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Champion Hurdle 2019

Champion Hurdle 2019

  • Total voters
    75
Disappointing he didnt win, but the time was good and we will find out more next time I feel. Looking at today and last year hes certainly not a natural over his hurdles. I also suspect the winner wont get the credit he deserves and will be one to follow going forward.
 
billymag said:
Disappointing he didnt win, but the time was good and we will find out more next time I feel. Looking at today and last year hes certainly not a natural over his hurdles. I also suspect the winner wont get the credit he deserves and will be one to follow going forward.
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You beat me to it Billy, regarding the winner, he has finished ahead of Wicklow Brave, Arctic Fire, Samcro & Sharjah on his last 2 hurdles starts, that deserves a level of recognition.
 
He's been sold to america
 
Only had 1.5 points at 7s but I've cashed out for a small profit. Understand the excuses but I'm just not convinced that 2 miles is his best trip especially when he doesn't hurdle particularly quickly. Add to that it looks like the CH could be a competitive field and as I've said before it's a race I'm happy to leave at this stage. Would rather have the funds back in the account to back other horses I'm more keen on.
 
Always thought Labaik would be the stables no.1 conender in the CH :devilish:
 
Elliott said: “You are always disappointed when you don’t win. It’s the start of the season and he travelled and looked like he was going to win and he just got a bit tired going to the second-last. He picked up and galloped then to the line.

“If you go through ratings he probably ran about 3lb or 4lb below his best. It’s disappointing he didn’t win but we have to look at the positives – he jumped and he’s home in one piece.

“I know there is more in the horse than today. He gave the winner a good bit of weight. Both the winner and the third horse are race-fit. It’s our first run since we fell at Punchestown and we haven’t been on grass this year.

“What is it they say – ‘we might not have won the battle, but we’ll win the war’. I haven’t lost faith in the horse.

“He’ll go for the Morgiana in Punchestown and with a bit softer ground and faster gallop we might see a different horse.”
 
Agree it was slightly disapointing at first glance and the champion hurdle looks out of Samcros reach, then I researched Bedrock and the the winning time.

Im keeping the faith , lots to work on admittedly but promising first run.

IN GORDON I TRUST
 
Rhinestone_Cowboy said:
Only had 1.5 points at 7s but I've cashed out for a small profit. Understand the excuses but I'm just not convinced that 2 miles is his best trip especially when he doesn't hurdle particularly quickly. Add to that it looks like the CH could be a competitive field and as I've said before it's a race I'm happy to leave at this stage. Would rather have the funds back in the account to back other horses I'm more keen on.
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I'm very much on this side though I do to re-watch it again having only seen it live.

That said a few of the sectional guys are raving about the run and i'd say both are good judges

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">About to crunch the numbers, but having watched the race a second time, Samcro ran huge. FTO, giving weight away and was just done for tactical speed on the downhill run. Was flying at the finish. Hope they hold their nerve and keep him hurdling</p>— Will Hoffmann (@StopwatchRacing) <a href="https://twitter.com/StopwatchRacing/status/1058358081426460674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Vs Grade 3 mares race. Bedrock 5.38s quicker to 3 out, and 1.25s quicker to the line from there. Monstrous run. Maybe don't discount Samcro for Champion after all?</p>— Polzeath Ratings (@PolzeathRatings) <a href="https://twitter.com/PolzeathRatings/status/1058359290862465025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Plus an article here just posted:

https://polzeathratings.wordpress.com/
 
jono said:
I'm very much on this side though I do to re-watch it again having only seen it live.

That said a few of the sectional guys are raving about the run and i'd say both are good judges

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">About to crunch the numbers, but having watched the race a second time, Samcro ran huge. FTO, giving weight away and was just done for tactical speed on the downhill run. Was flying at the finish. Hope they hold their nerve and keep him hurdling</p>— Will Hoffmann (@StopwatchRacing) <a href="https://twitter.com/StopwatchRacing/status/1058358081426460674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Vs Grade 3 mares race. Bedrock 5.38s quicker to 3 out, and 1.25s quicker to the line from there. Monstrous run. Maybe don't discount Samcro for Champion after all?</p>— Polzeath Ratings (@PolzeathRatings) <a href="https://twitter.com/PolzeathRatings/status/1058359290862465025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Plus an article here just posted:

https://polzeathratings.wordpress.com/
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Fair points Jono, often check in with Polzeath Ratings, I'm certainly not dismissing him as a contender but difficult to see him as the good thing his pevious price indicated he was. Also 1.5 points is a pretty minimal bet for me (think I have around 20 on Kalashnikov including free bets) so not something I felt the need to ponder over too much when cashing out.
 
