The Road to the 2019 Champion Hurdle

So much for O’Leary’s talk of anything bar chasers being mickey mouse races. Makes for an intriguing champion hurdle. Let’s hope they all get there in one piece. Be great seeing Samcro, Laurina & Melon battle it out here while the Buv sits on a sun lounger at seven barrows.


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Your faith in Boov is admirable, Kauto.......but I confess I find such confidence a little surprising, given his all-out scramble to reel-in the rather ordinary Melon.
 
So now we wait and see when Laurina and Samcro can finally clash - will it be Leopardstown at dec or Feb

Lets also see if the 2 British horses head to Newcastle
 
Grasshopper said:
Your faith in Boov is admirable, Kauto.......but I confess I find such confidence a little surprising, given his all-out scramble to reel-in the rather ordinary Melon.
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Grassy, it’s not to hard to put your faith in a 2 time champion hurdler and multiple G1 winner. However, I don’t think BD was anywhere near his best last March and it was interesting to hear his trainer confirm my thoughts with his similar viewpoints in a recent stable tour. Do bear in mind that BD next door neighbor, We Have A Dream, missed Cheltenham with a high temperature and was moved out of the yard on the morning before the champion hurdle. It’s wouldn’t be at all surprising to suggest BD might have been brewing something himself.

Also, contrary to most people’s beliefs, it’s my opinion that Buveur D’Air is much more effective on a better surface as was shown when he left them all for dead in his first champion hurdle win. And that Champion Hurdle has worked out way better than anyone gave it credit for.

I walked the track last March on the Monday and the amount of false patches of ground up the straight and down the back was shocking. You would literally sink at times. Sure it was heavy and he handles that but this was dodgy ground. His hurdling was no where near as fluent as previous races, he missed at least 3 hurdles on the way around. For a horse like BD, who can crank up the gears in a matter of strides, that ground goes against his strengths. Altior was similar in that it took him an age to warm up to the task of accelerating.

Even with that, I’m no so sure BD was even “all out” as you describe. Geraghty hit him 4 slaps of the whip after the last hurdle, the first 150 yards from the winning post and the horse instantly replied, this after an all out gallop ensured by Charli Parks. It was the first proper race BD had all year and he passed it with flying colours.

A true champion.


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granger said:
So now we wait and see when Laurina and Samcro can finally clash - will it be Leopardstown at dec or Feb

Lets also see if the 2 British horses head to Newcastle
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i think mullins will pitch melon up against him initially as a sighter. see how he does against the more experienced hurdler and go with slower approach for the filly. i don't think we'll see her in open company till at least after the new year.
 
I think you are probably right James

Melon is a fair yardstick in fairness to him

I would hope tho that by xmas they will put her in a G1 either over here or at Kempton
 
Last year Buveur was the best hurdler around, but not by very much.

In the Champion Hurdle it was the same ground for all of them, Melon included, and were it not for the fact Melon is completely gutless the result would have been different. I don't buy a simple assertion that Buveur wasn't at his best on the day, Champion Hurdle day is the target of the whole season and everything possible is done to get horses there in peak condition. Let's not forget, he was well enough to win the race.
 
Kauto Abu said:
Grassy, it’s not to hard to put your faith in a 2 time champion hurdler and multiple G1 winner. However, I don’t think BD was anywhere near his best last March and it was interesting to hear his trainer confirm my thoughts with his similar viewpoints in a recent stable tour. Do bear in mind that BD next door neighbor, We Have A Dream, missed Cheltenham with a high temperature and was moved out of the yard on the morning before the champion hurdle. It’s wouldn’t be at all surprising to suggest BD might have been brewing something himself.

Also, contrary to most people’s beliefs, it’s my opinion that Buveur D’Air is much more effective on a better surface as was shown when he left them all for dead in his first champion hurdle win. And that Champion Hurdle has worked out way better than anyone gave it credit for.

I walked the track last March on the Monday and the amount of false patches of ground up the straight and down the back was shocking. You would literally sink at times. Sure it was heavy and he handles that but this was dodgy ground. His hurdling was no where near as fluent as previous races, he missed at least 3 hurdles on the way around. For a horse like BD, who can crank up the gears in a matter of strides, that ground goes against his strengths. Altior was similar in that it took him an age to warm up to the task of accelerating.

Even with that, I’m no so sure BD was even “all out” as you describe. Geraghty hit him 4 slaps of the whip after the last hurdle, the first 150 yards from the winning post and the horse instantly replied, this after an all out gallop ensured by Charli Parks. It was the first proper race BD had all year and he passed it with flying colours.

A true champion.

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Just to give you some context, as it appears to be lost on you, Buveur D’Air has beaten a grand total of three horses who have won an all-aged G1 hurdle at 2-miles; Faugheen, Petit Mouchoir and Mick Jazz.

He’s never beaten any genuinely top-class at 2-miles other than Faugheen (who was a light of former glories at the trip), and indeed was beaten the only time he ran against truly top-class hurdlers at 2m, in the shape of Altior and Min.

