2024 Champion Hurdle (Previously Constitution Hill thread)

[Ice]

Not a clue who holds the power. Suspect its a case of both trying to convince the other.

Would think it'd be easier for NH convince Buckley to stay hurdling than vice a versa

I personally also think he'll stay over hurdles, if Henderson makes the decision, i waa just wondering how assertive the owner was !

[Lobos]

Shortened into 6/5 with Unibet and 5/4 with Paddy Power for Champion Hurdle.

[Atlantic Viking]

I personally also think he'll stay over hurdles, if Henderson makes the decision, i waa just wondering how assertive the owner was !

I've always got the impression that they have the sort of relationship where if Buckley wants it enough, he'll get it. The run over 2m 4f was a pretty obvious fishing exercise with chasing in mind, as much the way he was taken through it as the distance/race itself. I know they've used it for Buveur D'Air before in particular who returned for the C Hurdle, so it would follow that so will CH, but i'm not overthinking beyond that at this stage, nobody knows. I'm just holding out on the hope that ambition/adventure (Buckley) wins over caution (Henderson).

[Kevloaf]

https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/constitution-hill-rated-inferior-to-faugheen-as-2022-23-jumps-rankings-revealed-anIc19Y57QBJ/

Rated 1 lb lower than Faugheen and level with Istabraq (Happy Birthday!)

[Bollinger]

An interesting read for sure. A Summer normally reserved for chipping away at what you might assume to be an Arkle ‘hottie’ and seeing your selection so very slowly shorten from 3/1 into 8/11 over many months is now a Summer where the ante post markets on at least 2 races, possibly 3 or 4, will be standing still, less those that feel like having a right go and calling it early and taking a price.
A price which may, or may not, look completely frivolous come March 12th next year.

Or 13th.

Or 14th.

Or, unthinkably……the 15th??

[Lobos]

https://www.racingpost.com/news/brit...-anIc19Y57QBJ/

Rated 1 lb lower than Faugheen and level with Istabraq (Happy Birthday!)

I personally think he'd beat both those two at their best. Shame they aren't all from the same era. Imagine that. Wowsers.

[Lobos]

We'll not know until September then at the earliest whether it's Hurdles again or Fences for him. I for one will be hoping he jumps them for fun .

[Saxon Warrior]

I personally think he'd beat both those two at their best. Shame they aren't all from the same era. Imagine that. Wowsers.

I love all Champion Hurdlers.

But Constitution Hill was a bit better than those, he wasn’t even pushed out that much, to win the last two Festivals.

[Lobos]

I love all Champion Hurdlers.

But Constitution Hill was a bit better than those, he wasn’t even pushed out that much, to win the last two Festivals.

Certainly the best Hurdler I've ever seen.

[Saxon Warrior]

Certainly the best Hurdler I've ever seen.

And me Lobos

[Lobos]

And me Lobos

We go back a long way as well.

[Saxon Warrior]

We go back a long way as well.

Very True - to the land of the Great Champion Hurdles

[Black Dog]

David "Bumble " Lloyd writing in today's Daily Mail.
"Racehorse trainer Nicky Henderson was at Lords yesterday and was asked by a keen punter if his brilliant Champion Hurdler Constitution Hill would stay hurdling or go jumping over fences. His gut feeling is he would stay over the hurdles. You heard it here first!"

[Lobos]

My gut is regularly wrong

[Cheltenham Novice Chase]

My gut is regularly wrong

I suspect your gut will be right this time. I think Michael Buckley has a sense of adventure which will overrule Henderson’s natural cautious approach, assuming he can actually jump a fence. By ‘he’ I mean Constitution Hill not Henderson nor Buckley. I doubt very much if they can.