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Champion Hurdle 2026

reet hard said:
I could cry like Hendo for CH
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Just as an aside, unlike some, I like Nicky Henderson and with good cause.

I don't know him well - and he wouldn't remember me - but I've had a couple of encounters with him, I take as I find, and a nicer bloke you couldn't wish to meet.

He wears his heart on his sleeve and, even if it's a posh heart on a posh sleeve, I can't knock anyone for that.

And anyone who thinks he's an idiot IS an idiot.

He must be beyond gutted about how things have panned out with his horse since his Champion Hurdle win.
 
Owner of Golden Ace said her scope wasn’t 100% clean before yesterdays race, ran her anyway. Not sure if ya can mark down the others cause of that.
 
Ian_Davies said:
Aftertiming alert but, while the media bemoan the lack of a "superstar" so obvious even they can't miss it, some of ny best-ever ante-post bets have been in open years when you didn't need to be outstanding on the day.

Charter Party 33/1, The Thinker 33/1, Master Oats 20/1, all so-called "Handicappers" supposedly not good enough to win a Cheltenham Gold Cup - but they did.

And I'm sure we all remember Make A Stand in the Champion Hurdle.

The reality is they're ALL "Handicappers" - inasmuch as they all have ORs - and this is especially true over Jumps.

For me as a despicable, conniving, thieving, burgling punter, racing is at its most interesting when the picture is unclear - for amid the murk value lies!
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Make A Stand - there was a horse who knew how to hurdle
 
Slim said:
I’m more interested in another Mullins runner, this year's County Hurdle winner Kargese. She's another strong traveller and looks well suited to two miles. That County wasn’t the most strongly run but she showed a lovely turn of foot when sweeping into the lead after the third-last hurdle and plenty of resolution to keep the chasing pack at bay. She put in an excellent effort to finish third behind State Man and Golden Ace at Punchestown, too. She still has plenty of improvement in her and could be a major player with her mares’ allowance.
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I thought I had come up with an original idea about Kargese ( 16/1 with Bet365) being a contender for the Champion Hurdle, but Slim was there a month ahead of me. Like State Man she won the County Hurdle off 141 and is now rated 152 which is the same as Golden Ace. I think she was entered for the Fighting Fifth, but Willie Mullins ran Anzadam instead.
 
Jayhawk said:
I thought I had come up with an original idea about Kargese ( 16/1 with Bet365) being a contender for the Champion Hurdle, but Slim was there a month ahead of me. Like State Man she won the County Hurdle off 141 and is now rated 152 which is the same as Golden Ace. I think she was entered for the Fighting Fifth, but Willie Mullins ran Anzadam instead.
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I've no recollection of typing that. If it wasn't for Lossiemouth she'd be a big player.
 
I'd be amazed if Kargese was anywhere near Champion hurdle class and i was on her for the County.

If i had to put one that could progress from a handicapper into a champion hurdle contender it would be Celtic Dino. Did far too much off the front end over the longer trip at Ascot when getting beat by Wodhooh and i had the ground as getting softer than described by the time that race went off. I think he'd be a good contender for the betfair hurdle off his current mark although I've a feeling Sam Thomas might run him in the Christmas hurdle at Kempton to find out where he is with him. I certainly think he'll be high 150's low 160's by the time the seasons out.
 
I looked at the market last night and was surprised to see Poniros as big as he was for a Triumph winner on debut. Lulamaba hasn't done the form much harm thus far.
 
Since Night Nurse first won it as a 5yo, only three others have done so in 48 years.

Anyway, the "Handicappers...."

Kargese OR 152 (+7lb = 159)
Alexei OR 147
Celtic Dino OR 147
Ethical Diamond OR 143 (but he has, err, won a BREEDERS' CUP TURF since and might just be a "workable mark" in a big handicap hurdle somewhere)

I wouldn't actually rule out any of the above making the progress required to figure with the mare in pole position.

Lossiemouth is OR 159 (+7lb = 166) btw - this is a lot more than a numbers game, but it gives a rough idea where they all are relative to each other.
 
Slim said:
The New Lion is 159 yet everyone on the form is pretending he has no chance.
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I'm just not convinced about him at 2m.

He's by a 2m4f Gold Cup winner, he's related to stayers like Kateira, El Presente and Blair's Cove, the only time he ran over 2m last season he was in a bumper, he was targetted at the Turners, not the Supreme, yet we are invited to believe this is a Champion Hurdle horse.

Istabraq came back in trip, but he was ex-Flat and had a different profile imo.

Game of opinions, though.
 
Im not convinced by New Lion, but Lossiemouth isn’t a 2 miler either. (For me anyway, certain the yard think that way as well) He’s got absolutely every chance.

Price dependant Id be on him over Lossiemouth an all.

Race is there for the taking. Connections of Kargese, Woodhooh, even Sir Gino have to be contemplating it.
 
Ian_Davies said:
I'm just not convinced about him at 2m.

He's by a 2m4f Gold Cup winner, he's related to stayers like Kateira, El Presente and Blair's Cove, the only time he ran over 2m last season he was in a bumper, he was targetted at the Turners, not the Supreme, yet we are invited to believe this is a Champion Hurdle horse.

Istabraq came back in trip, but he was ex-Flat and had a different profile imo.

Game of opinions, though
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Are you forgetting Hardy Eustace?
 
Double J said:
Im not convinced by New Lion, but Lossiemouth isn’t a 2 miler either. (For me anyway, certain the yard think that way as well) He’s got absolutely every chance.

Price dependant Id be on him over Lossiemouth an all.

Race is there for the taking. Connections of Kargese, Woodhooh, even Sir Gino have to be contemplating it.
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Sir Gino is a wild card. I will back The New Lion once I'm confident Sir Gino isn't being rerouted
 
A 2m horse not as good as The New Lion isn't going to beat him over 2m. That's the simplist way I can sum it up. The division is absolutely trash.
 
He was beat yesterday when he fell. Game over they were queuing up.

I actually wish he'd stood up and got beat more chance they'd have rerouted him then.
 
Either way they are 150 horses it shouldnt be that close. If one of the top novices, juveniles, or improving handicappers cant surpass that level then its a pretty poor show.
 

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