2017 Stayers Hurdle

[Old Vic]

thought this was an interesting pointer ..Nicols Canyon isnt good enough at 2 miles so might as well give it a go ?

Willie Mullins is considering sending Nichols Canyon and Shaneshill to America for the Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle at Iroquois racecourse in Nashville, Tennessee, on 14 May.

The race is part of the Brown Advisory Iroquois Cheltenham Challenge which involves the Ryanair World Hurdle and the Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle.

If any horse can win both Grade Ones within 12 months connections would earn a $500,000 bonus.

Both races are run over three miles, which would represent a step-up in trip for Nichols Canyon.

There are ten entries for the American race, including Mullins' two inmates, both owned by Graham Wylie.

"I have Nichols Canyon and Shaneshill both nominated for the Houghland Iroquois Hurdle Stakes," he said.

"I am not familiar yet with what else is in the race and there a few other things I have to check out, but both horses are well and could potentially go out to the USA.

Both horses placed at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals, with Nichols Canyon avoiding the season-ending Punchestown festival.

Shaneshill ran in the Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown, also run over three miles, but fell at the final flight.

As a result, the US trip may come a bit soon, with Mullins saying "at the moment, probably Nichols Canyon is the horse we would hope to get out there, if not the two of them.

"I think we need to internationalise jumps racing and so I am happy to support the Brown Advisory Iroquois Cheltenham Challenge."

While America remains unconquered by Mullins to date, he won Japan’s Grand Nakayama Jump with Blackstairmountain in 2013.

The Closutton stable has had some success Stateside however – Paddy Mullins', Willie’s father, won the Dueling Grounds International Hurdle in Kentucky with Grabel in 1990.

 

[cwright23]

Out of all the ante post markets the world hurdle looks the worst to find value, every runner has some kind of negative ie target, code or fitness.. Can't see the market changing at all until Xmas

 

[Deleted member 4957]

Out of all the ante post markets the world hurdle looks the worst to find value, every runner has some kind of negative ie target, code or fitness.. Can't see the market changing at all until Xmas

Yeah I can see that, though strangely the only AP bet I'm considering is Thistlecrack for the Stayers.
They won't be sending him over fences to win an RSA, it's Gold Cup or back to hurdles, the horse could run in 4 or 5 chases but if there's a niggling doubt about his chances of winning the big one they'll shove him back over timber and for that reason I think the 3/1 might be value.
Had there been no mention of a chasing campaign what price would he be now for the Stayers, 7/4 ?
I think there's more than a small chance he could be back to defend the crown he won so impressively....

 

[Morning Glory]

The Tizzards had a great year last year but not sure id trust them to back it up.

 

[Deleted member 4957]

The Tizzards had a great year last year but not sure id trust them to back it up.

I heard an interview a while back about Tizzard criticising the approach most take which is to buy a ready made racehorse from France and expect to win big races immediately, I think he called it premier league owners mentality.
He buys raw PTP horses or unraced NH bred types at 3 or 4 acknowledging it will be 2 years or more before the potential is realised.
On that basis I'm inclined to think that Cue Card could have another year at the top as can Thirslecrack, and he seemed to have a few decent youngsters too, I take the point but I wouldn't be shocked if he did OK.....

 

[Old Vic]

I thinking splitting the cows and horses might have helped the Tizzards. Seem more professional now. Joe has been in the top yards and seems a canny lad. Not that his old man doesnt know the time of day ...

 

[Kevloaf]

Shanehill at 16/1 would make some appeal. Wylie loves it and Shaneshill beat Nichols Canyon in that US race when he was not as likely to take part. Saw it out better? These really are not great odds though are they.

Rawnaq at 33's? Surely guarenteed to run for the bonus? Beat them both... Someone shoot me down on that idea before I go steaming in?

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

Can't shoot you down mate. Remember backing Rawnaq in the plate a couple of years ago and he ran a screamer. 33/1 is big, considering he is surely heading there

 

[Kevloaf]

Yeh I was on too! Just checked my records, I was on each way, Rawnaq (3rd) and Attaglace (11th) ... although my records don't tell me why I was on

Well, 2 votes so far, one more and we can get make it a forum punt, move that market haha

 

[mayo]

Good spot lads. Was third in a greatwood too.

