Hurdling or Chasing

Chasing or Hurdling

  • Total voters
    18
  • Poll closed .
Sprinter Sacre and Altior went novice chasing the year affair their respective Supreme novice. That’s a key difference IMO


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Altior was the age Constitution Hill will be next season and Sprinter just a year younger. I simply don’t get why people seem so confident he’ll duck a novice season. It’s not like he’s an 8 or 9 year old.
 
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JamesRB said:
i'd be wary of thinking he can have a nice long career at the top because he's only 6. any horse that is continually putting in such big performances as he has, it's very difficult to keep doing it time after time. even if you look at Horses with incredible longevity like Kauto they didn't always bring their A game. I think it's fanciful to think he can keep mopping up Champion Hurdles and then go chasing afterwards for big pots as a 9 year old. and that's even ignoring the increased possibility of injuries which could mean he's not 100% again afterward.

i'd really like them to strike while the iron is hot and go chasing now and plan for the next 2-3 seasons. gold cup clearly seems to be the dream but it'd be something else if he could bag all 3 of the main championship races at Cheltenham. if he stays sound and at the top of his game (probably doesn't need to improve from what he's shown so far, just adapt to chasing) then there's a real chance he could do it and bow out in 3 years unbeaten with probably the best career of any steeplechaser in history.
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How many CH winners won the Gold Cup? How many tried? I make it one that did it, she also got the mares allowance. CH-GC is just a pipe dream really. I never get this obsession with chasing the rainbow when you can be an all time great at what you are really good at.

As far as prize money is concerned...as mentioned earlier by Tanlic ...... CH just has to turn up at every G1 hurdle in future and collect. Money is a poor argument for the bigger obstacle game, if every time you turn out in a hurdle race, you take the top pot anyway.

I'll take 4 Hurdle G1 prize moneys per season versus 1 x GC second. £132k for losing a GC in second, compared with a walk in the park Xmas hurdle = £75k...walk in the park Fighting fifth... £65k, walk in the park second Champion Hurdle... plus Aintree Hurdle. The prize money from those for 3 seasons really does pee on the the potential chase money where one mistake might mean the end.
 
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Money won't be the driver here

The owner has plenty

If they want to chase immortality, they will try chasing

If they want to cement legacy and let's be honest the sensible call, stay hurdling
 
Quite a few good hurdlers in the past paid a heavy price when went chasing though. Luckily, the current, probably deposed highest rated now, Night Nurse, nearly did the double. You had to be him + to do both. He was so so good at both tests.

Ratings aside...NN was one of the toughest horses I have ever watched, in both codes.

No one ever wanted Sea Pigeon or Monksfield to go chasing, it was never an option, they were so good at hurdling. Night Nurse lost some speed, so they went chasing with him, and he so nearly did it.

I just don't get the ..must go chasing ...thing
 
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Would love to see him smash em up in another 3 Champion Hurdles. If need be then an Arkle/Champion Chase.

No need to be pissing about slugging it out with boat underlings in a Gold Cup.
 
wilsonl said:
Altior was the age Constitution Hill will be next season and Sprinter just a year younger. I simply don’t get why people seem so confident he’ll duck a novice season. It’s not like he’s an 8 or 9 year old.
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If he goes chasing next season it will be in Novice Company that is an absolute certainty.
 
wilsonl said:
“Seriously” ?. The Turners and Arkle are worth the same but you’re assuming that if he does go chasing he’ll be running in G1 open races within 5 months as opposed to a novice campaign. Thats a big assumption. Imagine heaven forbid he fell and was injured or worse, having had only a couple of outings over fences.

Nicky could have sent Sprinter (he’d have carried Finian’s Rainbow) into the QMCC if he wanted but he minded him and seriously, why on earth would he risk the sport’s greatest commodity through pure financial greed or impatience.
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If he was chasing now which race would have taken more winning The Arkle or The QMCC considering the Arkle was run at a faster pace in a faster time I don't think it's rocket science to answer.

I've said a dozen times or more before Nicky is a buisness man and it's all about the money. Why on earth would he run Sprinter Sacre against Finian's Rainbow when both had a fav's chance?
He in the end did the right thing at took both prizes home.

Next season is different al together as he has nothing bar Constitution Hill that could run in the race.

What's next years favourite? Enegymene who was rated neck and neck with Shishkin

How do you think Shishkin compares with Constitution Hill?

I would say Constitution Hill if he goes chasing after 3 races could be rated more than a stone ahead of Enegymene who's QMCC rating was absolute nonsense.
if you consider he was rated only a few pounds behind Sprinter Sacre going into the QMCC because that's how fck up rating are when you get to the top races.

You could argue agsint all that by pointing out he has nothing to run in the Arkle but for money the QMCC or Champion Hurdle win the day.
 
EC21 said:
How many CH winners won the Gold Cup? How many tried? I make it one that did it, she also got the mares allowance. CH-GC is just a pipe dream really. I never get this obsession with chasing the rainbow when you can be an all time great at what you are really good at.

As far as prize money is concerned...as mentioned earlier by Tanlic ...... CH just has to turn up at every G1 hurdle in future and collect. Money is a poor argument for the bigger obstacle game, if every time you turn out in a hurdle race, you take the top pot anyway.

