Champion Hurdle 2021

[jono]

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...

Captain Guinness could be another potential one to fall into this category (I know i'm not the first to mention him).
I think he's a tad overhyped myself on what he has achieved but if his next run doesn't go to plan they could consider it.
There could be enough time to find a low key hurdles run before a crack at the Irish champion at the DRF. The CH is of course another level up but the fact they came into the Supreme off just 2 runs in his lifetime means connections may not be too put off with a lack of hurdle experience at the highest level either.

[Lobos]

I put forward a dark horse the other day which was ignored. I'll mention him again......Beacons Edge. In his Bumper year, 4th behind Envoi beaten just 3 1/4 lengths and 3rd to Colreevy in the Punchestown Champion Bumper when just 3/4 lengths behind Abacadabras . From 5 runs over hurdles he's won 3 and come 2nd twice. Once finishing a nose behind Jason The Militant and another finishing a neck behind another very well thought of dark horse Cedarwood Road. Of his 3 wins, his most impressive would be his last run beating last season's Novice Mares Hurdle fav Minella Melody easily by nearly 5 lengths, giving her 4lbs. He looks a top, too prospect who is improving at a rate of knots. He's good. How good, we don't know yet. He runs next in the Hattons Grace. That race will tell us how good and whether he goes Champion Hurdle or steps up to the Stayers.

[jono]

I put forward a dark horse the other day which was ignored. I'll mention him again......Beacons Edge

It's probably wishful thinking but I think there could be plenty of leeway with his current mark of 149, granted he'll have the Irish extra lbs added. I like him too. Supasundae won the Coral Cup as a second season novice off 148, and going onto be a grade 1 performer. I could see BE being of similar mould (he'll have some task to even get close that horses consistency throughout his career at the highest level though). He's definitely better than his current mark. A beating by Honeysuckle in 2 weeks time and it may become an option.

[Lobos]

It's probably wishful thinking but I think there could be plenty of leeway with his current mark of 149, granted he'll have the Irish extra lbs added. I like him too. Supasundae won the Coral Cup as a second season novice off 148, and going onto be a grade 1 performer. I could see BE being of similar mould (he'll have some task to even get close that horses consistency throughout his career at the highest level though). He's definitely better than his current mark. A beating by Honeysuckle in 2 weeks time and it may become an option.

His close proximity to Jason the Militant would in theory put him on a par with both Abacadabras and Saint Roi so that tells us roughly where we are with him. Saint Roi/Aba currently 7/1, Beacons Edge currently 50/1. I haven't backed him yet and probably won't as I can't see him beating either Epatante or Honeysuckle but for the EW punters out there maybe I've highlighted him as an alternative.

[ToniC]

I know there’s the cliche that trip doesn’t matter to a good horse but beacon edge really does look best suited by 2m4 to me and he could be one they keep back for the grade 1 at aintree if they think he’s grade 1 quality.

[Craigy14]

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

Aye I can see why you could draw those comparisons Jono, I just feel personally she seemed to be very well thought of before injury and as mentioned was fav for the mares novice after showing a real nice turn of foot to win by 8 lengths. The Epatante path is an added little bonus of course. She obviously needs a big step up but why not.

At 40/1 I’m happy enough to take a chance, she wins the Gerry Fielden next weekend she’ll be cut. Then her next target could be very informative indeed.

[jonthehammer]

Jack - Was it your tweet about Saint Roi on the Road to Cheltenham programme on Thursday night?

[doctorwu]

I see Aspire Tower form got franked again today against a Mullins hotpot. Is it that much of a stretch to see AT becoming a serious contender....

[Lobos]

I see Aspire Tower form got franked again today against a Mullins hotpot. Is it that much of a stretch to see AT becoming a serious contender....

He's certainly the top Irish horse at the moment based on what we've seen so you never know.

[Can't Catch Me]

I see Aspire Tower form got franked again today against a Mullins hotpot. Is it that much of a stretch to see AT becoming a serious contender....

Definitely not. HdB was adamant he wasn't right in the Triumph. Epatante is a worthy fav, but she certainly doesn't set an unattainable level for horses like AT stepping up to open company.

[Quevega]

I see Aspire Tower form got franked again today against a Mullins hotpot. Is it that much of a stretch to see AT becoming a serious contender....

I watched him again today, when he beat Abacadabras, and he looked strong up front for a four year old.
Then I looked at his price for the Champion and had a lie down for a bit.
He could be a surprise horse being a five year old, but I'll wait and see where he runs next before I entertain him.

[Lobos]

I suppose Aspires form suggests that anyone thinking Abacadabras or Saint Roi can get involved in the Champion Hurdle finish then they should be backing him as well.

[Quevega]

I suppose Aspires form suggests that anyone thinking Abacadabras or Saint Roi can get involved in the Champion Hurdle finish then they should be backing him as well.

Instead of I reckon, looking at the form line of the 2 races this year.
Its hard to argue that abacadabras ran any better in the morgiana than he did in the WKD. It was almost identical.

[FinalFurlong91]

I suppose Aspires form suggests that anyone thinking Abacadabras or Saint Roi can get involved in the Champion Hurdle finish then they should be backing him as well.

They will both need to improve a significant amount to have a chance of beating epatante

As a Saint Roi backer i hope there is plenty of improvement to come

if he settles and jumps better, both things that will hopefully come with experience, id think he is capable of much better than he showed

If there isn't any and what we saw in the morgiana is his ability then he has no chance

If goshen is a flop and Saint Roi doesn't improve then epatante could get very short

[Lobos]

They will both need to improve a significant amount to have a chance of beating epatante

As a Saint Roi backer i hope there is plenty of improvement to come

if he settles and jumps better, both things that will hopefully come with experience, id think he is capable of much better than he showed

If there isn't any and what we saw in the morgiana is his ability then he has no chance

If goshen is a flop and Saint Roi doesn't improve then epatante could get very short

Agree. If Epatante runs up to what she did last year I don't see her getting beat. They say she's improved which will make her even harder to get past.