Champion Hurdle 2020

[MTR]

Any idea why the champion and mares is suspended on the exchange? Next lot of entries aren’t till Thursday I thought?

[Quevega]

Any idea why the champion and mares is suspended on the exchange? Next lot of entries aren’t till Thursday I thought?

was today but not released till then.
usually suspended for a couple of days.

[MTR]

was today but not released till then.
usually suspended for a couple of days.

Thanks for the reply appreciated

[ComplyOrDie]

He's arguably unexposed as a 2 mile hurdler, only 6 runs and all at aged 5 or under.

Without the allowances for the mares, Sharjah is probably top rated, but he runs one race as a 160 horse and then the next at 150.
The rest are all low to mid 150's horses as well.
Obviously Supasundae (late for the party) has a high rating too.

Apart from the year off the track, he's actually got a similar profile to the last 150's rated horse to win the Champion, Buveur Dai'r. But in his favour he's shown far more over fences in comparison, in terms of his class at this stage.

Came on to mention Buveur D'airs rating prior to his CH success, not too dissimilar at all to CE.

[Big Bucks]

Skybet have put up Pic Dorhy 10/1

[Kevloaf]

Skybet have put up Pic Dorhy 10/1

That is an awful price.

[Kevloaf]

Cilaos Emery does make some sense as going to a QMCC on the back of a fall against 3 that look superb, and the trainer already has a better shot in the QMCC and Ryanair...




His best piece of form though is beating Melon, away from Cheltenham.

Unexposed, but the 14/1 NRNB I took isn't that appealing.




If they're considering supplementing Cilaos Emery, makes it less likely Benie Des Dieux gets supplemented too?



Has a trainer ever supplemented more than one?

Gotta be Melon surely

[jono]

Also added Cilaos Emery - 2pts at 14/1 NRNB

Like a few people have said anything that joins the market this late in the day, especially a Mullins horse will be shorter than what they should be but it was enough to tempt me in. He needs to win with plenty in hand on Saturday but it's a dire race so I would expect that to be the case. He probably won't ever be much shorter than 7-8/1 i'd guess even with a decent win. Though I imagine there may be a perceived 'first string' view on the horse as Patrick will presumably be staying on on Sharjah.

Now you could say his 165 rating over fences is inflated, primarily because of the also inflated Ballyoisin. But i'm confident to say he's a high 150's chaser. I'd also say I don't think he's been the most natural jumper of a fence. Maybe just experience but I wouldn't say he screamed a natural chaser on the evidence we have seen so far. And it's his talent and class that has actually got him to win his races.
That to me suggests it maybe isn't just a fence that has seen him improve this season. I'm not sure it's going to take much more than a mid 150 performance to win this race. I think he's a better horse than when we saw him in open company over hurdles where he wasn't even that disgraced - sounds ridiculous but his form tied in closely with Mick Jazz, who in turn placed in a better CH than this. And just quoting Mick Jazz shows where this race has taken us down!

If he doesn't quite do the job I may hover over the Stormy Ireland 33/1 with WH. I actually think i'd prefer her between the pair but wouldn't back without NRNB. I can only see them supplementing one so with CE dropping back over hurdles, seems incredibly unlikely.

[charlie]

Sound cases. Cilaos make sense

[Quevega]

Also added Cilaos Emery - 2pts at 14/1 NRNB

Like a few people have said anything that joins the market this late in the day, especially a Mullins horse will be shorter than what they should be but it was enough to tempt me in. He needs to win with plenty in hand on Saturday but it's a dire race so I would expect that to be the case. He probably won't ever be much shorter than 7-8/1 i'd guess even with a decent win. Though I imagine there may be a perceived 'first string' view on the horse as Patrick will presumably be staying on on Sharjah.

