2025 Champion Hurdle

[Big Bucks]

He's not said anything about Sir Gino.
Punters just second guessing.

Cheers Q, I thought as much. I can't see it myself, so could be value elsewhere with ones having eyes on Sir G, who as far as I can see is aimed to go over fences.

[Quevega]

He must have been OK immediately after the gallop. I'm pretty sure someone at Newbury would have noticed the limp if he wasn't . So it must have become apparent in the following days,and the markets seemed settled until this morning.

Yeah, no reason to doubt that.
My issue was that gallop was clearly not great for the circumstances. proximity to race and horse ability etc.

So whilst I understood most of the comments connections made at the time, and why they'd do this. I didn't take them seriously as it seemed obvious to me that they were not being completely honest.
I have no real problem with that except for a concern for the people that do seem to take comments in this context as complete honesty.

He may well have never been found to be lame, but this would not have changed my opinion.
The gallop was not good and that was pretty clear.

[Ice]

Seems logical for the owners to keep sir gino aimed over fences as they have state man for the champion hurdle (imo) but i suppose it depends if they let nicky decide or if they say where they want him running.

[Exar Essay]

I've possibly missed the quote, but has Nicky said Sir Gino will stay over hurdles if Constitution Hill doesn't? Will he run at the fighting fifth and Champion Hurdle? Or are punters just being clever?

Nicky has said that Sir Gino might step in for Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle, even after going chasing. So it's clear he wants a Champion Hurdle runner to me.

Blogger said that Nicky told him Sir Gino will step in at the Fighting Fifth is Constitution Hill doesn't make it. Take that how you wish.

Nicky has said today that Iberico Lord is more likely to be declared than Sir Gino on Monday.

That's the "evidence" which I've used to form a view.

[Benjy23]

He's not said anything about Sir Gino.
Punters just second guessing.

When talking about Sir Gino he mentioned the option to revert back to hurdles. And referenced Buveur D’Air... Never linked it to Constitution Hill of course. It wouldn't be enough to make me back Sir Gino but I think to say he's not said anything isn't 100% accurate.

[Muswell]

The people who knew there was an issue would seem to have been also well informed enough to be backing sir gino whether it’s 2+2 or something else is another matter

[Wayward Lad]

Whilst I fully understand the concern around the comments about what seemed to a lot of people as a poor gallop by CH and now the news about the lameness, what I don’t understand is why would top connections not be fully transparent about things related to a top graded horse? Particularly if related to a gallop, injury or participation in a future race.

We are led to believe the top owners are in it for winning the top races and not betting, then why would Trainer/Jockey say anything else but the truth? Especially when they get so much stick around communication?

Why do they need (if I need they did) to ‘put a brave face on ‘?

[Craigy14]

He's not said anything about Sir Gino.
Punters just second guessing.

It comes back to the point Opatcho made about Sir Ginos season being geared around what happens with Constitution Hill, it’s nonsense really.

What I would say though is, why curtail his chase debut to take in an open Grade 1 over hurdles to then go novice chasing afterwards? Hendo would surely look to have lost all his marbles doing that imo. I’m going on the provision that Constitution Hill is a busted flush by the way, as if he somehow gets Constitution Hill back to his best they aren’t going to know that for sometime, there will be the will he won’t he run at Xmas all over again which then delays any chase debut for Sir Gino.

[Quevega]

When talking about Sir Gino he mentioned the option to revert back to hurdles. And referenced Buveur D’Air... Never linked it to Constitution Hill of course. It wouldn't be enough to make me back Sir Gino but I think to say he's not said anything isn't 100% accurate.

Yeah, I was answering based on anything he'd said today with the con hill news, not other comments made in previous days or weeks.

My opinion though is firmly that Henderson will put him in the fighting fifth if owner agrees.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Seems logical for the owners to keep sir gino aimed over fences as they have state man for the champion hurdle (imo) but i suppose it depends if they let nicky decide or if they say where they want him running.

It’s possible that over the season it becomes apparent that State Man is not the stable number 1
In that scenario SG might well be the owners main chance
Plus Hendo may have the final say as trainers tend to have, and no CH may well see SG in the CHurdle anyway.

Looking at current prices for the Arkle and CH i don’t think I would be tempted to back SG in either right now!!

[Benjy23]

Yeah, I was answering based on anything he'd said today with the con hill news, not other comments made in previous days or weeks.

My opinion though is firmly that Henderson will put him in the fighting fifth if owner agrees.

Aye, they don't need the money like me but the Fighting Fifth almost looks like a free £65k at the moment

Elliot should probably consider pulling Brighterdaysahead tomorrow and sending her over imo.

[Quevega]

Whilst I fully understand the concern around the comments about what seemed to a lot of people as a poor gallop by CH and now the news about the lameness, what I don’t understand is why would top connections not be fully transparent about things related to a top graded horse? Particularly if related to a gallop, injury or participation in a future race.

We are led to believe the top owners are in it for winning the top races and not betting, then why would Trainer/Jockey say anything else but the truth? Especially when they get so much stick around communication?

Why do they need (if I need they did) to ‘put a brave face on ‘?

You'd have to ask them, but IMO the gallop was clearly not ideal.
So maybe they thought they'd bluff it out, not find any issues and he'd turn up next week the usual Con Hill.
They were obviously not aware of any issues and had expected a good gallop.

However, There is pressure with having such a high profile horse, some of it self inflicted but not all. And maybe they didn't want to make too much out of any disappointment they may have felt internally.

It's similar to finding a horse lame one morning - they won't report this usually, as they know that this happens frequently and there's every chance the next morning he's trotting up just fine.

I cannot imagine any supporter or fan or expert could have watched that gallop and though that was good.

[Carnage at Taunton]

It comes back to the point Opatcho made about Sir Ginos season being geared around what happens with Constitution Hill, it’s nonsense really.

What I would say though is, why curtail his chase debut to take in an open Grade 1 over hurdles to then go novice chasing afterwards? Hendo would surely look to have lost all his marbles doing that imo. I’m going on the provision that Constitution Hill is a busted flush by the way, as if he somehow gets Constitution Hill back to his best they aren’t going to know that for sometime, there will be the will he won’t he run at Xmas all over again which then delays any chase debut for Sir Gino.

It’s not unreasonable to suggest that the CHurdle could be easier to win than the Arkle for a current 4 year old hurdler. Especially looking at how the respective races are looking right now imo.
And like I said on the other thread, although Opatcho makes a valid point, the fact that SG is still only 4 has to factor into things imo

[Quevega]

It’s possible that over the season it becomes apparent that State Man is not the stable number 1
In that scenario SG might well be the owners main chance
Plus Hendo may have the final say as trainers tend to have, and no CH may well see SG in the CHurdle anyway.

Looking at current prices for the Arkle and CH i don’t think I would be tempted to back SG in either right now!!

With regards Sir Gino, they can really afford to wait and watch... this weekend.

What State Man does
And what Ballyburn does

Ballyburn could wing every fence and look arkle material and state man could get beat by a mare.

[Carnage at Taunton]

With regards Sir Gino, they can really afford to wait and watch... this weekend.

What State Man does
And what Ballyburn does

Ballyburn could wing every fence and look arkle material and state man could get beat by a mare.

Exactly
No need to rush things with these two races happening so close together and could well result in providing answers they need.
SG is obviously ready to run and over fences or hurdles