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Champion Hurdle 2018

archie said:
Can't agree with that. In September they were very excited by Melon's prospects and last month they were delighted with his win.
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I'm sure they are excited but there's a long long way up to buveur dair's level for melon imo.

Faugheen out.
Arctic fire/ nicholls canyon 1st 2 in the betting, very good horses. Annie gets ruled In .......

Melon would have less chance than Nichols canyon/ arctic fire had before he himself was also ruled out.
 
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I'm fairly sure that Ruby would be very strong on Yorkhill for the Gold Cup and Melon for the CH if Faugheen was ruled out. Min is very unlikely to go back to hurdling.
Best guess at a Ricci contender would be Limini.
 
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archie said:
I'm fairly sure that Ruby would be very strong on Yorkhill for the Gold Cup and Melon for the CH if Faugheen was ruled out. Min is very unlikely to go back to hurdling.
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I can't agree with that. Annie power was 980.0 days before faugheen was ruled out. I'm sure they would play a stronger hand than melon.
But we all have our own opinions :)
 
Scooby91 said:
I can't agree with that. Annie power was 980.0 days before faugheen was ruled out. I'm sure they would play a stronger hand than melon.
But we all have our own opinions :)
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We'll learn a lot from how easily Melon can dispatch MTOY about how highly in the ranks Melon might be... I hope he runs!
 
Kevloaf said:
We'll learn a lot from how easily Melon can dispatch MTOY about how highly in the ranks Melon might be... I hope he runs!
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Look at mtoy early season form last year. The new ones been on then go already this season. Chtibello has been out returning from injury. Old guard wants further . Cant really knock john constables handicap form but hes no champion hurdler. Id expect buveur dair would have won this in a simular style as the fighting fifth.
 
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I am not thinking about a literal line on BVD through MTOY, I'd just want to see him dispatched with ease or I'll feel like MTOY who is almost certainly better in March to be able to reserve the form in March if he gets close enough first time out...

Melon should be able to get all of these off the bridle if he has any aspirations of placing at the festival. If he isn't last off the bridle I'd lose hope....
 
Kevloaf said:
I am not thinking about a literal line on BVD through MTOY, I'd just want to see him dispatched with ease or I'll feel like MTOY who is almost certainly better in March to be able to reserve the form in March if he gets close enough first time out...

Melon should be able to get all of these off the bridle if he has any aspirations of placing at the festival. If he isn't last off the bridle I'd lose hope....
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I'd agree with all of that. I don't think he's anywhere near buveur dair or faugheen. But I am hoping he's the best of the rest.
 
Melon, a general 12-1 chance for the March showpiece, is rated*9lb inferior to The New One but will be meeting him*at level weights on Saturday.

“Melon is not well treated," Mullins said. "However, we might run him for experience and to get another run at the track into him as well.”

He added: “I've always hoped he would be able to step up. It’s going to a bigger step than I'd have anticipated at this stage in his career, but we’ll balance that against the experience he'll get. The only other options for him would have been the Graded races at Christmas.”
 
I can't get my head around Melon 7/2 for the weekend? The New One no chance in a CH and MTOY is a huge price
 
Kevloaf said:
I can't get my head around Melon 7/2 for the weekend? The New One no chance in a CH and MTOY is a huge price
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Traders probably took a view on ratings and the possibility of the classic Willie mullins change of plans

Pp 2/1 to be fair.
 
Well, the Melon debate remains very fruity. He'll take care of TNO have no doubt. I think he might surprise a few on here if he were to run.
 
doctorwu said:
Well, the Melon debate remains very fruity. He'll take care of TNO have no doubt. I think he might surprise a few on here if he were to run.
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I've backed at 7/2 so am expecting him not to run now haha
 
doctorwu said:
Well, the Melon debate remains very fruity. He'll take care of TNO have no doubt. I think he might surprise a few on here if he were to run.
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Not so sure now...... I think you can argue he'd beat MTOY off level weights, with a faster run race AND he is open to more improvement..... but he is a VERY clear 3rd fav and I wouldn't expect him to beat Faugheen or BVD .... although I would expect him to beat DDS or MTOY .... in March
 
shocking ride from Mullins on Melon today. Muddling race where someone with Cheltenham experience would have let Melon go on and see if they could catch him. Restraining him throughout the race was suicide.
 
doctorwu said:
shocking ride from Mullins on Melon today. Muddling race where someone with Cheltenham experience would have let Melon go on and see if they could catch him. Restraining him throughout the race was suicide.
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Shocking ride
 
Lovely to see MTOY do the business today. Only way Melon wins a race at this year's festival is if they run him over fences. Wouldn't back him to place in the CH even if Faugheen doesn't make it.
 
If TNO is a solid 163, Melon ran to 162 on his 5th run over hurdles. At the same stage of his career, Buveur D'Air was rated 157. Absolutely the one to take out of the race.
 
Agreed with some of the comments regarding Melon, would have definitely liked to have seen Melon taken to the front after racing freely.
Still has a chance in this race if learning to settle.
 
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