 

[Kevloaf]

There we go, 3 is a crowd, all-in! I've convinced myself that is a great bet. I hope Thistlecrack doesn't touch a twig on his chase debut or this is all going to be pointless.

 

[billymag]

Has anyone heard how Jezki is, if he's come back as good as ever must be a cracking bet for this.

 

[Kevloaf]

Nichols Canyon now looks the shortest price at 10/1 for this race that has it as an actual definite target. If one of the 3 in pink above it go for it, that'll change... nothing putting me off Shanehill or Rawnaq though with that being the case!

 

[gjt7756]

I wouldn't say the world hurdle is Nichols canyon definite target come the fes, especially if shaneshill confirms his superiority at the distance over him as the wylies won't have them both targeted at the same race, it's a hard one to know as shaneshill ran well to finish 2nd in the rsa chase showing that he definitely has stamina for 3 miles, which I do think Nichols canyon has to prove still, it will come down to wether shaneshill reverts back to chasing this season after interestingly ending the season with 3 good hurdle runs, clear 2nd behind thistlecrack at aintree, believe he was well in contention when falling at punchestown and was ahead of Nichols canyon when 2nd in America

 

[Kevloaf]

Nothing else for Nichols Canyon to go at though. As I said, I prefer Shaneshill for this race but (as you said) he might revert to chasing.

How far down the list is it until we know a 100% confirmed runner? Very interesting market!

 

[gjt7756]

It's about March time we'll get a confirmed runner from Willie for this!! and I wouldn't say it's impossible for one of them to remain at home and be fresher for aintree or punchestown...?? Especially as wylie seems to have more horses coming through this year, wouldn't say Cheltenham is Nichols canyon most suited track, 3rd both runs, not form to knock but just not the one for me

 

[Kevloaf]

You'd need to have one that clearly doesn't handle Cheltenham to stay at home though surely and NC isn't that? LIke I said earlier, I'd prefer Shaneshill or Rawnaq myself but I think NC has no other potential target.

Looking again, it looks like Cole Harden at 33s is the first one on the oddschecker list you could say will defo have a go! (and that is without any knowledge about it going chasing?) .... whichever one Mullins picks is going to be SO short for this...

I'd take a bet with you know that NC turns up in this race

 

[Morning Glory]

I think Cole Harden is probably going chasing - from July

Greatrex said: "Cole Harden is still doing his recuperation on the walker. He will get checked out this week and we will be able to see where we go next. Touch wood, he seems OK at the moment.

"I think the plan is still to go novice chasing, but we will just take it day by day. There is no long-standing plan at the moment.

"I would like to to just find an easy novice chase somewhere as he's had hard races the last two seasons, so it would be good to start in an easy race and go from there."

 

[Morning Glory]

Has anyone heard how Jezki is, if he's come back as good as ever must be a cracking bet for this.

JEZKI is back in training with Jessica Harrington, who has nominated the Ryanair World Hurdle as the main objective this season.
The 2014 Champion Hurdle hero stepped up to three miles for the first time in the Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle at the 2015 Punchestown festival and got one over on old rival Hurricane Fly, but missed the whole of last season after heat was found in his foreleg.
“Jezki is back with me and he looks great,” Harrington revealed to the Racing Post yesterday. “He is trotting away and everything seems to have cleared up perfectly. I couldn’t be happier with him at this stage.”
Jezki, who is still only eight, is priced between 12-1 and 20-1 for the World Hurdle next March and his season is likely to revolve around that date.
“I’d imagine he’ll be trained with the World Hurdle in mind. That is what is in my head at the moment anyway. But we will have to take one day at a time with him and we will not be rushing him,” Harrington added.
“It will be a gradual progression into proper work but it is a case of so far, so good.”

 

[Kevloaf]

Good find on both Morning Glory, I hadn't seen either of those.
16/1 for Jezki looks a very fair price