2023 Champion Hurdle

[ComplyOrDie]

Shame to see Honeysuckle lose her unbeaten run like that.

It was said by many that she never really looked as good last season and I think time is just catching up with her tbh. It's not easy for any horse to continue a unbeaten run, even more so at the top level.

I think someone on here has saod previously that Mares can just chuck in the towel at any stage and maybe this is her time to do so.

Don't get me wrong, she wasn't horrendous today, she's still finished 3rd and 30 lengths ahead of the 4th, but it was uncharacteristic of her to seemingly throw in the towel today.

Hopefully she does improve for that run and win the Irish Champion Hurdle Hufore coming over to Cheltenham but we shall see.

[Lobos]

Watched it back again and she looked all over the winner . Just fell in a hole after the last. Unlike her. Could be that she is just not as good now or maybe there are excuses. Ground, distance, trainer form, fitness ?? Probably just regression but the Irish Champion will tell us that. Would be lovely if she were to come back to her best for that and then put up a good show on her final appearance at the Festival. I'm clutching but I'm allowed.

[Hardy Eustace]

Answer me this...

What price does Constitution Hill go off at?



One lucky winner will receive a signed copy of our very own Lobos's autobiography, "Livin' La Vida Lobos"

[Lobos]

All depends on Honey's next run I reckon. If her last run was a blip and she wins the Irish Churdle well then he could go off 1-2 maybe and her around 4's?

If she disappoints again maybe retired then he could go off 1-5 ??

[Carnage at Taunton]

Personally don't think she'd stay 2 1/2 around Cheltenham. Fully expect her to run in the Churdle for place money especially after Honey disappointed today.

She stayed well enough when hosing up in the Aintree Hurdle over the distance.
Be surprised personally if JP wants another thrashing when he has an option of another festival win.

[FinalFurlong91]

She stayed well enough when hosing up in the Aintree Hurdle over the distance.
Be surprised personally if JP wants another thrashing when he has an option of another festival win.

She stayed round a flat track in a slowly run race that turned into a sprint and completely fell apart

Didn't get home that strongly at punchestown in a stronger run race

[Carnage at Taunton]

She stayed round a flat track in a slowly run race that turned into a sprint and completely fell apart

Didn't get home that strongly at punchestown in a stronger run race

Well she won a race over the distance comfortably despite being keen early on, and I don’t think connections will be concerned that she has an undulating track to contend with over that distance.
Think they will be more concerned with taking on a horse that’s clearly in a different league
The opposition in the Mares won’t be.

[Carnage at Taunton]

All depends on Honey's next run I reckon. If her last run was a blip and she wins the Irish Churdle well then he could go off 1-2 maybe and her around 4's?

If she disappoints again maybe retired then he could go off 1-5 ??

Personally think State Man is the only horse that could possibly keep CH at anything less than 1/3 on the day, as he’s still unexposed and open to improvement.
The rest imo are simply not at the level required.

[Quevega]

She stayed round a flat track in a slowly run race that turned into a sprint and completely fell apart

Didn't get home that strongly at punchestown in a stronger run race

It was a slowly run aintree hurdle. So there is a slight doubt about her stamina, although I'm not a doubter personally.

But the flat track aintree mantra is kind of a misnomer in this context as the mares hurdle is very often ran in a quicker time than the aintree hurdle over the same distance. So it might be less undulating but it takes more getting overall, as the times suggest. This may be due to the 2m 4f starting point on both tracks lending itself to make this the case, whereas the 3 mile starting points not so much.

[Liverpoolchamp]

Wow! Some interview that by Henry on RTV! Was very strong in the idea of maybe not even running in this race and giving serious thought now to going down the mates race route! I’d rather they just retire her than do this!

[Liverpoolchamp]

Mares race sorry for the spelling

[CJW]

Can you imagine the price of Chill if Honey goes to the Mares?

[Carnage at Taunton]

Can you imagine the price of Chill if Honey goes to the Mares?

After watching luck on Sunday today I reckon 1/10 !!

[ToniC]

Lot of water to go under the bridge between now & March to be fair. She’ll run over 2 miles at the DRF and if she wins the Irish champion hurdle it will be hard to say no to a go at the champion in Cheltenham you’d think. If she’s beat in Leopardstown then to be honest we’ve not really got the clash we hoped to see her vs CH in any meaningful sense anyway and she may as well go for the mares race

[ComplyOrDie]

I think it will be a travesty if the reigning Champion is fit and well and doesn't turn up to the race to defend her crown tbh.

Can understand a horse like Epatante deferring, she's been beat twice by Honeysuckle now in the race.