2022 Champion Hurdle

[Run4Home]

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.

Very unlikely she'll be tried given the lay off - she needed likely to take in the Morgiana for it to be a possibility.

[Spectre]

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…

That's exactly how I feel about him. I'm starting to think there may actually be some depth emerging behind Appreciate It, and we may see an 8+ runner race for a change.

[Odin]

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.

Yep I'm thinking on the experience side as well. Just taking into account what I think would be best for a limited experience horse (stay a novice even if over a code Vs going open company) rather than accounting for other horses. I accept that other horses targets can and will shape where a horse goes, but I don't see it happening here to the extent that Ferny goes hurdling. If he doesn't turn out to be a good chaser, that's obviously a different matter.

[Carnage at Taunton]

This was always my favourite race of the festival, but sad to say no longer.
Its suffering for quality these days unfortunately.

when I think of the quality of recent novice hurdle winners going straight to chasing I see us missing out on potential Champion hurdle classics .
Yes we still get to see them over the fences, and hopefully some of them clash there, but for me a real shame we don't get to see them clash in a CH.

Imagine a CH with Honeysuckle taking on Shishkin,Appreciate Bob O,Ferny H, to name just 3........ blimey the chat on here would go through the roof!!

Yes,othervraces may suffer, but then I am just an old Champion Hurdle romantic.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Ha ha, I named 4!!!

[Ice]

This was always my favourite race of the festival, but sad to say no longer.
Its suffering for quality these days unfortunately.

when I think of the quality of recent novice hurdle winners going straight to chasing I see us missing out on potential Champion hurdle classics .
Yes we still get to see them over the fences, and hopefully some of them clash there, but for me a real shame we don't get to see them clash in a CH.

Imagine a CH with Honeysuckle taking on Shishkin,Appreciate Bob O,Ferny H, to name just 3........ blimey the chat on here would go through the roof!!

Yes,othervraces may suffer, but then I am just an old Champion Hurdle romantic.

I couldn't agree more with this, champion hurdle was always my favourite race of the festival but looking at the race nowadays it's a pale shadow of it's former self, my first visit was 95 when Alderbrook beat my boy, large action.

[nortonscoin200]

I couldn't agree more with this, champion hurdle was always my favourite race of the festival but looking at the race nowadays it's a pale shadow of it's former self, my first visit was 95 when Alderbrook beat my boy, large action.

Assume the Champion Hurdle has suffered because so many NH horses now start out over bumpers for a season.

Most then have a season as novice hurders and then go chasing.

If the bumpers weren't around more horses would presumably spend their second season over hurdles as well?

[Ice]

Assume the Champion Hurdle has suffered because so many NH horses now start out over bumpers for a season.

Most then have a season as novice hurders and then go chasing.

If the bumpers weren't around more horses would presumably spend their second season over hurdles as well?

That could be a factor in it's decline, if they work through all the different novice and open disciplines after the bumper season the horses are then 9 or 10 years old for open chase company. I wouldn't be sad to see bumpers scrapped, to be honest.

[Saxon Warrior]

That could be a factor in it's decline, if they work through all the different novice and open disciplines after the bumper season the horses are then 9 or 10 years old for open chase company. I wouldn't be sad to see bumpers scrapped, to be honest.

They should cut bumpers to 4yo and 5yo only if they really want to help the Hurdles scene.

Or at least all Listed and Graded Bumpers for 4yo and 5yo only.

Having 6yo Bumper horses in the spring that are 7yo novice hurdlers the next season, really is a mess.

Its like the Premier League teams having feeder Under-30’s Teams instead of their Under 23’s one.

[Faugheen_Machine]

They should cut bumpers to 4yo and 5yo only if they really want to help the Hurdles scene.

Or at least all Listed and Graded Bumpers for 4yo and 5yo only.

Having 6yo Bumper horses in the spring that are 7yo novice hurdlers the next season, really is a mess.

Its like the Premier League teams having an feeder Under-30’s League instead of their Under 23’s one.

Kevin Blake has been banging on about this for a while and it's hard to argue with.

8 year old novice chasers is ridiculous when you think about it.

[Saxon Warrior]

Kevin Blake has been banging on about this for a while and it's hard to argue with.

8 year old novice chasers is ridiculous when you think about it.

It’s a crime, FM.

[Saxon Warrior]

Kevin Blake has been banging on about this for a while and it's hard to argue with.

8 year old novice chasers is ridiculous when you think about it.

Cheltenham could do us all a favour and make the Champion Bumper for 4yo and 5yo only.

The rest could fall into place around that.

If they want 6yo ones they can call them VETERAN BUMPERS, none with Listed or Graded status.

[Istabraq]

It’s a crime, FM.

I guess the only argument is that horses who have setbacks in the early part of their careers are denied the opportunity to take in a bumper before their proper NH career.
That said back in the 80s when I got into the game I can’t recall there being many bumpers at all so they did without them then…

[jono]

Completely agree.
In an ideal world - I would discourage 5 year olds from Spring bumpers.
And probably not even have any kind of 'champion' bumper in the Spring festivals.
As a general rule of thumb I like to see a horse line up in their first shot at a championship race at the age of 7.
Means they are still progressing, and hopefully come back for at least 1 or 2 more goes at the top level.

Sadly it suits plenty in the game being this way.

[Saxon Warrior]

I guess the only argument is that horses who have setbacks in the early part of their careers are denied the opportunity to take in a bumper before their proper NH career.
That said back in the 80s when I got into the game I can’t recall there being many bumpers at all so they did without them then…

It’s not a big loss for most.

They could still have a few for 6yo but not Listed or Graded, purely for debuts prior to hurdling, not for a whole seasonal programme.