Champion Hurdle 2020

[nortonscoin200]

Thanks for putting me out of my Champion Hurdle misery Kevloaf - I'm now a fully paid up member of the Cornerstone Lad fan club.

A 7-2 favourite whose only previous Cheltenham run was 9th in the mares novice hurdle just has to be taken on - but boy have I struggled to find anything that fits the bill.

 

[Kevloaf]

Supasundae is 6/1 (9 places) with 365

Petit Mouchoir is 10/1 (9 places)

Cornerstone Lad 10/1 (9 places)

Silver Streak 9/1 (9 places)

Ballyandy 9/1 (9 places)




Obviously they're all priced up.... Darver Star 6/1 too

 

[callhimgamblor]

Cornerstone Lad never been to Cheltenham?

https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/profiles/horse/424282

 

[Quevega]

Just watched Epatante run at Cheltenham last year, on the Ruby show.
typical Barry ride, and he gave up pretty quick, and coasted home from half way up the hill. The horse actually looked like it could have done better.

 

[harchibald]

Can't wait to see how pentland finishes off his race tomorrow. Will the better ground and the wind op help?

Im hopeful but not confident.

 

[jack1092]

Y
As they're on the same OR, try and convince me, that Cilaos Emery is a better bet than Cornerstone Lad?


Cilaos Emery is a forum favourite as we all know he'd have won last years Arkle, but Duc Des Genievres is absolutely toss... he wouldn't need to be that good to beat her.

Being trained by Willie Mullins is the best thing he has going for him, so you can expect improvement. That's fair enough...

But you can even crab his hurdling technique can't you, he was a bit big?






I suppose really you need to go back and ask yourself if you really did believe Cilaos Emery would have been close to beating Altior, Defi Du Seuil or Chacun Pour Soi?


I reckon Min would go off odds on at 2m against Cilaos Emery and wallop him....


I'm on Cilaos Emery, I wish I wasn't :highly_amused: (although not enough to lay him for stake back)

He jumped big, but i guess you've to hope that's because it was his first time back over the smaller ones.

Jumping's the name of the game so we obviously don't know how he'd have fared at DRF. He was 4/1 against Min + CPS, so reasonable to suggest the market gave him a decent enough chance of going close?

At the prices we are on (think you're on at like 14s too) you'd have to be hopeful he can surely place at least?

 

[Kevloaf]

He jumped big, but i guess you've to hope that's because it was his first time back over the smaller ones.

Jumping's the name of the game so we obviously don't know how he'd have fared at DRF. He was 4/1 against Min + CPS, so reasonable to suggest the market gave him a decent enough chance of going close?

At the prices we are on (think you're on at like 14s too) you'd have to be hopeful he can surely place at least?

Can't prove it either way but I'd have been staggered if he was good enough to get near either of them. I have him in a rung below.

You are right though, I did get the 14/1. Hopeful is about the best I can be, I see hes usurped Pentland Hills as 2nd fav, about bloody time PH wasn't 2nd fav in this market!



If CE is as good as the market over fences suggested he was, then he'll be going very close here... so lets hope I'm wrong.

I basically went off him the same day I backed him, I felt like I'd made too rash of a decision.

He is now HALF the price of Sharjah. That's crazy.

 

[Kevloaf]

Can't wait to see how pentland finishes off his race tomorrow. Will the better ground and the wind op help?

Im hopeful but not confident.

He'll finish it like Haribald did probably.

 

[Altior]

Just managed to stop myself from pressing the confirm bet on Epatante. Happier and happier with Darver Star and Supasundae shouldn't mind the mud at all. Going to leave it there.

 

[jack1092]

If CE is as good as the market over fences suggested he was, then he'll be going very close here... so lets hope I'm wrong.

I basically went off him the same day I backed him, I felt like I'd made too rash of a decision.

He is now HALF the price of Sharjah. That's crazy.

I suppose he could be a 165+ chaser and still not be good enough here if he doesn't sharpen up his hurdling.

That is crazy in theory, but the ground sounds like it'll be against Sharjah.

