COUNTY Handicap Hurdle 2021

[Lobos]

I expect Saldier to still tackle the Champion Hurdle if I’m honest, for every Arctic Fire there are plenty of Aramons and something unexposed will sweep past.
Mullins has been bullish all year on the horse...

Maybe. Mullins has been bullish all year but he's let them down and underperformed by their expectations. He can't beat the two Mares and is unlikely to even be placed in the Churdle in his current form. Willie is not stupid. He'd be the class horse in the County and have a far better chance even if he's lost some of his sparkle.

[ToniC]

Couldn’t give the horse the time of day after his last run, definitely regressed since Xmas where there were at least some positives to take out of it. At Xmas he travelled sweetly and took his obstacles slickly but just stopped dead like a horse lacking fitness which was forgivable & actually looked like it could be promising going forward but he never looked to go a yard at the DRF was a much poorer showing

[Carnage at Taunton]

Couldn’t give the horse the time of day after his last run, definitely regressed since Xmas where there were at least some positives to take out of it. At Xmas he travelled sweetly and took his obstacles slickly but just stopped dead like a horse lacking fitness which was forgivable & actually looked like it could be promising going forward but he never looked to go a yard at the DRF was a much poorer showing

Nor me. He’s a horse I thought was a big price early season, and duly backed thinking he could come back and be the horse I thought he was........he hasn’t.

[Jrow]

I would have been quite keen on Uradel here, having watched his return after almost 700 days recently he travelled really well for most of the race. However, hes off 131 now so it would be unlikely he got in even with the tax

[Spectre]

The problem with Saldier is that he has everything to prove. If Willie thinks he's back to his best he surely goes for the The Champion Hurlde. If he doesn't he can't win the County off 156.

Aramon and Arctic Fire had much less to prove at the time of their runs. Yes both were beaten at Leopardstown prior, but Saldier was slammed, and also the time before. The comparison just isn't there.

[ComplyOrDie]

The problem with Saldier is that he has everything to prove. If Willie thinks he's back to his best he surely goes for the The Champion Hurlde. If he doesn't he can't win the County off 156.

Aramon and Arctic Fire had much less to prove at the time of their runs. Yes both were beaten at Leopardstown prior, but Saldier was slammed, and also the time before. The comparison just isn't there.

As a big Saldier fan, I unfortunately agree with this.

They said he'd improve for his run over Christmas, in fact he went the other way. He's got a hell of a lot prove currently, and he's only 9/1 NRNB, that's not even close to being big enough to consider him.

[Old Vic]

Entries

https://www.fatjockey.com/county-handicap-hurdle-2021/

[Kevloaf]

As a big Saldier fan, I unfortunately agree with this.

They said he'd improve for his run over Christmas, in fact he went the other way. He's got a hell of a lot prove currently, and he's only 9/1 NRNB, that's not even close to being big enough to consider him.

That's the kind of price, that if he turns up, gets well backed and wins I'll just think, well he was only ever 9/1 NRNB, so easy to have looked past him.

Aramon was bigger prices and Arctic Fire was a big price in the morning even if not at SP.... Wicklow Brave similar?

[Spectre]

I'm quickly coming round to the way of thinking that Blue Lord will be Willie's main dart for the race.

[Kevloaf]

I'm quickly coming round to the way of thinking that Blue Lord will be Willie's main dart for the race.

Only 8/1 NRNB though, 3 weeks out, without knowing the weights.

I hate single figure handicap favourites ante post.... especially ones like him where on the day when he's 9/2 I'll be annoyed I didn't take 8/1

[ComplyOrDie]

That's the kind of price, that if he turns up, gets well backed and wins I'll just think, well he was only ever 9/1 NRNB, so easy to have looked past him.

Aramon was bigger prices and Arctic Fire was a big price in the morning even if not at SP.... Wicklow Brave similar?

He's actually been pushed out to 12/1 NRNB now, but again, is still too short for me. I think if he went out to 16's I'd start considering him, not necessarily back, mind.

[FinalFurlong91]

BLUE LORD

Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle

We could see Blue Lord in there as well. After he won his maiden at Punchestown I was thinking two and a half for him, but when I ran him at Naas he was too free. I think his jumping is good enough and maybe we’ll just have a bolder approach to how we ride him. I know connections have entered him in the County Hurdle this morning, but I’m not sure he has the expertise to jump with them in the County. He might have the ability but I’m not sure he has the technique yet and I’d rather have him with the novices.

[Can't Catch Me]

He's actually been pushed out to 12/1 NRNB now, but again, is still too short for me. I think if he went out to 16's I'd start considering him, not necessarily back, mind.

Who is that with CoD? Gutted. Took 16/1 earlier without the NRNB concession as the price was so much different.

[Spectre]

That's where I am with him. I took the 10/1 for a couple of points each way last night, but I haven't got enough on and feel as though I need to go again. He'll be short if he's declared and he's sure to be 145ish. which is nice for this. He's not a Saint Roi though, so will need to be a 150's horse to win. He'll be an easy trade to leave some running if he lines up. JP has Thedevilscoachman with Meade that could come here and be very similar.

So many could be backed, but Willie's and JP's novices will attract the money.

[Spectre]

BLUE LORD

Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle

We could see Blue Lord in there as well. After he won his maiden at Punchestown I was thinking two and a half for him, but when I ran him at Naas he was too free. I think his jumping is good enough and maybe we’ll just have a bolder approach to how we ride him. I know connections have entered him in the County Hurdle this morning, but I’m not sure he has the expertise to jump with them in the County. He might have the ability but I’m not sure he has the technique yet and I’d rather have him with the novices.

Yes I saw that, but Saint Roi was far more novicey than Blue Lord at the same point, so it feels like a smokescreen.