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2017 Champion Hurdle

cufctony said:
Hi everyone first ever post on here,i seem to remember rich ricci saying on atr that annie power deserves to defend her title and what a story that would be for the horse,i think it will be vroum vroum for the mares which she would win imo
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Seriously, the guy loves the sound of his own voice, he cares nothing for you, me or the game, it's all about him.
As someone pointed out earlier, anything that leaves his lips should come with a wealth warning....

ps - welcome !
 
I think he comes across quite well to be fair to him,its mullins and walsh who get on my nerves,anyway istabraq would smash all three of them !
 
I think it's safe to assume the power lies with the billpayer.
He does come across well but he has several years as a leading banker so is media trained, he's also extremely well versed at misleading people and being economical with the truth, ducking interrogation and an expert in self importance.
He openly he went into NH racing because he couldn't dominate Flat, tells me everything.
Politics is the natural progression !

He has every right of course as a big investor but my issues with him started several years ago when he personally chose the path Champagne Fever will take over other advisers, the Vatour debacle last season was nothing short of a disgrace and when they pulled VVM from the parade ring at Sandown last April that just disrespected the entire industry.
 
Had the pleasure of having a drink with RR at Chelts the year before last. Must say he was a very nice fella and very open open about all of his horses. Was really surprised at just how approachable and friendly he was.

Agree he has got a bit carried away lately mind you. I think Willie must cringe a bit when he starts mouthing off and I'm pretty sure he doesn't even know the half of what is really going on!
 
I would get carried away if I had that many horses running at Cheltenham,at least he answers questions and doesn't give you the usual dross mullins and other trainers and owners come out with,as I said before comes accross as a nice bloke,even if he is media friendly,im glad he didn't go into flat racing cos we would have been robbed of a lot of these horses over the last few year.
 
I once had a beer with Allen Stanford, lovely fella, but he still robbed hundreds of millions of pounds fron hard working unsuspecting people
How we judge people differsfrom person to person and you're absolutely right, his investment has meant better quality entering the NH game, but for me there are too many contradictions and there appears a need for the attention, but that's just my view.
I can't tell you how much the VVM withdrawal cost me at Sandown so yes there is some pocket talk...
 
cufctony said:
fair enough mate,anyway what wins the champion hurdle?
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Well it all revolves around Ricci lol !
I think if Faugheen or Annie gets there fit and well they will take all the beating, sadly both have struggled and haven't proved their wellbeing yet so there have to be huge doubts and there's no way he runs them both.

I've had a decent bet on Yanworth who would be unbeaten but for a poor ride in the Neptune, connections know they won't stay the 3m yet so can't beat UKWIMH but I don't think the horse is short of speed either and he proved that at Kempton.
4/1 e/w NRNB is where I've gone but I'd be very worried about either of Ricci's turning up....
 
Istabraq said:
Well it all revolves around Ricci lol !
I think if Faugheen or Annie gets there fit and well they will take all the beating, sadly both have struggled and haven't proved their wellbeing yet so there have to be huge doubts and there's no way he runs them both.

I've had a decent bet on Yanworth who would be unbeaten but for a poor ride in the Neptune, connections know they won't stay the 3m yet so can't beat UKWIMH but I don't think the horse is short of speed either and he proved that at Kempton.
4/1 e/w NRNB is where I've gone but I'd be very worried about either of Ricci's turning up....
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Hi Istabraq
I have enjoyed reading your posts and you seem very knowledgable on your racing
One of the great things about NH racing is it divides opinions so much
However,there is no way that Yanworth would of beaten Yorkhill last year in the Neptune no matter how he was ridden
I'm my opinion lol
 
Liammet said:
Hi Istabraq
I have enjoyed reading your posts and you seem very knowledgable on your racing
One of the great things about NH racing is it divides opinions so much
However,there is no way that Yanworth would of beaten Yorkhill last year in the Neptune no matter how he was ridden
I'm my opinion lol
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I'm sorry to say Ista, but I am with Liam on this one. :)

I just think the Mullins "Top Dogs" are in a different league come the fest.
 
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Haha, love a strong opinion Liam... You can't deny he'd have been a heck of a lot closer though surely? and he only finished 1.75 lengths behind?

I never really like the "horse was idling infront" excuse either. I do think Yorkhill would be shorter in the betting though if he turned up and I would fancy Yoekhill to beat him in a rematch but that is based on how under whelming Yanworth has been to me so far.

That said, I can't see Yanworth out of the frame, even if one of Ricci's does turn up....
 
