2022 Championship Division

[Spectre]

Of course, but I wonder why they would have tried a NH campaign if that was in their thoughts and she ran against all the top mares (novices) in that campaign.
She has been on the go for a long time with 15 runs in the last twelve months and she's certainly due a break, maybe the breeding shed is that break as you suggest...

It would be useful to get some black type first, and given her profile that's more likely over hurdles you'd think.

[Spectre]

On a slightly different note do any of you guys have an idea of anything that could give Elimay a race next season? There has to be some value in the Mares Chase market, but for the life of me I can't figure out what it is.

[Lbur4288]

On a slightly different note do any of you guys have an idea of anything that could give Elimay a race next season? There has to be some value in the Mares Chase market, but for the life of me I can't figure out what it is.

Not one I've got involved with yet but I have been looking at Gin on Lime which is a Robcour/HDB horse and won fairly effortlessly last time out. Its hard to gauge how good she is given the races she been in but I do want to take Elimay on and this one is a nice price. Has a tendency to jump left handed sometimes which obviously is better than jumping right handed at Cheltenham. Hopefully I get to see some more impressive displays in better races in the near future.

[Spectre]

I'd looked at her and Scarlett and Dove as possible improvers. They ran in the same mares beginners behind Yukon Lil who I'm not sure is good enough, but both do seem to have improved for a step up in trip. On cross-form Elimay appears to have plenty in hand, but both have plenty of scope for improvement in a division where it's hard to make a case for anything really. 25/1 and 20/1 respectively is probably fair enough at this stage.

It wouldn't be a surprise if a horse or two place in this that was currently unquoted. Court Maid for example. Her form over two and half miles wouldn't be out of place in this if they were so minded. Any thought on any other mares that could come here.

[Istabraq]

On a slightly different note do any of you guys have an idea of anything that could give Elimay a race next season? There has to be some value in the Mares Chase market, but for the life of me I can't figure out what it is.

I think they’re might be one or two smart horses that come from the mares novice hurdle, if any of them go chasing they would be runners, but I’ve not done any work of whether that is the intention.
Royal Kahala would be the one I’d most like to see jump a fence but I’ve no idea how serious her Cheltenham injury was and if she has recovered…

[Saxon Warrior]

Of course, but I wonder why they would have tried a NH campaign if that was in their thoughts and she ran against all the top mares (novices) in that campaign.
She has been on the go for a long time with 15 runs in the last twelve months and she's certainly due a break, maybe the breeding shed is that break as you suggest...

Yes, that's what I'm thinking.

If she was to have been committed to hurdling again next season I think she would have had a break through the spring and summer.

But she's being ran too often for that IMHO.

[Saxon Warrior]

I'd looked at her and Scarlett and Dove as possible improvers. They ran in the same mares beginners behind Yukon Lil who I'm not sure is good enough, but both do seem to have improved for a step up in trip. On cross-form Elimay appears to have plenty in hand, but both have plenty of scope for improvement in a division where it's hard to make a case for anything really. 25/1 and 20/1 respectively is probably fair enough at this stage.

It wouldn't be a surprise if a horse or two place in this that was currently unquoted. Court Maid for example. Her form over two and half miles wouldn't be out of place in this if they were so minded. Any thought on any other mares that could come here.

Very small numbers of quality Mares seemed to move into Mares Novice Chases last season.

Which makes the step into taking on Elimay in an Open Mares Grade 2 at Cheltenham more difficult.

Colreevy became head and shoulders the best Mares Novice last year and she just beat Elimay at the Festival.

Mount Ida was good - but over further.

It would take a new Mares Novice to be as good as Colreevy, in just a few runs, to be at Elimay's level next March.

[That Horse]

Concertista though impressive last season, never got Willie so excited, or willing to take on the boys, so I am happy to leave her alone for now.

Nothing like an excited Willie to be fair

[Craigy14]

I know she’s fairly short at 12/1 but is Gauloise not on anyone’s radar?

Think everyone was disappointed in her mares novice run, WPM certainly was.

She bounced back really well to finish second over the mares trip in the Grade 1 at Fairyhouse just over 2 weeks later. Then went on to win the listed race at Punchestown easily.

