Lobos
Fat Jockey Patron - DGC Winner 2021
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2019
- Messages
- 29,173
- Reaction score
- 6,476
- Points
- 83
-
HELP US - Become a Patron - Fat Jockey is a horse racing community focused on all the big races in the UK and Ireland. We don't charge users but if you have found the site useful then any support towards the running costs is appreciated ... a small donation each month would be a huge contribution. Become a Patron!
2026 Champion Hurdle
- Thread starter Eggs
- Start date
Lobos
Fat Jockey Patron - DGC Winner 2021
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2019
- Messages
- 29,173
- Reaction score
- 6,476
- Points
- 83
I’d be in the region of 2/5 she goes Mares, and if she were to line up she’d be around 4/6 if Wodhooh took her on and 4/9 is she doesn’t…
Benjy23
Member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2021
- Messages
- 4,718
- Reaction score
- 1,481
- Points
- 83
Well yea, the 7/2 would look very good then!
I wouldn't mind a chunk of the 2/1+ you'd be offering on her running in the Champion Hurdle mind...
Guinness Village
Member
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2019
- Messages
- 1,619
- Reaction score
- 657
- Points
- 83
Exactly what I’d do. Then keep anzadam at home for leopardstown race
Lobos
Fat Jockey Patron - DGC Winner 2021
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2019
- Messages
- 29,173
- Reaction score
- 6,476
- Points
- 83
Anzadam and Sir Gino won't both run at Kempton as same ownership but I can't see Willie relying on Anzadam at Leopardstown as he loves winning that race, especially now that BDA is likely to be supplemented .
Cheltenham Novice Chase
Member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2019
- Messages
- 743
- Reaction score
- 196
- Points
- 43
Another baffling race…
Lossiemouth - not a bet 3+ months out at 2-1 when the Mares is still an option
William Munny - A second setback this season, albeit minor but not ideal only having 1 run prior to the Festival
Sir Gino - We still don’t know if this is where he will end up versus Champion Chase and too short in the betting given that
The New Lion - not keen on his jumping and not convinced he would have won the FF. At 5-1 in the market, I will pass.
Constitution Hill - highly unlikely to race over hurdles again
Anzadam - A solid debut but still has it to prove.
Golden Ace - Is she good enough to win without others falling or performing below standard?
BDA - Never performed well at Cheltenham.
At the prices, I am chancing Anzadam at 20-1
Lossiemouth - not a bet 3+ months out at 2-1 when the Mares is still an option
William Munny - A second setback this season, albeit minor but not ideal only having 1 run prior to the Festival
Sir Gino - We still don’t know if this is where he will end up versus Champion Chase and too short in the betting given that
The New Lion - not keen on his jumping and not convinced he would have won the FF. At 5-1 in the market, I will pass.
Constitution Hill - highly unlikely to race over hurdles again
Anzadam - A solid debut but still has it to prove.
Golden Ace - Is she good enough to win without others falling or performing below standard?
BDA - Never performed well at Cheltenham.
At the prices, I am chancing Anzadam at 20-1
Can anyone explain to me why Henderson would prefer Sir Gino to run in the Champion hurdle over the Champion Chase?
Obviously SG looked fantastic over both obstacles last season but surely you have to pin him down for one discipline and with CC being wide open ( although I suppose the Champion hurdle isnt a sure thing ) i dont understand the switch of target?
Obviously SG looked fantastic over both obstacles last season but surely you have to pin him down for one discipline and with CC being wide open ( although I suppose the Champion hurdle isnt a sure thing ) i dont understand the switch of target?
Which is likely to look the easier target ?
No doubt it will change countless times over the next three months but as it stands the champion hurdle would appear the easier prize to me…
Benjy23
Member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2021
- Messages
- 4,718
- Reaction score
- 1,481
- Points
- 83
He's only ever had one run over fences as well. And is likely to only get one more before Cheltenham with Hendo. So going into the Champion Chase with two previous chase runs wouldn't seem ideal?
