Champion Hurdle 2015

TNO appears to be the best of the British. His backers can argue that he was unlucky in last years big one. Maybe so, maybe not

Would rather see BJG keep the ride on Jezki but less likely to happen now i'd imagine.

Jezki goes for the Morgiana, so I doubt very much that Willie throws in Faugheen fto against the champ, maybe the old boy will get another run against him to test the waters.
 
Grasshopper said:
It's accepted fact that the season before last threw-out an unusually-talented crop of novices (Jezki, OC, MTOY, TNO), all of whom not only went on to progress, but generally showed form capable of winning a standard-running of the CH, before they ran in that race.
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I haven't started to think about the NH season yet but might check out the two big hcaps at Cheltenham on Saturday. I haven't done any kind of review of last season's bigger races so far but my gut tells me these top novices didn't really progress all that much in their post-novice season. I think it might be a trend that it's becoming so important to win the big novices' races at the big late-season festivals that these youngsters are being brought to a peak sooner than was once the case.

I might get some time next week to put some figures together to compare their respective ratings for their novice and post-novice seasons.
 
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You are surely kidding when you say that TNO was "maybe not" unlucky

None of the others would have won with such a trip. I would be pretty certain about that
 
clivex said:
You are surely kidding when you say that TNO was "maybe not" unlucky

None of the others would have won with such a trip. I would be pretty certain about that
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If you're suggesting that Jezki or MTOY wouldn't have made up the lost ground as comfortably as he did, or get as badly outpaced afterwards, then you are way wide of the mark. If TNO has the speed to beat either over 2m this season, I'll show my butt in whoever's window.
 
Do what you want, but bit of a blithe statement given the christmass hurdle last year isn't it?

Also you have no idea at all whether they would have made up ground comfortably. Mtoy is one I suspect might not have relished it but which ever way you look at it, tno's recovery and resolution was impressive and I certainly would not bet that would be the case with every horse by a long way
 
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update from the mullins stable. vautour goes chasing. faugheen over hurdles. planning to bring the fly back for the morgiana. :ninja:
 
Jezki bolted up with AP in the race at Punchestown - it was the ground rather than the pilot to blame for his winter defeats .
 
Just watching the replay of The New One's seasonal debut on Sunday.
He fairly took the timer out of the top of the final hurdle! Showing again he does not like to be in front before the last.
Just thinking ahead, I can see TNO having a lot of similarly uncompetitive races in his prep this season.
With MTOY out , all of his main CH contenders are the other side of the water. Will this affect his chances?
The closest British challenger in the current market is Irving at 33/1 ...
 
Double Handful said:
Just watching the replay of The New One's seasonal debut on Sunday.
He fairly took the timer out of the top of the final hurdle! Showing again he does not like to be in front before the last.
Just thinking ahead, I can see TNO having a lot of similarly uncompetitive races in his prep this season.
With MTOY out , all of his main CH contenders are the other side of the water. Will this affect his chances?
The closest British challenger in the current market is Irving at 33/1 ...
Click to expand...

imo TNO will not win a Champion Hurdle, the reason he looked like he was unlucky this year was that his own race turned into a test of stamina...his effort looked good but if he had kept up with the field would have been outpaced..the sectionals from Kempton last year told you he doesn't have the pace for a CH.

a definite non contender for me personally
 
So on that basis nor did mtoy . He ran in the Xmas hurdle too and was stretched

Its a bit strange to say that "looked like" an unlucky run after what happened. It's inconceivable that he would not have been closer

I think he's the main contender on a number of fronts. There is abolsutely nothing wrong with having a bit of extra stamina for the ch. plenty have haven't they?
 
Double Handful said:
Just watching the replay of The New One's seasonal debut on Sunday.
He fairly took the timer out of the top of the final hurdle! Showing again he does not like to be in front before the last.
Just thinking ahead, I can see TNO having a lot of similarly uncompetitive races in his prep this season.
With MTOY out , all of his main CH contenders are the other side of the water. Will this affect his chances?
The closest British challenger in the current market is Irving at 33/1 ...
Click to expand...

its my one issue with him the occasional hurdle . I was there too as it happens, not that it made any difference .. But jockey is adamant it was down to a fault in his ride. To my eyes, once he was in front he travelled perfectly

maybe less competitive races will be nit a bad thing. He ran a fair bit last year and whilst he's about as genuine as any horse around would prefer an easier campaign myself. Should be remembered that before Xmas hurdle he had run just 12 days before
 
Why start him off in a tuppence-ha'penny race around Kempton? Probably to convince themselves he has the speed to stick at 2 miles.
He doesn't, didn't, and won't have.
 
What a strange and bizaare suggestion. Yes I suppose the Xmas hurdle was exactly the same then objective then? Perhaps that race never actually happened?

More a case of those trying to convince themselves that he can't perform against the best at two miles, when he clearly has ffFFs
 
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