• HELP US - Become a Patron - Fat Jockey is a horse racing community focused on all the big races in the UK and Ireland. We don't charge users but if you have found the site useful then any support towards the running costs is appreciated ... a small donation each month would be a huge contribution. Become a Patron!

Champion Hurdle 2020

From what I can see from the Haydock Champion Hurdle Trial, most of the top of the market will carry penalties.

Call Me Lord 6lb
Cornerstone Lad 6lb
Darasso 4lb
Pentland Hills 3lb
Bally Andy No penalty.
 
From what I can see from the Haydock Champion Hurdle Trial, most of the top of the market will carry penalties.

Call Me Lord 6lb
Cornerstone Lad 6lb
Darasso 4lb
Pentland Hills 3lb
Bally Andy No penalty.

I assumed cornerstone lad would’ve carried the most given G1 winner now. Haven’t checked conditions properly mind you.

*Edit* having looked at the conditions, you're correct.

Weights: 4-y-o..........10st 7lb; 5-y-o and up.........................................................11st 4lbFillies and mares allowed.....................................................................................7lbPenalties, after September 30th, 2017, a winner of a Listed or Grade 3 hurdle race...................4lbOf a Grade 1 or Grade 2 hurdle race........................................................................6lb
 
Last edited:
Honey prepping for Fez in Irish Churdle as it fits in perfectly timewise. If the Quevega was at the same time they would have ran in that so Mares is still the plan. However, if she were to win well back in trip, pains me to say the Champion Hurdle would be tempting for them without a doubt. Much the same with A Plus Tard in the 2 mile chase. HDB has some ammo this year !!!
 
Honey prepping for Fez in Irish Churdle as it fits in perfectly timewise. If the Quevega was at the same time they would have ran in that so Mares is still the plan. However, if she were to win well back in trip, pains me to say the Champion Hurdle would be tempting for them without a doubt. Much the same with A Plus Tard in the 2 mile chase. HDB has some ammo this year !!!

Massive ammo this year, superb trainer. Given that i think she'd win a Irish Champion i think the only thing holding her back from going here is the ground, which halfway through January you'd think would be no bother, but Leopardstown drains fast. They won't run her if it turns out like last year imo.
 
Massive ammo this year, superb trainer. Given that i think she'd win a Irish Champion i think the only thing holding her back from going here is the ground, which halfway through January you'd think would be no bother, but Leopardstown drains fast. They won't run her if it turns out like last year imo.

Agree that the ground at Leopardstown will have to be on the Soft side. If not she may go straight to Mares. Not sure if Irish Champion is a gimme for her. Apple's will be hard to pass in her own back yard and I'm not sure they'll want to give Honey too hard a race. Very interesting times though.
 
Agree that the ground at Leopardstown will have to be on the Soft side. If not she may go straight to Mares. Not sure if Irish Champion is a gimme for her. Apple's will be hard to pass in her own back yard and I'm not sure they'll want to give Honey too hard a race. Very interesting times though.

Not a gimme, but i don't think Apple's is back performing to the levels she has done in past years. Christmas could've been a stepping stone to her doing that but i wouldn't want to bank on it. The remainder of the field at xmas were nowhere to be seen. More to the performance than just her "brilliance". Loves Leopardstown i agree but let's not forgot she's dropping a mile for it too. She's done it in the past, but she was running better then!
 
Honeysuckle 9/2 NRNB - heavily tempting to get stuck in before the Irish CH.

Think Betfred are 5's last time I looked.
Hoping someone else goes NRNB in next couple weeks, and we get a little better.
 
Think Betfred are 5's last time I looked.
Hoping someone else goes NRNB in next couple weeks, and we get a little better.

NRNB is a bet that has to be made
Especially if you’ve bet her @7’s and over for the Mares

Owners huge supporters of Mares programme and personally I’d be be surprised however CH is so open and obvious temptation
 
NRNB is a bet that has to be made
Especially if you’ve bet her @7’s and over for the Mares

Owners huge supporters of Mares programme and personally I’d be be surprised however CH is so open and obvious temptation

Completely agree. 5's NRNB is a no brainer.
 
NRNB is a bet that has to be made
Especially if you’ve bet her @7’s and over for the Mares

Owners huge supporters of Mares programme and personally I’d be be surprised however CH is so open and obvious temptation

Yeah I agree - got her at some good prices for the Mares, but if she turns up in the CH which is looking a possibility, I can't see what she won't beat with the allowance. Epatante the danger for me but I think Honey has enough to do it.
 
Just seen that as well.

How cornerstone lad is 13/2 and ballyandy is 7/2 and even pentland hills at 5/4 is quite staggering imo.

If it wasn’t for it being January (usual cash flow this time of year after Xmas) think that is a cracking bet and would be all over that! 1/4 first 2 as well for a decent enough e/w play.

Hope you managed to get a few quid on craigy. Top priced 5/1 and already 3/1 with Paddy.

13/2 really did look a rick.
 
Honeysuckle in the mares is one of my biggest winners of the week so needed to cover her for this. Have taken 11/1 with hills obviously without NRNB. Only small stakes so I’m happy to lose that if it means her going to the mares!
 
Interestingly Bennie might be a harder horse to beat than anything in the Champ hurdle, although theres a lot of guess work in that but off levels as oppose to getting the allowance off most of the Champ hurdle field, she might find the Champ Hurdle an easier task.
 
Hope you managed to get a few quid on craigy. Top priced 5/1 and already 3/1 with Paddy.

13/2 really did look a rick.

I haven’t mate :dejection: didn’t have a load left of Xmas wage and my mate dropped the bombshell of flights for a stag needing booked haha!

Will just be hoping he can do the business as I’ve backed for this at 33’s.
 
Interestingly Bennie might be a harder horse to beat than anything in the Champ hurdle, although theres a lot of guess work in that but off levels as oppose to getting the allowance off most of the Champ hurdle field, she might find the Champ Hurdle an easier task.

However open the Churdle looks this year, it will not be easier than the Mares for Honey, hence the current prices. I'm still of the opinion she wouldn't win the Churdle. She looks made for 2 1/2 miles.
 
However open the Churdle looks this year, it will not be easier than the Mares for Honey, hence the current prices. I'm still of the opinion she wouldn't win the Churdle. She looks made for 2 1/2 miles.

You could argue Benie as an individual horse will be harder to beat than pretty much anything in the CH. Which i presume is what Billy is meaning. In behind there is obviously less 150+ plus animals in the mares.
 
Just seen that as well.

How cornerstone lad is 13/2 and ballyandy is 7/2 and even pentland hills at 5/4 is quite staggering imo.

If it wasn’t for it being January (usual cash flow this time of year after Xmas) think that is a cracking bet and would be all over that! 1/4 first 2 as well for a decent enough e/w play.

Thanks Craigy I took the opening 13/2 yesterday on B365. Probably wouldn't have checked unless you had mentioned it here. Now only has to win
 
You could argue Benie as an individual horse will be harder to beat than pretty much anything in the CH. Which i presume is what Billy is meaning. In behind there is obviously less 150+ plus animals in the mares.

Yeah, can see that. Would rather be trying to beat 1 rather than 7/8 though. Depends if they want a top shot at a festival winner or take their chances in the big one.