The Christmas Hurdles Podcast - Your Input Is Required

[Carnage at Taunton]

Saxon Warrior Do you think Thyme Hills 4th in the Albert Bartlett could be marked up a little given how close the finish was between the first 4 and the subsequent form? I know statistically it still reads badly for win purposes but it (and probably with some others I haven't mentioned) shows that there are some who can be competitive and give themselves a squeak of bettering the Irish offerings.

Yes I think so. And I seem to recall Dickie being not very happy with himself

[Saxon Warrior]

In Ireland at Christmas weekend to New Year weekend

Leopardstown

Pertemps Qualifier
Second to none stats for this race.
The Carlisle one today, didn’t see anything special or hidden to worry the result in March.

Who do you want to see coming here, to qualify for the Final?
Any qualified already that you’d back (with no Cashout) for the Final?

Maiden Races 2M and 2M4F
Willie Mullins will have decent Maiden Hurdlers stacked up to debut for him at Christmas
Who do you expect to see run, in the 2M and 2M4F Maiden races (two 2M, two 2M4F) to win and stake a big claim for a DRF and Cheltenham spot?
Klassical Dream and City Island won Christmas Maidens in December 2018, so Festival winners come through this way.
Stattler and Gaillard de Mesnil won two of these last year.

They separate these Maiden Hurdles into 4yo only and 5yo+
Any you would back on declaration, pre-race, for Cheltenham?
(Sir Gerhard, Journey With Me, Kilcruit, State Man, Hubrisko etc)

Knight Frank 2M 3yo Grade 2 Hurdle
Fil Dor wins, or something else?
Any antepost potential that you could foresee?
Any Boodles potential maybe, that could run and be placed/beaten?

Future Champions Novice Hurdle 2M Grade 2
Something established vs Something new in this.
Where do you see it going? Royal Bond Grade 1 runners, or something else coming through.
Maybe Grangee with the Mares Allowance.

Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle 3M Grade 1
What are your expectation re Stayers Hurdle?
The winner here can win at Cheltenham again? (Like Flooring Porter last season)
Flooring Porter, Klassical Dream, or something old (Ronald Pump, Sire Du Berlais) or something else new?

3yo Maiden Hurdle 2M
Won by French Aseel in 2020
Sir Erec 2018, Mr Adjudicator 2017, Ivanovich Gorbatov 2017.
Often a better race than the Grade 2 for finding hidden Triumph Hurdle potential
Expecting to see something special this time (Parmenion for WPM?)
Who do you think could come here, win easily? and get a big Triumph price-chop?

2M4F Mares Grade 3 Hurdle
Concertista whacked Black Tears in this 12-months ago
Who do you want to see here?
TMSG, SWIW, Gauloise, another?
If the Mares Nurdle market leaders come here, who is your preference to win, at a Christmas and then at Cheltenham?

Grade 1 Matheson Hurdle 2M
Does Sharjah just win this again?
If he does, should he change it up, and miss the Irish Champion Hurdle at the DRF for once, and go straight to Cheltenham?
If he doesn’t who wins this? (are they worth backing for Cheltenham at final Decs for this race?)


Limerick

Novice Hurdle 2M4F (Winners of 1)
2M4F Mares Maiden Hurdle
Anything you see coming to these?
Slowly -slowly approach for a 2M4F winner running here, rather than in the Lawlors?

3yo Maiden Hurdle 2M
Won by Band Of Outlaws in 2018
Any Maiden Juveniles you are hoping to see here?
Does Willie have one for this maybe? (Parmenion?)

Grade 2 Novice Hurdle 2M7F
Probably the best Hurdle race to watch all season for future Albert Bartlett watching.
2020 Vanillier 2nd - Won AB
2019 Fury Road Won - 3rd AB
2017 Delta Work 2nd Won Pertemps Final
2016 Penhill Won - Won AB
2013 Faugheen Won - Won Ballymore

Who do you want to see here?
Do you see yourself placing an AB antepost bet after final Decs come out for this? - on who?

Grade 2 4yo Hurdle 2M
Espoir D’Allen won here, and the Champion Hurdle 3months later.
Saint Felicien or Teahupoo here for Robcour?
Anyone else of interest coming here? (Quilixios, Jeff Kidder, Zanahiyr) or a new season 4yo novice maybe?

[Spectre]

Thankyou everyone. I think across all the questions and ideas you have we can find some clear themes that will allow us to touch on almost everything you've suggested.

It'll be impossible to go into the depths we have for previous podcasts, but I think we can cover enough to do justice to what you've asked.

If the format works we'll repeat it for the Christmas Chases next week.