2024 Cheltenham - the odds on offer.

[Kevloaf]

Yeah it’s become a full 12 month project that never ends. You can’t afford to miss a beat by taking the summer off like you could have done 3 or 4 years ago.

I've managed to do that to be fair.... Starting aroudn October the last few years... but then I do put in a helluva lotta hours from then onwards...

[Kautostar]

I've managed to do that to be fair.... Starting aroudn October the last few years... but then I do put in a helluva lotta hours from then onwards...

I’d feel like I was playing catch-up if I started that late, a lot of my better work was done between the end of Cheltenham to punchestown last season.

[PresentingPercy]

Bit of an update on next season plans for Constitution Hill, Henderson when interviewed today saying - “It’s possible Aintree could be his last run over hurdles. Everything is possible. There are more opportunities over fences to start with, which would lead to the Arkle and the Champion Chase or maybe even the Gold Cup if he stays. A real superstar is a horse that can adapt to everything.”

They will look to school him over fences after Aintree and decide from there. From listening to Barry Geraghty previously, he says he jumps a fence just fine from when he schooled him as a 3 year old

https://cherumbu.com/sports/constitution-hill-nicky-henderson-hints-aintree-could-be-champion-hurdle-stars-last-run-before-going-chasing-racing-news-cherumbu-news/

[Benjy23]

Buckley definitely wants to go chasing doesn't he. Reckon Henderson says he schooled poorly and should stay over hurdles

[darlojim]

Buckley definitely wants to go chasing doesn't he. Reckon Henderson says he schooled poorly and should stay over hurdles

100% he does, and by Nico's interviews, he wants to have a go too. His comments around 'pigeon holing' him confirm that. Fair play to the owner wanting to be ambitious with a superstar that he has, we need to see more ballsy moves in the game in recent times, and I hope that it pays off for him, great for the sport.

I think all racing fans would want them to give chasing a go, we need to see new challenges and performances out of the ordinary more often, bring it on.

[Eggs]

….Henderson will make the hurdles or fences decision about C Hill 10 days after the Aintree Hurdle;

https://www.attheraces.com/news/2023/March/30/post-aintree-school-to-determine-constitution's-chasing-plans

5/6 to win Aintree Hurdle & a/r with Sky might now tempt some.

[Istabraq]

I think all racing fans would want them to give chasing a go, we need to see new challenges and performances out of the ordinary more often, bring it on.

Have to say I'm of a different mind here, the approach (to go chasing) suggests that winning prizes over fences is more prestigious than winning over hurdles, I totally accept that the Gold Cup is the pinnacle of the season but I also believe that winning the Champion Hurdles or Stayers Hurdle championship is an equal achievement to a champion chase.
Winning a Supreme, Champion Hurdle, Arkle and a Champion Chase isn't, for me, a better achievement than winning 3 Champion Hurdles or 3 Stayers hurdles.
Yes the stayers division has been poor for a while but those old enough will remember the likes of Ingles Drever, Big Bucks and Baracouda will appreciate the talent those horses had, they didn't need to win chase championships to earn legend status.
I just think there's a massive bias towards chasing in National Hunt racing and not enough respect is given to our hurdlers...

[darlojim]

Have to say I'm of a different mind here, the approach (to go chasing) suggests that winning prizes over fences is more prestigious than winning over hurdles, I totally accept that the Gold Cup is the pinnacle of the season but I also believe that winning the Champion Hurdles or Stayers Hurdle championship is an equal achievement to a champion chase.
Winning a Supreme, Champion Hurdle, Arkle and a Champion Chase isn't, for me, a better achievement than winning 3 Champion Hurdles or 3 Stayers hurdles.
Yes the stayers division has been poor for a while but those old enough will remember the likes of Ingles Drever, Big Bucks and Baracouda will appreciate the talent those horses had, they didn't need to win chase championships to earn legend status.
I just think there's a massive bias towards chasing in National Hunt racing and not enough respect is given to our hurdlers...

