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2026 Champion Hurdle

Istabraq said:
Maybe they need to paint the hurdles yellow or purple…
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Maybe not paint them at all. Have to say, it looked like they'd put extra white paint on the Newcastle Hurdles and really thick as well.
 
Carnage at Taunton said:
I know Sir Gino was sub for him at Newcastle last year as he was unable to run, but must confess I can’t recall why he never ran in the race in 2023.
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Was rearranged from Newcastle to Sandown the following week after the meeting was abandoned but heavy ground meant they pulled him and Shishkin from the race.
 
Carnage at Taunton said:
Ok, cheers
So could have run then.
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His 23-24 season was a farce. They binned off the Fighting Fifth, ignored Xmas and the DRF in Ireland, planned to run him in the International but didn't want to as Nico was banned (or injured - they claimed Con Hill 'scoped poorly') and then when it came to Cheltenham, he was injured and all of Nicky's ran like drains anyway. Saw him once that season and he was fit until the end of February, and that should've been his peak season really. He missed three or four potential trips to Ireland in his pomp too because they didn't want to end him.

He was spoke about like Pegasus, talk of sending him chasing etc but I would've had no issue with him staying over hurdles if he was campaigned more aggressively. The fact he had 8 runs in his first two seasons (still not enough imo but a more fair number) shows they were willing to run him more before when he had achieved less, and before his reputation was on the line. A great hurdler, and he'll be remembered as one, but his legacy and resume doesn't come close to matching his talent. The fact State Man has won four more G1s, at a year younger, tells you all you need to know
 
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Ellisgittings said:
His 23-24 season was a farce. They binned off the Fighting Fifth, ignored Xmas and the DRF in Ireland, planned to run him in the International but didn't want to as Nico was banned (or injured - they claimed Con Hill 'scoped poorly') and then when it came to Cheltenham, he was injured and all of Nicky's ran like drains anyway. Saw him once that season and he was fit until the end of February, and that should've been his peak season really. He missed three or four potential trips to Ireland in his pomp too because they didn't want to end him.

He was spoke about like Pegasus, talk of sending him chasing etc but I would've had no issue with him staying over hurdles if he was campaigned more aggressively. The fact he had 8 runs in his first two seasons (still not enough imo but a more fair number) shows they were willing to run him more before when he had achieved less, and before his reputation was on the line. A great hurdler, and he'll be remembered as one, but his legacy and resume doesn't come close to matching his talent. The fact State Man has won four more G1s, at a year younger, tells you all you need to know
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It is worth remembering that Ireland has 4 open grade 1's over 2m as opposed to the 3 in the UK. When you also factor in that one of ours is a staple in the calendar for horses both sides of the water and it is no surprise he has won less. It is a shame it wasn't until this year that he made it over to Ireland though with 4 weeks between Aintree and Punchestown as opposed to the 2 weeks of 2023 which made the option more viable (As well as failing to complete at Aintree!). I agree, the 23/24 season was a farce though they did run and win the Xmas hurdle in what was practically a walkover in beating Rubaud and a few handicappers after the prize money. If they knew how weak a race that would turn out then would they still have rolled the dice in the Fighting Fifth that year?

Sadly it looks like his legacy will be based on just the 22/23 season along with his phenomenal Supreme win. Maybe we shouldn't take too much for granted when a horse is at his peak and performing to such a standard and enjoy the moment more as we never know how long it will last.
 
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Runragged said:
It is worth remembering that Ireland has 4 open grade 1's over 2m as opposed to the 3 in the UK. When you also factor in that one of ours is a staple in the calendar for horses both sides of the water and it is no surprise he has won less. It is a shame it wasn't until this year that he made it over to Ireland though with 4 weeks between Aintree and Punchestown as opposed to the 2 weeks of 2023 which made the option more viable (As well as failing to complete at Aintree!). I agree, the 23/24 season was a farce though they did run and win the Xmas hurdle in what was practically a walkover in beating Rubaud and a few handicappers after the prize money. If they knew how weak a race that would turn out then would they still have rolled the dice in the Fighting Fifth that year?

