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2024 Champion Hurdle (Previously Constitution Hill thread)

Me too, Arkle is where I need him from pocket perspective and have covered CC with doubles. I have nothing on Champion Hurdle.
 
Always a Claimer said:
Me too, Arkle is where I need him from pocket perspective and have covered CC with doubles. I have nothing on Champion Hurdle.
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I just want him to go CC to be the GOAT. Bets go out the window for me with horses like him.
 
Lobos said:
Jono, imo the CC has absolutely fallen apart in the last two years and Energumene, whilst looking a brilliant winner on both occasions, has probably been flattered a little. The rain has come for him too so he has had everything in his favour. I wouldn't be afraid to take him on at all. As you say El Fabiolo is there too but it remains to be seen how strong the Novice Chase form is.
It's going to be very interesting indeed how next season pans out.
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Certainly agree about both races falling apart to a degree.
And the rain suiting him both years.
I watched back this years race for the first time yesterday and he was deadly. It's pretty meaningless when it comes to what lies ahead but I don't think Edwardstone at his best would have been near him either.

There's every chance he regresses to some degree by next March, and decent ground would blunt him further.
But he sets a very high bar imo, the ratings suggest likewise (right up there with the best ratings in the race for a long time bar Sprinter).
And a horse I don't think all connected with CH will take lightly.

Will be interesting for sure.
I've had very few 'any race' bets for the past 2 seasons.
As the prices have more often than not been far too small.
But he's one that I will be making an exception.
 
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Having been a bit of a sceptic after his initial run as a novice and i backed Jonbon to beat him in the Supreme , i have to say i was very impressed when he won the Supreme but still wondered if he could step up into open company and win a Champion hurdle , well he won that with some ease , and now on to chasing , i have no doubt he will be outstanding at that as well, good grief imagine if he was even better over fences

i have decided just to enjoy this horse , i'm not trying to guess his races, i'm not backing him , he might well be a horse of more than just a generation , he might be legendary status
 
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…10-1 Hills to win 2025 GC.
 
I was a Lambourn open day today, and I heard someone say to Nicky H after Con hill was paraded,

“Can you just answer yes or no, is he going chasing next season ? “

his response “might be”

Not giving much away lol, but he did have a little smile on his face, which I took to mean Yes.
 
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Willdunn99 said:
I was a Lambourn open day today, and I heard someone say to Nicky H after Con hill was paraded,

“Can you just answer yes or no, is he going chasing next season ? “

his response “might be”

Not giving much away lol, but he did have a little smile on his face, which I took to mean Yes.
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Reading between the lines I'd say that's a maybe ! :welcoming:
 
For me he goes chasing.

And then it’s a case of Nicky Henderson being Nicky Henderson and I can’t see him risking his superstar in a champion chase when he doesn’t have to. It’ll be the safe approach, win an Arkle and then talk of champion chase or gold cup this time next year.

Id make it strong favourite he runs in the Arkle myself.
 
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Very interesting interview with Henderson on ITV. No mention of chasing when talking about next years route - just mentioned the 3-4 obvious grade 1 hurdles and said "people might find that boring, we won't find that boring". Buckley wants to go chasing I suspect. Not quite as confident now on chasing. But if Buckley does get his way, there is ZERO chance of Champion Chase. Henderson is more risk averse than a Volvo engineer.
 
Glad I didn't get suckered into those length bets being discussed!
 
Always a Claimer said:
Very interesting interview with Henderson on ITV. No mention of chasing when talking about next years route - just mentioned the 3-4 obvious grade 1 hurdles and said "people might find that boring, we won't find that boring". Buckley wants to go chasing I suspect. Not quite as confident now on chasing. But if Buckley does get his way, there is ZERO chance of Champion Chase. Henderson is more risk averse than a Volvo engineer.
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Nico mentioned schooling and trying over fences after the race today.

I feel like Buckley and Nico are all for going chasing, whilst Henderson would be happy winning hurdle races for the next 2 to 3 years !
 
Always a Claimer said:
Very interesting interview with Henderson on ITV. No mention of chasing when talking about next years route - just mentioned the 3-4 obvious grade 1 hurdles and said "people might find that boring, we won't find that boring". Buckley wants to go chasing I suspect. Not quite as confident now on chasing. But if Buckley does get his way, there is ZERO chance of Champion Chase. Henderson is more risk averse than a Volvo engineer.
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When you say there’s ‘ZERO chance’ of Constitution Hill in a Champion Chase, are you suggesting almost categorically that he’ll appear in an Arkle when he could be winning a 2nd Champion Hurdle about an hour and a half later on the Tuesday card??

That would be your assumption I’d guess?
 
No, I’m suggesting it is either Arkle or Champion Hurdle - definitely not Champion Chase. Still think Arkle is favourite despite Henderson comments today.
 
Now that his season is over, does anyone else feel a bit underwhelmed?

I appreciate he’s cantered over everything in all his races, but for a horse who at the start of the season was being touted as potentially the greatest ever hurdler I think I was expecting more.

Has he progressed from last season? Am I right in thinking that according to Timeform his best performance is still his Supreme victory?

Or am I being harsh & it’s just because he’s not really been asked to extend & put up a massive number? So why not, if it’s within reach surely you’d want to set a new benchmark? But even if that’s the case, his ability to do that is still only theoretical.

Dunno, I probably am nit picking, but it’s just something that’s been nagging at me.
 
Stormez said:
Now that his season is over, does anyone else feel a bit underwhelmed?

I appreciate he’s cantered over everything in all his races, but for a horse who at the start of the season was being touted as potentially the greatest ever hurdler I think I was expecting more.

Has he progressed from last season? Am I right in thinking that according to Timeform his best performance is still his Supreme victory?

Or am I being harsh & it’s just because he’s not really been asked to extend & put up a massive number? So why not, if it’s within reach surely you’d want to set a new benchmark? But even if that’s the case, his ability to do that is still only theoretical.

Dunno, I probably am nit picking, but it’s just something that’s been nagging at me.
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I think he's not underwhelmed as he's in no way showed any weakness or that he doesn't have that superstar quality. the issue has been nothing has come close to pushing him so we can see what he can do. if you are the owner trainer this year is just a stepping stone and hopefully his legacy is being able to do what we've never seen done before.

I just hope we see some quality opposition next year
 
Stormez said:
Now that his season is over, does anyone else feel a bit underwhelmed?
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Nope, State Man was worthy opposition and CH made him look like nothing. Today was a bit underwhelming in isolation but it was a safety first sort of ride over a new trip.
 
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I am no judge but Barry and Nico have both said enough to say they think he might be better over a fence. Mick Fitz more or less saiid they will give it a go today and revert ala Buveur Dair if it doesn’t work out, I’d have a bigger doubt about him staying gold cup in 2025 after today but everything else possible
 
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