She obviously needs to improve as do all the novices but certainly not out of the question imo. I’d be happy to forgive the track performance if the price was bigger but is the issue for me at this stage. Sure she was 20’s or bigger before Punchestown, just shows you the cuts in prices!

[Istabraq]

I know she’s fairly short at 12/1 but is Gauloise not on anyone’s radar?

She obviously needs to improve as do all the novices but certainly not out of the question imo. I’d be happy to forgive the track performance!

Broken record time but the Mares hurdle is on the Old Course so entirely feasible horses who disappoint in the novice race perform much better on a track that requires a very different skillset…

[Fouroverthrutwo]

Broken record time but the Mares hurdle is on the Old Course so entirely feasible horses who disappoint in the novice race perform much better on a track that requires a very different skillset…

Willie also suggests that Gauloise is crying out for another half mile so maybe an improved performance come March 2022??

[Saxon Warrior]

I know she’s fairly short at 12/1 but is Gauloise not on anyone’s radar?

Think everyone was disappointed in her mares novice run, WPM certainly was.

She bounced back really well to finish second over the mares trip in the Grade 1 at Fairyhouse just over 2 weeks later. Then went on to win the listed race at Punchestown easily.

She obviously needs to improve as do all the novices but certainly not out of the question imo. I’d be happy to forgive the track performance if the price was bigger but is the issue for me at this stage. Sure she was 20’s or bigger before Punchestown, just shows you the cuts in prices!

Absolutely.

I'm full of Gauloise already.

Again, Willie seems to rate her, and he was pleased, at Punchestown, to finally see her running close to what they think she can on the track, for the first time.

She is going to relish a second season and a step up in trip.

She was the first horse I backed for the Mares Hurdle at 33s and 25s, and I am hoping to be clutching those tickets on a live chance when she runs on Day 1 next March.

Her best RPR is 144. (after 6 hurdle runs)
Shewearsitwell's best is 147 (after 2 runs)

Telmesomethinggirl's best RPR is 143 at Cheltenham (after 10 runs over 2 seasons)

So they are all pretty similar, and close to where Concertista started off at the start of last season (RPR 147).

They are all live ones to be the new faces of the division if they improve just a little more, in their 2nd season.

After all Black Tears started the Mares Hurdle in February with a best RPR of 147, and won the race, and she had ran in 16 hurdle races to get that figure.

Gauloise and SWIW have much less experience, and could easily improve sufficiently to be involved.

[billymag]

If your looking to forgive Concertistas run at Punchestown worth noting the first time tongue tie she wore as I understand she will be having a wind operation before the start of the season.

[Saxon Warrior]

If your looking to forgive Concertistas run at Punchestown worth noting the first time tongue tie she wore as I understand she will be having a wind operation before the start of the season.

Concertista is plenty good enough to be backed to win a Mares Hurdle.

A best RPP of 154 (twice).

She has had less runs over Hurdles than Telmesomethinggirl. (9 c/w 10).

Her first hurdles run ever was when beaten a ShHd in the Cheltenham Mares Novice Hurdle.

She then won that race the next year, by a street, and followed that with 2nd in the Mares Hurdle by a head.

Theres not many (any?) horse in training that have ran at the last three Festivals who have won, or been beaten less than a Head, 3 times.

Be good if the wind-op works.

They don't declare this in Ireland, to the authorities, do they? Which seems well behind the curve of punters expectations.

[Lobos]

Personally think Willie will try Concertista back over 2 miles this year . Her Novice Mares win over the minimum distance was as spectacular a performance as you are likely to see and the acceleration she showed that day up the hill screams Champion Hurdle to me. I thought they were 'trying' to make her a Mares Hurdle horse last season and she never looked comfortable over that trip to me. She was outstayed by Black Tears and I don't see her going for the race again especially with Willie having the likes of SWIW and others to run in the race. For me, Concertista and Echoes In Rain will end up being Willie's Champion Hurdle hopes to take on Honeysuckle without having to give her 7lbs . It'll be interesting where all these decent Mares are started off. There are lots of them !!