The Stayers Hurdle 2017

A

Ardross

Senior Jockey
Joined
Aug 8, 2007
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How lovely it is to write those words rather than the absurd World Hurdle .

wish we had seen more out of the murk but suspect Cheltenham will suit Unowwhatimeanharry more anyway .
 
Bliss. Pure bliss.

The sole decent thing the Murdoch empire has ever touched.

Hoping that Kotkikova struts into a fairly empty picture.
 
I wouldn't have Jezki on my mind and maybe I am crazy but
I like Clondaw Warrior who is like a star waiting in the wing before taking a really big one.

The WH could be right up his street his street imo
 
Already a thread on this race on page 2, but anyways, thought it interesting that The New One is entered in the Rekeel on New Years Day. The chances of him running must be slim, but at least they are keeping options open...Nothing I'd love more than for him to prove the doubters wrong at 3M. He Reminds me of Sizing Europe this fella....:)
 
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VVM didn't impress me today, I don't think she's the same mare as last season

Harry looking more and more solid after today
 
Struck me as a non stayer but the mare's hurdle still a penalty kick for her.
is Clondaw Warrior really a Grade 1 horse ??
Suppose that like Powerstation he has the grit to run a top race and that will get him into frame most days.
 
Pricewise as a concept simply doesn't work this far ahead of an event. I bet that Segal hates having to do this each year (long odds on).
 
Decent pick. Horse always reserves his best form for Cheltenham and for the first time in his career will go there in a race that gives him his best chance/
 
JESSICA HARRINGTON has revealed that her 2014 Champion Hurdle winner Jezki will make his eagerly anticipated comeback at Navan on Saturday, January 21 as part of his preparation for the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Owned by JP McManus, Jezki has not graced a racecourse since inflicting defeat upon Hurricane Fly in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival in 2015.
The nine-year-old had been intended to return a spell on the sidelines with tendon trouble in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, but Harrington was forced to bypass that engagement after her stable star suffered a minor setback.
Harrington said: "It was disappointing that he had to miss Christmas with a niggly problem, but he did a piece of work last week and we are very happy with him now.
"He's going to have his first start back in a winners' of one race at Navan on Saturday week. The conditions of the race allow him to run and we are looking forward to getting him back."
Despite the open look to the Champion Hurdle at present, Harrington is not tempted to try to regain the two-mile hurdling crown come March, and is intent on running her eight-time Grade 1 winner in the Stayers' Hurdle.
She said: "After Navan, he will probably run at Gowran Park in the Red Mills Hurdle on Saturday, February 18. All going well, he will then be aimed at the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham."
 
The comparisons between Jezki's career, and that of Solwhit, are really quite striking when you think about it.

No real reason why Jezki can't come back, and do what Solwhit did as a 9yo.....though UNWIMH is probably a sterner opponent than anything Solwhit faced in his Stayers Hurdle.
 
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For weeks (since he won first time up this season) I've been feeling a bit smug at taking 6/1 Unowhatimeanharry for the Stayers. I realised last week or the week before that I had in fact decided to hold off pending seeing how the form was working out.

I can't back him at current odds but can't see anything to beat him either so I'll just hope for a bigger price or a special offer on the day, assuming nothing else emerges as a value alternative.
 
My thought process is that JP already has the favourite for the World Hurdle and UNWIMH looks solid, plus he has backup. Whereas a Champion Hurdle without Faugheen and Annie would look very winnable for a horse like Jezki. And you'd think after all those Champion Hurdle battles of the past Jessie would love to go that way if she thought he was still good enough. Yes Yanworth looks like going that way too for JP, but I'm yet to be convinced that two miles is the right option. It's an afterthough given King had previously stated that the World Hurdle would be the target.

Much water to pass under the bridge yet. Only UNWIMH is certain for the World Hurdle, and I reckon both Jezki and Yanworth could go either way depending on the fitness of others and how the races shape up.
 
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