2025 Champion Hurdle

[ComplyOrDie]

Sorry! Not sure why he didn't get his own line. Probably be a 3 horse race. Glorified gallop.

Woeful line up!

Can't imagine Lossiemouth will turn up.

[Lobos]

Woeful line up!

Can't imagine Lossiemouth will turn up.

Why not ? She was sensational in it last year.

Anzadam for the Irish Churdle if same ownership State Man misses it ?

[ComplyOrDie]

Why not ? She was sensational in it last year.

Anzadam for the Irish Churdle if same ownership State Man misses it ?

Anzadam could target the Limestone Lad or the Red Mills hurdle according to Ruby. We will know more about the Limestone Lad as the entries are out on Wednesday (I think).

I'd argue it was easy to look sensational against what she was running against!

[FinalFurlong91]

Why not ? She was sensational in it last year.

Anzadam for the Irish Churdle if same ownership State Man misses it ?

Surely they will go for the grade 1

[Lobos]

Surely they will go for the grade 1

Could be a tougher race on her maybe? Better ground at Cheltenham? Course suits her better? Extra time between races? Loads of other reasons they'll consider other than grade 1 or money.

[Rooster Booster]

Sorry! Not sure why he didn't get his own line. Probably be a 3 horse race. Glorified gallop.

Recognising who he’s been galloping with it’s not even that

[Runragged]

Paragraph 15 on the Weights and Handicapping Code was only amended to require that novices run five times.

So I actually think a non-novice only requires three prior runs.

You need to refer to about three documents to work it out, and there all squirrelled away by the BHA. They really don’t make it easy.

You are right, they certainly don't make it easy to find this information. Took me about half an hour of searching the BHA website to eventually find the Weights and Handicapping Code.

However, that refers to novices needing 3 runs for chases and 4 runs for hurdles:

"A Novice or Juvenile shall be eligible for a Handicap Rating to run:

in a Class 1 or 2 Handicap Steeple Chase only if:

the horse has run in three or more Steeple Chases in Great Britain, Ireland and/or France, or

in the case of a Class 2 Handicap Steeple Chase, the horse has run in two Steeple Chases in Great Britain, Ireland and/or France and finished in the first four places in both Races;

in a Class 1 or 2 Handicap Hurdle Race not restricted to novices or juveniles, only if the horse has run in fouror more Hurdle Races in Great Britain, Ireland and/or France.

in a Class 1 or 2 Handicap Hurdle Race restricted to novices or juveniles, only if the horse has run in three or more Hurdle Races in Great Britain, Ireland and/or France."


We do have the Jockey Club press release at the time which stated:

• Currently horses must have run at least three times (chases) or four times (hurdles) to be eligible to run in non-novice handicaps at The Festival. From 2025, this will be increased to four chase and five hurdle runs.

This suggests to me that all horses must have run 4/5 times respective, regardless of if they are a novice or not.

Happy to read any further relevant links to this, as stated, the information is certainly not easy to come by!

[Istabraq]

They could just make it really easy and include the qualifying conditions in here:

https://media.britishhorseracing.com/bha/Publications/Pattern_Listed_Books/British_Jump_Pattern_Listed_2425.pdf

[Lobos]

I'm trying to understand why they would even enter Lossiemouth if she weren't going to run ? I could understand it if it were after the DRF perhaps. Maybe they are trying mind games with Nicky ? Very childish if so.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Surely they will go for the grade 1

If they think she can win it then absolutely.
Stay at home for a grade 1, or travel over here for a Grade 2 which she’s unlikely to win.

[Muswell]

Until about 4 days ago CH wasn’t going

[Rooster Booster]

Anzadam could target the Limestone Lad or the Red Mills hurdle according to Ruby. We will know more about the Limestone Lad as the entries are out on Wednesday (I think).

I'd argue it was easy to look sensational against what she was running against!

You put it a lot more politely than I was going to … sensational….and we blame media for hype

[Quevega]

I'm trying to understand why they would even enter Lossiemouth if she weren't going to run ? I could understand it if it were after the DRF perhaps. Maybe they are trying mind games with Nicky ? Very childish if so.

Nicky could announce any day before decs Mon-Thur that Con Hill not running.
Then she'd have a very easy day out.

[Lobos]

If they think she can win it then absolutely.
Stay at home for a grade 1, or travel over here for a Grade 2 which she’s unlikely to win.

Unless they believe she can beat him this time of course.

[Lobos]

Nicky could announce any day before decs Mon-Thur that Con Hill not running.
Then she'd have a very easy day out.

Unlikely from Nicky but possible.