2025 Champion Hurdle

[Lobos]

I reckon the Mullins camp will want to have one last go at CH in March. Willie said as much post race. Reckon all this Mares Hurdle talk is a bit premature.

Yes, they'll definitely be heading that way still. It's been the plan for the last couple of years so they'll not sway from that niw. I'd be with them in thinking she was flat/underperformed today as she was struggling to keep up with the rags early doors and was never travelling at all. She just never got into the race at all. The tight turns looked all against her. The ground is guaranteed to be Softer than today on day 1 and we know Cheltenham really suits her. She'll take her chance again but everything will need to go right to have any chance at all against the Hill.

[Brooksie]

On a pure time basis, that's probably Lossiemouths best performance. Be interesting if Burdett Road is now aimed at the Champion Hurdle as he'll be too high in the ratings for a handicap now. Sure CH will like something to give them an honest pace again.

Burdett Road ran a stormer and would have finished even closer had he jumped the last it really was a bad error. With a race that could cut up considerably I think I'd rather be backing him EW than Lossiemouth. 33s looks more than fair.

[DenmanSacre]

Do we think she'll go to the DRF, and if so, who will Townend ride if State Man wins this week?

She needs to be in another race where they go a decent gallop from the start, but based on State Mans other wins at Leopardstown, she probably won't get that at the DRF.

[ComplyOrDie]

Burdett Road ran a stormer and would have finished even closer had he jumped the last it really was a bad error. With a race that could cut up considerably I think I'd rather be backing him EW than Lossiemouth. 33s looks more than fair.

Problem with Burdett Road for me, is that for a flat horse, Kempton is ideal. That was a career best today and I don't think he'll improve beyond that this season. I think that was his final.

Lossiemouth will appreciate Cheltenham more than Burdett Road, as will Constitution Hill.

[Brooksie]

Problem with Burdett Road for me, is that for a flat horse, Kempton is ideal. That was a career best today and I don't think he'll improve beyond that this season. I think that was his final.

Lossiemouth will appreciate Cheltenham more than Burdett Road, as will Constitution Hill.

Maybe so, although I don't think he has any issues with Cheltenham, two first places and a second behind big Gino, that run might be forgiven if SG puts Ballyburn away tomorrow.

In regards to his stamina, he wasn't a million miles behind Kyrpios on the flat having ran far too keen, and his breeding suggests plenty of stamina. Still plenty young enough to find a bit more improvement too. He's gonna have to though as I think we'll see a better version of CH again come Cheltenham. Just looking at the 2nd and 3rd angle into the race though with the 33s.

[FinalFurlong91]

Do we think she'll go to the DRF, and if so, who will Townend ride if State Man wins this week?

She needs to be in another race where they go a decent gallop from the start, but based on State Mans other wins at Leopardstown, she probably won't get that at the DRF.

I can't see paul getting off state man

Which means Patrick will probably be on lossie

They will almost definitely clash

State man wins lossie goes mares

Lossie wins both go to the champion hurdle

[Carnage at Taunton]

Yes, they'll definitely be heading that way still. It's been the plan for the last couple of years so they'll not sway from that niw. I'd be with them in thinking she was flat/underperformed today as she was struggling to keep up with the rags early doors and was never travelling at all. She just never got into the race at all. The tight turns looked all against her. The ground is guaranteed to be Softer than today on day 1 and we know Cheltenham really suits her. She'll take her chance again but everything will need to go right to have any chance at all against the Hill.

The problem with backing Mares antepost for CH is the Mares Hurdle.
Now that she’s got beat by possibly one of the best ever, the temptation of a more likely win is going to be there, whatever we think.
I hope she turns up here because I do think she’s perfectly suited to the course and would finish the race strongly.
But does that really matter if connections think she can’t win this, or at least know she has more chance in another race.

[Birds Nest]

Will burdett road get a rise for that today? 142 looks quite lenient atm .

[FinalFurlong91]

Will burdett road get a rise for that today? 142 looks quite lenient atm .

I'd imagine he might get 10lbs at least for that

depends how much under her 160 rating the handicapper thinks lossiemouth ran.

[fatherjohn]

the time today was 7 seconds quicker than last year despite official ground being good (good to soft in places) versus good last year.

[YoungHustler]

Absolutely loved seeing CH win today but I was disappointed that there seemed something amiss with Lossiemouth so her fans should not be too disheartened as she ended up still only finishing 2nd by 2 lengths. Hendo mentioned that CH had been trained 'quite hard' the last 3 weeks so it was a surprise to see him blow up, be vigorously ridden and the whip used instead of pull effortlessly away like we have seen in the past. I really hope this was just because he hadn't had a run for a year(Nico did say he would improve) rather than his ability has dipped, because in this day and age, there is an argument that it is much easier to get horses race fit after a layoff. CH was given an RPR of 162 so fingers crossed for his fans(and my pocket) that today was just rustiness and he really will improve for the run! I personally would like to see another run before Cheltenham.

[DenmanSacre]

Absolutely loved seeing CH win today but I was disappointed that there seemed something amiss with Lossiemouth so her fans should not be too disheartened as she ended up still only finishing 2nd by 2 lengths. Hendo mentioned that CH had been trained 'quite hard' the last 3 weeks so it was a surprise to see him blow up, be vigorously ridden and the whip used instead of pull effortlessly away like we have seen in the past. I really hope this was just because he hadn't had a run for a year(Nico did say he would improve) rather than his ability has dipped, because in this day and age, there is an argument that it is much easier to get horses race fit after a layoff. CH was given an RPR of 162 so fingers crossed for his fans(and my pocket) that today was just rustiness and he really will improve for the run! I personally would like to see another run before Cheltenham.

That 162, at a track where he's had worse performances than Cheltenham and Newcastle (175, 158 and 162 (so better than last season) compared with 174, 174 and 177 on RPRs and just visually not as good as his Supreme, Champion Hurdle and Fighting Fifth wima) would have been enough to win the Champion Hurdle last year. They've rated Lossiemouth 4 pound lower today than Cheltenham last season. I'd say he'll be more than fine at Cheltenham after that, with or without another run.

The time performance was much better than his 2 previous wins here as well.

[FinalFurlong91]

It wasn't a sparkling performance but he got the job done and never looked in much trouble

Perhaps to be expected after just 1 race since April 23

Lossiemouth didn't really look like a proper 2 miler. Seemed to be going a stride quicker than she wanted to.

[Craigy14]

Lossiemouth never travelled a yard, whether she wasn’t quite right or race pace as CAT says…….but I don’t care, to see Constitution Hill back doing what he does best was just a joy for us all as racing fans!

I hope she turns up in march as I think she adds a lot to the race (track ground etc not to her liking today) and she’s got closest to the best hurdler I’ve ever seen so we will see.

[Guinness Village]

I’m sure that CH was ready for today. I feel that Lossie will have another run and go to the festival off a win. Probably unibet hurdle. I can’t see any reason to go to the mares hurdle with her. She’s probably willies best chance.
for me, 8/1 ew for churdle is value. Not got her onside yet.