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2026 Champion Hurdle

I just can't have State Man. Think one of the young guns, The New Lion, Anzadam or William Munny, will improve past him or Constitution Hill will get it all right on the day.
 
How and when did the lesser spotted anzadam get so short !? Looks a good horse but the price is ridiculous for a horse as fragile as him !
 
state man is only 8, 9 next year so is still in what you'd consider peak years. based on what we saw last year and paul townsends refusal to jump off for lossie I think he should be the current fav. the new new lion beat the yellow clay by less than a length all out so I think would have to improve a lot and can't see how he is the price he is
 
Danman said:
How and when did the lesser spotted anzadam get so short !? Looks a good horse but the price is ridiculous for a horse as fragile as him !
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Shortened a few points after confirmation he was remaining over hurdles. He was as short as 8/1 last year prior to injury and having not raced outside of grade 3 company so not unreasonable to think he could end up a lot shorter than the 14/1 currently. Yes, you do have to factor in risk of injury and the possibility he could be the yard 2nd/3rd string, but he has untapped potential for the top yard and owner.
 
9yo have a poor record in the Churdle so both State Man and Constitution Hill need to spit that stat out.

The 7yo have the best recent records. Step forward Anzadam and.................... Lossiemouth
 
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Lobos said:
9yo have a poor record in the Churdle so both State Man and Constitution Hill need to spit that stat out.

The 7yo have the best recent records. Step forward Anzadam and.................... Lossiemouth
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And the lion ! 👍
 
Danman said:
And the lion ! 👍
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Doh.........how could I forget him ??!!

Yes, and The Lion.

Didn't realise William Munny will be an 8yo
 
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Cheltenham Novice Chase said:
Hurricane Fly was nine when he won his second.
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Hurricane Fly in 2013 and before that Rooster Booster in 2003, so you can look at in different ways……

1) looks like we are due a 9 year old winner based upon sequencing trends

2) looks like the trends are against 9 year olds winning based upon frequency

You pays your money……..
 
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Does this years renewal look above or below average ?
Personally I’d say the latter so an improved chance of a 9yo winner….
 
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Does lossie actually have any chance of being entered in this and if she was, would she actually be good enough over 2 miles to win ? Is ricci really going to run her in champion with Danny Mullins on board....
 
BigL said:
Does lossie actually have any chance of being entered in this and if she was, would she actually be good enough over 2 miles to win ? Is ricci really going to run her in champion with Danny Mullins on board....
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You'd have to say the chances are slim.

Paul on State Man, assuming he makes it. Willie, although not confirming anything, basically alluding to the fact that mares hurdle would look a penalty kick for her again. She also got beat by Constitution Hill last season, many thinking he's gone at the game, so that can't be a good look for Lossie.

I'd tend to agree with whoever said she's probably not an out and out 2 miler, personally.
 
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BigL said:
Does lossie actually have any chance of being entered in this and if she was, would she actually be good enough over 2 miles to win ? Is ricci really going to run her in champion with Danny Mullins on board....
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She will 100% get an entry and will still be there until 6 days out, purely as cover for State Man because if anything happened to him then Lossie becomes the yards main hope/dart.
Personally I think she’ll be OK in a champion hurdle given the pace they go, but if State Man makes raceweek fit and well Townend will ride both…
 
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Been a good while since a horse 9 or over has ran in the Champion Hurdle with any sort of chance to be honest. Not So Sleepy the regular runner over 9 the last few years :ROFLMAO:

You're back in the My Tent or Yours / The New One era last time any ran with a real chance I think...

Wouldn't be at all concerned about that as a stat if State Man went into the race in any sort of form.
 
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I have a feeling Anzadam will end up
Benjy23 said:
Been a good while since a horse 9 or over has ran in the Champion Hurdle with any sort of chance to be honest. Not So Sleepy the regular runner over 9 the last few years :ROFLMAO:

You're back in the My Tent or Yours / The New One era last time any ran with a real chance I think...

Wouldn't be at all concerned about that as a stat if State Man went into the race in any sort of form.
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Surely so few 9yo running in it would be a concern? That's the way I'm looking at it. All eyes on Constitution Hill and State Man's first race. Of the two I'd actually be more concerned re State Man maintaining his form. A very, very interesting few months ahead !
 
There’s an obsession with sending horses over fences which I think contributes to the lack of older runners, there have been countless Supreme winners who could have won multiple champion hurdles but were sent chasing, many to great success…
 
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Istabraq said:
There’s an obsession with sending horses over fences which I think contributes to the lack of older runners, there have been countless Supreme winners who could have won multiple champion hurdles but were sent chasing, many to great success…
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Yep. Was convinced Kopek would be given a try. Pretty certain if he was with anyone other than Willie that he'd be heading that way.
 
Lobos said:
Yep. Was convinced Kopek would be given a try. Pretty certain if he was with anyone other than Willie that he'd be heading that way.
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His hurdling was poor at best though wasn’t it? Didn’t show hurdles much respect at all so chasing was correct decision for me.

Doesn’t mean to say he couldn’t improve that technique but with the ammo WPM has it makes decisions to go chasing easier.
 
Craigy14 said:
His hurdling was poor at best though wasn’t it? Didn’t show hurdles much respect at all so chasing was correct decision for me.

Doesn’t mean to say he couldn’t improve that technique but with the ammo WPM has it makes decisions to go chasing easier.
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Faugheen
 
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