2024 Champion Hurdle (Previously Constitution Hill thread)

[somer1]

Still my biggest bet for the Fest when (me west country cousin) said evens with sky still. So hit it and gone the next day.

[FinalFurlong91]

I'd say marine nationale would have won anyway, would have been closer barring the mistake but marine won quite comfortably in the end and I'd personally say he was the slightly better horse, fences could change that and if facile vega jumps a fence better then the result could easily be different. One mistake could make all the difference.

It was a tired jump from facile to me

Tanked his way to the front, kicked clear then emptied on the run in

He was lame after the DRF wasnt he iirc? So that interrupted prep may have taken its toll on him at the finish

i dont think theres much between them, if they were the same price you'd take MN but at double the price Facile is tempting

The lads on the finishing line went to closutton and said facile is one of the bigger horses in the yard so should improve for a fence and its very much the job he was bred for being by walk in the park (douvan, min, jonbon) out of quevega a Robin des champs mare (vautour, sir de champs,)

[Quevega]

Fences could definitely change things but facile was ridden into the last and marine was being cajoled and gathered- basically getting him interested
If I was a facile fan I’d have wanted him to be gaining again near the line to believe the mistake theory more.
obviously could have been feeling something but still.

backed em both a long time ago to win similar sums so not too fussed
but if you asked me who’s the better horse I’d say marine all day. The issue is facile has the better trainer by far. Could easily prove best in the long run.

[Quevega]

It was a tired jump from facile to me

Tanked his way to the front, kicked clear then emptied on the run in

He was lame after the DRF wasnt he iirc? So that interrupted prep may have taken its toll on him at the finish

i dont think theres much between them, if they were the same price you'd take MN but at double the price Facile is tempting

The lads on the finishing line went to closutton and said facile is one of the bigger horses in the yard so should improve for a fence and its very much the job he was bred for being by walk in the park (douvan, min, jonbon) out of quevega a Robin des champs mare (vautour, sir de champs,)

The kicked clear I’d disagree with as the jockey on marine never blinked. He would have been entitled to get after his mount given his inexperience but didn’t. I can only think he felt he had shit loads left.

[Lobos]

Still my biggest bet for the Fest when (me west country cousin) said evens with sky still. So hit it and gone the next day.

You beauty. Glad to be of assistance.

[HesTheOne]

Fences could definitely change things but facile was ridden into the last and marine was being cajoled and gathered- basically getting him interested
If I was a facile fan I’d have wanted him to be gaining again near the line to believe the mistake theory more.
obviously could have been feeling something but still.

backed em both a long time ago to win similar sums so not too fussed
but if you asked me who’s the better horse I’d say marine all day. The issue is facile has the better trainer by far. Could easily prove best in the long run.

One thing I keep thinking back to is Marine Nationale straight after the race was barely giving a blow.. he was ready to go do it all again.

Not to say he’s the stamina of a 4 miler but he did the the bare minimum to win comfortably.

I think both FV and MN will improve immensely this season.

Id nearly prefer if they didn’t meet until the festival to have a real clash of the ages but surely they both run in the Irish Arkle all going well.

[Quevega]

One thing I keep thinking back to is Marine Nationale straight after the race was barely giving a blow.. he was ready to go do it all again.

Not to say he’s the stamina of a 4 miler but he did the the bare minimum to win comfortably.

I think both FV and MN will improve immensely this season.

Id nearly prefer if they didn’t meet until the festival to have a real clash of the ages but surely they both run in the Irish Arkle all going well.

Yeah, I agree. Just the way he looked around after the last - and he’d already caught up jumping the last just by getting woken up. Looked a bit green also.
Looks to have a real engine.

[Kevloaf]

I think Marine Nationale's 'prep' for the Supreme, with a lack of graded experience, and the way he did it, means he's a proper Grade 1 horse.... if he takes to fences and is at the same level as he was over hurdles he'll be very tough to beat.

Facile Vega will need to improve more than Marine Nationale does over a fence to beat him, as over hurdles I'd be on MN every single time if they met



Then again, we all know I just like the colours

[jono]

Yeah, I agree. Just the way he looked around after the last - and he’d already caught up jumping the last just by getting woken up. Looked a bit green also.
Looks to have a real engine.

Everyone will weight a jockeys thoughts differently.
But I'd say it's worth listening to the interview on RacingTV with Michael O'Sullivan straight after the Supreme.
To paraphrase

won very snuggly, never got serious at all, just a few flicks, not even having a blow

Which would go along with your thoughts.

Personally i've little doubt Facile Vega will be right up there in either the Arkle or Turners this season.
His rating and the lack of others around him show that.
He'll improve for a fence. Which probably brings him closer between the pair.
And that his price hasn't actually been that bad post festival for the novice chases.

But Marine Nationale could just be a level above.
Certainly over hurdles I think he is.

[Ballybeen]

Didn’t Willie say last season he thought Facile would be better going up in distance?

personally I think we’ll see him in the turners.

[Lobos]

Agree Jono. Everyone saying Vega will improve for a fence but what about Marine? He's every chance of being better over the bigger ones as well.

[Saxon Warrior]

Was it a great Supreme?

MN 158 RPR for it, is decent, but not 5/2 Arkle Fav, maybe.

The only time he’s put up above 147, when he won a photo finish for the Royal Bond.

Im not against Marine Nationale, but I’m not bowled over with him, even if he were a bit bigger price for the Arkle.

[Lobos]

Marine Nationale supporters all now deflated.....

[Bollinger]

Paddy’s gone 5/1 for Con Hill to win the next 3 Champ Hurdles. I did call it in post 365 Lobos Sir.

I hate (genuinely) self aggrandising, but I really did feel that was absolutely the spot on price they’d offer. You really do need to have a feel for the bookmakers thoughts (to beat them) before they actually engage those thoughts. I felt strongly about my views on exactly how Con Hill would be priced up specifically.

[Bollinger]

I think the 7/4 Coral’s are offering on him to win 3 or more champ hurdles is a very sound bet.