Now you could say his 165 rating over fences is inflated, primarily because of the also inflated Ballyoisin. But i'm confident to say he's a high 150's chaser. I'd also say I don't think he's been the most natural jumper of a fence. Maybe just experience but I wouldn't say he screamed a natural chaser on the evidence we have seen so far. And it's his talent and class that has actually got him to win his races.
That to me suggests it maybe isn't just a fence that has seen him improve this season. I'm not sure it's going to take much more than a mid 150 performance to win this race. I think he's a better horse than when we saw him in open company over hurdles where he wasn't even that disgraced - sounds ridiculous but his form tied in closely with Mick Jazz, who in turn placed in a better CH than this. And just quoting Mick Jazz shows where this race has taken us down!

If he doesn't quite do the job I may hover over the Stormy Ireland 33/1 with WH. I actually think i'd prefer her between the pair but wouldn't back without NRNB. I can only see them supplementing one so with CE dropping back over hurdles, seems incredibly unlikely.

They could easily supplement two I reckon. Willie would want to have a right go at this race ideally.
Doubt it would be two mares though.
Stormy Ireland is in a similar position to Cilaos, with very strong opposition likely at Cheltenham.

[ComplyOrDie]

They could easily supplement two I reckon. Willie would want to have a right go at this race ideally.
Doubt it would be two mares though.
Stormy Ireland is in a similar position to Cilaos, with very strong opposition likely at Cheltenham.

I think three, that would have a fair crack anyway, CE, Stormy Ireland and Melon.

Stormy Ireland has obviously stayed over hurdles anyway, and with BDD in the Mares, among others from the yard, I see no reason why she couldn't go from the front over 2m.

CE the case has been made aplenty, so just read previous posts.

Melon, whilst he deserves a crack over fences at a longer trip the fact is over 2m he just isn't good enough over fences, if connections think he is an out and out 2miler then get him back over hurdles, which is what I had mentioned in other threads anyway.

[jack1092]

I think three, that would have a fair crack anyway, CE, Stormy Ireland and Melon.

Stormy Ireland has obviously stayed over hurdles anyway, and with BDD in the Mares, among others from the yard, I see no reason why she couldn't go from the front over 2m.

CE the case has been made aplenty, so just read previous posts.

Melon, whilst he deserves a crack over fences at a longer trip the fact is over 2m he just isn't good enough over fences, if connections think he is an out and out 2miler then get him back over hurdles, which is what I had mentioned in other threads anyway.

Think this is pretty harsh bar his last run he's been fine. I reckon he'll be given a go over fences again in the hope the festival brings out the best in him yet again. Other than that, it's a waste of his novice tag.

[ComplyOrDie]

Think this is pretty harsh bar his last run he's been fine. I reckon he'll be given a go over fences again in the hope the festival brings out the best in him yet again. Other than that, it's a waste of his novice tag.

Maybe he has been fine, but fine won't be good enough come the Arkle. Fact is he was beaten readily in one of the key Arkle trials in Ireland.

Of course, Cheltenham could bring out improvement, as it usually does for him, but I don't think he has looked an out and out 2 mile chaser myself.

[jack1092]

Maybe he has been fine, but fine won't be good enough come the Arkle. Fact is he was beaten readily in one of the key Arkle trials in Ireland.

Of course, Cheltenham could bring out improvement, as it usually does for him, but I don't think he has looked an out and out 2 mile chaser myself.

Of course fine won't be. Just saying "isn't good enough" seems harsh given it's only one performance at a track he's run badly at previously. He's one i wouldn't back, but wouldn't be shocked to see run a big race in an Arkle. It does look turd afterall!

[charlie]

Maybe he has been fine, but fine won't be good enough come the Arkle. Fact is he was beaten readily in one of the key Arkle trials in Ireland.

Of course, Cheltenham could bring out improvement, as it usually does for him, but I don't think he has looked an out and out 2 mile chaser myself.

I'd be inclined to agree re not looking an out and out 2 mile chaser, but at the same time I would be weary writing him off. Whilst his Cheltenham form is always the bridesmaid never the bride, 222 is still very consistent and you could easily argue he goes into the race with a better chance than some subsequent winners, like Duc des Genievres and the horse we don't name. He's 25/1 now and if he goes off 20/1 on the day (providing he goes here) then I will definitely be backing him each way.