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2025 Stayers Hurdle

You can also take dogs for walks and they try and eat dog......:boxing:

You appear to have taken offence at my comment. It was an attempt at humour/wit. No offence was ever intended.
 
In fairness it's completely reasonable to have opposing opinions on a forum, especially when a case is made as to why, like AaronLad has done :encouragement:

Absolutely, it’s important imo to have different views and opinions on this sort of forum.
They both make a good case for their respective horses I think.
 
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In fairness it's completely reasonable to have opposing opinions on a forum, especially when a case is made as to why, like AaronLad has done :encouragement:

Absolutely no argument. My comment was supposed to be humour. Everyone getting a little tense with less than 9 weeks to go. For the record that is an attempt at humour too.
 
You appear to have taken offence at my comment. It was an attempt at humour/wit. No offence was ever intended.

None taken. I apologise if you thought my response was that of someone who has been offended, I was just flipping the coin and wasn't referencing anything in particular.
 
So chasing didn't work out, he was injured, been beaten by strong leader and crambo but he's a bet to beat teahupoo?

And not all horses turned 8 :glee:

I think you know what I meant about turning 8 and all horses changing age at the start of the year :boxing:

He had a heavy fall and was given plenty time to recover. Won his comeback hurdle run last year convincingly so they decided to stay over hurdles. I’d say he ran a decent race in open company and to finish just 4 lengths behind Strong Leader. I think he has and will be better than Strong Leader and a lot of people are backing him against Teahupoo.
 
In fairness it's completely reasonable to have opposing opinions on a forum, especially when a case is made as to why, like AaronLad has done :encouragement:

Of course COD but it read to me like he didn’t understand why Sax didn’t like Lucky Place because Aaron did. All for putting reason against a selection, Hiddenvalley Lake in this instance but that doesn’t mean have to force a selection you may like as a reason against the one you don’t like.

If I’ve picked it up wrong. apologies :encouragement:
 
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Of course COD but it read to me like he didn’t understand why Sax didn’t like Lucky Place because Aaron did. All for putting reason against a selection, Hiddenvalley Lake in this instance but that doesn’t mean have to force a selection you may like as a reason against the one you don’t like.

If I’ve picked it up wrong. apologies :encouragement:

All I did was give my opinion on why I thought Hiddenvalley lake isn't a very good ante post bet,

I then thought it was appropriate I explained why i thought this, when he has potential opponents who are much more unexposed and open to improvement.

It's all just debate and opinions.
Not sure how I can be forcing my opinion on anyone by pointing out he's a much better bet, obviously imo.
 
Hiddenvalley Lake would be better in a Coral Cup, IMO.

That Long Walk was terrible, IMO. The proximity of both Beauport & Kateira, would have me worried about the form, especially with the favourite being a complete no show due to breathing issues.

Was all over him last year for it but that run beating beacon edge eased down giving 3lbs ruined that chance, he was put up to 151 after that.

Form is something to keep an eye on but for a seasonal reappearance in a Grade 1 it wasn’t the worst run in the world. Crambo was having his first run since disappointing at Cheltenham and Aintree last year having been short for the stayers. The rest were race fit, time will tell. I fancy him for the DRF race as mentioned in my post couple pages back.
 
Was all over him last year for it but that run beating beacon edge eased down giving 3lbs ruined that chance, he was put up to 151 after that.

Form is something to keep an eye on but for a seasonal reappearance in a Grade 1 it wasn’t the worst run in the world. Crambo was having his first run since disappointing at Cheltenham and Aintree last year having been short for the stayers. The rest were race fit, time will tell. I fancy him for the DRF race as mentioned in my post couple pages back.

Being lazy and asking rather than scrolling back a couple of pages, which DRF race mate? The 3 mile handicap hurdle? I can't see any Graded Hurdle other than the 2miler at DRF?
 
Being lazy and asking rather than scrolling back a couple of pages, which DRF race mate? The 3 mile handicap hurdle? I can't see any Graded Hurdle other than the 2miler at DRF?

Haha ignore me then mate I thought there was a 3m Grade 1 at the DRF as well as Xmas.

Edit - might do no harm to bring him over for the Cleeve then see how he handles Cheltenham for a second time.
 
Haha ignore me then mate I thought there was a 3m Grade 1 at the DRF as well as Xmas.

Edit - might do no harm to bring him over for the Cleeve then see how he handles Cheltenham for a second time.

Ah OK mate thanks - I'd suspect they'd go to the Boyne Hurdle now, same as last year. If I was the owners, I'd then save him for the Aintree 3miler like last year, unless something happens to Teahupoo but that's just me :encouragement:
 
Ah OK mate thanks - I'd suspect they'd go to the Boyne Hurdle now, same as last year. If I was the owners, I'd then save him for the Aintree 3miler like last year, unless something happens to Teahupoo but that's just me :encouragement:

Quite possibly.

Different trainer, being with HDB, I’d say he’d be more inclined to go to Cheltenham.

Nothing to lose going the cleeve though to find out. He goes and wins then you have to take a chance in the Stayers. Loses, then as you say save him for Aintree.
 
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For context, I think HVL's seasonal debut, was worthy of taking 30+ on BFX (wouldve taken 25/1 with cashout boost if I was able)

At 16s or lower, for example, this far out, then hes not an antepost bet for me, at this point, nothing is, at that price, to beat Teahupoo, if hes on song and runs.

The bet was price driven vs ability, chance of improvement after so few runs.

Not saying anyone should back him, or ignore him, just to me at that price I took, then hes value (to me) - as it looks like HDB has flipped from going chasing again to having a crack on, over hurdles this season.

With Bob O proving hes not a 3M Grade 1 horse, for Cheltenham, then HVL slots into that position, if Robcour want 2 darts at the race.
They have gone with just Teahupoo the last 2 years, though he was unbeaten in both of those seasons before he ran in the Stayers

Took the price while it was there, in part in case anything happens to the Fav, and I end up losing the antepost bet on him, and price collapses on everything else.

Id love to see HVL and The Wallpark have a go at the race, if its Soft ground.

Lets face it, its not full of superstars, and this race of all the Grade 1 Open Races in March is the one that decent handicappers moving into Graded races, then target (and can win) this race. (the 4 winners before Teahupoo last year, had all come through handicaps and proved they stayed 3M and won this race)

All you need is a 150+ OR horse, that stays 3M, and you can think you have a chance.

Everyone of the last 10 winners was having at least their 9th or 10th hurdles start or sometimes, many more than that, and had proved they stayed 3M before winning this race, so thats a profile I look for and the ones Ive backed at this point fit that bill.

Its the "staying the trip" part that matters most (once youve past the 150+ OR threshold) and had the experience of 8 or more hurdles race prior to this race.
 
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Slade Steel popping up in the entries would put another spanner in.
 
Yeah, can see that.

If he wins it off 148 he's worth a shot at the Stayers, if he doesn't it's back to the drawing board.

I have my own ideas about him, but think I'll wait and see where his next entry is, first.
 
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If he wins it off 148 he's worth a shot at the Stayers, if he doesn't it's back to the drawing board.

I have my own ideas about him, but think I'll wait and see where his next entry is, first.

Willie not block entered him in the all important 2m 5f chase at DRF along with all his other top staying Novice Chasers so he's going to try something different with him me thinks !