2022 Champion Hurdle

[Gloria Victis]

GV,
Was thinking the very same. Where else can they go??

Dr Wu, nowhere else for him really is there? Supposed to be going to the Bula next month. Part of my reasoning was that plenty that are in the market above him are unlikely runners.

[Istabraq]

Serious curve ball this one but having considered Edwardstone for the Arkle this season I wondered whether if they revert back to hurdles, as they did last year, whether he'd come here with a chance. He jumped very well at Warwick last time until he was brought down but maybe he's one mistake away from reverting back to timber.
Last season he made his chase debut at Doncaster, unseated early and went back to hurdling where he carried big weights in top handicaps (notably finishing ahead of Third Time Lucki in the County giving that one 5lb), his hurdle mark of 149 doesn't scream potential Champion Hurdle winner especially for what would be a third season hurdler but I think he's an improved horse.
I can't see Edwardstone priced up anywhere but he may well get a quote of around 100/1 for this even if the race is mentioned as a target, all the while Honeysuckle is around the win part of that bet is dead but I'd be happy with a few each way vouchers and in multis.
Curve ball but one I will keep an eye out for....

[doctorwu]

Dr Wu, nowhere else for him really is there? Supposed to be going to the Bula next month. Part of my reasoning was that plenty that are in the market above him are unlikely runners.

Fully concur. They certainly think a lot of Adagio to put him in the Greatwood with that mark. He's a decent ew shout @40s looking likely that the race will cut-up badly.

[jonthehammer]

Serious curve ball this one but having considered Edwardstone for the Arkle this season I wondered whether if they revert back to hurdles, as they did last year, whether he'd come here with a chance. He jumped very well at Warwick last time until he was brought down but maybe he's one mistake away from reverting back to timber.
Last season he made his chase debut at Doncaster, unseated early and went back to hurdling where he carried big weights in top handicaps (notably finishing ahead of Third Time Lucki in the County giving that one 5lb), his hurdle mark of 149 doesn't scream potential Champion Hurdle winner especially for what would be a third season hurdler but I think he's an improved horse.
I can't see Edwardstone priced up anywhere but he may well get a quote of around 100/1 for this even if the race is mentioned as a target, all the while Honeysuckle is around the win part of that bet is dead but I'd be happy with a few each way vouchers and in multis.
Curve ball but one I will keep an eye out for....

With him winning a chase today, do you think that rules this out Ista? Maybe a 'wait and see' next time perhaps now

[Istabraq]

With him winning a chase today, do you think that rules this out Ista? Maybe a 'wait and see' next time perhaps now

Yeah I think so, he jumped well on the whole so no reason to return to timber.
It was the fact he had one go last year, unseated, and they immediately abandoned a chase career, I thought possibly they’d do the same if he didn’t take to fences this season, I think he now has the potential as an Arkle wild card…

[ComplyOrDie]

I'm just wondering, the longer we go without seeing Ferny Hollow whether there is a real possibility that he comes here, especially after see Echoes In Rain falter in the Morgiana, and we know Sharjah is held by Honeysuckle on more than one occasion they've met.

He said Concertista is going chasing, but then again he said that about Ferny Hollow I guess, the difference being that Concertista was held by Black Tears in the Mares and has a whole lot more racing experience over hurdles than Ferny Hollow, whereas the latter is still lightly raced, and the potential to go novice chasing aged 8 (the following season) is not that hard to envisage at all.

What else does he realistically have? Saldier, who I'm keen on in the right conditions, but Willie has barely relied on one half decent option in the race. It could be that Echoes In Rain improves a fair bit next time, if one man can make it happen it is Willie, lets be honest, but I wouldn't be totally convinced at this stage. French Aseel is out for the season by the sounds of it., so he's another who won't make it.

Can anyone else throw any others out there that could potentially make into a Champion Hurdle contender for Willie? Because I'm struggling, with the exception of Ferny Hollow.

[MadeinJapan]

I'm just wondering, the longer we go without seeing Ferny Hollow whether there is a real possibility that he comes here, especially after see Echoes In Rain falter in the Morgiana, and we know Sharjah is held by Honeysuckle on more than one occasion they've met.

He said Concertista is going chasing, but then again he said that about Ferny Hollow I guess, the difference being that Concertista was held by Black Tears in the Mares and has a whole lot more racing experience over hurdles than Ferny Hollow, whereas the latter is still lightly raced, and the potential to go novice chasing aged 8 (the following season) is not that hard to envisage at all.

What else does he realistically have? Saldier, who I'm keen on in the right conditions, but Willie has barely relied on one half decent option in the race. It could be that Echoes In Rain improves a fair bit next time, if one man can make it happen it is Willie, lets be honest, but I wouldn't be totally convinced at this stage. French Aseel is out for the season by the sounds of it., so he's another who won't make it.

Can anyone else throw any others out there that could potentially make into a Champion Hurdle contender for Willie? Because I'm struggling, with the exception of Ferny Hollow.

Blue Lord's the other fly in the ointment if he doesn't take to fences - he ran a good race in the Supreme last year pulling well clear of the pack with Appreciate It before coming down at the last when 6 lengths down. As you've stated, the limitations seemingly with Concertista being held, I think he'd be the Munir/Souede runner here. He takes to fences however & he's a live one for either the Arkle or Marsh seeming as JDB is out for the season for them. I've covered Blue Lord for this already in case this scenarios pans out... 33s widely still.

[Odin]

I'm just wondering, the longer we go without seeing Ferny Hollow whether there is a real possibility that he comes here, especially after see Echoes In Rain falter in the Morgiana, and we know Sharjah is held by Honeysuckle on more than one occasion they've met.

