH if he reverting back to hurdles for the race. I see him very much with as much chance as Yanworth, Petit Mouchoir and the others. Minus the Ricci pair i'd probably pick him over anything else in the race. The fact he may be best suited to slightly further will probably play to his favour in the race this year too.
 
Jono - Rooster Booster went County then CH, Harchibald too, probably a few others too so the fact it's a handicap should be ignored, it's a top 2m race that many graded winners come from so it shouldn't be regarded as a low level race
 
I hadn't realised that Ista. Both horses were before I got into racing so although I've heard many a story and watched replays I was unaware of them taking in the race. I had never really thought of the race as a stepping stone onto the CH, though Arctic Fire is another recent example when running in the County then placed in the CH the following year. Superb Story could potentially do similar this year (or at least run in the CH)

Is there generally a reasoning for doing so? Just that they have a handicap mark too good to resist?

I will be honest my view was very much that the county hurdle horses fall just below CH class as the prestige of the top 2m hurdle race and massive difference in prize money (£248K for the CH winner, £45K for the County winner, £400K Total CH, £90K Total County) would be too hard to turn down if you think you have a horse good enough to compete in the CH. May have to change that opinion though...
 
That's probably fair Jono, they do fall below CH class at the time of running in the County, but it can be used as a stepping stone to greater things.
5yo and novices have a really good record so you would expect them to improve at 6 or 7
 
Re: Melon- It is a shot in the dark but I see the logic in what feels a wide open (possibly below average?) Supreme?


Can't remember being really taken by anything like I have in some previous seasons
 
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This Arkle thread is getting pretty diverse haha
 
Haha no problem.

Having trouble getting on the forum tonight but who put up the suggestion about Yorkhill and Min switching targets? Was someone on here and Sporting Life's Ben Linfoot has suggested it too and Min is being slashed .... still unlikely but 272/1 currently. I'll look it up later and edit with a name check
 
Kevloaf said:
Haha no problem.

Having trouble getting on the forum tonight but who put up the suggestion about Yorkhill and Min switching targets? Was someone on here and Sporting Life's Ben Linfoot has suggested it too and Min is being slashed .... still unlikely but 272/1 currently. I'll look it up later and edit with a name check
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There's a few in the press put up Yorkhill for the Arkle - Lydia put it forward as an antepost around Xmas. Kevin Blake in his ATR column has suggested Yorkhill would improve at 2 mile & Ben Linfoot has mooted the switch in targets for Min/Yorkhill basically saying Altior has the beating of Min on known form but Min is likely to beat Buveur D'air (2nd fav for JLT) and Yorkhill would have a chance of beating Altior. Obviously Mullins has form for switching targets and sights Black Hurcules last year being near fav for RSA & 4miler but ends up in JLT.
 
^ don't get that at all - Ruby will get horses into races where they have best chance of winning - don't think they do doubles
 
Kevloaf said:
Haha no problem.

Having trouble getting on the forum tonight but who put up the suggestion about Yorkhill and Min switching targets? Was someone on here and Sporting Life's Ben Linfoot has suggested it too and Min is being slashed .... still unlikely but 272/1 currently. I'll look it up later and edit with a name check
Click to expand...

Yep that was me Kev, based on their running styles and the fact that Altior looks a machine. Think MIN would win the JLT and I'm certain they will try a trip with him next year.
 
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