2022 Championship Division

[FinalFurlong91]

I do think this Festivals NHC was one of the strongest for a long time and could see Galvin, Escaria Ten and possibly Next Destination progressing to Grade 1 level again season and being Gold Cups contenders. Age is possibly against Next Destination but all three travelled well and finished strongly given the distance.

Id love to see Next Destination in the national

[DenmanSacre]

Echoes in Rain with the change in tactics and she has done that very very well. Interesting one for next year. Looks like we have another good mare.

[SamuelP]

Echoes in Rain with the change in tactics and she has done that very very well. Interesting one for next year. Looks like we have another good mare.

That looked seriously good. Was scrambling around to see if priced up anywhere for next year but couldn't find anything

[FinalFurlong91]

Problem is I'd very much doubt she wants the trip for the mares hurdle and shed need to improve a good bit to bet to champion hurdle territory

but as a 5yo that is possible I suppose

wouldn't be surprised if she ended up in the county hurdle and potentially for a new owner as they will surely get some huge offers now

[Craigy14]

Is it just me or can anyone else see Ferny Hollow staying over hurdles with the champion hurdle in mind? I don’t recall any quotes coming out as yet because he’s injured.

If staying over hurdles I can potentially see WPM following a similar path as Saint Roi. Start off in the Grade 3, seen as he has little hurdle experience, then up into Grade 1 company.

Problem is, with the boost of form due to Bob O, his price is plenty skinny enough for a horse that’s ran once over obstacles.

Given how good he did look he could be a serious contender imo.

[Ice]

Is it just me or can anyone else see Ferny Hollow staying over hurdles with the champion hurdle in mind? I don’t recall any quotes coming out as yet because he’s injured.

If staying over hurdles I can potentially see WPM following a similar path as Saint Roi. Start off in the Grade 3, seen as he has little hurdle experience, then up into Grade 1 company.

Problem is, with the boost of form due to Bob O, his price is plenty skinny enough for a horse that’s ran once over obstacles.

Given how good he did look he could be a serious contender imo.

Yeah, he could hardly have had 2 better form boosts, to be fair.

[Rigga]

Echoes in rain now priced up short as 10s (mostly 8s) for mares hurdle
Value gone...

25s for CH

i know she was a horse mentioned very early on a couple of years ago ante post

[Ice]

Echoes in rain now priced up short as 10s (mostly 8s) for mares hurdle
Value gone...

25s for CH

i know she was a horse mentioned very early on a couple of years ago ante post

8/1 any race with sky.

[Lobos]

Echoes in rain now priced up short as 10s (mostly 8s) for mares hurdle
Value gone...

25s for CH

i know she was a horse mentioned very early on a couple of years ago ante post

Telmesomethinggirl backed in to 9's from 12's today with B365. Probably on the back of that Heaven Help Us race which produced yet another winner today in Botani (10/1) after Lady Breffni yesterday and the 3 winners at Cheltenham.

[FinalFurlong91]

Echoes in rain now priced up short as 10s (mostly 8s) for mares hurdle
Value gone...

25s for CH

i know she was a horse mentioned very early on a couple of years ago ante post

Surely echoes in rain won't stay 2m4f anyway she looks a 2 miler

wouldnt touch her personally for the mares hurdle

[Spectre]

Is it just me or can anyone else see Ferny Hollow staying over hurdles with the champion hurdle in mind? I don’t recall any quotes coming out as yet because he’s injured.

If staying over hurdles I can potentially see WPM following a similar path as Saint Roi. Start off in the Grade 3, seen as he has little hurdle experience, then up into Grade 1 company.

Problem is, with the boost of form due to Bob O, his price is plenty skinny enough for a horse that’s ran once over obstacles.

Given how good he did look he could be a serious contender imo.

I'd be surprised if he didn't keep Ferny Hollow over hurdles Craig.

He has no need to send both him and Appreciate It to the Arkle, and he already has a heap of horses for the Marsh and RSA.

