2024 Champion Hurdle (Previously Constitution Hill thread)

[DenmanSacre]

On that basis, I think we should bin all MN and FV tickets for the Arkle.

Why? Would any of the other Arkle candidates beat State Man over 2m hurdles?

MN will likely make a great chaser and is the right fav.

[Lobos]

Why? Would any of the other Arkle candidates beat State Man over 2m hurdles?

MN will likely make a great chaser and is the right fav.

Absolutely not. It was a tongue in cheek response from me as I think MN would be very competitive in the CH based on how easily he put away Vega in the Supreme.

[DenmanSacre]

Absolutely not. It was a tongue in cheek response from me as I think MN would be very competitive in the CH based on how easily he put away Vega in the Supreme.

Hopefully see him more than 3 times over fences this season. Barry seems to be wrapping him up in cotton wool.

[Lobos]

Hopefully see him more than 3 times over fences this season. Barry seems to be wrapping him up in cotton wool.

Yep. Sadly that's the norm with all the better ones these days. They used to run 7/8 times a season, on any ground, against each other and hardly ever seemed to get injured. Whatever happened??

[Istabraq]

They used to run 7/8 times a season, on any ground, against each other and hardly ever seemed to get injured. Whatever happened??

I said it before in here, the great Remittance Man debut'd in a 20+ runner bumper at Cheltenham on firm ground.
Not only would there never be 20 runners declared for such a race these days but every chance the meeting would have been abandoned....

[Carnage at Taunton]

Yep. Sadly that's the norm with all the better ones these days. They used to run 7/8 times a season, on any ground, against each other and hardly ever seemed to get injured. Whatever happened??

Not saying Cheltenham was not a big meeting going back, but i do think its got so much bigger now, and really its become the Olympics.
Lots more pressure on trainers these days to have their horses spot on for March. Graded races throughout the season used as trial races for the festival.
If this continues and gets even bigger, as it probably will, then expect less and less seeing the top horses.
Its frustrating for us racegoers who go to see the horses, and for those watching at home, but we are the same people who are so much into Cheltenham.

[Rooster Booster]

Not saying Cheltenham was not a big meeting going back, but i do think its got so much bigger now, and really its become the Olympics.
Lots more pressure on trainers these days to have their horses spot on for March. Graded races throughout the season used as trial races for the festival.
If this continues and gets even bigger, as it probably will, then expect less and less seeing the top horses.
Its frustrating for us racegoers who go to see the horses, and for those watching at home, but we are the same people who are so much into Cheltenham.

Yep I’ve lost count of the times we have got upset with a trainer for running a horse because somehow or other it impacts our festival bet. The comments on here when a prominent horse is campaigned in a way that we feel is not consistent with the horse peaking at Cheltenham are often at odds with supporting the NH programme as a whole. It’s just a different form of pocket talk. Either we embrace the full national hunt programme or we prioritise the festival. But dipping in and out whenever it suits us is just a luxury that trainers, owners and others don’t have.

[Lobos]

Very little rain yesterday and overnight at Sandown. Forecast was wrong. Dry day today. Up to 10mm max forecast into tomorrow morning but I'd say there's every chance The Hill will take his place in the race. Bring it on !!!

[Brooksie]

7 ml to hit between 9-12 tomorrow morning. Hendo will be out with his stick poking around no doubt

[Runragged]

The course are also inspecting in the morning due to the amount of rain forecast...

https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/sandown-considering-saturday-inspection-with-heavy-rain-forecast-overnight-aWMB46W8ilkQ/

[Runragged]

7 ml to hit between 9-12 tomorrow morning. Hendo will be out with his stick poking around no doubt

Don't think he will be too impressed with the way his runners have gone today and the slow motion finish of the last race...

[Brooksie]

Yeah, if they get the rain forecast I'm pretty certain he won't run. He might even pull Shishkin and send him on a gallop somewhere instead. Nico didn't look too impressed walking in after that unseat lol.

[ComplyOrDie]

Immortal pulled from the last race by Nicky. We all know what's coming next!

[robith]

You have to say Nicky really is a twat. Just can't make up his mind about anything and scared to death of everything. Just let him run for christ sake !!!

What I hate is that he is an inconsistent twat - it's so hard HE'D DIE! But now it's soft it WILL RUIN HIM, make your bloody mind up.

I also resent how he mistakes his conditions preference for horse welfare. One of the country's leading trainers constantly talking in absolute terms about how conditions are bad for horses is not a good look

[Carnage at Taunton]

Immortal pulled from the last race by Nicky. We all know what's coming next!

Yeah I’m expecting it now.
With what’s happened today with his hurdlers I just can’t see CH running now.
And there’s rain forecast tonight.