2025 Champion Hurdle

[Lobos]

not big enough apparently - 46s tops now..

That was snapped up

[Hardy Eustace]

Apart from missing the Festival there's not any other race for them so if they are all fit and well then maybe they will all turn up. It's a good team to have though in case one gets injured.

Fair point. Not in Willie’s or even Nicky’s nature to miss the festival without good reason.

it is indeed, and we could have a champion hurdle for the ages if they all get there in 96 days time. Could be a harchibald, brave and Inca and my namesake kind of year. Would be amazing if it was.

I just think that given how hot the champion hurdle could be and how we haven’t yet seen a WOW performance from the arkle hopefuls (LDS was good but is he really arkle class?) a switch for Gino must still be under strong consideration.

[Lobos]

I haven't seen one so called expert from the Racing media that thinks they'll switch him to chasing this season so I have to respect that. I also agree that staying Hurdling now is the right thing to do for the horse. We still don't know if CH will be back and State Man might well not be the same horse this season so the Donnelly's may need SG more than we think.

I'm more interested in where SG, Anzadam and Lossiemouth will run next time. That's the real conundrum. Any thoughts??

[Carnage at Taunton]

Yep, was thinking the same but he's now rated virtually on a par with Sir Gino and punters are happy to take the much lower odds on him so I can sort of understand it.

Yeah I see the ratings are not far off, but personally I would be surprised if SG is not a fair bit better, but who knows??
All good for the race though,which is the main thing for me.

[Carnage at Taunton]

I haven't seen one so called expert from the Racing media that thinks they'll switch him to chasing this season so I have to respect that. I also agree that staying Hurdling now is the right thing to do for the horse. We still don't know if CH will be back and State Man might well not be the same horse this season so the Donnelly's may need SG more than we think.

I'm more interested in where SG, Anzadam and Lossiemouth will run next time. That's the real conundrum. Any thoughts??

I think SG will go Xmas Hurdle Although CH may change that?
Lossie could go there as well or wait for Intl at Cheltenham?
No idea on Anzadam

[archie]

Does Anzadam have an official rating? Not according to HRI. Best RPR of 150 compared to 156 for Sir Gino (157 OR) so in the same county but still several lengths difference. My own guess at the Anzadam OR would have been between 148 and 152 but he's still a huge way off State Man and Lossiemouth.

[Black Dog]

I think SG will go Xmas Hurdle Although CH may change that?
Lossie could go there as well or wait for Intl at Cheltenham?
No idea on Anzadam , but maybe Ascot?

Nicky on Constitution Hill.
"The setback threatened to rule out a bid for a Christmas Hurdle hat-trick, but Henderson sais yesterday: He's coming along well.He wasn't hopping lame-he was lame for a couple of days after that gallop-but he's absolutely 100% now. "
Sir Gino was rerouted from an intended chase debut to post an impressive Fighting Fifth Hurdle success. But Henderson and Sir Gino's owners, Joe and Marie Donnelly, have yet to reach a decision as to whether last seasons top juvenile hurdler will stay over timber or tackle fences.
"We've got to keep all our options open as far as everybody's concerned, I'm afraid-that's the only way".

[ComplyOrDie]

Does Anzadam have an official rating? Not according to HRI. Best RPR of 150 compared to 156 for Sir Gino (157 OR) so in the same county but still several lengths difference. My own guess at the Anzadam OR would have been between 148 and 152 but he's still a huge way off State Man and Lossiemouth.

I think it's more to do with it being Anzadams first run for Willie, so many expecting plenty of improvement, whether enough to get to the market principles is another thing altogether. It took Sir Gino his 3rd run for Nicky to hit a 150 RPR. He went to Aintree rated 145, I have Anzadam higher than that already.

Anzadam is no price now, really, based on what he's actually achieved, but the 33's & 40's, that he was, offered a fair E/W opportunity, IMO.

Lossiemouth has achieved RPR's of 151, 150, 156 & 151. That doesn't put her a million miles ahead of Anzadam, just going on them, however, visually, and what she's beat, you'd have her well ahead. Also OR's would have her a fair bit ahead, you'd imagine, too.

FWIW I have Anzadam between 148-150 currently. I actually think he would beat Sir Gino this season, and he is only 5/1 top price for the Champion Hurdle. On this basis alone, and provided that opinion turns out to be correct, you could say the 20's still available is actually a good bet, still.

[AaronLad]

Apart from missing the Festival there's not any other race for them so if they are all fit and well then maybe they will all turn up. It's a good team to have though in case one gets injured.

No other race?
Are you short sighted?

[Lobos]

I think SG will go Xmas Hurdle Although CH may change that?
Lossie could go there as well or wait for Intl at Cheltenham?
No idea on Anzadam , but maybe Ascot?

If CH is ready to run in Xmas Hurdle then SG will clearly step aside and run elsewhere. That could open the door for Anzadam to run in the race and then Lossiemouth can stick to the original plan of International. But where then does SG go ? If Lossiemouth was confirmed going to the Xmas Hurdle would they want CH to run against her after coming off his issues? Clearly he wouldn't be 100% whereas Lossie would be race fit. I reckon there will be plenty of mind games going on and where each trainer says they will run will be quite far from the truth.

[Lobos]

No other race?
Are you short sighted?

What other race at the Fez could they run in ?

[Carnage at Taunton]

I think it's more to do with it being Anzadams first run for Willie, so many expecting plenty of improvement, whether enough to get to the market principles is another thing altogether. It took Sir Gino his 3rd run for Nicky to hit a 150 RPR. He went to Aintree rated 145, I have Anzadam higher than that already.

Anzadam is no price now, really, based on what he's actually achieved, but the 33's & 40's, that he was, offered a fair E/W opportunity, IMO.

Lossiemouth has achieved RPR's of 151, 150, 156 & 151. That doesn't put her a million miles ahead of Anzadam, just going on them, however, visually, and what she's beat, you'd have her well ahead. Also OR's would have her a fair bit ahead, you'd imagine, too.

FWIW I have Anzadam between 148-150 currently. I actually think he would beat Sir Gino this season, and he is only 5/1 top price for the Champion Hurdle. On this basis alone, and provided that opinion turns out to be correct, you could say the 20's still available is actually a good bet, still.

Be I interested in your reasoning in thinking Anzadam would beat SG?

[Lobos]

Be I interested in your reasoning in thinking Anzadam would beat SG?

Maybe he has the more improvement in him after just 3 runs and just one away from France after a long break ?

[AaronLad]

What other race at the Fez could they run in ?

For the reasons I mentioned the other day, I don't think the stayers is completely out if the question for anzadam if he's beaten over 2 miles nto against another champion hurdle contender.
He could well bounce next race, it wouldnt be the first time it's happened. This could open a door to the county hurdle if connections wanted to take that route.

I don't think the above will happen, but to be so dismissive in early December is a little folly imo.

[Lobos]

For the reasons I mentioned the other day, I don't think the stayers is completely out if the question for anzadam if he's beaten over 2 miles nto against another champion hurdle contender.
He could well bounce next race, it wouldnt be the first time it's happened. This could open a door to the county hurdle if connections wanted to take that route.

I don't think the above will happen, but to be so dismissive in early December is a little folly imo.

Yeah, good points.