2025 Mares Hurdle

[Craigy14]

Whoah... Bit of a leap there Craigy! I care about the competitiveness of the sport. But connections have to what's right for each horse. We've still got a cracking Champion Hurdle.

Ultimately, in my opinion, If Paul Townend thought she would win the CH, she'd be running in it, and he'd be riding her.

I’ve more or less replied to CAT mate. What do you mean right by the horse though? Surely not going down the welfare with that? Why would Running her in the champion hurdle be any no different to the mares in terms of being right by her? accidents, bleeds etc can happen to any horse at any time in any race.

It’s similar to Fact To File, don’t want to digress this thread, but he should be going Gold Cup but again we have another fucking option for horses to cop out the top race. We should just have a Cheltenham prize giving week and the owners of Galopin just walk up and collect their prize. It’s just cop out mentality. Anything could happen in these races but you’ll never find out unless you run the horses in the race to find out.

[Craigy14]

Is it they don’t care, or simply understand that the owner would rather have a winner than a placed one at best?
Surely if RR really thought she had a decent chance of winning the CH she would be going there?
And anyway, she still might

Doesn’t matter, as has been touched on, it can’t be about prize money, as place champion hurdle is worth more than the mares.

For the long term good of the sport she should be going champion hurdle. Why go for a race you’ve already won? She’s nothing to prove beating a bunch of mid 150 mares. It’s just really boring. When was the last time we had 4 160+ horses going for a champion hurdle? Who cares if he just wants a winner he’s had plenty, he’ll have plenty more no doubt. He’ll never know if she can win a champion hurdle by not running her in one.

Henderson didn’t have a winner last year, obviously he would have been bothered but ultimately he could be back stronger and has 4/5 top top chances this year if they all get there fit and ready. It’s a complete cop out.

[Quevega]

Is it they don’t care, or simply understand that the owner would rather have a winner than a placed one at best?
Surely if RR really thought she had a decent chance of winning the CH she would be going there?
And anyway, she still might

Ricci is a defeatist, which is why he wears a hat and sunglasses all year round.

This comment only stands if she goes to the mares under his instruction.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Anyone that thinks she should go Mares really doesn’t care about the competitiveness of the sport.

In Kevs diary, this sums up his point about boring odds on shots and handicaps. Champion hurdle has the potential to be the race of the festival, but as is likely is just another match with one odds on.

Is it they don’t care, or simply understand that the owner would rather have a winner than a placed one at best?
Surely if RR really thought she had a decent chance of winning the CH she would be going there?
And anyway, she still might

[Quevega]

Not a chance! Which makes it even more likely he'd have wanted to ride Lossie to give himself the best chance of winning the race, no?

If Townend wants to ride Lossiemouth in the Champion hurdle then that's where she'll run IMO.

I think the issue is that he prefers State Man.

They are both up against it, but she has the better chance as the betting suggests.

I think State Man should go for the mares, he's only 2 letters off from being a mare anyway. State (Wo)man.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Agree Denman. I still think she'll go Champion Hurdle.

That’s it L, keep the faith, not a N/R yet

[Can't Catch Me]

Do you think he thinks State Man can win this years Champion hurdle ?
I mean really ?
In his heart of hearts ?
Gun to the head ?

Without his lip quivering and his eyes going vacant in a blatant lie, I'd put all Paul Townend's money on it being a big fat NO.
But he will lie, unless he ends up riding Lossiemouth of course

Not a chance! Which makes it even more likely he'd have wanted to ride Lossie to give himself the best chance of winning the race, no?

[Quevega]

Whoah... Bit of a leap there Craigy! I care about the competitiveness of the sport. But connections have to what's right for each horse. We've still got a cracking Champion Hurdle.

Ultimately, in my opinion, If Paul Townend thought she would win the CH, she'd be running in it, and he'd be riding her.

Do you think he thinks State Man can win this years Champion hurdle ?
I mean really ?
In his heart of hearts ?
Gun to the head ?

Without his lip quivering and his eyes going vacant in a blatant lie, I'd put all Paul Townend's money on it being a big fat NO.
But he will lie, unless he ends up riding Lossiemouth of course

[Can't Catch Me]

Anyone that thinks she should go Mares really doesn’t care about the competitiveness of the sport.

.

Whoah... Bit of a leap there Craigy! I care about the competitiveness of the sport. But connections have to what's right for each horse. We've still got a cracking Champion Hurdle.

Ultimately, in my opinion, If Paul Townend thought she would win the CH, she'd be running in it, and he'd be riding her.

[Craigy14]

Anyone that thinks she should go Mares really doesn’t care about the competitiveness of the sport.

In Kevs diary, this sums up his point about boring odds on shots and handicaps. Champion hurdle has the potential to be the race of the festival, but as is likely is just another match with one odds on.

[Lobos]

Agree Denman. I still think she'll go Champion Hurdle.

[DenmanSacre]

Cheltenham Festival winners aren't the easiest things to come by. Im sure RR will gladly take another, in whatever race it is.

She's already won twice at the Festival. A Mares adds nothing to her legacy.

There's two main issues for me:
1) She's won it already and is good enough to go the Champion where she'd probably go off 3rd fav. RR may regret not going to the Gold Cup with Vautour and he could regret not going for the Champion with Lossiemouth.
2) They've been adamant all year she goes the Champion. If she goes the Mares next year they should just not say anything about her and her target if they are going to swerve the more difficult race.

A Mares win would feel hollow to me but I'm sure RR will be delighted when Q throws a bag of shit over him.

[Can't Catch Me]

May as well send her to the breeding shed than going for another Mares Hurdle.

Cheltenham Festival winners aren't the easiest things to come by. Im sure RR will gladly take another, in whatever race it is.

[Quevega]

So we have another season of them saying they go the Champion, she runs shit and they go for an easier option again. May as well send her to the breeding shed than going for another Mares Hurdle.

Its a good time to take on the Champion Hurdle. She wasn't far behind CH at Kempton with excuses why she might run better and CH didn't exactly improve next time out. State Man is out of form and Brighterdaysahead has flopped at Cheltenham before. I've not backed her and would be better off with her in the Mares, but it's a massive cop out to go to the Mares again.

Absolutely
I hedged and have her in bets for the mares but that was prior to Dublin as had she been beat fair and square by state man then it’d be easier to see the mares route.

Willie ideally wanted them kept apart because he has always wanted two darts at c hill IMO
And obviously the other mare has emerged also.

[DenmanSacre]

Don't really understand the hulabaloo on this one. Had she had a good prep, then I could, but its the hottest CH for some time and she's had a far from perfect season. She couldn't live with the pace CH set at Kempton over 2m so there are still questions marks on the trip, and then obviously she fell in her last run before the race. Wouldn't really be Willie's way to then target the toughest race of your career on the back of those two runs.

Makes perfect sense to go to the Mares for me. She's only 6 after all! try and get a better prep into her next season and have another go.

So we have another season of them saying they go the Champion, she runs shit and they go for an easier option again. May as well send her to the breeding shed than going for another Mares Hurdle.

Its a good time to take on the Champion Hurdle. She wasn't far behind CH at Kempton with excuses why she might run better and CH didn't exactly improve next time out. State Man is out of form and Brighterdaysahead has flopped at Cheltenham before. I've not backed her and would be better off with her in the Mares, but it's a massive cop out to go to the Mares again.