Weakest Favourite at Cheltenham

Me and the whole of Cheltenham Tan, just can't have him after he bled at Ascot, this is going to be so much tougher.
 
Diamond Geezer said:
Me and the whole of Cheltenham Tan, just can't have him after he bled at Ascot, this is going to be so much tougher.
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Although Hayley from Ladbrokes said he needed to find 27lbs to win, not sure what she was on to be honest!
Douvan, simply because Cue Card/Dunguib/MTOY had already achieved more and all got beat. Zarkander, it was like the reincarnation of Harchihound at Ascot. Don Cossack, needs to go right handed and wants soft ground.
 
Just going back to my comment about Faugheen, no disrespect was meant. I am assessing this race on the now, not what has gone. HF at his peak was also in a different league. People who snipe about his previous wins are talking shite.

He's 11 now though Grassy and I don't believe he'll run within a stone of his best on Tuesday. Couple that with my opinion that in Faugheen we are looking at something quite special I stand by my comment.
 
TheBear said:
Just going back to my comment about Faugheen, no disrespect was meant. I am assessing this race on the now, not what has gone. HF at his peak was also in a different league. People who snipe about his previous wins are talking shite.

He's 11 now though Grassy and I don't believe he'll run within a stone of his best on Tuesday. Couple that with my opinion that in Faugheen we are looking at something quite special I stand by my comment.
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No worries, Bear.

i've always said I'd be a stout defender of The Fly's legacy (mainly due to eejits like Hamm having access to the Internet), but I will concede he has it all to do at 11yo, against a horse who keeps doing everything right, and who hasn't been troubled to run to a very smart level of form already.

I'd like a fairytale ending, but don't expect one.
 
Tanlic said:
Zarkandar........horse has never won a 3 mile true run race in his life. He does not stay 3 miles and will not win
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He may be a false jolly but I reckon he has his chance. 4th in last year's race (which was a stronger renewal) with "kept on near finish" and idled in front at Ascot rather than being a non-stayer IMO.If T-D was on his back I'd probably give him no chance but Fehily a positive
 
The thing that Faugheen has over the rest is that he looks so uncomplicated. Travel better than everything and run away from them. It has been very simple so far.

Jezki needs cheltenham, Hurricane Fly needs to show his best at Cheltenham, The New One needs things to fall his way. Its not rocket science to see Faugheen sit third in the race and move clear on the turn for home.
Its not unreasonable to think that he is a few pounds clear of all these. Im guessing that Ruby Walsh thinks he is.
 
The one I'm most keen to oppose is Black Hercules. He's only at the head of the market because of who trains him.
 
Grasshopper said:
To be fair to Hamm, he only started with this nonsense after Solwhit made a mockery of his "155 horse" positon, which he'd been using to hold down The Fly's form. And now, apparently, a horse who has won 2 x Champion Hurdles, 5 x Irish Champion Hurdles and 22 Grade 1's in total can be mocked for not achieving 'legendary' status.

He needs a smaller shovel......and a bigger brain.
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I know this is hard for you to understand and separate the 2 given your limited intellect but I was talking about his Cheltenham form. Try to read what is written in future.
 
How can the word "legend' refer only to his Cheltenham form, when it explicitly relates to an entire oevre?

Make yourself clearer next time.

PS. Have a look at post #488 in the 2011 Champion Hurdle, where you describe the race as "savage". We're all entitled to revise our opinion, of course, but at face value, you appear to have modulated your enthusiasm for that race, only because Hurricane Fly won it. Going in, you thought Peddlers Cross was out the top-drawer. Coming out, you appear to think he is useless - based, presumably, on what he then went on to show over fences.

Seems a rather stupid way of assessing the form - though with my limited intellect, I could have this very wrong. ;)
 
EC1 said:
you could say the same about Istabraq..theatreworld?
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You could if you were mentally insane.

Hurricane Fly has been a terrific Champion having won 2. How anyone can say he's not as good at Cheltenham is beyond me.

The great Sea Pigeon how many did he win how many did he lose?

Comedy of Errors a brilliant horse won 2 but lost in at least 1

Persian War despite have won the Sweeps hurdle that season lost to Bula

Rock on Ruby won then lost the next year.

Sure you can make excuses why these hoses won or why they lost but why not accept the reasons why Hurricane Fly has lost a couple?

Winning a Champion Hurdle is not as simple as just turning up. You must go there 110% just to run in it and then you need everything to go your way.

I'm in Faugheen's camp because he's young and looks the part but on form you can't possibly know if he is up to winning a Champion Hurdle or not.

If he fails and he could very easily this race becomes wide open and the horse with the best form in the book is Hurricane Fly.

Only an idiot would say Cheltenham doesn't suit him he's too old he can't win.

I have said Jezki is a place lay.............that's an opinion based on Faugheen winning by a street length...He messes up like The Fly he could easily win.

There are 4 horses in the race all capable of winning a Champion Hurdle and maybe even a 5th.....none are without a chance
 
I've always said his Cheltenham form is not always his best form. He routinely used to perform better at the Punchestown Festival, imo.
 
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