Champion Hurdle 2021

[SharpHat]

Goshen to miss Elite Hurdle due to bad scope and quick ground

Thats Weird tho isn't it? If its a bad scope the ground is irrelevant, why mention it?

[Lobos]

Thats Weird tho isn't it? If its a bad scope the ground is irrelevant, why mention it?

Maybe just putting it out there that even without the abnormal scope they wouldn't have ran anyway.

[Lobos]

Honeysuckle
She was brilliant at Cheltenham in March, she was so tough there. It’s brilliant to win any of those big races. We wanted to try and win the Mares’ Hurdle with her last season, so she has done that, which was brilliant. She seems to be in great form, she’s working well. She’s aiming for the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse again, and probably the Irish Champion Hurdle again, but we’ll see where we are after Fairyhouse.

[Time For Rupert]

Honeysuckle
She was brilliant at Cheltenham in March, she was so tough there. It’s brilliant to win any of those big races. We wanted to try and win the Mares’ Hurdle with her last season, so she has done that, which was brilliant. She seems to be in great form, she’s working well. She’s aiming for the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse again, and probably the Irish Champion Hurdle again, but we’ll see where we are after Fairyhouse.

Does that mean she has done that, tick, move on to the Champion Hurdle OR just a 'we hit our target' statement!
I do think the 16/1 could look silly in March should she win the Irish Champion and be aimed at the Champion Hurdle.
Something however just keeps nagging at me that they will take the easier option again.....

[Kevloaf]

I think if she wins the Irish Champion Hurdle, it'll certainly be no foregone conclusion that she takes in the CH.

If she beats whatever Willie's best is, (and a hopefully much improved Abacadabras) and whatever the best of the Irish are, then she also SHOULD take in the CH.


I just don't think she'll win the ICH, and if she's beaten in that, Mares is almost certain?


To be fair, at 16/1, she may well get cut after and they are quite clearly not making a decision until Feb, so it isn't the riskiest bet ever.

[Pendil]

Honeysuckle is shorter for the stayers than for the CH

[FinalFurlong91]

If she improves her jumping she would take all the beating

But horses like epatante will take a length off her at every hurdle if she doesn't get any better at the obstacles

[Lobos]

If she improves her jumping she would take all the beating

But horses like epatante will take a length off her at every hurdle if she doesn't get any better at the obstacles

I disagree. Just re watch her Mares Hurdle win. Her jumping was electric. I do still think though that Epatante would beat her. However, for me, she will be her biggest challenger off level weights. For the geldings to win I fear Epatante will need to miss the race or not be 100% on the day.

[Quevega]

I disagree. Just re watch her Mares Hurdle win. Her jumping was electric. I do still think though that Epatante would beat her. However, for me, she will be her biggest challenger off level weights. For the geldings to win I fear Epatante will need to miss the race or not be 100% on the day.

Her last hurdle was very similar to the Irish Champion.
Not sure why she does this, but it was almost identical.
High and awkward and to the left.
But on both occasions she picked up lovely.

[FinalFurlong91]

I disagree. Just re watch her Mares Hurdle win. Her jumping was electric. I do still think though that Epatante would beat her. However, for me, she will be her biggest challenger off level weights. For the geldings to win I fear Epatante will need to miss the race or not be 100% on the day.

She was awful at the last

And that was a 2m4f race

Going a 2 mile pace in the irish champion hurdle she put in several slow jumps

[ryanh97]

I think if she wins the Irish Champion Hurdle, it'll certainly be no foregone conclusion that she takes in the CH.

If she beats whatever Willie's best is, (and a hopefully much improved Abacadabras) and whatever the best of the Irish are, then she also SHOULD take in the CH.


I just don't think she'll win the ICH, and if she's beaten in that, Mares is almost certain?


To be fair, at 16/1, she may well get cut after and they are quite clearly not making a decision until Feb, so it isn't the riskiest bet ever.

Possibly a nice one to back in the 'to win today and CH market'

[Lobos]

I think if she wins the Irish Champion Hurdle, it'll certainly be no foregone conclusion that she takes in the CH.

If she beats whatever Willie's best is, (and a hopefully much improved Abacadabras) and whatever the best of the Irish are, then she also SHOULD take in the CH.


I just don't think she'll win the ICH, and if she's beaten in that, Mares is almost certain?


To be fair, at 16/1, she may well get cut after and they are quite clearly not making a decision until Feb, so it isn't the riskiest bet ever.

Agree if she gets beat in the ICH and there are no hard luck stories then she'll run in the Mares Hurdle without doubt. However, If she wins the ICH well, then I'd say it's nailed on she goes English Champion Hurdle. I do think that's their number 1 aim this season with her .

[Lobos]

Possibly a nice one to back in the 'to win today and CH market'

If you've not backed her at that stage then yes. She may well have won the Hattons Grace easily by then and connections may have already said by then that she'll run in the English Champion Hurdle if she wins the Irish equivalent so her price would have contracted a lot. However, that's the risk you take. 16/1 with cash out now is the way I'd go.

[Spectre]

They must surely know that the sharper old course at Cheltenham over 2 miles is far from what she wants. Epatante would eat her alive.

[Lobos]

They must surely know that the sharper old course at Cheltenham over 2 miles is far from what she wants. Epatante would eat her alive.

Maybe. I do think Epatante would win in a match but a place in the English Champion Hurdle to add to her Mares Hurdle victory would go down very well in breeding terms.