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Nice one Fists and Reet for sticking your necks out on binocular. Didnt get round to laying him in the end, and glad I didnt as I was seriously thinking about it, may do now though.
Glad to see Celestial Halo prove that he is the real deal, and am quite convinced that if he’d got to run at cheltenham last week on softer conditions he’d have been hard to pass. Celestial Halo is a bit of a short price now for the the Champ Hurdle but am hoping Nicholls steps him up for a crack at the world hurlde.
I’m not having backed him ante post for the Champion Hurdle. If the ground came up soft on Champion Hurdle day he could be a serious contender.
As far as Binocular is concerned he’d not want extreme conditions as long as its good to softish or good he’s going to take some serious stopping.
Katchit is the one I’d be thinking of stepping up in trip I can’t see him being placed even in another Champion Hurdle.
7/4 was the best price I heard (Boylesports), even that looks a very good price.
They let Celestial Halo go and I think Nicholls horse is flattered. The others finished in the order, as far apart as predictable. So if we measure Binocular’s ability by those three, he is awsome. I’d expect a fit and well Binny to start Evens come March.
What was that price Fist got?
Expect to here more about this horse!
Mark
Value Is EverythingCHELTENHAM will be a different ball game, Celestial Halo will come on for that run and will be suited to "The Hill" more than "Binocular"! 6/4fav for the Champion!! early days but certainly one smart horse. I personally have a feeling about the day he comes under pressure and that head goes in the air, what will he find up that hill Fist?
7/4 was the best price I heard (Boylesports), even that looks a very good price.
They let Celestial Halo go and I think Nicholls horse is flattered. The others finished in the order, as far apart as predictable. So if we measure Binocular’s ability by those three, he is awsome. I’d expect a fit and well Binny to start Evens come March.
What was that price Fist got?
Expect to here more about this horse!
Mark
Fist got 22-1, I got 20s and am more than happy with that.
Nicholls has confirmed that Celestial Halo will go for the Champion Hurdle.
The swine….
CHELTENHAM will be a different ball game, Celestial Halo will come on for that run and will be suited to "The Hill" more than "Binocular"! 6/4fav for the Champion!! early days but certainly one smart horse. I personally have a feeling about the day he comes under pressure and that head goes in the air, what will he find up that hill Fist?
Hope you are right. I’ve got 16’s Celestial Halo, but looking at the start, Celestial Halo pinched quite a lead. Thought he was flattered, won’t get such an easy lead in the Champion. Unfortunately only a saver on Binnocular at 6’s.
Might be a question about Cheltenham but only slight now. That was a fair test.
Mark
Value Is EverythingNicholls has confirmed that Celestial Halo will go for the Champion Hurdle.
The swine….
Im not sure what to make of Katchit at the moment, i have no doubt that he will improve for Cheltenham in March, however, it is another race for him today and another race where we possibly havent found out too much how he will fair next March in the Champion Hurdle.
A race at Kempton, a race at Wincanton and a race at Ascot. Not 100% ready first time out and beaten by a race-ready Snap Tie, top of the handicap at Wincanton when beaten by Chomba Womba and Takeroc, and today, Ascot not suiting him at all in my opinion.
10/1 is a big price for the Champion Hurdle, i dont think he will win it, and to be honest, i am now doubting if he will finish within the first 3. I know im biased towards Alan’s horses, but i try and see it without blinkers, and with the way Katchit has been this season, i honestly cannot see Katchit finishing in the first 3. I do however, believe that he will improve for a run at Cheltenham.
Im not really sure how Sizing Europe can be 8/1 second favourite for the Champion Hurdle, i think it is more on the fact that potential challengers for Binocular, have come up short, as it cannot be for the fact that Sizing Europe has been impressive. Sizing Europe hasn’t been impressive since the AIG, when beating Hardy Eustace, and i feel is priced up on potential and his performance in the AIG rather than anything else.
It will be interesting to see Punjabi line up in the Champion Hurdle, also, dont forget that Osana will no doubt be taking his chance in the race in March too.
CHELTENHAM will be a different ball game, Celestial Halo will come on for that run and will be suited to "The Hill" more than "Binocular"! 6/4fav for the Champion!! early days but certainly one smart horse. I personally have a feeling about the day he comes under pressure and that head goes in the air, what will he find up that hill Fist?
Hope you are right. I’ve got 16’s Celestial Halo, but looking at the start, Celestial Halo pinched quite a lead. Thought he was flattered, won’t get such an easy lead in the Champion. Unfortunately only a saver on Binnocular at 6’s.
Might be a question about Cheltenham but only slight now. That was a fair test.
Mark
Cheltenham is a different type of track though Mark. There will be a bigger field an end to end gallop and all the ups and downs of that track will play into Celestial Halo’s hands. How many horses do you see pulling double at the second last but don’t end up winning? There are loads historically, that hill really sorts the men from the boys at the end of Championship races.
PS I got 20/1 ner, ner, ner, ner, ner
A very, very good performance.
AP and Ruby proved why they’re the best around today.
