Champion Hurdle 2021

[opatcho]

well, thats disappointing
was going to make him my main bet this weekend. As for the CH, what a messy prep

[Lobos]

"Goshen is absolutely fine but his scope wasn’t brilliant this morning," said Moore. "If he scopes clean and everything is okay then he'll go to the Fighting Fifth [at Newcastle on November 28]. If not it will be the International Hurdle at Cheltenham."

Nailed it !

[Faugheen_Machine]

Goshen seems to be taking a while to get right. I'd rather they went Fighting Fifth than International, then we'll know exactly where we are with him.

[doctorwu]

Goshen seems to be taking a while to get right. I'd rather they went Fighting Fifth than International, then we'll know exactly where we are with him.

Not sure he needs to go to the Fighting Fifth to know where we are with him.

[Outlaw]

Goshen seems to be taking a while to get right. I'd rather they went Fighting Fifth than International, then we'll know exactly where we are with him.

Just odd all-round, he's clearly minded him until things are A1 with him, then he has to take on the reigning champ first up I suppose it's a win win for him really, if he obliges he can lay claim to being bang up the head of the market, if he's beat he can say it will be different come March and roll out a few excuses as beaten by the reigning champ etc.

[Craigy14]

Looking at this market, probably like many others, I am still wondering if there is anything that may come from nowhere like last year.

I’ve mentioned Saldier enough and hope he takes his chance in March but he isn’t unknown. The weekend past didn’t help answer much and left a few more ifs and buts to be honest.

I haven’t backed Aba and just think he’ll be done by something else. Travels so well in his races but on most occasions so far has been outdone. From the last hurdle to the line Saint Roi makes up a good 2/3 lengths and almost gets him on the line. Now imo a stronger run race would suit Saint Roi more than Aba. The Morgiana told me Saint Roi has a better finishing speed than Aba even in that slowly run race. He also pulled and jumped poor for the most part.

Epatante will stake her claim on regaining the title next Saturday and should she win will go very short indeed, especially taking the scalp of Goshen (if he is ever going to run over hurdles).

Goshen not one I’m mad keen on get, like everyone else price based. Nothing he has done makes him value by any stretch. He may turn out to be a machine but has it all to prove, hopefully next Saturday we see the match up.

The only one I’m left looking at in the market that could come with a big price is Marie’s Rock. She looks like returning on seasonal debut next weekend at Newbury over 2m. In both her hurdle races she seemed keen and also sweated up quite a bit. She had a really nice turn of foot from the back of the last which immediately got everyone talking about her for the mares novice. Now unless she has manages to relax a lot better than she has to date I don’t see her taking in the mares hurdle over 2m 4f and her price for that doesn’t interest me at all and the fact she won’t beat Willies or Honey if going that route. Nico is also going to Newbury next weekend, Nicky will obviously have other rides for him but surely if your Nico you’d have wanted to sit on the champion hurdler in a grade 1? Maybe I’m looking into it a bit much but I think it may be telling a little. Yes the Henessay is next weekend as well but he will be riding Marie’s Rock for definite. At 40/1 think I’ll take a chance e/w.

[Nortons who]

Looking at this market, probably like many others, I am still wondering if there is anything that may come from nowhere like last year.

I’ve mentioned Saldier enough and hope he takes his chance in March but he isn’t unknown. The weekend past didn’t help answer much and left a few more ifs and buts to be honest.

I haven’t backed Aba and just think he’ll be done by something else. Travels so well in his races but on most occasions so far has been outdone. From the last hurdle to the line Saint Roi makes up a good 2/3 lengths and almost gets him on the line. Now imo a stronger run race would suit Saint Roi more than Aba. The Morgiana told me Saint Roi has a better finishing speed than Aba even in that slowly run race. He also pulled and jumped poor for the most part.

Epatante will stake her claim on regaining the title next Saturday and should she win will go very short indeed, especially taking the scalp of Goshen (if he is ever going to run over hurdles).

Goshen not one I’m mad keen on get, like everyone else price based. Nothing he has done makes him value by any stretch. He may turn out to be a machine but has it all to prove, hopefully next Saturday we see the match up.

