2024 Champion Hurdle (Previously Constitution Hill thread)

[Spectre]

Not sure I’d agree with that. Ok istabraq was better but hardy eustace, hurricane fly, faugheen, Annie power and honeysuckle were all rockstar’s.

None emulated Istabraq Kauto. They won 2. A fine achievement in itself, but they couldn't go on to win the third. So my point is we may finally have a horse in Constitution Hill, who could not only potentially match Istabraq, he could actually go on to achieve something pretty remarkable by winning 4 Champion Hurdles.

A lot has to happen in the next two and half years for that to happen. He has to stay fit for a start, and he can't regress or the new kids on the block will have him. But surely we'd love to see him try? That's got to be better than wasting a season as a novice chaser, and perhaps only ever doing what's been done before. It's surely more likely he can beat Istabraq's achievement, than it is Best Mate's is it not?

[Spectre]

these feels like a general chat topic fellas

Nice to hear from you Charlie. Summer hibernation over early?

[charlie]

Nice to hear from you Charlie. Summer hibernation over early?

Hibernation over! Chomping at the bit for some jumps

[Carnage at Taunton]

There seems to be a modern kind of snobery around hurdling, C Hill could go on to win 3 or 4 champion hurdles and be lauded the greatest hurdler of all time but for many it won't be enough because he didn't add G1 chases to his CV, chase championships seem (in the modern world) to have greater value than hurdling championships for some reason.
He's a special horse and one that could go unbeaten for five years, personally I think it should be celebrated whatever he achieves, but I don't have a financial position on him...

Yep, could not agree more.
Been saying for some time now re the obsession to go chasing with top hurdlers, and i find it frustrating.
To me, CH is a proper natural over the hurdles and personally will be glad if he stays hurdling.
Maybe those involved with the good novice hurdlers of last season plus State Man(still improving?) will think the same.........although sadly i doubt it.
Weve had many very good hurdlers go nov chasing over the years, imo depriving us of Hardy,B inca, Harchibald type races, and i would love to think we might see more of that in the future.
The Champion Hurdle should be one of the races of the NH season with the best hurdlers around competing against each other.
It was when i was growing up in the 70's.
Now and then we have also seen some great clashes since then. But the race has struggled in recent years.
CH staying hurdling would be great for the Champion Hurdle, what would not be great if he won three like Istabraq did and then get the "whats he beat" thrown at him, like Istabraq gets at times.
That could be avoided if he actually gets competition from the improving top novices.

[FinalFurlong91]

I'm all about the chases personally

For me they are what national hunt racing is about

Nothing better than a 2 mile chaser

Especially a front running slick jumper like Un de Sceaux or Energumene

Though Sprinter was the best and Altior was some sight when the turbo kicked in

And il be gutted if IEP does stay over hurdles he looks a big lad who would flourish over the larger obstacles

The hurdles division is struggling in part due to so many of the second and third tier 12f+ flat horses being sold to places like hong kong and Australia not going over sticks

[Guinness Village]

Take both points of view and both equally valid. My personal favourite is a 2 mile chaser. Nothing more exciting than a tingle creek or queen mum.
but when you have such an accomplished hurdler as CH, I’m not sure that he’d make a better chaser.
either way, please god, turn up in March unbeaten and ready to make it special. Your man hendo is a master at 2 mile hurdlers and chasers, and he’ll do the right thing.

[Lobos]

Any horse ever won the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase???

[Black Dog]

Any horse ever won the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase???

The closest one has ever come to winning both was Flyingbolt in 1966. He won the Champion Chsse in a canter by 15l, and finished 3rd in the Champion Hurdle beaten just over 3l the following day!! And they say Arkle was the greatest,there really should be a festival race named after this fellah.

[Kevloaf]

Any horse ever won the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase???

Not that I know of...

Sizing Europe went off 2/1 Fav for a Champion Hurdle and came 14th before winning a Champion Chase

[Lobos]

So he'd create history if he were to win the Champion Chase then. If they feel he wouldn't stay but wanted to go chasing then why not target the CC?

[archie]

So he'd create history if he were to win the Champion Chase then. If they feel he wouldn't stay but wanted to go chasing then why not target the CC?

Because they've both won it before and would prefer to win multiple Champion Hurdles or a Gold Cup. That's been the stated case since March and all the chatter on here since then was just wishful thinking and wasted bandwidth.

[charlie]

Nicky will be desperate to keep him hurdling and will be very happy farming Grade 1's here before winning on day 1 of the festival for the next 2-3 years. He's always saying how important it is to get a winner on day 1 and thats what he has in CH. He's not a risk taker.

[ComplyOrDie]

Constitution Hill 1/2 with Unibet today, from 8/13, decision made? I'd say so.

[Black Dog]

Constitution Hill 1/2 with Unibet today, from 8/13, decision made? I'd say so.

They've also pushed him out to 3's for the Arkle and shortened Marine Nationale to 9/4.

[Ice]

Constitution Hill 1/2 with Unibet today, from 8/13, decision made? I'd say so.

Yeah, it's looking that way.