If Willie is going to have a realistic contender in the Champion Hurdle next season he either keeps Appreciate It or Ferny Hollow over hurdles, and you'd think Ferny is the quicker of the two. Plus given his time off hurdles are the safer option. Also for Appreciate It chasing is now or never given he'll be 8 next Festival, whereas Ferny is a year younger and can easily go novice chasing next season if it doesn't work out in the Champion Hurdle.

Logic doesn't always decide these matters, but using it would suggest that Ferny Hollow is the one they'd keep over hurdles this season, and Appreciate It goes chasing. AI would end up in no mans land if he proves not to be good enough for the Champion Hurdle, and his chase champaign is delayed until he's 9.

[Craigy14]

I'd be surprised if he didn't keep Ferny Hollow over hurdles Craig.

He has no need to send both him and Appreciate It to the Arkle, and he already has a heap of horses for the Marsh and RSA.

If Willie is going to have a realistic contender in the Champion Hurdle next season he either keeps Appreciate It or Ferny Hollow over hurdles, and you'd think Ferny is the quicker of the two. Plus given his time off hurdles are the safer option. Also for Appreciate It chasing is now or never given he'll be 8 next Festival, whereas Ferny is a year younger and can easily go novice chasing next season if it doesn't work out in the Champion Hurdle.

Logic doesn't always decide these matters, but using it would suggest that Ferny Hollow is the one they'd keep over hurdles this season, and Appreciate It goes chasing. AI would end up in no mans land if he proves not to be good enough for the Champion Hurdle, and his chase champaign is delayed until he's 9.

That’s how I’d see it with Appreciate It as well.

And Ferny Hollow for that matter as you say so little hurdle experience could potentially be risky to go chasing given the injury he has had as well (pelvic I believe).

I’m hoping he’ll be fit enough to run at Punchestown and show what he’s got upped in class. As the champion bumper winner and the form boosts, he clearly has so much room to become a proper Grade 1 hurdler imo.

One for the free bets for me as it is fairly short but no harm to the bank if he’s not kept over hurdles.

[Lobos]

If Mullins is to have a realistic challenger to Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle then he'll need to be sending a Mare down that route IMO. My guess would be that Concertista will start off as his number 1 over 2 miles . For me she didn't quite see out the 2 1/2 miles at Cheltenham and I'd rather look at her Novice Mares win where she showed electrifying pace from the last to spread eagle them. I don't see any gelding giving 7lbs and a beating to Honey. Shewearsitwell has also been mentioned as a possible Churdle horse and that could happen but I see her more as a replacement for Concertista in the Mares Hurdle. It works for me ! As for Ferney, I wouldn't like to say what they'll do with him. We'll just need to see how he starts off next season after his injury before making any decisions.

[Ice]

That’s how I’d see it with Appreciate It as well.

And Ferny Hollow for that matter as you say so little hurdle experience could potentially be risky to go chasing given the injury he has had as well (pelvic I believe).

I’m hoping he’ll be fit enough to run at Punchestown and show what he’s got upped in class. As the champion bumper winner and the form boosts, he clearly has so much room to become a proper Grade 1 hurdler imo.

One for the free bets for me as it is fairly short but no harm to the bank if he’s not kept over hurdles.

I think i read ferny wasn't going to be ready for punchestown. I agree he could be one for free bets, at least until we here more about his wellbeing and targets.

[Quevega]

Concertista won the mares novice by outstaying the others not by being overly speedy. She benefited from being well off the pace in a race where they went too fast.
She looks obviously short of champion hurdle class to me and I suspect Willie sees this also.
She has less improvement potential than others he has.
shewearsitwell & echoesinrain are interesting.

echoes was one I liked very much for the mares novice this year but she needed to learn to settle.
her last 2 wins were very impressive and running against boys with penalties is also a clue to where Willie thinks she may end up IMO

she may put a proper mark down at punchestown.
I think he may run her in the herald against appreciate it unless he goes for the champion novices over further