2022 Champion Hurdle

[callhimgamblor]

Ooooh. I thought he was going chasing. If not then that is interesting!

[ToniC]

Ooooh. I thought he was going chasing. If not then that is interesting!

I’m keen on him and I hate 5 year olds for this race. Hope he doesn’t make me feel a fool but don't think ive been as excited about a juvenile coming into open company before, hopefully see him run next weekend.

[Bollinger]

Looking through the list on B365 for this as I don't have a bet on this race yet and I'm struggling to see a horse near the top of the list, besides honeysuckle, that will actually end up running in this race.

Bob Olinger isn't coming here. Ever
Appreciate It isn't coming here. Ever.
Ferny Hollow isn't coming here. Ever.

The jury is still out on Echoes in Rain I think....

Sharjah is surely over the hill by now. Epatante hasn't really enjoyed Cheltenham for a year or two, Quilixios isn't coming here either and we're suddenly down in the weeds with Monmiral and Zanahiyr. He was impressive the other day but will do well to finish in the same furlong as Honeysuckle...

Abracadabras needs longer IMO so will probably go stayers.

So I guess it has to be EIR @ 12/1 because I can't be backing a horse at 7/4 in October. That's ridiculous.

When you say Epatante ‘hasn’t really enjoyed Cheltenham for a year or two’……. do you mean the ‘a year’ when she finished placed in 3rd in the Champion Hurdle or the ‘or two’ when she actually won the Champion Hurdle.

Bearing in mind, and with reference to your quote, these are Epatante’s
last two runs ‘for a year or two’ at Cheltenham…………..??

[Cheltenham Novice Chase]

I’m keen on him and I hate 5 year olds for this race. Hope he doesn’t make me feel a fool but don't think ive been as excited about a juvenile coming into open company before, hopefully see him run next weekend.

The other thing to remember about Quilixios is, he wasn’t a novice in his Triumph year. He had already won is France the year before, my point being he is more experienced than most 5 year olds. Elliott did always say he saw him more of a stayer but his form over 2m was pretty darn good.

[Istabraq]

Bob Olinger isn't coming here. Ever
Appreciate It isn't coming here. Ever.
Ferny Hollow isn't coming here. Ever.

The jury is still out on Echoes in Rain I think....

Agree x4....

[Irish Rugby]

With Honeysuckle so dominant, I really cannot see anything getting close to her unless it's another high class mare who arrives to post with the same allowance. Step forward Echoes In Rain and Epatante.

[ToniC]

The other thing to remember about Quilixios is, he wasn’t a novice in his Triumph year. He had already won is France the year before, my point being he is more experienced than most 5 year olds. Elliott did always say he saw him more of a stayer but his form over 2m was pretty darn good.

Yep, + HdB campaigned aspire tower brilliantly last season, 2nd in the Christmas grade 1 and then 4th in the champion hurdle, and Quilixios would look a fair bit the better of the two at the end of their juvenile seasons (officially 5lbs).

Epatante and Sharjah both a year older and don’t really see what else is coming through from last years 2 mile hurdlers all the good ones are going chasing barring echoes who at this stage would effectively be the same as this lad on official ratings when you consider the allowance. Nothing will best honeysuckle if she puts in a performance like last year but as an each way bet I think the 20s is decent and should get you a good run for your money.

[Quevega]

Agree x4....

All depends on Honeysuckle.
The Champion hurdle would look tempting to a few novice chasers if she was absent.
It's been done before, more than once, and the market this season looks more lop sided in favour of one horse than it has been for a while.

[Istabraq]

All depends on Honeysuckle.
The Champion hurdle would look tempting to a few novice chasers if she was absent.
It's been done before, more than once, and the market this season looks more lop sided in favour of one horse than it has been for a while.

For sure, anything happens to Honeysuckle and there'll be half a dozen trainers re-hatching plans for a few of theirs, but the same can be said of the Marsh and the QM and possibly one or two other races...

[Atlantic Viking]

It's really difficult to look past Honeysuckle, she has all the consistency, experience and of course success in the bag, she's a superstar! But it's worth bearing in mind that EIR was arguably ahead of her at the same stage of their lives, albeit EIR had plenty more experience behind her and was slower to get the hang of it. She still hasn't completely cracked it though by all accounts so there could be any amount of improvement to come. There'll need to be of course but 2m is definitely her trip so I can't see a re-route to the mares hurdle being on the cards, even though she's current fav for it.