Sadly it looks like his legacy will be based on just the 22/23 season along with his phenomenal Supreme win. Maybe we shouldn't take too much for granted when a horse is at his peak and performing to such a standard and enjoy the moment more as we never know how long it will last.
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Yeah I would have liked to have seen him in Ireland more but who am I to tell them how to train a horse!!
Anyway he’s probably the best I’ve seen, but because of circumstances that’s always going to be open to debate
 
Istabraq said:
Maybe they need to paint the hurdles yellow or purple…
Click to expand...
In France the fences,brush hurdles,hurdles are colour coded, teaches the horses which ones they have to clear,which ones they can brush through, was some big study on how they see different colours too.
For me the new hurdles aren't doing much but decking some horses,the percentage of horses injured by pieces of birch from hitting hurdles was very low, I know in some cases the damage could be severe (Had 1 out for 15 weeks after hitting one when schooling at home)but overall I'd be wondering if they'd just go back to the old fashioned hurdles at some point.
 
Runragged said:
It is worth remembering that Ireland has 4 open grade 1's over 2m as opposed to the 3 in the UK. When you also factor in that one of ours is a staple in the calendar for horses both sides of the water and it is no surprise he has won less. It is a shame it wasn't until this year that he made it over to Ireland though with 4 weeks between Aintree and Punchestown as opposed to the 2 weeks of 2023 which made the option more viable (As well as failing to complete at Aintree!). I agree, the 23/24 season was a farce though they did run and win the Xmas hurdle in what was practically a walkover in beating Rubaud and a few handicappers after the prize money. If they knew how weak a race that would turn out then would they still have rolled the dice in the Fighting Fifth that year?

Sadly it looks like his legacy will be based on just the 22/23 season along with his phenomenal Supreme win. Maybe we shouldn't take too much for granted when a horse is at his peak and performing to such a standard and enjoy the moment more as we never know how long it will last.
Click to expand...
If he'd have took on State Man two more times in Ireland at his peak in his prime, they'd (very likely!) be level. I have some sympathy for not running in Ireland at Christmas as they had the Christmas hurdle as the option but they could've ran at the DRF more than once and a win in Ireland would've added to his legacy. That's not even including the farcical fanfare around taking on Honeysuckle after his Supreme win.

As long as he retires safe and sound now, I don't think anyone can ask for much more
 
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Ellisgittings said:
If he'd have took on State Man two more times in Ireland at his peak in his prime, they'd (very likely!) be level. I have some sympathy for not running in Ireland at Christmas as they had the Christmas hurdle as the option but they could've ran at the DRF more than once and a win in Ireland would've added to his legacy. That's not even including the farcical fanfare around taking on Honeysuckle after his Supreme win.

As long as he retires safe and sound now, I don't think anyone can ask for much more
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He has never run at the DRF and again, why would they? The last thing they wanted to do was give him a hard race before the Spring campaign. Ground has been very hit and miss at that meet as well over the years. Even for prize money if we compare the alternative of the grade 2 International in the UK then on last seasons figures there was only £23k difference to the winner and instead of trying to beat State Man and Lossiemouth a month before Cheltenham, he had to beat Brentford Hope... The option was always whether to bypass Aintree in favour of Punchestown which they could of done in 2023 but chose not to.
 
I really do not want to see Constitution Hill on a race track again. Fear the worst for him. I have Cashed Out every Acca bet in which I had him included for the Champion Hurdle plus all bets I had Lossiemouth included in the Mares. Have made my decision. Lossiemouth is going to the Champion Hurdle this year. Finally. And Constitution Hill gets retired hopefully. Big changes in my Antepost strategy after yesterday. Now got the CashOut money burning a hole in my pocket.
 
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www.attheraces.com

Apparently it's all the fucking hurdles fault.
Sounds like he wants them all changing back to how they used to be, and every other horse that falls "it was the hurdles that did it".
And people wonder how I have no time for the wet c@nt.
 
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He's got a point imo.
 
opatcho said:
Funny how the best hurdlers ever…. can’t hurdle

Issue is with the horse, not the hurdles. Class 5’s are able to get over them
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That's why they are class 5's though. Jump them like fences. The best skip over them at high speed so the risks are so much higher. Get rid of the bloody paint.
 
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Do they have the same padded white hurdles in Ireland??
 
Did harry not try to get to the front? I’d need to watch again if it was horse or jockey but could have sworn harry made the move to get ahead of C Hill.
 
Quevega said:

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www.attheraces.com

Apparently it's all the fucking hurdles fault.
Sounds like he wants them all changing back to how they used to be, and every other horse that falls "it was the hurdles that did it".
And people wonder how I have no time for the wet c@nt.
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Were the current style hurdles in use when Cons Hill won his Champ Hurdle?

If not, then NH should watch the horse jump the last fence in his CH win 🤪
 
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