2023 Champion Hurdle

[ComplyOrDie]

All things Champion Hurdle related, here....

Current Odds (top prices):
Constitution Hill 7/4
Honeysuckle 4/1
Vauban 8/1
State Man 10/1
20/1 bar

TO CLOSE BY NOON ON JANUARY 10th with supplementary entries on March 8th CHELTENHAM Tuesday, March 14th THE UNIBET CHAMPION HURDLE CHALLENGE TROPHY (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE) TOTAL RACE VALUE ?450,000 Distributed in accordance with the Stakes and Prize Money Code
?253,215 to the winning horse
The second to receive ?95,400
the third ?47,745
the fourth ?23,850,
the fifth ?11,970
the sixth ?5,985
the seventh ?2,970
the eighth ?1,530
for four yrs old and upwards, which are allotted a rating or an assessment of 130 or more by the BHA Handicapper, taking account of races run up to and including the day prior to confrmation TWO MILES ABOUT HALF A FURLONG (2m 87yds) Enter by noon, January 10th and pay ?560 stake Scratch by noon, February 7th or pay ?1,130 Confrm by noon, March 8th and pay ?560 Supplementary Entry by noon, March 8th and pay ?20,793 stake Declare by 10.00 a.m. March 12th
Weights: 4-y-o............11st;
5-y-o and up ..............11st 10lb
Fillies and mares allowed...... 7lb

 

[Lobos]

I see Honeysuckle has been pushed back out to 4's with Hills having cut Constitution Hill into 6/4.

 

[Ice]

I see Honeysuckle has been pushed back out to 4's with Hills having cut Constitution Hill into 6/4.

Seems a big price for a two time champion but this looks a far more competitive field than she's faced before, could be a cracker come march.

 

[Stormez]

Seems a big price for a two time champion but this looks a far more competitive field than she's faced before, could be a cracker come march.

Yeah fresh blood this year, and she didn’t seem the same horse last season as she was the one previous.

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Hypothetical question, but lets say Honeysuckle is beat over 2m in Ireland during the season, would we expect connections to retire her on the spot or maybe re-route to the mares hurdle or stick to the original plan of the Champion Hurdle? Just interested in other members thoughts really.

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

Hypothetical question, but lets say Honeysuckle is beat over 2m in Ireland during the season, would we expect connections to retire her on the spot or maybe re-route to the mares hurdle or stick to the original plan of the Champion Hurdle? Just interested in other members thoughts really.

I think they'd retire her if she underperformed without an obvious excuse.

 

[Black Dog]

I think they'd retire her if she underperformed without an obvious excuse.

I agree,no point risking her in a lower grade race she's already won. She's way too valuable.

 

[isitmarchyet]

Hypothetical question, but lets say Honeysuckle is beat over 2m in Ireland during the season, would we expect connections to retire her on the spot or maybe re-route to the mares hurdle or stick to the original plan of the Champion Hurdle? Just interested in other members thoughts really.

Can't see them going for the Mares again, think it'd be Champion Hurdle or nothing at the festival. If she loses I suppose the manner of the defeat would influence their decision. If she's beaten fair and square then retirement would seem likely, but if there's a valid excuse then they could still keep her going.

Really interested to see what runs against her in the Hatton's Grace. I expect Mullins will run one of State Man or Vauban... not sure he'd throw both at her but you never know. Good early chance for him to see where they're at.

 

[Ice]

I can't see her running in anything but the champion hurdle, absolutely amazed if she turned up in the mares and think they would retire her if she clearly isn't at her best. Be interesting to see if state man or vauban take her on in Ireland.

 

[hardheld]

Think constitution hill is a freak and the best thing about him he goes on any ground.
Won’t back him as single bet at 7/4 but have him in loads of multiplies and doubles. Will be 5/4 hater fighting fifth

 

[FinalFurlong91]

Constitution Hill, vauban and state man look far too short to me

Vauban will only be 5

Yes espoir dallen won as a 5yo recently but id strongly argue that was a fluke, given laurina/apples jade flopped and buveur dair/sharjah failed to complete.

State man will need to improve a lot, yes he was impressive at punchestown but his main rival three stripe life definitely didn't run his race after a long hard season.

Constitution Hill looked absolutely superb, but the Supreme completely fell apart with jonbon and dysart going hard in front. He's priced up like he's already proven himself in open company and he hasnt.

