2025 Mares Hurdle

[Carnage at Taunton]

Although recently he has left the door open by saying if Rich wants to go that way they could.

Yep, seems the 2 year plan is not set in stone right now.
So we just wait and see how it plays out.

[Faugheen_Machine]

They surely wouldn't bottle running in the Champion Hurdle two years running.............

[Durham Edition]

They surely wouldn't bottle running in the Champion Hurdle two years running.............

I honestly think if BDA goes Champion Hurdle that they will go Mares. Townend rides both her and State Man this way also.

[Faugheen_Machine]

I honestly think if BDA goes Champion Hurdle that they will go Mares. Townend rides both her and State Man this way also.

Not saying it won't happen, but connections do deserve criticism if they go back on the two year plan!

[Durham Edition]

Not saying it won't happen, but connections do deserve criticism if they go back on the two year plan!

I fully agree they do, I just can't see them running against Con Hill and State Man who have both already beat her and BDA if thrown in when the Mare's will be an easy win for her.

[Carnage at Taunton]

I honestly think if BDA goes Champion Hurdle that they will go Mares. Townend rides both her and State Man this way also.

Makes sense imo.
Lossie is 3rd or 4th fav if CH and BDA turn up.
Odds on in the Mares.
PT can ride both as you say.

It really all hinges on the o’learys.

[Faugheen_Machine]

Makes sense imo.
Lossie is 3rd or 4th fav if CH and BDA turn up.
Odds on in the Mares.
PT can ride both as you say.

It really all hinges on the o’learys.

Hopefully all 4 rock up in the Champion Hurdle, but everyone suspects one set of connections will likely bottle it. Shame for the race.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Hopefully all 4 rock up in the Champion Hurdle, but everyone suspects one set of connections will likely bottle it. Shame for the race.

Hopefully!!
Fingers crossed

[Quevega]

There's a more than 50/50 chance that Lossie goes Mares if BDA declares for the Champion, C Hill & State Man also both stand their ground. IMO, and have bet accordingly.

But I do think this will be mainly Ricci's decision. Mullins and Townend may try and steer him slightly, and open the door much wider. But I think they'll leave it to him.

If Ricci decides to go mares with Mullins blessing then they do deserve some flak. IMO

But it makes more sense in many ways why they would do this. Beaten by 2 of the horses, fell last time, the other mare smashed one of the other horses. She'd be 4th favourite vs odds on favourite in the mares. Would be a brilliant betting heat though, and she probably ought to go 3rd Fav.

But I think most importantly, he's won the race already, more than once, and so have the trainer and jockey.

Danny Mullins will not be happy though
But he did fall off her the last day.


BDA however, IMO would go of close to Fav, at least a good 2nd Fav against a horse that doesn't look at his peak. Where she looks at her peak so far this year.
The rest would be 7 or 8-1 bar.

And none of those men have ever won the Champion hurdle and it might be their best chance of ever doing so.

So, should she decide to go mares then..
That's proper bottling it IMO.
And basically sticking 2 fingers up to the Game.
Which they are completely entitled to do by the way, but they should not be surprised and should understand any criticism.
Pretty sure they can take that.

Gordon will not be happy though, and neither will the jockey
They'll be faking it.

IMO it's obvious what he wants to do and he will be using all his skills to encourage a run in the Champion, unfortunately for him, he has the apples jade experience going against his argument.

[Rooster Booster]

There's a more than 50/50 chance that Lossie goes Mares if BDA declares for the Champion, C Hill & State Man also both stand their ground. IMO, and have bet accordingly.

But I do think this will be mainly Ricci's decision. Mullins and Townend may try and steer him slightly, and open the door much wider. But I think they'll leave it to him.

If Ricci decides to go mares with Mullins blessing then they do deserve some flak. IMO

But it makes more sense in many ways why they would do this. Beaten by 2 of the horses, fell last time, the other mare smashed one of the other horses. She'd be 4th favourite vs odds on favourite in the mares. Would be a brilliant betting heat though, and she probably ought to go 3rd Fav.

But I think most importantly, he's won the race already, more than once, and so have the trainer and jockey.

Danny Mullins will not be happy though
But he did fall off her the last day.


BDA however, IMO would go of close to Fav, at least a good 2nd Fav against a horse that doesn't look at his peak. Where she looks at her peak so far this year.
The rest would be 7 or 8-1 bar.

And none of those men have ever won the Champion hurdle and it might be their best chance of ever doing so.

