2015 Champion Hurdle

[loveracing]

I dont think it diminishes Faugheen's chances the fact he hasnt run since Dec.Top horses can defy stats and this horse has done everything asked of him so far.Also hes an up and coming horse with plenty time to win Irish champion hurdle races in the future and its usuall Mullins policy to keep his top notchers apart until he has to race them against each other.This is the acid for Faugheen and we'll see if this horse is indeed the real deal, this has to be the race of the festival.

Hit the nail on the head there with all points.

[loveracing]

Harrington wary of Faugheen

Jessica Harrington rates Willie Mullins' young pretender Faugheen as the biggest threat to Jezki in the Champion Hurdle.

Jezki enjoyed his finest hour at the Festival last year and followed up with victory over Hurricane Fly at Punchestown later that spring.

However, his old adversary has got the better of Jezki in three meetings so far this season and he, too, will represent Mullins in the Champion again.

But it is the unbeaten seven-year-old Faugheen who is hot favourite to take the title away from Jezki.

"I have no hesitation in saying Faugheen is the biggest danger," she said at a press day at her County Kildare stables.

"He's beaten what's been served up to him in England and I just think he's the unknown quantity. We still have Hurricane Fly, and I know Willie still loves Hurricane Fly to death, but Faugheen is the unknown quantity. Jezki came out of Leopardstown well and he is going to work on Friday morning on the grass. We're on schedule at the moment and, touching all wood, everything is going according to plan."

Jezki was guided to last year's Champion Hurdle triumph by Barry Geraghty, with Tony McCoy siding with the narrow runner-up My Tent Or Yours for retaining owner JP McManus.

Geraghty is five from five on the seven-year-old, while McCoy has steered him to just three victories from seven starts.

But McCoy will almost certainly be on board at Prestbury Park on March 10 and Harrington is perfectly happy with the situation.

Asked whether connections had discussed the possibility of Geraghty getting back on board, the trainer said: "No. It's never come up and I wouldn't even ask the question.

"AP is JP's jockey and he has first choice of what he wants to ride. If the horse is good enough, it doesn't matter who the jockey is. The horse has got to be good enough on the day."

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Harrington admitted being amazed by Hurricane Fly this season and believes it would not be the biggest shock in the world if he won a third Champion Hurdle at the age of 11.

"I have been (surprised by Hurricane Fly). I must say when he appeared in the Morgiana I thought he looked as fit as a flea and ready to go," she said.

"Willie has said that he's had him in a better place this year than he has had him probably ever. It would be no surprise to me if he did go and win another Champion Hurdle. It would be a great feat of training. Faugheen is the young horse coming up and you always fear the younger ones rather than the older ones.

"You don't know how good they are, and what we've seen him do has been very good. You could argue he hasn't beaten anything, but he could only do it as well as he could."

Jezki was fitted with a hood for the first time in last season's Champion Hurdle and has worn it on each of his four subsequent starts since.

Harrington is not planning to another change of headgear for his title defence.

She said: "I think he's more settled this year and it does help him, the hood. He settled well the last day in Leopardstown and he's settled now at home, which is great.

"I haven't thought about it (using different headgear), but I can always change my mind, I'm a woman!"

[Thomas Shelby]

Jezki will take all the beating.

He has is a worthy Champ.

Having said that he has his hands full with The New One and Faugheen. I think the New One can win but he needs a trouble free round. Any 4 faults and it is over.

[MrMcGoldrick]

Jezki will take all the beating.

He has is a worthy Champ.

Having said that he has his hands full with The New One and Faugheen. I think the New One can win but he needs a trouble free round. Any 4 faults and it is over.

I don't think the record of returning champs is great though in this race, and being beaten three times by the Fly this season doesn't bode well, however it won't be the first time a horse has his first win of the season at Chelters.

[loveracing]

I don't think the record of returning champs is great though in this race, and being beaten three times by the Fly this season doesn't bode well, however it won't be the first time a horse has his first win of the season at Chelters.

Its similar form to last season when he got beat twice by The Fly on the road to Fest. He will prefer the track and spring ground for sure.

[MrMcGoldrick]

Its similar form to last season when he got beat twice by The Fly on the road to Fest. He will prefer the track and spring ground for sure.

Jezki doesn't look like quite the same horse this year to me, he seems to be lacking his finishing kick, maybe it's the ground, as you say. I've had a few quid saver on the Fly, even though I'm up to the gonads on Faugheen, I fancy HF to at least get a place this year, and I wouldn't be surprised if he won, there certainly isn't a jumper in the field to match him in my view.

[Mytentoryours]

I agree with all that . I suppose one point that I think maybe Hoof made in a stronger way than me is that Willie passed up on two opportunities in Ireland because he wanted to avoid Hurricane Fly. Was that for Faugheens benefit ? If the horse was in any other yard he would have taken his chance. Is Jezkis chance reduced because of the races against the Fly ?

Yep your right with that point. No I don't think it was to Faugheen's benefit missing the race. Only potential weakness I can see with the horse though is the jumping. I think Ruby will try and sit him handy or make it to ensure he gets a good luck at his hurdles. I don't think I have ever seen a horse (admittedly I'm a youngish race fan) with so much natural ability.

[Thomas Shelby]

Jezki is a Spring horse.

The Fly is at his best in December.

[MrMcGoldrick]

Jezki is a Spring horse.

The Fly is at his best in December.

He's won this twice, so he can do it in March too, he would be helped by a bit of cut in the ground, plus he's 11 so stats against him as well, but I wouldn't be ruling him out, all the main runners have some negatives, I would say fuagheen and the Fly have the fewest

[loveracing]

He's won this twice, so he can do it in March too, he would be helped by a bit of cut in the ground, plus he's 11 so stats against him as well, but I wouldn't be ruling him out, all the main runners have some negatives, I would say fuagheen and the Fly have the fewest

I think Flys negatives are the most negative, can't get worse than age and ground. Lets hope we get some rain in March!

[MrMcGoldrick]

I think Flys negatives are the most negative, can't get worse than age and ground. Lets hope we get some rain in March!

Yep a bit of rain would help, I don't think it will hinder Fuagheen either though, would defo be a negative for Jezki, I think Hurricane Fly though is one of those horses that creates as much disbelief in many folk as belief. This idea that he is an early season horse just doesn't stack up, he's won grade ones in November, December, January, March and April, I don't think they were all on soft ground, he just has his off days like everyone, just not as many as most

[loveracing]

Yep a bit of rain would help, I don't think it will hinder Fuagheen either though, would defo be a negative for Jezki, I think Hurricane Fly though is one of those horses that creates as much disbelief in many folk as belief. This idea that he is an early season horse just doesn't stack up, he's won grade ones in November, December, January, March and April, I don't think they were all on soft ground, he just has his off days like everyone, just not as many as most

Yes, last years CH I think was an off day.

But hey, it must be good for him these days with no pressure and now the underdog. Not that he knows what we are saying. lol

[MrMcGoldrick]

Yes, last years CH I think was an off day.

But hey, it must be good for him these days with no pressure and now the underdog. Not that he knows what we are saying. lol

Very true, but he also doesn't know how old he is, I know it's a big ask but I really think he could be thereabouts, I'm just hoping he doesn't do an Istabraq and get pulled up

[Sefton]

Does anyone think The New One will win ?

[MrMcGoldrick]

Does anyone think The New One will win ?

Nigel Twiston-Davies does, and he knows the horse better than anyone