2022 Champion Hurdle

[Attaglance]

IMO - Aspire Tower at 50/1 is a cracking E/W bet in this with cash out, came 4th last year coming out of his Juvenile season, ran very well during the season (can forgive his last run as a long season and Henry’s horses were poor at Punchestown) and I believe he is confirmed staying over hurdles. Won’t have the beating of Honeysuckle, but a worthy back up at the prices.

He has raced 8 times over hurdles, winning 3 and 2nd twice, looked the winner when coming down at the last at the DRF in 2020, 4th in the Champion Hurdle last year and then a race too many last year finishing last at Punchestown, were we know Henry’s horses all underperformed at the meeting, excluding the brilliant Honeysuckle..

Another very interesting player in this could be Concertista at 40/1, no brainier bet E/W with cash out. I know a few are keen on her coming here and her case has already been made.

Eptante at 16/1 I feel certainly has merit and has been overlooked. Yes Henderson is a plank, but surely he can’t have another shocking season like last year. We all know previous festival form is KING and this mare has been 1st and 3rd in the last 2 renewals of this race.

Anyone creating a book for this race or want a few E/W darts to throw at the race, IMO the above 3 you can’t go far wrong with.

Honeysuckle will be very hard to beat and IMO the winner, but it would be nice to fill the places too with a few fancy prices..

[Guinness Village]

Not sure where to go beyond the favourite, and it's only October!!The old guard don't look like they're good enough to turn the tables(sharjah, saldier, epatante, aspire tower, abacadabras, jason the militant, concertista) and the best novice hurdlers are going chasing(bob, AI, FH). Arguably the best juvenile hurdler(monmiral) looks like they may wait for the Aintree hurdle. What's left? Echoes in rain, French aseel and quilixios.Possibly jeff kidder.
The things that temper my enthusiasm, are a short price and only one horse in the last ten years has managed to defend their crown. Surely the mare or one of the juveniles will improve enough to at least be competitive. I guess we'll have a sighter after the WKD hurdle. And certainly by the time we've had the Morgiana and the FF, we'll have a better idea. Which betting slips to light the fire with!!
Personally, Echoes in rain has been on my radar since she beat MC Muldoon, and I've backed her each way accordingly. She's got to improve a fair bit, but it's not impossible.

[Quevega]

IMO, Echoes in Rain has just about the best credentials for a novice hurdler stepping into open class that we've seen for a while.
Her form is very closely matched to the impressive winners of the supreme and ballymore, and they would be high up the betting if staying hurdling. Saxon Warrior did a comparison on them I think.

I do agree that the step up to open class needs taking (as is obviously always the case), and she may not be quite up to Honeysuckle's level by the end of the season, but she is in the right hands.
Visually she looks open to massive improvement and she's obviously still only 5.
If she's competitive in the early season grade 1's she competes in, then I reckon she'll be a live one in March.
She'll probably avoid Honeysuckle at least until February in Dublin, and even then they may opt for a different prep run.
I doubt she'll be campaigned for the mares hurdle myself and think this is skewed thinking.

[Quevega]

The more I look at the market for this race, the Saldier backers like ComplyOrDie are probably on a decent bet.
Most of the market is made up of juveniles and horses going chasing.
What is odd, is that many bookmakers like PP etc don't even have him in the market.

I don't buy the ground and reasons why he may be better this year than last.
I think he's simply in better form. Based on his last 2 runs.
The caveat is the Galway hurdle form and his last race look potentially iffy. He might have beaten shit and just be in a bit better form.
Which is why I won't be backing him until he runs in the morgiana, and probably in a special if priced well enough.

[Saxon Warrior]

IMO, Echoes in Rain has just about the best credentials for a novice hurdler stepping into open class that we've seen for a while.
Her form is very closely matched to the impressive winners of the supreme and ballymore, and they would be high up the betting if staying hurdling. Saxon Warrior did a comparison on them I think.

I do agree that the step up to open class needs taking (as is obviously always the case), and she may not be quite up to Honeysuckle's level by the end of the season, but she is in the right hands.
Visually she looks open to massive improvement and she's obviously still only 5.
If she's competitive in the early season grade 1's she competes in, then I reckon she'll be a live one in March.
She'll probably avoid Honeysuckle at least until February in Dublin, and even then they may opt for a different prep run.
I doubt she'll be campaigned for the mares hurdle myself and think this is skewed thinking.

Honey is going to the 2M4F Hattons Grace first as usual.

Then not racing until the Irish Champion Hurdle at the DRF

That leaves Echoes In Rain (and others) to have a crack at the two 2M Grade 1's in Ireland this year, The Morgiana and then the Matheson Hurdle on 29th December.

I am also considering that some of the Irish could come for the Fighting Fifth and the Kempton Christmas Hurdle too, given our poor field of 2M hurdlers.

Plenty to go for without seeing Honeysuckle at all until March (or the DRF at the earliest).

[Lobos]

Exactly Saxon. I'm hoping at some point to see Echoes, Concertista and Shewearsitwell up against eachother in Ireland to battle for Mullins top Mare spot.

[Quevega]

Exactly Saxon. I'm hoping at some point to see Echoes, Concertista and Shewearsitwell up against eachother in Ireland to battle for Mullins top Mare spot.

Can't have Concertista at all for this race.
Not one piece of form suggests she could compete successfully in a Champion hurdle.
And Willie's not daft.

[Winging The Last]

Can't have Concertista at all for this race.
Not one piece of form suggests she could compete successfully in a Champion hurdle.
And Willie's not daft.

Her Punchestown festival run doesn’t look good at all on paper being beaten 10 lengths by Stormy Ireland who wouldn’t get anywhere near in a champion hurdle. And being beaten by Minella Melody

[Lobos]

Can't have Concertista at all for this race.
Not one piece of form suggests she could compete successfully in a Champion hurdle.
And Willie's not daft.

In her 3 Cheltenham festival races she's finished in front of 5 Festival winners. Of the horses staying Hurdling, Paddy Power make her joint 3rd fav.

[Quevega]

In her 3 Cheltenham festival races she's finished in front of 5 Festival winners. Of the horses staying Hurdling, Paddy Power make her joint 3rd fav.

She's no chance.
Wouldn't surprise me if Willie tried her over a fence.

[Lobos]

She's no chance.
Wouldn't surprise me if Willie tried her over a fence.

If he did that then he would be daft !

[Cheltenham Novice Chase]

If he did that then he would be daft !

Why would that be daft? Seems a very sensible option to me. Didn’t win the Mares Hurdle, won’t win a Champion Hurdle, so what is there to lose by trying her over a fence?

[Lobos]

Why would that be daft? Seems a very sensible option to me. Didn’t win the Mares Hurdle, won’t win a Champion Hurdle, so what is there to lose by trying her over a fence?

Just don't see where she fits in with Mullins other 35 Novice Chasers.

[Topofthegame2021]

I’m going to be banging the French Aseel EW @ 50/1 drum for a while in this thread.

Well…. Until the 50/1 is all gobbled up anyway

he could be brilliant!!

[Winging The Last]

Just don't see where she fits in with Mullins other 35 Novice Chasers.

Could replace Colreevy in the Mares Chase