Ruby would’ve stolen the race on a normal day, but he encountered an animal that’s far from normal. Nicky Henderson said he wasn’t completely wound up today – incredible.
You have to be disappointed with the respective rides given to Katchit and Chomba Womba. They were in the same boat as Celestial Halo, but they never made stamina an issue and didn’t put any great distance between themselves and the front two in the market. Wouldn’t have mattered as far as the winner is concerned, but they could’ve been closer.
Crack Away Jack looked exactly like what he is – a chaser jumping hurdles. He didn’t have the gears to compete against natural hurdlers.
Binocular looks an outstanding prospect, but I wouldn’t be in a rush to take 6/4. Cheltenham is a unique test and it may or may not be coincidence that, despite his brilliance, he tasted defeat for the only time at the course.
Will the same tactics be as effective at Cheltenham?
I wouldn’t give up on Katchit. He loves the spring and Cheltenham brings out the very best in him.
**** me that was impressive. Brought back memories of the mighty Istabraq the way he cantered into contention but also displayed amazing gear changes especially at a crucial stage before the home turn..
I thought they had let the Halo go, but A P was brilliant. He sat on the shoulder of Crack Away hoping he would bring him into the race, but in a split second A P realised the Lavelle animal was not as good as she thought, and made a vital decision to go after the Halo himself rather than wait for a tow.
To give a half decent tool that sort of lead and then go past him cruising is a very remarkable and rare perfromance. It seems a new superstar is in the making. Well done to all those with the 22s plus vouchers. I don’t want to put the mockers on but surely you can count your money now?
I have to say, he has fantastic technique and yes, shades of Istabraq.
Im not going to go with those people who said we are on the brink of a bright era of top class horses. I dont think crack away jack, katchit et al are any monksfield or nightnurse type yet (there not even a brave inca for me)This binocular really looks the part and hopfully with sizing europe back (and brave inca) also, who we know all about, we will find out just how good he is.
SHL
If you rate todays race you can actually rate it as Crack Away Jack and Chomba Womba having run right up to their best marks 153 / 156. Also if you ignore Katchit’s Champion Hurdle run last season he was probably a 162 / 163 horse and strictly speaking todays run also ties in to a 162 performance so thats Katchit, Chomba and Jack all either running to their usual form OR they’ve all run an almost equal amount below form.
If you take it they have run true to form it gives Binocular a 176 (which is a good 8lbs above Sizing Europe) and Celestial Halo 171.
On that basis it looks like last years novices were pretty damn good and they should possibly be first and second favs for the Champion Hurdle. Binocular at 6/4 is possibly about right, Celestial Halo could still be a big price at a best 14/1.
Binocular was very, very impressive, not even asked a question. To use a Bibilcal turn of phrase, we have seen and believed, blessed are those who had not seen but believed! Sure, CH will suit Cheltenham more, but can you see him turning around the form?
Punjabi, Sizing Europe and Osana look threats. If Osana didn’t win last time, I don’t see him doing it now. SE looks tricky to keep sound, and I don’t see anything in his form to put him much beyond Osana anyway. Punjabi looks to have improved, but how to assess that against what we saw today? I doubt Binny can win shaken up, and it will be interesting to see how he does if he has to fight.
I wouldn’t take any of Katchit’s runs this year as representative of his true running. His defeats as a four-year old were better runs, and you could put them down to age/being prepared for Chelters. Alan King says he can get him better, but he seems to be lacking his enthusiasm, which has always been such a feature of his running. Perhaps his Champion effort has taken something out of him? I think it is this lack of edge, rather than ability, that looks to compromise his Champion chances. I’m a big fan. It would be a shame to see him defend his crown without his zest.
Just makes me even more gutted that we wont see Captain Cee Bee this season.
He was destined to go chasing this year but he’ll surely be a better price for the 2010 arkle for his absence this year. Hope he comes back well.
I never had any doubts about Binnys speed, but was a bit worried about his stamina , however today he answered them.
Celestial Halo vs Sizing Europe for the Irish Champion perhaps?
I wouldn’t take any of Katchit’s runs this year as representative of his true running. His defeats as a four-year old were better runs, and you could put them down to age/being prepared for Chelters. Alan King says he can get him better, but he seems to be lacking his enthusiasm, which has always been such a feature of his running. Perhaps his Champion effort has taken something out of him? I think it is this lack of edge, rather than ability, that looks to compromise his Champion chances. I’m a big fan. It would be a shame to see him defend his crown without his zest.
Are you sure you weren’t in the ring with us after the race? That is pretty much the conversation we had with Choc and Alan.
For whatever reason he isn’t firing – we think he could be a little bored but there is the chance that he’s left a little of himself at Cheltenham last march given it was about as hard as race as it gets
Rest now for him until it’s time to get him ready for March and we think he’ll go fresh now. Alan says he can get him better but on today’s evidence we;re running for a place (which is what we thought we were doing last year)… Binocular looks a very fine animal!
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Whhhooooooooooosssssh!!!!!!!
There goes another 3 months of Fist banging on about his ante-post bet.
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