Honeysuckle at 4/1 looks a solid starting point to me, even if just as a saver with a mind to backing something else in the future once we know more about CH and the mullins pair.

 

[Ice]

Has anyone seen a price for Constitution Hill to win the fighting fifth, Christmas hurdle and champion hurdle yet ?

 

[Eggs]

Has anyone seen a price for Constitution Hill to win the fighting fifth, Christmas hurdle and champion hurdle yet ?

….3-1 Sky.

 

[Ice]

….3-1 Sky.

Thanks eggs.

 

[Lobos]

I can't see her running in anything but the champion hurdle, absolutely amazed if she turned up in the mares and think they would retire her if she clearly isn't at her best. Be interesting to see if state man or vauban take her on in Ireland.

Agree, they'll retire her if she's not up to Champion Hurdle standard.


Re State Man and Vauban, I'm sure Willie will be working back from the Irish Champion Hurdle for both of these so yes, I expect both to take her on if they have a decent run leading up to Leopardstown.

 

[opatcho]

As much as I love Honeysuckle, I have always been concerned about top class mares and how quickly thinks appear to go south - quickly!!

She wasn’t up against much last season. CH looks a beast.
would be great to see both clash, with unbeaten records as they turn up at the CH

 

[Istabraq]

I looked at the prices for this as soon as they came out in March and haven't looked since.
Probably the worst value ante post market I've ever seen, bookies should be ashamed (but obviously they won't).
I think it was 365 who went 15/8 and 2/1 the top two with 6/1 bar, they had the 100% with the top five in the betting on a market that wouldn't settle for another 360 days and that would have dozens of other horses quoted at some point.
As for who wins, I've love to see Honeysuckle make it a hatrick but I'd also love to see Constitution Hill become a superstar, but as for having a bet bar State Man and Vauban in a couple of small multis I've got zero interest...

 

[ComplyOrDie]

I looked at the prices for this as soon as they came out in March and haven't looked since.
Probably the worst value ante post market I've ever seen, bookies should be ashamed (but obviously they won't).
I think it was 365 who went 15/8 and 2/1 the top two with 6/1 bar, they had the 100% with the top five in the betting on a market that wouldn't settle for another 360 days and that would have dozens of other horses quoted at some point.
As for who wins, I've love to see Honeysuckle make it a hatrick but I'd also love to see Constitution Hill become a superstar, but as for having a bet bar State Man and Vauban in a couple of small multis I've got zero interest...

Yeah, the 365 early prices were awful. It's a bit better now you can get Honeysuckle at 4/1. She's no doubt the value play, IMO, but I can't get away from the excitement of Constitution Hill, and what could be.

I made a stupid early play on Dinoblue, which I now regret, but ultimately I'll be dutching Constitution & Honeysuckle for now, in favour more so of Constitution.

 

[Bollinger]

I’m absolutely perplexed as to why anyone here is even mentioning the word retirement before the Champ Hurdle??

People questioning whether she’s the same mare as previous seasons - totally perplexing?

With 17 wins on the bounce, 4 out of 4 last season (all won with exceptional ease), and only being still just 8 years old, I can’t fathom why people are even contemplating she might not be setting gold standards this year?

I’d like to make a confession - I really DON’T want her to win a Champion Hurdle, because my financial investments sit very, very firmly with Constitution Hill.

I’ll reiterate this - my financial investment is with Constitution Hill, and if fit & well, I fully, fully expect him to be the Champion Hurdler at the festival next year. Possibly by a wide winning margin.

But to try to understand people’s thoughts that Honeysuckle might be retired this & that,Ann if she isn’t up to her best this & that…….what evidence has anyone seen last season, or in the last 6 months since she’s been grazing grass to even suggest this??

She dominated 4 group 1 races last season. She’s not turning 9 years old until Punchestown next April.

Yes, connections have told us she’ll be retired at the end of this forthcoming season, but I just find it incredulous that anyone believes she won’t hit her gold standards again before then.

Theres simply no evidence thus far to support this.

 

[ComplyOrDie]

I see the points you are making Bollinger but my question was hypothetical, say she doesn't hit them standards and suffers a genuine defeat beforehand, then what?

Knowing full well that retirement beckons after this season regardless, would they just pull up stumps and call it a day if she were to suffer that first defeat? It's not too hard to imagine, really.

Lets take absolutely nothing away from what she has achieved to date. We all know she's been an absolute superstar for connections, but she will be 9 next year, so automatically these questions are going to appear.