2017 Champion Hurdle

For what it is worth, my Yorkhill approach, if I owned would be send him to the JLT.

The champion hurdle is cutting up but is still stronger than the JLT. He’s been campaigned for chasing. If I was the owner I would want to put his chase credentials to the test on his novice season. I’d want to know if I have a future Gold Cupper. For me, a reverse gear could definitely see him lose and put him back a year.

If he wins the champion hurdle they’d probably go chasing next year anyway. If he romps the JLT they get to dance in the big chases next year in the knowledge they have a contender.

From Graham Wylie’s perspective, I think he probably wants to build on his chase options. Now is the time.

PS, I’ve backed Politologue ew so hope he goes champion hurdle route!!!

More chance of yorkhill stepping up in trip than douvan id say, champion chase is something theyll want to win multiple times if its possible, could yorkhill beat altior? Probably not…. could douvan beat altior….. probably yes

Dont understand why they would even consider stepping douvan up

We are now waiting to see if Willie Mullins decides to bring in any subs for the champion hurdle. If the ground is soft then he may supplement Un De Sceaux who would try to win making all the running. The markets are 50:50 on Yorkhill running, he too would need to be supplemented. Yorkhill is also entered for the Arkle and he could also switch to this race should Altior run badly at the weekend or miss the race through injury etc. Vroom Vroom Mag simply does not look good enough on the balance of her form even with the mares allowance. Nichols Canyon would have a chance on the best of his form but he seems to be on the downgrade. He has 13 horses entered in the mares hurdle so some of these will run elsewhere or not at all, the best of these for me would be Augusta Kate and I think she will in time prove to be top class and I will be backing her wherever she runs. Whatever the switches Mullins makes he will no doubt be consigning more of my multiple bets to the dustbin.

ham wrote:

I get that vautour obviously, but if your a champion 2miler, destroying everything and anything, could potentially dominate it for the forseeable future, youd risk that to step up and “maybe” be as good over further

Rubys blog today virtually said the same thing, why would you want to step him up

Willie has made it no secret in the past that he thinks Douvan would get 3 miles. You have to remember the caliber of horses Douvan works against at home and for Willie to say he could win any race at the festival?

He has probably kicked Djakadam aside many a time at home, and I remember seeing something like Douvan was the only horse able to get Vautour off the bridle. I fully believe we will see him run in this years King George if he is fit and healthy, for better or for worse.

Don’t get me wrong the Champion Chase is the Champion Chase, second only to the Gold Cup in my opinion, but when you have a horse that you believe could be the best you ever have , you want to win the best race there is.

Mullins also said he could easily have been a champion hurdle horse having the speed for a champion hurdle/champion chase being as good as he js at that distance i just cant see it, i dont think ruby could Settle him to get 3m+

Far more likely to see UDS end up in the king george than douvan, not that i know much though

Who knows though if somehow he got beat at cheltenham maybe they would do it , would be exciting to see him step up but id be equally excited if he remained and dominated

Voleur wrote:

Willie has made it no secret in the past that he thinks Douvan would get 3 miles. You have to remember the caliber of horses Douvan works against at home and for Willie to say he could win any race at the festival?

He has probably kicked Djakadam aside many a time at home, and I remember seeing something like Douvan was the only horse able to get Vautour off the bridle. I fully believe we will see him run in this years King George if he is fit and healthy, for better or for worse.

Don’t get me wrong the Champion Chase is the Champion Chase, second only to the Gold Cup in my opinion, but when you have a horse that you believe could be the best you ever have , you want to win the best race there is.

Mullins says a lot of things, we all have eyes.

Of course Douvan “kicked Djakadam aside many a time at home”. That’s the problem when it comes to the Gold Cup, he’s all about speed speed speed, where as Djakadam has stamina. Douvan is yet to race further than 2m1f and although isn’t exactly “free” at that trip… can see his chances of settling well enough to stay 3m2f110yrds on a stiff track (or indeed any track) are minimal to none.

What do we think of an e/w double on Consul De Thaix Supreme Hurdle and Brain Power Champion Hurdle before Saturday? CDT will have a superb chance if he wins the Betfair and it’ll be a massive form boost for Brain Power?

I like it! We mays well make it a e/w treble with Alpha Des Obeaux aye Zark #BookiesInTears