Novice Hurdlers 2016/17

Brilliant performance from Defi du Seuil. Well done all those who wouldn't hear of defeat for this horse


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He looked a complete picture going down to the start won in a common canter given a lovely ride too .

Could not quite understand his price he had much the best form and handled good ground at Ffos Las without any trouble .
 
He does seem rather complete given his young age.

very likeable and I'm sure it will show to be a good race.

Get impression Hobbs would like to send it chasing
 
Not surprised granger - he looks a chaser notably more scope than some of his rivals though Ex Patriot is a looker too .
 
I wouldn't like to be Ruby's cat unless he wins the Gold Cup striking what good ground can do Death Duty looked slow I thought Wholestone would win off the turn but he ended up very one paced - a very good day for Paul Townend !
 
Top bombing Nick.

I generally have no respect for juveniles (mix between flat rats and no longevity) but this crop really strike me as being above average.

You liked Defi for ages, what in particular was it about him?
 
I don't think there was any one thing that switched me onto him, granger. It's a little bit the way travelled so easily, and a little bit how effortlessly he put daylight between himself and his opponents, once asked to go and win his races.

I'd also say that he demonstrated an unusually-high level of both physical and mental maturity for his age, even when running as a 3yo in the first-half of the season. He just appeared to know exactly what his job was. Talent and a straightforward nature is an attractive combo - especially in a juvenile - and he looked like a horse that had been in training for five years.

I had him down as one to follow after his run at the Open meeting, but it was the Finale where I really started to get confident about him. Defi delivered a Jair Du Cochet-esque performance that day, and it marked him out as special (as I said previously; the errors up the straight were borne of boredom, and in no way detracted from his performance).

Like you, I tend to treat 4yos with a high-degree of scepticism, and I surprised myself a little, with how much I was sold on Defi from an early stage. I'm just grateful I called it right.

It should be noted that jinny (I think I'm right here) was the first to mention DDS on the forum. I didn't really do anything clever - as far as I'm concerned, his level was there for all to see from fairly early on in the season, and the only surprising thing about the last several weeks, is that so many weren't prepared to believe it. Any way you look at it, there were no holes at all in his form prior to the Festival, and I found it bizarre that he drifted to as big as 11/4 on the morning of the race.
 
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Somewhat smaller trainer bias I'd say led to his drift.

What I like about the race is the top 3 will all make good chasers.

Hobbs is a jovial character, hopefully he stays sound.

pretty sure they wanted the Elliott horse to run in the Fred Winter but plans had to change owing to big Phil correctly putting him up
 
It won't be long now until we find out he's going CH and then the 5yo's stats along with Triumph winners will start to appear. Despite the recent disappointments(P&C most famously from a rating pov) he's had so many races that you can't but view him as a tough cookie and a much better prospect of being that mold-breaker.
 
I dunno about this, Aughex........or at least, I don't think it's cast-iron.

I referenced Defi's physical and mental maturity in my previous post. It's not entirely impossible that he was just better developed than your average 4yo, and consequently, might actually improve a little less than we might all expect next season. That said, the inverse applies too, and he will have less to find than most others, if the Champion Hurdle does become the target.
 
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