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2017 Champion Hurdle

Graham Wylie on The Opening Show this morning said Nicols Canyon will stay over 2miles for his next run. Still has the speed for it.

Don't need to grey out my 25/1 each way just yet then :highly_amused: It has been implied in the market he'll step up in trip after the last race behind Metit.... however Mullins only mentioned VVM and Clondaw for the stayers hurdle earlier in the week so I actually think this CH is stiull the target and the majority of bookies are under estimating him at 25/1. He has underperformed at LEopardstown before.

12/1 NRNB with PP, I'd probably risk the 25/1 EW if I hadn't already!
 
PP are 6/1 Yorkhill NRNB ..... I can't see any scenario that he wouldn't go off half that price at least, and can't see him as anything but FAV.

WIll have to have a bet on that. No chance he'll turn up if Faugheen or Annie do, so looks a really good value bet to me
 
Looking good for Faugheen.... “I’m pleased with him and he’s definitely on course for Cheltenham,” Mullins said on Sunday. “If all goes well hopefully he can run in the Irish Champion beforehand.”
 
Even if Faugheen turns up...

how many horses have regained the Champion Hurdle ?

There was a 38 year gap when the fly did it.
 
Even if Faugheen turns up...

how many horses have regained the Champion Hurdle ?

There was a 38 year gap when the fly did it.

Not a trend I'd worry about. How many have tried that are The Machine? There are loads of multiple winners and based on Faugheen's last run, if he had turned up he'd have had it sewn up.... will reclaim it like the Fly and we'll so be rolling in gravy
 
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Even if Faugheen turns up...

how many horses have regained the Champion Hurdle ?

There was a 38 year gap when the fly did it.

If there was strong opposition then i might agree.... but the opposition is quite frankly laughable, especially considering the 2nd fav wont turn up if Faugheen does.. I dont think he needs to run anywhere near to his peak to take this.

Im surprised theres still 9/4 following Mullins' comments...i know its not guaranteed but still a positive non the less
 
The quote doesn't guarantee that he will run in the Irish Champ Hurdle and I would be wary backing without a prep run.
I'm not saying that Faugheen couldn't turn up at Cheltenham on seasonal debut and win, but it would make me think twice.

I would prefer him to turn up in the Irish CH and get beaten, than turn up at Cheltenham for his seasonal debut...

As has been mentioned before - wait for Irish Champ Hurdle final decs - then lump on!
 
The quote doesn't guarantee that he will run in the Irish Champ Hurdle and I would be wary backing without a prep run.
I'm not saying that Faugheen couldn't turn up at Cheltenham on seasonal debut and win, but it would make me think twice.

I would prefer him to turn up in the Irish CH and get beaten, than turn up at Cheltenham for his seasonal debut...

As has been mentioned before - wait for Irish Champ Hurdle final decs - then lump on!


What price would you say he'd be if making the final decs? 6/4? Youd then probs see him odds on for NRNB so to me the values gone

If i wasnt on at 11/4 id be happy take the 9/4 now given the comments that hes on course for the fes.

You could argue Annie won it without a prep run last year... i'm pretty certain Faugheen could get a tougher workout on the gallops with stablemates than Annies jog round Punchestown with 2 donkeys.
 
You could argue Annie won it without a prep run last year... i'm pretty certain Faugheen could get a tougher workout on the gallops with stablemates than Annies jog round Punchestown with 2 donkeys.

Say no more. ROFL
 
Faugheen always improves more than most from his first to his second run of the season. Something to consider if he doesn't make the Irish Champion.

Does anyone know if Yanworth runs at Haydock on Saturday?
 
Does anyone know if Yanworth runs at Haydock on Saturday?

Don't think so MTOY, King has said Contenders Hurdle at Sandown then a decision about his Champion Hurdle participation
 
I'll be at the Irish Champion Hurdle on the 29th.

Hopefully it will be insightful with regards to Faugheen, Annie, Ivanovich, Petit Mouchoir, Nichols
 
Yanworth going for the Contenders hurdle, as is Brain Power
 
Yanworth is set to have his prep run for the Champion Hurdle in the Betfred 'Follow Us On Twitter' Contenders Hurdle at Sandown on February 4.

The Alan King-trained seven-year-old showed he was a worthy candidate for the two-mile showpiece when winning the Christmas Hurdle despite Kempton not being his ideal track.

King wants to give the JP McManus-owned gelding another outing before aiming him at Cheltenham.

"He'll go to Sandown for the Contenders (Hurdle) and we'll take it from there," the Barbury Castle handler told At The Races.

"He's a horse that's taken time to mature and he's never been beaten over two miles.

"I think Cheltenham will suit him better than Kempton, with a bit more emphasis on stamina.

"He's very much in the mix and we're lucky to have him."

King indicated Yanworth's future could lie over fences, adding: "I think he'll end up chasing sooner rather than later. I think he'll love a fence when the time comes."

King has a possible second string to his Champion Hurdle bow in Sceau Royal.

The trainer has not lost faith in the five-year-old, who disappointed in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle after easily landing the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

Sceau Royal is set to return to the Somerset track for the Betway Kingwell Hurdle next month.

"He wasn't quite right after Newcastle and he will go to the Kingwell. I think he could be the forgotten horse in the race (Champion Hurdle)," said King.

"He travelled really well in the Fighting Fifth but he didn't quite see his race out.

"He's definitely better than he showed that day."
 
Not particularly keen on either for the CH but Yanworth vs Brain Power should be a decent match up in terms of clearing up whether Brain Power can mount a challenge in this race. Despite the odds difference Brain Power is rated 162, only 2lbs below Yanworth's 164. For anyone siding with Brain Power and believing the sharp rise for his Ascot win is justified you'd expect him to run Yanworth close.
 
It may be nothing of course, but Faugheen in to 7/4 with BetBright, yes, the firm Rich Ricci is chairman of.

May, possibly, be reading too much in to it, but obviously with PP also shortening as NRNB it looks like a Faugheen return to the CH is likely.

Edit: Looking at odds history, that is their opening price, as they didn't have the market priced up like all the other bookmakers did.