2022 Mares Hurdle

[Rooster Booster]

After 3 defeats by a chunk, since the Coral Cup, HHU is one you can stay out of for a while, and see what the plan is with her.

I am not sure the trainers quite got the race planning right, since March.

Seems to be trying any trip.

One thing I would say is this fella knows how to get the animals under his care to produce on the day like no one I know....I’m totally biased because I used to be a massive dog man but just look at the improvement he got from the mare when it really counted. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if she came alive again in 3 months time.

[Saxon Warrior]

One thing I would say is this fella knows how to get the animals under his care to produce on the day like no one I know....I’m totally biased because I used to be a massive dog man but just look at the improvement he got from the mare when it really counted. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if she came alive again in 3 months time.

I agree she could be back in form in March, she does love the spring.

Ive yo-yo-Ed backing her and cashing out already.
Im out at the moment, but if she gets a nominated Festival target, and a Dec in a good feeder race to it, in late Jan-early March, then I will probably go back in again.

It would be a completely unique Mares Hurdle season of runs if she runs in that and won it.
It looks more like they’re trying to get a lower handicap mark.
Mixed messages on race target a.t.m.

She looked worse than this last winter, when trying chasing, so plenty of room to improve in Feb-March.

[Rooster Booster]

I agree she could be back in form in March, she does love the spring.

Ive yo-yo-Ed backing her and cashing out already.
Im out at the moment, but if she gets a nominated Festival target, and a Dec in a good feeder race to it, in late Jan-early March, then I will probably go back in again.

It would be a completely unique Mares Hurdle season of runs if she runs in that and won it.
It looks more like they’re trying to get a lower handicap mark.
Mixed messages on race target a.t.m.

She looked worse than this last winter, when trying chasing, so plenty of room to improve in Feb-March.

Agree. I’ve been neutral on the last two runs. I wouldn’t be overly positive but wouldnt be overly negativeEither I thought she was travelling nicely until her mistake two runs ago and I thought she couldn’t go the pace yesterday. I’d back him to have her spot on come March and like you say if she runs respectably in her lead up race I’d be keen to go in.

[Rooster Booster]

Also in some ways it might be better for her chances of ending up here finishing 4th rather than 3rd as I suspect yesterday was all about black type.

[nortonscoin200]

I loved the attitude Heaven Help Us showed over a trip too short on Saturday.

And with uncertainty over several of the market leaders I think she's a stonking each way bet for the Mares Hurdle.

Topped up at 35-1.

[Saxon Warrior]

Also in some ways it might be better for her chances of ending up here finishing 4th rather than 3rd as I suspect yesterday was all about black type.

She has been 2nd in a Grade 1 already.

[Rooster Booster]

She has been 2nd in a Grade 1 already.

Yep missed that. Second to abacadrabras.

[TiggerRoll]

She wasn't held up yesterday

They bounced out to make the running and she jumped so poorly she ended up at the back in what was a terrible race

held up a bad choice of words - not front running was the point I was trying (badly) to make. She got barged at the first and is 2-3 lengths back by the second so I’m not sure her jumping relinquished the Lead. She just couldnt go the pace as others have pointed out so it’s a very fair run in my book all things considered.

the longshots podcast has a brilliant case for her and yesterday was the wrong set of circumstances for her to make any conclusions. I’ll be putting a line through it and moving on.

she, surprisingly, looks like one that has divided opinion

[TiggerRoll]

The lack of cheekpieces so far this season is interesting too… suspect a significant upturn in form on their reappearance. I suppose the question is whether they’ve been removed to get the mark down or to prolong the positive effect when it matters most ?

[Saxon Warrior]

The lack of cheekpieces so far this season is interesting too… suspect a significant upturn in form on their reappearance. I suppose the question is whether they’ve been removed to get the mark down or to prolong the positive effect when it matters most ?

Good point on the Cheekpieces.

I really like the Mare.

I just don't know her target yet.

The cheekpieces off and running in UK over the wrong trip (where she is 6lb higher than in Ireland) looks a complete handicap plot not a Mares Hurdle prep.

Her 150 mark could drop a bit when BHA assess on Tuesday.

If it does drop her to say 148, and she then gets another UK entry next, over 2M, then it for sure looks like a Coral Cup plan.

Thats why I'm waiting.

[TiggerRoll]

Good point on the Cheekpieces.

I really like the Mare.

I just don't know her target yet.