I think what will come into the process is keeping horses sound over hurdles than fences is easier (i think this is an opinion held within horse racing?). Add to the fact he is still only a 5 year old, next season if he’s still firing (has to prove this after near death infection), then they can go back over fences and go for the champion chase as a 7 year old. Lulamba will likely be going up in trip as he ages imo so clash issues could be avoided in that respect as well.
archie
Fat Jockey Patron
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2017
- Messages
- 4,899
- Reaction score
- 1,314
- Points
- 83
Runragged
Member
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2021
- Messages
- 1,107
- Reaction score
- 658
- Points
- 83
I wonder how much it would affect a horses jumping ability if you keep switching codes with them? In the case of Sir Gino:
Train the horse to jump a hurdle
Train to jump a fence in prep for 24/25 campaign
Decide to go back to hurdles for Fighting Fifth when CH was ruled out
Train back for fences for the Wayward Lad
Gets injured
Plan to go chasing this season (Whether schooled or not I don't know, assume not considering recovering from injury)
Now potentially going back to hurdles before resuming chasing next season
He is a young horse and maybe it wouldn't make a great deal of difference to him or the training methods, I'll admit I know very little about that. It just strikes me as being pretty confusing for the horse and there is the potential for the horse to lose jumping efficiency because he keeps changing disciplines.
Either way, the horse has a hell of a lot to prove to me. He beat handicappers over hurdles then on his one chase start he beat a horse over 2m whose jumping was so bad over 3m they have reverted him back to hurdles. That's not even factoring in how much ability he retains after serious injury...
Train the horse to jump a hurdle
Train to jump a fence in prep for 24/25 campaign
Decide to go back to hurdles for Fighting Fifth when CH was ruled out
Train back for fences for the Wayward Lad
Gets injured
Plan to go chasing this season (Whether schooled or not I don't know, assume not considering recovering from injury)
Now potentially going back to hurdles before resuming chasing next season
He is a young horse and maybe it wouldn't make a great deal of difference to him or the training methods, I'll admit I know very little about that. It just strikes me as being pretty confusing for the horse and there is the potential for the horse to lose jumping efficiency because he keeps changing disciplines.
Either way, the horse has a hell of a lot to prove to me. He beat handicappers over hurdles then on his one chase start he beat a horse over 2m whose jumping was so bad over 3m they have reverted him back to hurdles. That's not even factoring in how much ability he retains after serious injury...
My Way de Solzen went from Arkle winner to Stayers hurdle winner and although that was a few years ago I’m sure others have switched to fair success.
Also, there’s been plenty of handicap chasers sent over hurdles to protect their mark, Haiti Coleurs just the other week very successfully.
Unless you’re Constitution Hill you just jump what's in front of you…
Benjy23
Member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2021
- Messages
- 4,718
- Reaction score
- 1,481
- Points
- 83
Didn't do Haiti Coleurs many favours when he returned to fences though.
Buveur D'Air the obvious one for this topic. Had a good antepost slip on him for the Arkle...
Big Bucks switched as well didn't he.
They rarely return to chasing mind.
Runragged
Member
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2021
- Messages
- 1,107
- Reaction score
- 658
- Points
- 83
It's not just about switching if chasing doesn't appear to be his game (ala Ballyburn), it is just the going back and forwards as mentioned especially as still a young inexperienced horse learning the racing game.
As to MWDS, he went hurdles (If ignoring the 1 French 4yo chase he started in and pulled up), chasing, hurdles and then when tried over fences again he pulled up and was 8th in what was his last two starts under rules, before going hunting.
Haiti Couleurs was able to take advantage of a handicap mark 9lb lower than his chase rating. Doubt there are many horses of recent years that have been able to switch disciplines easily that raced at the highest level?
As to MWDS, he went hurdles (If ignoring the 1 French 4yo chase he started in and pulled up), chasing, hurdles and then when tried over fences again he pulled up and was 8th in what was his last two starts under rules, before going hunting.
Haiti Couleurs was able to take advantage of a handicap mark 9lb lower than his chase rating. Doubt there are many horses of recent years that have been able to switch disciplines easily that raced at the highest level?
Yeah, it's just a well trodden path for National horses to have their preps over hurdles, some very successfully via the Pertemps, so I'm just of the view NH horses just jump what's in front of them, no doubt chasers going hurdling will jump big every now and then but I think generally they respect the obstacle and jump it whatever it may be, think cross country converts....
I agree with those. Don't think there's any reason beyond they think it'll be easier to keep him sound over hurdles. Personally want to see him over fences for it mind
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2019
- Messages
- 13,598
- Reaction score
- 4,611
- Points
- 83
El Fabiolo for the Champion Hurdle? David Ord reflects on the state of a division that seems to have everyone confused.