Maybe I'm of the minority them Ista.. or you are

But I'd love it if he could be a Supreme, Champ hdle, arkle, champ chase/Gold cup winner. It would literally be every box ticked in the principles of National Hunt, and a feat that will have never been achieved?

[Kautostar]

Have to say I'm of a different mind here, the approach (to go chasing) suggests that winning prizes over fences is more prestigious than winning over hurdles, I totally accept that the Gold Cup is the pinnacle of the season but I also believe that winning the Champion Hurdles or Stayers Hurdle championship is an equal achievement to a champion chase.
Winning a Supreme, Champion Hurdle, Arkle and a Champion Chase isn't, for me, a better achievement than winning 3 Champion Hurdles or 3 Stayers hurdles.
Yes the stayers division has been poor for a while but those old enough will remember the likes of Ingles Drever, Big Bucks and Baracouda will appreciate the talent those horses had, they didn't need to win chase championships to earn legend status.
I just think there's a massive bias towards chasing in National Hunt racing and not enough respect is given to our hurdlers...

I think when you have a horse that potentially could be one of the best ever you have to push the boundaries a bit. If he just wins weak champion hurdles beating the same horses we’ll never really know just how good he really is and it will become a stick to beat him with that he beats the same horses over and over again in weak fields.

[Lobos]

Maybe I'm of the minority them Ista.. or you are

But I'd love it if he could be a Supreme, Champ hdle, arkle, champ chase/Gold cup winner. It would literally be every box ticked in the principles of National Hunt, and a feat that will have never been achieved?

........and never likely to be achieved again. I do hope he's as good over fences as he is over Hurdles. Everything crossed.

[Istabraq]

Maybe I'm of the minority them Ista.. or you are

It's definitely me Jim, that much I know...

[Istabraq]

If he just wins weak champion hurdles beating the same horses we’ll never really know just how good he really is

This is the approach I struggle to understand, if he 'just' wins 3 championships ?
I remember Best Mate getting knocked for winning 3 Gold Cups many described as weak, should Henrieta have looked at the opposition for his 3rd Gold Cup and sent him to the Stayers to face Baracouda and Iris's Gift ?
A slightly facetious suggestion maybe, but winning a championship race means you are a champion, the best in that division, personally I don't see why he would need to go and win in another division to have his reputation enhanced.

I know I'm in a minority here so don't expect much by way of support, very much a personal view.
And just for the record, the only bet I have on Constitution Hill for 2024 is a very small patent with him in the Champion Chase, so this isn't pocket talk...

[Kautostar]

This is the approach I struggle to understand, if he 'just' wins 3 championships ?
I remember Best Mate getting knocked for winning 3 Gold Cups many described as weak, should Henrieta have looked at the opposition for his 3rd Gold Cup and sent him to the Stayers to face Baracouda and Iris's Gift ?
A slightly facetious suggestion maybe, but winning a championship race means you are a champion, the best in that division, personally I don't see why he would need to go and win in another division to have his reputation enhanced.

I know I'm in a minority here so don't expect much by way of support, very much a personal view.
And just for the record, the only bet I have on Constitution Hill for 2024 is a very small patent with him in the Champion Chase, so this isn't pocket talk...

There was nowhere else to go for best mate the challenge for him was the three gold cups whereas for con hill there’s a whole new division. Imagine winning the champion hurdle, qm champion chase and the gold cup! There’s nothing left for him to achieve over hurdles he’s already a great in that sphere he doesn’t need to win another champion hurdle to cement that legacy, there’s nothing come through to give him a race and therefore next years champion hurdle would likely be weaker than the one he’s already won. What do you gain from that? I know the champion hurdle is prestigious and I’m not trying to devalue it but when you have a once in a lifetime horse I’d be wanting to see how far he can go rather than taking the easy route.

[Eggs]

….Mirazur West into 20-1 from 33-1 Supreme/Ballymore with 365 after winning his Bumper today.

[darlojim]

….Mirazur West remains @ 33-1 Supreme/Ballymore after winning his Bumper today.

Not anymore..

For once I'd say the bookies didn't overreact with that performance, he looks exciting.