The cheekpieces off and running in UK over the wrong trip (where she is 6lb higher than in Ireland) looks a complete handicap plot not a Mares Hurdle prep.

Her 150 mark could drop a bit when BHA assess on Tuesday.

If it does drop her to say 148, and she then gets another UK entry next, over 2M, then it for sure looks like a Coral Cup plan.

Thats why I'm waiting.

Very fair stance. The Mares Hurdle would seem a much easier option than the Coral Cup from a mark of c145?

it could well be the plan, but I’m not sure it’s the best thought out one unless they really get some slack with the mark

[nortonscoin200]

Good point on the Cheekpieces.

I really like the Mare.

I just don't know her target yet.

The cheekpieces off and running in UK over the wrong trip (where she is 6lb higher than in Ireland) looks a complete handicap plot not a Mares Hurdle prep.

Her 150 mark could drop a bit when BHA assess on Tuesday.

If it does drop her to say 148, and she then gets another UK entry next, over 2M, then it for sure looks like a Coral Cup plan.

Thats why I'm waiting.

Even if she's dropped to 148 Saxon I just wonder how attractive they'd view another crack at the Coral Cup off that mark.

In the last 3 running of the Coral Cup 148 would have seen her carry between 11st 5lbs and 11st 7lbs.

That's a pretty hefty burden for a mare in such a competitive handicap.

I'd imagine they'd want to use a conditional again to reduce the load but she'd probably still be left to carry around 11-stone or just under.

That's a much bigger ask than the 10st 2lbs she shouldered this year,

Would they prefer taking that route to the Mares Hurdle where they all carry 11st 5lbs?

I just think they may fancy their chances more against mares off level weights - unless the likes of Shewearsitwell, Gauloise, Brandy Love or TMSG post some big performances between now and March.

We may also get an idea of their thinking from the jockey booking for her next outing.

Richard Condon rode HHU in her final race before Cheltenham this year and they may well want to give their Festival jockey a leg up in her final prep this time - assuming regular pilot Danny Mullins is on one of Willie's and unavailable for HHU.

[Saxon Warrior]

Her next entry will reveal more.

I'm not saying she going to the Coral Cup.
Off 150 they wouldn't bother.
Its the race choices that interest me, including Saturday.

She is 144 in Ireland, so there's no point coming to England in a Handicap unless she got down to at least 146 with a claimer on.

Will she go the the mid-season Mares Hurdle race at Christmas 2M4F Leopardstown Grade 3, and meet SWIW and TMSG?
- probably too tight a timescale from Saturday.
- she probably wouldn't have any penalties in it.
Willie should throw a few darts at it.

Its definitely a weird race plan to do what she's doing then ending at the Mares Hurdle - but then she has a small trainer who's probably just doing his own thing - then to that Grade 1.

The Leopardstown Mares Hurdle should shake up the Mares Hurdle betting and leave a template for its shape through to Cheltenham.

Its an open race and she has a chance in an open race, if she reproduces her Coral Cup run.

[Hurdles or chasing]

The trainer only trainers 2 horses. Be surprised if he has a long term plan at the start of the season. Very much throw her into a few good races and see what she can do. From interviews it seems like he makes it up as he goes along and other people suggested going chasing and running in the handicap at Leopardstown.

He seems like some legend but I wouldn't be reading much into his race planning for future targets. Think I remember him saying something along the lines of "the bigger the race the bigger craic".

She ran in the 3 mile grade 1 chase against Monkfish and Latest Exhibition at Xmas before the DRF mares handicap hurdle.

[Rooster Booster]

The trainer only trainers 2 horses. Be surprised if he has a long term plan at the start of the season. Very much throw her into a few good races and see what she can do. From interviews it seems like he makes it up as he goes along and other people suggested going chasing and running in the handicap at Leopardstown.

He seems like some legend but I wouldn't be reading much into his race planning for future targets. Think I remember him saying something along the lines of "the bigger the race the bigger craic".

She ran in the 3 mile grade 1 chase against Monkfish and Latest Exhibition at Xmas before the DRF mares handicap hurdle.

You don’t get to be one of the worlds best in your chosen profession without having a bit about you. Yes this isn’t his day job and he is loving the adventure but he is very used to laying out a target way way in advance and aiming for that day. I am just saying don’t be surprised if he’s got this all planned even if it feels he might not....and he doesn’t seem like a legend he is one imo