Somehow, even in the immediate aftermath of the Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown on Saturday, the talk was of the Champion Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson was being asked if the emergence of Lulamba as potential top-notch two-mile chaser meant a previously unscheduled return to hurdling at Kempton over Christmas for Sir Gino was now more likely.
A simple pretence, that the trainer said “probably yes” to, but then he began think out loud, “Constitution Hill is potentially in the mix for that too... but I don’t think he’ll go there. No, I don't."
35 minutes later and he’s circled again – this time in defeat. Jonbon has found the younger legs of Il Etait Temps too quick in the Tingle Creek. He’s going up in trip.
So where does that leave Sir Gino?
“I don’t know!” Henderson smiles.
Five minutes later and Alice Plunkett taps his arm. “Sir Gino's going to run over hurdles at Kempton isn’t he?”
“Probably. And no more Constitution Hill questions please – for at least a week!"
With that he smiles and walks away. Welcome to the whacky world of the 2026 Unibet Champion Hurdle.
Because we’ve sadly lost State Man to a potentially career-ending injury. The Fighting Fifth was going to provide clarity on the British challenge but for the third time in four starts the sport’s former poster boy takes a crashing fall.
It leaves The New Lion in front and with the Newcastle straight in front of him, provides a golden opportunity for him to stamp his authority on the division.
As you know he proceeds to crash out at the exact same spot Constitution Hill had a circuit earlier.
And now the scramble is on to find a left-field contender for the Champion.
Anzadam hung his chance away at Newcastle, losing his unbeaten record in the process. The Mullins team feel he can improve for the experience, but he needs to.
So we all jump aboard the William Munny train. He was second to Kopek Des Bordes in the Supreme and is talented and a potential improver. Then the news breaks that he’s pulled a muscle and misses his intended return over Christmas.
DRF next and the clock is ticking.
Despite Hendo’s indecision, Sir Gino is now second favourite. We won’t see The New Lion until the International Hurdle in January. Constitution Hill? Don’t ask Nicky – not until Sunday. But the general feeling is he’ll be racing on the Flat when we see him next.
And now for the Hail Marys.
Ruby Walsh on the excellent Road To Cheltenham pulled the face of a contestant on Bullseye awaiting Bully’s disapproving moo as two viewers suggested El Fabiolo might emerge from the wings.
And there were others tossed his way. Kawaboomga who hasn't raced since he won a Fairyhouse novice in January. We’re unlikely to see him again this side of Christmas, Ruby says. We’re in Red Mills Hurdle territory here.
Salvator Mundi was beaten on chasing debut. Does he now switch back for the Donnellys and Closutton?
Seemingly not.
Majborough was again unconvincing with his jumping at the weekend. Back to hurdles, back to two miles? Don’t think so.
There’s a real sense in some places that Mullins is sitting on another ace card, somewhere buried in his powerful deck. But he already has the 2/1 favourite in Lossiemouth. How deep will he have to – or want to – dig?
Alexei and Celtic Dino are upwardly mobile and talented handicap hurdlers. It’s happened before that they’ve won the Blue Riband in March? So why not these two? In this year?
Wodhooh is a winning machine and landed a race that, in Gordon Elliott’s opinion, was “tailormade for her” at Ascot last time.
That was over two-and-a-half miles and the trainer’s first instinct was she’d be going out in trip rather than back.
But she’s a fit, healthy hurdler with a lot of ones next to her name. That gets you on the Champion invite list right now.
What price would Kopek Des Bordes be had they decided to give him one more year over timber? Irrelevant I know but the modern trend of going chasing rather than a second season over timber is a growing phenomenon.
Sprinter Sacre, Altior and the last three Supreme winners, Marine Nationale, Slade Steel and Kopek himself all went chasing in their next campaign.
And when the four-year-olds such as Sir Gino, Lulamba and Majborough take the same route it’s little wonder why the cupboard is so bare in this division.
It’s why someone threw El Fabiolo at a confused Ruby Walsh, why pundits, trainers, owners and punters are trying to think outside the box.
Henderson isn’t the only one in a daze about what’s next for the two-mile hurdlers. We all are.
A vintage crop? No. But the big prizes are up for grabs for whoever decides to take a chance.