Echoes In Rain
- Finished her first season as a 5yo hurdler with an OR of 141 and RPR of 146, winning 1 x G1, 2 x G2.
- (Getting weight) Highest OR of defeated horses: 148, 2 x 140+. Highest RPR: 149, 2 x 140+
- (Level weight) Highest OR of defeated horse: n/a. Beat OR of 143 when in receipt of 1lb. Highest RPR: n/a.

Honeysuckle
- Finished her first season as a 5yo hurdler with an OR of 140 and RPR of 144, winning 1 x G1, 1 x G3
- (Getting weight) Highest OR of defeated horses: 3 x 136. Highest RPR: 135
- (Level weight) Highest OR of defeated horses: as above in same race. Highest RPR: 137

Echoes In Rain was slower to get into it as a 5yo but finished higher than Honeysuckle on both ratings and topspeed ratings too if anyone uses those (best of 124 v 105, 2 other efforts 100+, Honeysuckle no others 100+).

[Lobos]

All depends on Honeysuckle.
The Champion hurdle would look tempting to a few novice chasers if she was absent.
It's been done before, more than once, and the market this season looks more lop sided in favour of one horse than it has been for a while.

Agree. If anything happens to Honeysuckle then every man and his dog will be going for the Churdle. We've been lucky with her for the last 2 years so fingers crossed she'll make it 3 in a row !

[Altior]

French Aseel not going to be rushed back and likely out for the season according to Willie. Might want to cash out.

[Saxon Warrior]

It's really difficult to look past Honeysuckle, she has all the consistency, experience and of course success in the bag, she's a superstar! But it's worth bearing in mind that EIR was arguably ahead of her at the same stage of their lives, albeit EIR had plenty more experience behind her and was slower to get the hang of it. She still hasn't completely cracked it though by all accounts so there could be any amount of improvement to come. There'll need to be of course but 2m is definitely her trip so I can't see a re-route to the mares hurdle being on the cards, even though she's current fav for it.

Echoes In Rain
- Finished her first season as a 5yo hurdler with an OR of 141 and RPR of 146, winning 1 x G1, 2 x G2.
- (Getting weight) Highest OR of defeated horses: 148, 2 x 140+. Highest RPR: 149, 2 x 140+
- (Level weight) Highest OR of defeated horse: n/a. Beat OR of 143 when in receipt of 1lb. Highest RPR: n/a.

Honeysuckle
- Finished her first season as a 5yo hurdler with an OR of 140 and RPR of 144, winning 1 x G1, 1 x G3
- (Getting weight) Highest OR of defeated horses: 3 x 136. Highest RPR: 135
- (Level weight) Highest OR of defeated horses: as above in same race. Highest RPR: 137

Echoes In Rain was slower to get into it as a 5yo but finished higher than Honeysuckle on both ratings and topspeed ratings too if anyone uses those (best of 124 v 105, 2 other efforts 100+, Honeysuckle no others 100+).

I did something similar on these numbers back in April in my Diary, when I was blown away by the way that Echoes won at Fairyhouse and then she went on to win a Grade 1 at Punchestown.

Echoes was doing this vs the geldings too, with a 6lb penalty at Fairyhouse, while Honey stayed against the Mares in her Novice season.

I came to the conclusion very quickly that if there was a breakthrough Novice Hurdler last season then it would be Echoes.

Timeform love her too, only put Bob Olinger and Appreciate It above her in the rankings, and with her 7lb allowance she was very close to them on their ratings.

If they are right, (and we are on the right path too) then its probably why Willie is letting her lead the way in trying to be his breakout horse in these open Grade 1 2M Hurdle races.

It will be interesting to see if Paul Townend picks to ride her in the Morgiana Hurdle, the weekend after next.

Honeysuckles plans are to run in the Hattons Grace and the Irish Champion Hurdle at the DRF.

Echoes goes for the Morgiana and if that goes well the 2M Grade 1 at Christmas.

So they miss each other until at least the DRF.

[fatherjohn]

klassical dream entered for Hatton grace...stayers has been mentioned as target but he won a supreme and if he beats honeysuckle surely they think about a champion hurdle campaign?

thats a big IF but I think of all of Willie's entries he is the one we know the least about in terms of his ceiling. I cant see him priced up anywhere which makes sense based on previous comments.

[Leman14]

I like the angle - but IF (and you are right, it is a big IF) KD can beat Honeysuckle over 2.5 miles - I would still fancy Honeysuckle over 2 miles
(Obviously, it would depend on the manner of the defeat)