You backed him at 33/1 for his first Champion Hurdle. We get it. But calling BDA a “true champion” dilutes the value of the phrase, when set against the vastly superior achievements of horses like Hurricane Fly. ;)
 
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I got a tingle when I saw hurricane mentioned again :)

Let's hope they don't cotton wool Buv and not send him to Newcastle if they don't fancy the opposition
 
Grasshopper said:
Just to give you some context, as it appears to be lost on you, Buveur D’Air has beaten a grand total of three horses who have won an all-aged G1 hurdle at 2-miles; Faugheen, Petit Mouchoir and Mick Jazz.
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I think you may add Irving a winner of the Fighting Fifth hurdle at Newcastle, Yanworth who won a Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and Wicklow Brave who won a Punchestown Champion Hurdle, to that list too Mr. hopper.


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Race of the festival if they all turn up. Expect Laurina in the Mares and one of the others to get injured though.
 
Kauto Abu said:
I think you may add Irving a winner of the Fighting Fifth hurdle at Newcastle, Yanworth who won a Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and Wicklow Brave who won a Punchestown Champion Hurdle, to that list too Mr. hopper.


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Noted, and I’ll concede this.

Not entirely certain if this helps your argument, mind! :lol:
 
Grasshopper said:
Noted, and I’ll concede this.

Not entirely certain if this helps your argument, mind! :lol:
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And just for more good luck Identity Thief also won a Fighting 5th.

Why wouldn’t it help it. You said he’d only beaten 3 G1 2m horses and I’ve just given you 4 more on top of it.


Might I be so bold to add in My Tent or Yours who also won a Grade 1 Xmas Hurdle. That makes it 8 different 2mile G1 winners he’s beaten.

Jesus the list is growing by the minute. Remind me never to hire you as a researcher Grassy.

A true back to back champion.

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There was I about to miss Champion Hurdle Day; Must have a rethink.
I imagine Gordon has gone out on a limb with this call as Giggi prefer chasers.
I sincerely hope Samcro lives up to Gordon's expectations as I would not like to be in his shoes if it does not work out.
Just wondering if any bookies are refunding bets placed ante post on Samcro for Festival Novice chases, especially given announcement was made on Betfair blog. Some promo for the 50 Euro or so involved.
 
If I've read Friday's race conditions correctly, Samcro has to give 5lb to Sharjah who is officially rated 5lb inferior. Also may have to give up to 15lb to others if they're declared.
 
Kauto Abu said:
And just for more good luck Identity Thief also won a Fighting 5th.

Why wouldn’t it help it. You said he’d only beaten 3 G1 2m horses and I’ve just given you 4 more on top of it.


Might I be so bold to add in My Tent or Yours who also won a Grade 1 Xmas Hurdle. That makes it 8 different 2mile G1 winners he’s beaten.

Jesus the list is growing by the minute. Remind me never to hire you as a researcher Grassy.

A true back to back champion.

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You’re right, KA. I guess my research could have been better, and all respect is due to Boov for beating such titans of the game. :D
 
Grasshopper said:
You’re right, KA. I guess my research could have been better, and all respect is due to Boov for beating such titans of the game. :D
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Oh I never called any of them titans, I was simply pointing out that BD had beaten a hell a lot more than 3 horses with Grade 1s over 2miles to their name.

The horse can only beat what’s put in front of him and that he does, again and again.


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Fair enough, though in my view, you cannot divorce the quality of the horses he’s beaten, from statements like “A true chanpion”. Quality has to be a contrubuting factor, when it comes to that kind of assessment, imo.
 
Grasshopper said:
Fair enough, though in my view, you cannot divorce the quality of the horses he’s beaten, from statements like “A true chanpion”. Quality has to be a contrubuting factor, when it comes to that kind of assessment, imo.
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It’s a game of opinions Grass. I’m not out to try and change anyone’s opinion but I think winning back to back champion hurdles makes him pretty special and puts him in the same bracket as Hardy Eustace, Istabraq or See You Then.

It’s hard enough to win a champion hurdle but to get back in one piece and defend your title is even harder and great champions like the fly or brave inca couldn’t manage that. There’s no such thing as a poor champion hurdle in my opinion and with the likes of the tent & TNO behind him you have very reliable yardsticks on previous renewals.




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Official marks after CH victories:
Buveur D'Air 169
Buveur D'Air 167
Annie Power 166
Faugheen 173
Jezki 169
Hurricane Fly 173
Rock On Ruby 170
Hurricane Fly 172
Binocular 172
Punjabi 164
.
Istabraq 176
Istabraq 170
Istabraq 164
.
Hardy Eustace 167
Hardy Eustace 166

Draw whatever conclusions you wish
 
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Binocular only a 172 when Tanlic is on the good Thai gear. Joke rating.
 
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Binocular was a very good horse on his day with a number of fragilities - in the 2010 CH he was quite brilliant and his jumping was extraordinarily slick. Deserves his rating for that day.
 
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