Just ask the Golden Ace team.
Somehow, even in the immediate aftermath of the Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown on Saturday, the talk was of the Champion Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson was being asked if the emergence of Lulamba as potential top-notch two-mile chaser meant a previously unscheduled return to hurdling at Kempton over Christmas for Sir Gino was now more likely.
A simple pretence, that the trainer said “probably yes” to, but then he began think out loud, “Constitution Hill is potentially in the mix for that too... but I don’t think he’ll go there. No, I don't."
35 minutes later and he’s circled again – this time in defeat. Jonbon has found the younger legs of Il Etait Temps too quick in the Tingle Creek. He’s going up in trip.
So where does that leave Sir Gino?
“I don’t know!” Henderson smiles.
Five minutes later and Alice Plunkett taps his arm. “Sir Gino's going to run over hurdles at Kempton isn’t he?”
“Probably. And no more Constitution Hill questions please – for at least a week!"
With that he smiles and walks away. Welcome to the whacky world of the 2026 Unibet Champion Hurdle.
Because we’ve sadly lost State Man to a potentially career-ending injury. The Fighting Fifth was going to provide clarity on the British challenge but for the third time in four starts the sport’s former poster boy takes a crashing fall.
It leaves The New Lion in front and with the Newcastle straight in front of him, provides a golden opportunity for him to stamp his authority on the division.
As you know he proceeds to crash out at the exact same spot Constitution Hill had a circuit earlier.
And now the scramble is on to find a left-field contender for the Champion.
Anzadam hung his chance away at Newcastle, losing his unbeaten record in the process. The Mullins team feel he can improve for the experience, but he needs to.
So we all jump aboard the William Munny train. He was second to Kopek Des Bordes in the Supreme and is talented and a potential improver. Then the news breaks that he’s pulled a muscle and misses his intended return over Christmas.
DRF next and the clock is ticking.
Despite Hendo’s indecision, Sir Gino is now second favourite. We won’t see The New Lion until the International Hurdle in January. Constitution Hill? Don’t ask Nicky – not until Sunday. But the general feeling is he’ll be racing on the Flat when we see him next.
And now for the Hail Marys.
Ruby Walsh on the excellent Road To Cheltenham pulled the face of a contestant on Bullseye awaiting Bully’s disapproving moo as two viewers suggested El Fabiolo might emerge from the wings.
And there were others tossed his way. Kawaboomga who hasn't raced since he won a Fairyhouse novice in January. We’re unlikely to see him again this side of Christmas, Ruby says. We’re in Red Mills Hurdle territory here.
Salvator Mundi was beaten on chasing debut. Does he now switch back for the Donnellys and Closutton?
Seemingly not.
Majborough was again unconvincing with his jumping at the weekend. Back to hurdles, back to two miles? Don’t think so.
There’s a real sense in some places that Mullins is sitting on another ace card, somewhere buried in his powerful deck. But he already has the 2/1 favourite in Lossiemouth. How deep will he have to – or want to – dig?
Alexei and Celtic Dino are upwardly mobile and talented handicap hurdlers. It’s happened before that they’ve won the Blue Riband in March? So why not these two? In this year?
Wodhooh is a winning machine and landed a race that, in Gordon Elliott’s opinion, was “tailormade for her” at Ascot last time.
That was over two-and-a-half miles and the trainer’s first instinct was she’d be going out in trip rather than back.
But she’s a fit, healthy hurdler with a lot of ones next to her name. That gets you on the Champion invite list right now.
What price would Kopek Des Bordes be had they decided to give him one more year over timber? Irrelevant I know but the modern trend of going chasing rather than a second season over timber is a growing phenomenon.
Sprinter Sacre, Altior and the last three Supreme winners, Marine Nationale, Slade Steel and Kopek himself all went chasing in their next campaign.
And when the four-year-olds such as Sir Gino, Lulamba and Majborough take the same route it’s little wonder why the cupboard is so bare in this division.
It’s why someone threw El Fabiolo at a confused Ruby Walsh, why pundits, trainers, owners and punters are trying to think outside the box.
Henderson isn’t the only one in a daze about what’s next for the two-mile hurdlers. We all are.
A vintage crop? No. But the big prizes are up for grabs for whoever decides to take a chance.
Just ask the Golden Ace team.