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2026 Champion Hurdle

Just watched Skelton after New Lion won.
How many times does he say he showed good speed ?
That's someone trying to convince himself that is.
Like I've said before, the way most champion hurdles are run may suit him better.
But Kabral du Mathan is a faster horse IMO.
 
Quevega said:
Just watched Skelton after New Lion won.
How many times does he say he showed good speed ?
That's someone trying to convince himself that is.
Like I've said before, the way most champion hurdles are run may suit him better.
But Kabral du Mathan is a faster horse IMO.
Click to expand...
Funnily enough my brother said they would be better off with KdM in the CH
after the race today
 
Carnage at Taunton said:
Funnily enough my brother said they would be better off with KdM in the CH
after the race today
Click to expand...

Don't think it will ve his decision.

JP's crew probably set out the plan early enough, they'll stick with that now and Skelton won't do anything to upset them by sticking another one of his trained horses in the race.
 
ComplyOrDie said:
Don't think it will ve his decision.

JP's crew probably set out the plan early enough, they'll stick with that now and Skelton won't do anything to upset them by sticking another one of his trained horses in the race.
Click to expand...
JP would not mind.
 
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Having just got back from the racecourse I would be amazed if they didn't have real confidence in Lossiemouth winning this. New Lion didn't show me anything like she did here
 
The new lion looks the one to me, He wasn't fully tuned up today and just wanted a confidence booster, the race was not run to suit and he still out sprinted the others comfortably, fast pace in a champion hurdle will suit.

Hope Gino makes it through, horrible sight 😢
 
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Quevega said:
Just watched Skelton after New Lion won.
How many times does he say he showed good speed ?
That's someone trying to convince himself that is.
Like I've said before, the way most champion hurdles are run may suit him better.
But Kabral du Mathan is a faster horse IMO.
Click to expand...
Kabral - CH
TNL - Stayers
 
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Quevega said:
JP would not mind.
Click to expand...

I'm not saying he would directly tell Skelton not to run something but Skelton may be worried he'd be upsetting his potentially biggest owner in the future. Who knows how their minds work!

Aside from that he seemed pretty keen to go to Aintree with KDM anyway, and that was pretty early on.
 
ComplyOrDie said:
I'm not saying he would directly tell Skelton not to run something but Skelton may be worried he'd be upsetting his potentially biggest owner in the future. Who knows how their minds work!

Aside from that he seemed pretty keen to go to Aintree with KDM anyway, and that was pretty early on.
Click to expand...
I think he's a pretty sporting guy.
I also doubt he'll have backed or will back The New Lion either.
 
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Expecting TNL to be beat fair and square in March and we'll be talking about him for the Arkle next season. After watching The Yellow Clay being firmly put in place this season I'm a bit skeptical of last years turners form, it just might not be all that. The likes of Reagent Stroll, Califet En Vol and Wendigo not exactly setting the world alight. Feel like he beat a lot of slow horses last year making him look quicker than what he really is.
 
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Brooksie said:
Expecting TNL to be beat fair and square in March and we'll be talking about him for the Arkle next season. After watching The Yellow Clay being firmly put in place this season I'm a bit skeptical of last years turners form, it just might not be all that. The likes of Reagent Stroll, Califet En Vol and Wendigo not exactly setting the world alight. Feel like he beat a lot of slow horses last year making him look quicker than what he really is.
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It’s staying form imo
TNL stayers hurdle next year
If he don’t stay that then they have a problem with him at the top level imo
 
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So sad to see Sir Gino get injured today. As fans, we just want to see horses run to their full potential and unfortunately, this may not be the case for Sir Gino. 😢

I still can't work out this race. I think Brighterdaysahead will beat Lossie next week and then the markets will be very different again. Would love ConHill to win but 5s is an absolutely ridiculous price.
 
Hope Sir Gino pulls through, god that lad has been through it all. If he survives I wouldn't be opposed to them calling it a day with him and letting him enjoy his life in a field.

In another world he's a 6 year old three time festival winner (short price to win a triumph, arkle and CH) and he's never even raced there. Could've been one of the superstars of the game
 
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That 3/1 price on The New Lion is laughable. He's done nothing to enhance his credentials there (I know he'll shorten with no Sir Gino). He's nowhere near quick enough for 2m.

In hindsight, that Turners form from last season hasn't worked out like expected. Final Demand is a lovely chaser but TYL and TNL aren't championship level hurdlers. They're also three boats
 
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Ellisgittings said:
That 3/1 price on The New Lion is laughable. He's done nothing to enhance his credentials there (I know he'll shorten with no Sir Gino). He's nowhere near quick enough for 2m.

In hindsight, that Turners form from last season hasn't worked out like expected. Final Demand is a lovely chaser but TYL and TNL aren't championship level hurdlers. They're also three boats
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Yeah I'd be incredibly shocked now if lossie doesn't go champion hurdle. Beating wodhooh over two and a half on the other course could be harder than beating what turns up in the champion hurdle. They'd risk looking incredibly stupid getting beat in the mares and Golden ace wins the champion again.

Its still possible, but I'd say if your a lossie mares backer your desperate for one of her stablemates to beat her at the drf. Even in the event that brighterdaysahead just edged her out at the drf, I'm now thinking she may still go champion, as youd fancy her to beat bda at cheltenham given her better course form. I dont think they'll be scared of the new lion at all.
 
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riccirich said:
Yeah I'd be incredibly shocked now if lossie doesn't go champion hurdle. Beating wodhooh over two and a half on the other course could be harder than beating what turns up in the champion hurdle. They'd risk looking incredibly stupid getting beat in the mares and Golden ace wins the champion again.

Its still possible, but I'd say if your a lossie mares backer your desperate for one of her stablemates to beat her at the drf. Even in the event that brighterdaysahead just edged her out at the drf, I'm now thinking she may still go champion, as youd fancy her to beat bda at cheltenham given her better course form. I dont think they'll be scared of the new lion at all.
Click to expand...
I'd said beforehand that I can't see Lossie running in the mares and it's (obviously) even stronger now. But yeah I expect she'd be shorter to beat the 2m lot in the CH than she would beat Woodoh in the mares.
 
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