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First couple of flights will be key here, they’ll be going quicker than most of them have ever gone, is Aspire Tower pings the first couple and one or two in behind make errors that could be telling at the end...
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I can see all of HDB's horses running really well, in fact i can see quite a few running really well. SS, Epatante, Goshen, Aba. Good pace, plenty who like to be up there.
Really looking forward to this race, think it will be a cracker.Comment
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How refreshing we have a Champion Hurdle that we can be genuinely excited about, ie a strong unbeaten favourite, a returning champion, last years runner up, supreme runner up, an excellent juvenile (AT), winners of grade 1 races, 2 time ex champ and the moral runaway winner of the triumph.
Can’t think of many races I’d put ahead of this in terms of watchability, a few perhaps but not many....Comment
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Aspire Tower drifting big on exchanges
One to keep an eye on for news I guessFat Jockey Patron (est. Jan 2021)Comment
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'Having discussed plans with JP over the weekend we have decided that Buveur D’Air will NOT run Cheltenham and instead will wait for Aintree. The extra distance will suit him well. He and Epatante are in very good form and we are very much looking forward to next week'Comment
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That's a shame, would have added a nice bit of depth.Originally posted by HoldenTheReins View Post
Probably doesn't affect anyone in terms of their own bets or fancies though.
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Personally couldn't of been having him being 11 but I agree.Originally posted by Kevloaf View PostComment
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This is mares related also but I haven't heard nicky talk about verdana blue. Did I miss something last night?
Any recent news..noticed a bit of a nibble here on the exchanges tonight?Comment
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Gone through this race tonight whilst watching the Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty Cheltenham rides feature and it was interesting to see how much Geraghty thinks that the forecasted good to soft makes Epatante far more likely in his eyes than honeysuckle. I absolutely agree. To my mind, Honeysuckle will be trying to kick on and bully them down the hill by stretching them out. But how easy will that be for her when there’s some proper quick horses running in the race AND on good to soft ground running downhill. I’m not sure she’s going to be quick enough to do that.
With the pace in the race and the way this will be on likely Good to Soft, I’ve topped up my book on the race on Epatante when she was boosted yesterday. I’ve also got the idea in my head that I want to be on Abacadabras a bit more each way - especially if someone goes 5 places like last year. I think the pair of them will be able to travel into the race as they like to do and pick them off up the hill. Abracadabras in particular will be suited to the proper gallop they go and if Jack Kennedy can just sit in behind and creep into it, I think he’s going to run a real big one for the each way money. He might not be good enough to win against the Mares here but I’d be happy to take a punt 5 places at 8/1+. Similar to what Sharjah did last year.
The ground is key here I think. On good to soft, I’d be happy letting honeysuckle be nothing more than a small winner for me here. Whilst I remember, shoutout to whoever it was who highlighted James Du Berlais about 6 months ago at huge prices on the machine. Can lay him off now and add the three likely runners I haven’t got covered and that will be my book on the race complete. First time I’ve deliberately made a book for a race. Quite glad I have really as I’ve never fancied anything overly strong at all other than Saint Roi for about a month. Actually I’ll admit after the Fighting Fifth, I like many, thought Epatante had next to no dangers at all really. How wrong that proved to be as now it looks like an absolute belter of a race.Comment
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BG is wildly bias towards JP/Hendo horses so I wouldn't read too much into it.Originally posted by Middle_Of_March View PostComment
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If the ground does end up on the quicker side of Good to Soft, do people not think Sharjah is the play here? The ground will play to his strengths as much as anyone, he was second last year, and before his last run he was way shorter. I know Patrick used to like to drop him out the back and send him to sleep but he gifted way too much ground to Honeysuckly he could never get back. If Sharjah gets a better ride here (presumably from Paul) and is able to be slotted in at the back of the front pack (Honeysuckle, Goshen, Not so Sleepy, Aspire Tower, Silver Silver Streak), so similar to where Aba and Epatante want to be, surely he is in with a shout coming around the bend?
I think a returned to health Epatante would probably beat him, but there’s no guarantee she’s back to her best. And of course Honeysuckle could stay on and hold them all off, but on good ground that’s less likely. And can we trust Hendo re. Epatante? He just looks a big EW price to me.Comment
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For me, Epatante fits the profile of a champion hurdler and I can't get away from her for this over good to soft ground
I'm already on prior to her reappearance in the FF, but I do want to be able to call out the winner of this race.
I will need to see how Epatante parades and whether we looks claim and relaxed. That would be one sign she could be ready to perform back to her bestComment
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She's a huge price if she's back to her best. Like you say, we should get a good idea how she is in parade ring and on way to the start - that'll probably be the point where I make decision to back her or not.Originally posted by opatcho View PostComment
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