The only one I’m left looking at in the market that could come with a big price is Marie’s Rock. She looks like returning on seasonal debut next weekend at Newbury over 2m. In both her hurdle races she seemed keen and also sweated up quite a bit. She had a really nice turn of foot from the back of the last which immediately got everyone talking about her for the mares novice. Now unless she has manages to relax a lot better than she has to date I don’t see her taking in the mares hurdle over 2m 4f and her price for that doesn’t interest me at all and the fact she won’t beat Willies or Honey if going that route. Nico is also going to Newbury next weekend, Nicky will obviously have other rides for him but surely if your Nico you’d have wanted to sit on the champion hurdler in a grade 1? Maybe I’m looking into it a bit much but I think it may be telling a little. Yes the Henessay is next weekend as well but he will be riding Marie’s Rock for definite. At 40/1 think I’ll take a chance e/w.

Nicky has always been keen on MR and if he didn't already have Epatante, in my opinion she would be his first choice for this. I have her in my book already but if not would be adding her at that price.

[Lobos]

With Epatante Churdle boubd again and Honey potentially going that way as well then the Mares Hurdle really opens up. Marie's Rock may well end up fav there.

[Quevega]

Maries' Rock is the obvious - come from nowhere horse and I can see the attraction at the prices some have dabbled in.

But she has a lot to prove just yet.
I think she's jumped 12 hurdles in public so far and her rating appears actually a touch high when you consider the horses she's beat.

But she won with plenty on hand and could be one to improve loads and be a player.
It's a positive and negative that she's with the same connections as the current front two in the market, & Buveur Dair.

[Craigy14]

Maries' Rock is the obvious - come from nowhere horse and I can see the attraction at the prices some have dabbled in.

But she has a lot to prove just yet.
I think she's jumped 12 hurdles in public so far and her rating appears actually a touch high when you consider the horses she's beat.

But she won with plenty on hand and could be one to improve loads and be a player.
It's a positive and negative that she's with the same connections as the current front two in the market, & Buveur Dair.

Yeah that’s the main thing is stepping up, which of course could go either way.

Knowing she’s running in the same race as Epatante I did see as a slight plus.

Has JP acquired her Q?

[Craigy14]

With Epatante Churdle boubd again and Honey potentially going that way as well then the Mares Hurdle really opens up. Marie's Rock may well end up fav there.

A lot more unknowns to run in the mares than the champion hurdle imo.

Shes ran twice over 2m won well with a nice turn of foot. Hasn’t ran over further and has also pulled in both races.

The price is also is very unattractive 16/1 plays 40/1.

[Quevega]

Yeah that’s the main thing is stepping up, which of course could go either way.

Knowing she’s running in the same race as Epatante I did see as a slight plus.

Has JP acquired her Q?

Probably not.
I just looked and she's with middleham.
For some reason I thought she was a JP.
apologies for confusion.

[jono]

I could be underestimating Maries Rock but I struggle to see her being a player in the CH. Incredibly unexposed of course and a big enough price to find out but I think too much is being made of following the same path as Epatante. And if it were not for Epatante last year, it wouldn't really be a consideration imo. The rate of improvement Epantate showed last year was huge. And is very hard to replicate

[Lobos]

I could be underestimating Maries Rock but I struggle to see her being a player in the CH. Incredibly unexposed of course and a big enough price to find out but I think too much is being made of following the same path as Epatante. And if it were not for Epatante last year, it wouldn't really be a consideration imo. The rate of improvement Epantate showed last year was huge. And is very hard to replicate

Henderson does think a hell of a lot of her. He's made no secret of that and she was a heavily backed fav for the Mares Novice Hurdle for last year's Fez before she got injured, so she clearly shows him a lot at home.

[Istabraq]

Looking at this market, probably like many others, I am still wondering if there is anything that may come from nowhere like last year.

There’s always a chance one or two of the high profile chase recruits don’t take to fences and get re-routed back to hurdles, I guess the obvious ones are Shishkin and Klassical Dream though as reports suggest schooling has gone well this becomes less likely...