The Road To The 2018 Champion Hurdle

Who will win the 2018 CH

  • Buveur D'Air

    Votes: 17 54.8%

  • Faugheen

    Votes: 10 32.3%

  • Other

    Votes: 4 12.9%
  • Total voters
    31
  • Poll closed .
I actually tweeted PJ Hobbs earlier today asking about Defi. No reply as yet.

Will post here if I get any juice (100/1 shot, I reckon).
 
Double J said:
Faugheen 11/4 NRNB with Bet365.

Worth a few quid. They've also gone NRNB on the Champion Chase, Stayers, Gold Cup and Ryanair. Leading the way still for me.
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Have to be honest, I wouldn't want to be with Faugheen at 11/4, even if he did turn up.
 
Grasshopper said:
Have to be honest, I wouldn't want to be with Faugheen at 11/4, even if he did turn up.
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I would back this up and be against even 11/4 for Faugheen if that lacklustre performance happened on comeback, however whats very strange is that he posted a very good time 1st time out then he suddenly lost all his enthusiasm for racing? Something was up with his well-being and/or with the yard, a bug or a cold, and if that is fixed in 2 months 11/4 will look big.
 
You’re basically taking 11/4 that a) the problem was fixed, b) that he can overcome yet another setback, and c) he can run to a sufficiently-high mark to beat BDA.

At his best, I would probably have had Faugheen about 8lbs ahead of BDA. I think the chances of him running to within 8lbs of his best in the Champion Hurdle are a LOT longer than 11/4. Assuming he makes the race, he’s a shorter price to be pulled-up before three-out, in my book.
 
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I read somewhere yesterday that Timeform dropped him 8lb to 168. Seems a bit harsh considering he was pulled up in the race. Officially they have Buveur D’Air still on 169. He looks like he could come over to Leopardstown in February.


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11/4 would be interesting the morning of the febuary race. He either runs very well and is shorter than 11/4, or he bombs and is retired and you get your money back.

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Still nothing from the Mullins camp to explain the lacklustre performance almost a week on. I know last Friday they were hoping something would surface like maybe he was brewing a cold or something to explain it. All the more head scratching when nothing turns up.

So much so that racing journo Johnny Ward is not putting forward theories that it wouldn’t be impossible to sedate the horse before the race. Highly unlikely I’d have to say but it shows how baffled people are by it. And to be fair it was only 3 years ago at the festival Mullins himself voiced similar concerns of that happening!

For me initially I was just thinking he bounced but he looked to be in bother far too early for that to be a factor too.


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It's hardly surprising, have they said what Douvans season ending injury is?? If they have I haven't heard it.

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He was lame after work they said. Faugheen however is, or should be, a different case. It happened in the public domain at a racecourse.


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Two stories spring to mind...Altiorgate and Exotic Dancers bad back saga.

Both times the media made a mountain out of a molehill.

When Mullins sees the fake news brigade got to town and the crap they talk he probably says stuff it and says nothing.

Sure racegoers get annoyed when there is no info coming forward about a horse like Faugheen or Douvan who are like public property
despite the fact they don't pay the bills

I have heard from 2 different sources Douvan could be back this season but tell me when these rumours don't start and I'll show you a 4 legged martian dog

if Mullins came out and said he would be and he didn't make Cheltenham or Punchestown all hell would break loose.

I am very anti Mullins on this subject but as long as the CNN racing media exists I can understand where he is coming from.

As long as they keep coming up with Fake News like:-

Buveur D'Air teed up a possible pre-Cheltenham clash with Faugheen


"we all looked forward to the prospect of a Douvan-Altior clash in the Tingle Creek"

Two absolute garbage articles that appeared in leading sports papers
 
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Grasshopper said:
I actually tweeted PJ Hobbs earlier today asking about Defi. No reply as yet.

Will post here if I get any juice (100/1 shot, I reckon).
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Have you seen the update Grassy? He scoped dirty after Ascot with a bug in the yard put down as the probably cause. No specific return race identified as yet.
 
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Willie Mullins to give Faugheen Irish Champion Hurdle entry as CCTV shows doping at Leopardstown unlikely


Willie Mullins is planning to enter Faugheen in next month's BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle as he continues to ponder the gelding's disappointing run over Christmas.

2.34276895 Faugheen has been given the all-clear by Willie Mullins after his disappointing effort at Christmas (PA)
The 10-year-old was the odds-on favourite for the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown but was pulled up with two to jump after dropping away tamely, leaving connections mystified.

Mullins reports the 2015 Champion Hurdle hero to be in good heart at present, with the Grade One contest on February 3 a possible opportunity for swift redemption.

He said: "I didn't see him out this morning, but John (Cobb, work rider) gave me a ring coming down in the car and said he was in great shape. He did a steady canter this morning and is eating, is bright and is well in himself.



"That's where we are now and we'll do a little more every day with him. Nothing has come to light and I'm waiting on one test back with him. I was supposed to have it back last week but it was to go to England or America, but we don't have it back yet.

"It was very rare to have him gone so quick and to me, going to the second hurdle, we were wondering were the others not letting him away at the speed. Paul (Townend) said there was nothing there and he was gone early.

"It wasn't that he went three-quarters of the way and then got beaten because he had a dirty nose or lung infection, so it is unusual.

"I don't know where I'm going, but he'll get an entry for the Irish Champion Hurdle."

Faugheen's owner Rich Ricci also has another star, Douvan, on the sidelines at present and Mullins has an open mind as to whether the pair will line up at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

He added: "It is day by day with himself (Faugheen) and Douvan and while Cheltenham is obviously the target if he keeps going, I'm not making any real plans or targets."

The news comes as Turf Club security chief Chris Gordon revealed CCTV coverage confirmed neither Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Sizing John nor Faugheen were interfered with before their engagements.

Following the poor run of Sizing John in the Christmas Chase in which Djakadam was pulled up for the first time in his 24-race career there were theories flying around social, and even some traditional, media that several Irish stars had been doped.

"There is CCTV in operation at Leopardstown and we have scrutinised the footage," Gordon told the Racing Post.

"It is a great asset to have as we can immediately look into allegations, such as the ones about Faugheen and Sizing John.

"We've reviewed the footage and have no concerns about any unauthorised personnel in the area. We know exactly where Faugheen and Sizing John were stabled and no stranger approached those boxes.

"We will be extending our use of CCTV to more tracks in Ireland. Navan and Tipperary are next to have it installed. That is a big step in the right directio


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TheBear said:
Have you seen the update Grassy? He scoped dirty after Ascot with a bug in the yard put down as the probably cause. No specific return race identified as yet.
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Why it took several weeks for this information to be released is unclear .
 
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