 

[harchibald]

He'll finish it like Haribald did probably.

harchibald was on the bridle all the way up the hill - ran a blinder considering paul carberry never used the whip once - if pentland does as well i'd be happy

 

[Kevloaf]

harchibald was on the bridle all the way up the hill - ran a blinder considering paul carberry never used the whip once - if pentland does as well i'd be happy

I would be thrilled too, I don't care how long he's on the bridle as long as he doesn't win :highly_amused:

 

[harchibald]

I would be thrilled too, I don't care how long he's on the bridle as long as he doesn't win :highly_amused:

Are you afraid of pentland kev? ��

 

[Kevloaf]

Are you afraid of pentland kev? ��

Nah, not really.... he's been the worst priced horse of this years festival overall.


Out to 8/1 now (4 places)...... he's FINALLY drifting.



My issue with him has been he's been under priced, so I've been against him.

Not his ability, so of course I'm afraid.... :highly_amused:

 

[Altior]

I need to just turn off the laptop.... I'm looking at CE and thinking yeah why not :highly_amused:

 

[opatcho]

Epantate Max Bet earlier in the week
Expect him to get back in as more come to terms shes the best horse in the race. Think she was too raw and inexperienced as a novice.
Kempton performance is best on paper, and no reason why she can not improve from that
Yes, took me a while to put a horse, that couldnt win a novice mares, to win a champion hurdle a year later.... but... it's the most likely result

 

[Kevloaf]

Found the 16/1, WH - Fusil to win today and CH
40/1 for Epatante same double.

I think his money would come later than 11am?


Somebodies money is coming though!




Get on the 40/1 Christmas Hurdle / Champion Hurdle double JP, if you're reading this! :highly_amused:

Hope it's not just me and Lobos on this double from Boxing Day

 

[The King Pimm]

I’ve been waiting in hope for Epatante to drift to 4/1 over the past week to take advantage of the B365 4/1 offer but I can’t see it happening now especially if Chantry or Fakir win. I think I’m going to have to stump up the cash and back her at whatever she is at 3.15pm because the longer it goes on the more I’m coming around to accepting she’s going to win this :dejection:

 

[Hurricane fly]

When Cornerstone Lad beat BDA, BDA had half a hurdle sticking out of his front hoof, that form is notliteral form.

Is coming out better at the weights vs Ballyandy after their Haydock race really that great?

Is Ballyandy really anything but a handicapper? I think anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves. He has not transformed himself as a 9 year old, this year is just pants

Given the light Darasso even in his comeback was better form than that and he clearly has a lot further to come along.

I would say his second to Mick Jazz is better form than most - and that is incredible to say.


It’s also interesting to see how nobody mentions the jockey bookings, for the amateurs it is taken as gospel but is Townend not a massive upgrade over Henry Brooke?

 

[Kevloaf]

When Cornerstone Lad beat BDA, BDA had half a hurdle sticking out of his front hoof, that form is notliteral form.

He did, but he also had Silver Streak behind him that day... so regardless of what Buveur's hoofs were doing, he was ahead of a horse that placed in a CH last year, who is a shorter price than him in the market.

Is coming out better at the weights vs Ballyandy after their Haydock race really that great?

Nope, but Pentland Hills lost to him and he's been 2nd fav all year ... i'm making a poiint about price and value. Do you understand that?

Is Ballyandy really anything but a handicapper? I think anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves. He has not transformed himself as a 9 year old, this year is just pants

Again, nope.... I've said that all year... but the facts are Ballyandy ALSO placed in the Christmas Hurdle, which is the piece of form the Favourte is using?

Given the light Darasso even in his comeback was better form than that and he clearly has a lot further to come along.




I would say his second to Mick Jazz is better form than most - and that is incredible to say.

I don't understand what you're talking about here, but Darasso hasn't run to a higher OR than Cornerstone Lad in his career? Do you mean Cilaos Emery? If so, Cilaos Emery has a peak hurdle rating of 158, Cornerstone Lad is peak 159 - so why the huge difference in price other than trainer?

It’s also interesting to see how nobody mentions the jockey bookings, for the amateurs it is taken as gospel but is Townend not a massive upgrade over Henry Brooke?

There is more of a gulf between the elite amateurs and the amatuers because the elite amatuers are only amateur in name....... obviously nobody will think Brooke is better than Townend, but the gap wouldn't be as far as your example.







Try harder.


Love trying to pick one apart though don't ya :highly_amused:

Answer me this though, do you think Cornerstone Lad should be a bigger price than Ballyandy or Silver Streak?