2024 Stayers Hurdle

[Lobos]

Educate me. Other than Easylands win in the X-Country what other French trained winners have there been at Cheltenham Festival in last 10 years ? I remember a couple in the Stayers in March but they flopped. I genuinely can't remember a winner other than Easyland.

I'm clearly a lot older than you. I'm going back a lot further than 10 years when they used to come over for Cheltenham and the Xmas Kempton meetings. Very successful too for the numbers they sent.

[TigerRolllllll]

I'm clearly a lot older than you. I'm going back a lot further than 10 years when they used to come over for Cheltenham and the Xmas Kempton meetings. Very successful too for the numbers they sent.

Lobos right ….as a fellow oldie

I actually used to bet them as value plays ….often under-bet here as not known by punters

[Lobos]

Lobos right ….as a fellow oldie

I actually used to bet them as value plays ….often under-bet here as not known by punters

A few of the Kempton ones won by half the track.

[Black Dog]

As well as Barracuda winning two Stayers Hurdles The Fellow won the Gold Cup and two King Georges
. Nupsala and Algan also won the King George and Jair du Cochet would likely have hosed up in the Triumph Hurdle if not for foot and mouth.

[Quevega]

As well as Barracuda winning two Stayers Hurdles The Fellow won the Gold Cup and two King Georges
. Nupsala and Algan also won the King George and Jair du Cochet would likely have hosed up in the Triumph Hurdle if not for foot and mouth.

First Gold won the King George and some other big races in UK & IRE, although always disappointed at Cheltenham from memory.

[Lobos]

As well as Barracuda winning two Stayers Hurdles The Fellow won the Gold Cup and two King Georges
. Nupsala and Algan also won the King George and Jair du Cochet would likely have hosed up in the Triumph Hurdle if not for foot and mouth.

Nupsala.............what a performance that was. Beat Dessie by half the track. Huge price from memory.

[Black Dog]

First Gold won the King George and some other big races in UK & IRE, although always disappointed at Cheltenham from memory.

Yep forgot First Gold

[Istabraq]

Nupsala.............what a performance that was. Beat Dessie by half the track. Huge price from memory.

That’s when Dessie and something else (forget his name) went off at 6f pace.
I’m sure I remember someone saying at the time the first mile would have won 8f flat races, they cut each others throats and set it up for Nupsala…

[AaronLad]

With willie mullins having said this about sir gerhard in the sporting life today ......

I decided to start him off here. Jumping over fences might not be his cup of tea and that’s why I wanted to get him out early and see what he can do with a summer’s rest under his belt. He’s not badly treated in this, but it could turn out he wants a trip over fences. He was a Champion Bumper horse and at one stage in his hurdling career I thought he might he a Champion Hurdle type, but his jumping has let him down. We’ve done things a little differently this year so I’m holding my breath to see if the homework we’ve done will show on the racetrack. If not there’s a chance he’ll go back over hurdles in the staying division.

the chances of sir gerhard having a season aimed at the stayers becomes very likely now

[darlojim]

Sir Gerhard has definitely still got the engine. Showed an exhibition round of jumping prior to his fall there, massive massive shame for one of my favourite horses in training.

You'd have to say hurdling will be absolutely the way they go now..

[Quevega]

With willie mullins having said this in the sporting life today ......

I decided to start him off here. Jumping over fences might not be his cup of tea and that’s why I wanted to get him out early and see what he can do with a summer’s rest under his belt. He’s not badly treated in this, but it could turn out he wants a trip over fences. He was a Champion Bumper horse and at one stage in his hurdling career I thought he might he a Champion Hurdle type, but his jumping has let him down. We’ve done things a little differently this year so I’m holding my breath to see if the homework we’ve done will show on the racetrack. If not there’s a chance he’ll go back over hurdles in the staying division.

the chances of sir gerhard having a season aimed at the stayers becomes very likely now

Yep, worth backing at 20-1+ now i reckon.

[AaronLad]

Yep, worth backing at 20-1+ now i reckon.

for any book builders i'd say so

[Quevega]

for any book builders i'd say so

Or for value.
If he races against Teahupoo at any stage how would people price it up ?

[Exar Essay]

I'm torn. I thought his jumping was spot on other than the big error. But that can happen to any horse. I wonder if Willie might be tempted to given him another spin this side of Christmas before deciding. That being said, I don't think he'll get 3m2 at Cheltenham and Willie already has the CPS owned favourite for the Ryanair. So from a race planning perspective, I doubt it would be difficult to convince the Thompsons to stick him back over hurdles.

[riccirich]

Head scratcher what do do with Sir Gerhard after that.

Jumped very well until the fall, if he'd been slow and steady all the way round then hurdles would definitely be the way to go, but the fact he looked much improved until the fall could make them want to persevere.

But if they stick to fences what do they do? Is he good enough to be a champion chase horse? Two and a half miles would seem his perfect trip but over fences cheveley already have allaho and envoi for the Ryanair and there's nothing over that trip over hurdles at the festival. And does he really want the 3m of the stayers or gold cup? Nothing he's done would indicate he does.