So, should she decide to go mares then..
That's proper bottling it IMO.
And basically sticking 2 fingers up to the Game.
Which they are completely entitled to do by the way, but they should not be surprised and should understand any criticism.
Pretty sure they can take that.

Gordon will not be happy though, and neither will the jockey
They'll be faking it.

IMO it's obvious what he wants to do and he will be using all his skills to encourage a run in the Champion, unfortunately for him, he has the apples jade experience going against his argument.

Yep(filibuster)

[AaronLad]

Quevega I understand that constitution hill might not have looked overly convincing on his first start for a year in the xmas hurdle, but since then lump sum who was beaten by half a furlong that day has run a very good race in the betfair hurdle the other day, now rated 147, and he's arguably shown that's his rating, his other run this season he chased home Sir gino.

Burdett road I believe is slightly underestimated, and con hill has ultimately beat lossiemouth with ease that day, all things considered, race fitness etc.

He then had a comfortable jog round cheltenham until the final hurdle, but what that infact showed was hes as sharp as ever to react as quickly as he did to get his legs in a position to land without falling.

So while it may appear to some constitution hill isn't at his peak, to me he's not done anything to suggest otherwise and he'll batter them all

[ComplyOrDie]

It's been quite prominent on here in years gone by how Willie makes the decisions (with the exception of JP) and now suddenly Rich Ricci gets to call the shots too. I'm not having that.

Willie will be a huge factor in the decision making, and it won't just be down to Ricci.

Trainer and owner are both culpable should they decide to 'bottle it' and go for the easier race.

Once again, if any horse has the right to go for the easier race it's Brighterdaysahead, IMO.

I don't care what she's done this season, State Man hasn't been the same horse, and I won't have anyone tell me any different. It's a shame Lossiemouth fell as I honestly feel that would have been the confirmation required as to the level State Man has been running at this season.

Brighterdaysahead got beat at the festival last season by Golden Ace, yes, maybe some excuses, but still, Golden Ace.

This is her first season out of novice company. Lossiemouth was afforded the luxury of going down the Mares Hurdle route for one season, albeit she was coming out of juvenile company, but I could afford Brighterdaysahead the same, should that be what they decide.

[Quevega]

Quevega I understand that constitution hill might not have looked overly convincing on his first start for a year in the xmas hurdle, but since then lump sum who was beaten by half a furlong that day has run a very good race in the betfair hurdle the other day, now rated 147, and he's arguably shown that's his rating, his other run this season he chased home Sir gino.

Burdett road I believe is slightly underestimated, and con hill has ultimately beat lossiemouth with ease that day, all things considered, race fitness etc.

He then had a comfortable jog round cheltenham until the final hurdle, but what that infact showed was hes as sharp as ever to react as quickly as he did to get his legs in a position to land without falling.

So while it may appear to some constitution hill isn't at his peak, to me he's not done anything to suggest otherwise and he'll batter them all

Yeah, in general though he's not ran to the level of his supreme since that day.
Maybe got close in his champion hurdle.

But I get that he's not had the perfect opportunity to do so, in the races he's had since.

Lump sum is a mid 140's handicapper and any form through him at this level means jack shit IMO.

[AaronLad]

Yeah, in general though he's not ran to the level of his supreme since that day.
Maybe got close in his champion hurdle.

But I get that he's not had the perfect opportunity to do so, in the races he's had since.

Lump sum is a mid 140's handicapper and any form through him at this level means jack shit IMO.

Agreed.
But he beat Lossiemouth quite cosily, so it's still solid form, as good as would have been expected after the lay off.
His supreme win was perfectly set up for him by the fast pace set up by Dysart and jonbon, he picked them off with ease.
If Gordon's mob try the same in the champion hurdle as they did with state man at xmas, constitution hill will get the chance to better his supreme effort, so let's hope they try

[Rooster Booster]

Quevega I understand that constitution hill might not have looked overly convincing on his first start for a year in the xmas hurdle, but since then lump sum who was beaten by half a furlong that day has run a very good race in the betfair hurdle the other day, now rated 147, and he's arguably shown that's his rating, his other run this season he chased home Sir gino.

Burdett road I believe is slightly underestimated, and con hill has ultimately beat lossiemouth with ease that day, all things considered, race fitness etc.

He then had a comfortable jog round cheltenham until the final hurdle, but what that infact showed was hes as sharp as ever to react as quickly as he did to get his legs in a position to land without falling.

So while it may appear to some constitution hill isn't at his peak, to me he's not done anything to suggest otherwise and he'll batter them all

He’s not even got close to his peak in TWO years….blind faith. The absence of a negative is not a positive.