I'll take 4 Hurdle G1 prize moneys per season versus 1 x GC second. £132k for losing a GC in second, compared with a walk in the park Xmas hurdle = £75k...walk in the park Fighting fifth... £65k, walk in the park second Champion Hurdle... plus Aintree Hurdle. The prize money from those for 3 seasons really does pee on the the potential chase money where one mistake might mean the end.
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Like it did for Golden Cygnet and Our Connor...It can happen anywhere not just over fences and it's something you can't go into a race worrying too much about or you wouldn't run them anywhere.

Constitution Hill almost did an Annie Power but never even flinched he is such a confident jumper and nothing as Nico and Nicky said said seems to fluster him.
 
Has CH even schooled over fences yet? His hurdling is so pure and flat that he'll be learning a completely different technique. From the report, it seems like he lost his point because of a bad mistake at the last.
 
My prediction:

2023/2024: Kept over hurdles, remains unbeaten, smashes-up Night Nurse's Timeform figure.
2024/2025: Temptation to go for 3x Champion Hurdles is too great; stays over the smaller obstacles, and remains unbeaten.
2025/2026: Goes over fences. Wins Rising Stars, wins Kauto Star, wins Cotswold Chase, wins Cheltenham Gold Cup.
2026/2027: Wins Betfair Chase, wins King George, wins Cheltenham Gold Cup, wins Betfair Bowl, wins Punchestown Gold Cup. Retires unbeaten.

Prove me wrong. :)
 
archie said:
Has CH even schooled over fences yet? His hurdling is so pure and flat that he'll be learning a completely different technique. From the report, it seems like he lost his point because of a bad mistake at the last.
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i don't think they'd school him over fences while he's going through a novice hurdling and champion hurdle campaign. they'll do it between now and the start of next season. and it'll likely be key in informing any decision they make.

agree that just because he's such a good hurdler he'll switch the proficiency to chasing easily. isn't that simple.
 
archie said:
Has CH even schooled over fences yet? His hurdling is so pure and flat that he'll be learning a completely different technique. From the report, it seems like he lost his point because of a bad mistake at the last.
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Nico said on the iTV racing podcast this week that he will for sure pop a few fences at home before the season ends
 
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Tanlic said:
If he was chasing now which race would have taken more winning The Arkle or The QMCC considering the Arkle was run at a faster pace in a faster time I don't think it's rocket science to answer.

I've said a dozen times or more before Nicky is a buisness man and it's all about the money. Why on earth would he run Sprinter Sacre against Finian's Rainbow when both had a fav's chance?
He in the end did the right thing at took both prizes home.

Next season is different al together as he has nothing bar Constitution Hill that could run in the race.

What's next years favourite? Enegymene who was rated neck and neck with Shishkin

How do you think Shishkin compares with Constitution Hill?

I would say Constitution Hill if he goes chasing after 3 races could be rated more than a stone ahead of Enegymene who's QMCC rating was absolute nonsense.
if you consider he was rated only a few pounds behind Sprinter Sacre going into the QMCC because that's how fck up rating are when you get to the top races.

You could argue agsint all that by pointing out he has nothing to run in the Arkle but for money the QMCC or Champion Hurdle win the day.
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Finian’s Rainbow was far from fav, IIRC Sizing Europe went off odds on.

And honestly Fist, name me one example when Nicky has put money before the protection of his horses and thrown a novice straight into the deep end. Constitution Hill may or may not go chasing next year but he won’t be running in the QMCC of that I’d be quite sure. Plus you seem to have forgotten El Fabiolo when dismissing the QMCC field but please, I’m not interested in a debate as to whether Constitution Hill would beat him or not because it aint happening.
 
Finians Rainbow was 4/1 2nd fav man you are nit pickin.

As for El Fabiola on a line through Jonbon he has about a stone to find just to keep up with Constitution Hill.

Do u think before you post :lol:

Anyway I have heard some great news for chasing fans Constitution Hill has already been instructed on how to jump a fence.

A contact in Seven barrows sent me this video

 
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Nicky was with Fred Winter from 1974 to 1978. I imagine he was deeply affected by the death of 1974 Champion Hurdler, Lanzarote, in the 1977 Gold Cup. It was only his fourth chase.

I'd be very surprised if CH runs in an open championship chase next season.
 
If Nicky learnt anything from Fred Winter it would have been not to dwell on these things.

Fred Winter new the risks and lived with them and it never stopped him send out Sonny Somers ae ripe old age of 18.

Anyway it's getting crazy, psychoanalyzing Nicky to try and work out what he will do,
 
am I? Thought you knew me better than that:lol: He wins the Champion Hurdle I win If he wins the Arkle I win if he wins the QMCC I win.......

do the sums yourself ......10 pts on the Champion Hurdle 5 pts on the Arkle 5 pts on the QMCC that's why I only get 5/4 but it is avery likely bet to nothing

I'd say unless his wheels fall off he'win one of them and although profits for the first 2 are minimal who knows what Nicky will do?
 
Barmy.that's Barry O'Connell who thinks he has Irelends answer to Constitution Hill

I reckon if Nicky sends Conrad chasing State Man will win the Champion Hurdle just ask AC and Granger they will tell you :0)
 
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