There are NO positives for samcro's run today, except for he lives to fight another day.
Anyone who thinks otherwise is IMO clutching at straws (bendy ones)
 
"Getting done for tactical speed" is the excuse The New One followers should have admitted for all those years haha.

Regardless of how they crunch the numbers, you can't say he looks like a Champion Hurdler on today's run.

I was hoping for a change of plan and to go chasing but it's incredibly unlikely.

My RSA shout is closer than it was 24 hours ago though haha
 
Kevloaf said:
"Getting done for tactical speed" is the excuse The New One followers should have admitted for all those years haha.

Regardless of how they crunch the numbers, you can't say he looks like a Champion Hurdler on today's run.

I was hoping for a change of plan and to go chasing but it's incredibly unlikely.

My RSA shout is closer than it was 24 hours ago though haha
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backed it with paddys straight after race as they're still 20's.
Just can't see any real pace in the horse, he does travel and cruise well so a well run champion hurdle could suit, he reminds me of Jezki a little bit, and we might see him turned over a couple more times but run better at cheltenham, assuming they keep plugging on the hurdle route. that's a straw
 
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So they ran a bit quicker than the Mares NOVICE race that commentators suggested turned into a sprint. :devilish:
 
Not convinced Samcro was fit today, Elliot seemed to think he was but I can't believe the winner has improved a stone or connections wouldn't be sending him to the US.
They appear to be heading for the Morgiana but he jumped a couple of flights big and still looks all over a chaser for me...
 
Istabraq said:
Not convinced Samcro was fit today, Elliot seemed to think he was but I can't believe the winner has improved a stone or connections wouldn't be sending him to the US.
They appear to be heading for the Morgiana but he jumped a couple of flights big and still looks all over a chaser for me...
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Agreed, and a staying chaser at that. Thought he didn't react that well when Bedrock went past either. Certainly wasn't flying like one of those stopwatch guys said.
Willie likely to send either Melon or Laurina to the Morgiana so we'll find out more then. Be great if he sent Faugheen.
 
quevega said:
Anyone who thinks otherwise is IMO clutching at straws (bendy ones)
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Fantastic analogy! :highly_amused:

Like I say i'm a fan of both of those mentioned but I very much disagree with them here. I just can't have it being a good run today let alone a huge or monstrous run. The polzeath article touches upon the Faugheen loss to Nichols Canyon in the Morgiana a few years ago and i've seen a few others make that comparison. To me this was miles away from that defeat even though I get the crux of the argument is on the fitness aspect. At the same as as Bedrock now (5) - Nichols Canyon was a 4 time grade 1 hurdle winner and had a 3rd in the Neptune. A crazy comparison for me...

Shocked connections are still sticking to hurdles after today. Though I do hope the O'Learys may just have a few conversations over the next few days on the slim hope they make the call to go over a fence still.
 
jono said:
Fantastic analogy! :highly_amused:

Like I say i'm a fan of both of those mentioned but I very much disagree with them here. I just can't have it being a good run today let alone a huge or monstrous run. The polzeath article touches upon the Faugheen loss to Nichols Canyon in the Morgiana a few years ago and i've seen a few others make that comparison. To me this was miles away from that defeat even though I get the crux of the argument is on the fitness aspect. At the same as as Bedrock now (5) - Nichols Canyon was a 4 time grade 1 hurdle winner and had a 3rd in the Neptune. A crazy comparison for me...

Shocked connections are still sticking to hurdles after today. Though I do hope the O'Learys may just have a few conversations over the next few days on the slim hope they make the call to go over a fence still.
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I know Polzeath Ratings is a huge Samcro fan, sure he would say that has no bearing on his analysis but may explain words like 'huge' or 'monstorous'
 
Before the season I felt the egos of both Elliot and O’Leary would lead them to the Champ Hurdle over the JLT or RSA. They still have time for that and two GC tilts.

But, on today’s effort, he really does look like a staying 3 mile chaser. Travels well, great cruising speed...but where’s the kick?! I’d have expected fitness or weight issues would have impeded his travelling not his kick. You need another gear to win a Champion Hurdle.

I have him antepost for the CH based on my punt on the decision, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if a Laurina, ITCF or We Have a Dream kicks him into the dirt up that hill on decent ground come March.

He really should be in the JLT this year.
 
quevega said:
There are NO positives for samcro's run today, except for he lives to fight another day.
Anyone who thinks otherwise is IMO clutching at straws (bendy ones)
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Even more highly amused than Archie's comment :highly_amused::highly_amused:
 
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