He said Concertista is going chasing, but then again he said that about Ferny Hollow I guess, the difference being that Concertista was held by Black Tears in the Mares and has a whole lot more racing experience over hurdles than Ferny Hollow, whereas the latter is still lightly raced, and the potential to go novice chasing aged 8 (the following season) is not that hard to envisage at all.

What else does he realistically have? Saldier, who I'm keen on in the right conditions, but Willie has barely relied on one half decent option in the race. It could be that Echoes In Rain improves a fair bit next time, if one man can make it happen it is Willie, lets be honest, but I wouldn't be totally convinced at this stage. French Aseel is out for the season by the sounds of it., so he's another who won't make it.

Can anyone else throw any others out there that could potentially make into a Champion Hurdle contender for Willie? Because I'm struggling, with the exception of Ferny Hollow.

Not saying it won't happen, but surely an easy season novice chasing (if it comes to that) is better for him than straight into open age Champion Hurdle based on the number of runs he's had? (i.e. taking any injury factor out of it)

[PresentingPercy]

I'm just wondering, the longer we go without seeing Ferny Hollow whether there is a real possibility that he comes here, especially after see Echoes In Rain falter in the Morgiana, and we know Sharjah is held by Honeysuckle on more than one occasion they've met.

He said Concertista is going chasing, but then again he said that about Ferny Hollow I guess, the difference being that Concertista was held by Black Tears in the Mares and has a whole lot more racing experience over hurdles than Ferny Hollow, whereas the latter is still lightly raced, and the potential to go novice chasing aged 8 (the following season) is not that hard to envisage at all.

What else does he realistically have? Saldier, who I'm keen on in the right conditions, but Willie has barely relied on one half decent option in the race. It could be that Echoes In Rain improves a fair bit next time, if one man can make it happen it is Willie, lets be honest, but I wouldn't be totally convinced at this stage. French Aseel is out for the season by the sounds of it., so he's another who won't make it.

Can anyone else throw any others out there that could potentially make into a Champion Hurdle contender for Willie? Because I'm struggling, with the exception of Ferny Hollow.

Unless they move Klassical Dream back to 2 miles, there's nothing really there to threaten Honey. Saldier possibly improves but there is a lot of improvement needed.

[Exar Essay]

Can anyone else throw any others out there that could potentially make into a Champion Hurdle contender for Willie? Because I'm struggling, with the exception of Ferny Hollow.

The only others I've thought about being rerouted here is Haut en Coleurs (but as a five year old, that's unlikely to fly) and Shewearsitwell (who would be interesting but has had a long lay off).

Willie also has a good group of novice chasers this year, so could plug a Ferny shaped hole in the Marsh (assuming he were going there) with GDM, Blue Lord, Saint Roi etc. Probably not as much potential in those horses, but capable of winning should something happen to Bob.

[ComplyOrDie]

Blue Lord's the other fly in the ointment if he doesn't take to fences - he ran a good race in the Supreme last year pulling well clear of the pack with Appreciate It before coming down at the last when 6 lengths down. As you've stated, the limitations seemingly with Concertista being held, I think he'd be the Munir/Souede runner here. He takes to fences however & he's a live one for either the Arkle or Marsh seeming as JDB is out for the season for them. I've covered Blue Lord for this already in case this scenarios pans out... 33s widely still.

Yeah, I briefly looked at Blue Lord, but he was always considered a chaser, even before his hurdling campaign started, so I think he'll be one for fences and can actually see him running in the Marsh, myself, now that James Du Berlais is out.

[ComplyOrDie]

Not saying it won't happen, but surely an easy season novice chasing (if it comes to that) is better for him than straight into open age Champion Hurdle based on the number of runs he's had? (i.e. taking any injury factor out of it)

I'm more thinking from an experience stand point. One run over any obstacle in public so far, and I'd say Willie has plenty more novice chasing options this year than potential Champion Hurdle options.

[ComplyOrDie]

Unless they move Klassical Dream back to 2 miles, there's nothing really there to threaten Honey. Saldier possibly improves but there is a lot of improvement needed.

I'd say there is almost definitely more chance of Ferny Hollow going to the Champion Hurdle than Klassical Dream going back down in trip now TBH.

The only others I've thought about being rerouted here is Haut en Coleurs (but as a five year old, that's unlikely to fly) and Shewearsitwell (who would be interesting but has had a long lay off).

Willie also has a good group of novice chasers this year, so could plug a Ferny shaped hole in the Marsh (assuming he were going there) with GDM, Blue Lord, Saint Roi etc. Probably not as much potential in those horses, but capable of winning should something happen to Bob.

Yeah, as you've noted about Haut en Coleurs, being a five year probably isn't ideal, could still run in the race of course, but I'd imagine he's probably behind the likes of Echoes In Rain etc... who has already been well beat. I'm hoping Shewearsitwell ends up in the Mares Hurdle too

[Lobos]

I'd say Shewearsitwell is the only one of Mullins that may step up as she gets the all important 7lbs but she does have it to prove as well. No gelding will beat Honey if she is in similar form and Willie knows that. Even his best Mare Benie saw her backside. He might just have to take it on the chin for at least another season and hope the Queen doesn't turn up in 2023.

[Run4Home]

Not saying it won't happen, but surely an easy season novice chasing (if it comes to that) is better for him than straight into open age Champion Hurdle based on the number of runs he's had? (i.e. taking any injury factor out of it)

Yes exactly this, the best horses he has like Ferny & Appreciate It for progression is to go into Novice company not go into open company after Honey. Both were always penned as chasers not hurdlers.
One horse like EIR falling short doesn't impact other horses planned for chasing.
Only way they go there is if they have issues once they go jumping.