The opinions based on 'willie's horses are in a different league' won't ever be taken seriously. Yanworth not only he lost more than 10 lengths going so wide the whole way around, but on the last turn Barry wasted another 5 lengths going into the stands almost instead of straightening him up.

Yorkhill proved his shortcomings over shorter trips while Yanworth is unbeaten over 2 miles, has shown a good turn of foot in the Christmas Hurdle and on a track like Chelt he'll perfectly suited with his style of waiting of a strong pace he'd be devastating. In a rematch I'd go big on him just because there would be value thanks to punters that think if a horse finishes in front of another on an occasion is automatically the better, without judging what actually happened in the said race.
 
Yorkhill better than Yanworth in my book but not mad about either - both quirky types .
 
Fellas, no need for apologies at all, that;s why we're here, good debate, keep it coming
 
mayo said:
Yorkhill better than Yanworth in my book but not mad about either - both quirky types .
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That would be the main worry for me regarding Yorkhill in the JLT particularly. Hopefully they iron out his quirks and keenness. For all there's a horse with huge potential there he may end up being hard to get the very best out of him.

I kind of sit in the middle regarding the whole Yorkhill vs Yanworth Neptune ride. I'd agree I think however Yanworth was ridden he would have failed to beat Yorkhill on the day but I also don't think there was as much between the pair as some suggest on the day (not necessarily on here) i.e Yorkhill had loads left, could of won by more etc etc.

However...

For me if they were to both race today i'd fancy Yorkhill 100%. Leading up the Neptune:

Yanworth - 8 career starts (4 hurdles, 4 NHF). First NHF run in May 2014
Yorkhill - 4 career starts (2 hurdles, 2 NHF). First NHF run in March 2015

Yorkhill had half the runs and experience that Yanworth had coming into the race and had only been racing under rules for 1 year. Yanworth had 2 years leading up to it.

Now with more experience with Yorkhill (i know they've now gone their seperate ways in hurdling/chasing) i'd fancy the difference between the pair to be bigger and more definitive.
 
Was there anything definitive regarding Jezki for the CH/Stayers as a target? 14s NRNB for this with B365 is too big if he turned up? I'd have him in a match bet to beat Yanworth probably over any trip.
 
Still up in the air on Jezki. 2m Red Mills to be the next likely race

Jessica Harrington is no hurry to firm up plans for Jezki following his comeback success at Navan on Saturday.

The 2014 Champion Hurdle hero made a triumphant return after a 632-day absence to win the Race Displays Event Signage Hurdle.

The nine-year-old, owned by JP McManus, holds two entries at Cheltenham - the two-mile Stan James Champion Hurdle and the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle over three miles.

Jezki won a Grade One event over the longer trip at the Punchestown Festival back in 2015, but could stick to two miles for another race ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran on February 18.

"He's fine. We'll make no decision until I've spoken to Frank (Berry, owner's racing manager) and Mr McManus. We'll have a discussion," said Harrington.

"The Red Mills is a possibility for his next run. We'll see."
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Jezki got weight yesterday - Id be waiting to see how he gets on the next day before backing him again now - he could easily bounce in the Red Mills
 
jono said:
Yorkhill had half the runs and experience that Yanworth had coming into the race and had only been racing under rules for 1 year. Yanworth had 2 years leading up to it.

Now with more experience with Yorkhill (i know they've now gone their seperate ways in hurdling/chasing) i'd fancy the difference between the pair to be bigger and more definitive.
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There's no difference between PTP and Under Rules, its still racing and its difference is that its they're not ran by BHA or HRI. Yanworth began racing in 15/16 season under rules while Yorkhill began with 2 PTP runs in Nov 2014.

I hoped that they meet again last season but alas Yanworth was booked early tickets for the summer instead and we never found out. Yorkhill had a perfect trip at Chelt and Ruby was all out to win by only 1 length. Then he struggled at Aintree over a furlong shorter trip and was left behind at P'town over 2 miles. I'm willing to make concessions for that last race but still over anything shorter than 2 and half he'll never hold a candle to Yanworth.
 
mayo said:
Jezki got weight yesterday - Id be waiting to see how he gets on the next day before backing him again now - he could easily bounce in the Red Mills
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He'd have to improve a good way over 2m next time on this weekends performance to be considered for the CH. The form of beating Renneti getting weight would not be good enough to finish in the frame in a CH.

I'm a bit surprised there is any chat about him being considered for this race, he is much more likely to go for the stayers even with a solid performance next time out
 
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