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I agree with Bulwark; Celestial Halo looks a massive price.
PN needs to know where he stands with him so he’s likely to be fully-tuned and ready to set a searching pace. Also, imo, the reason why Ruby comes back Saturday instead of Boxing Day.I can’t see any angle at the head of the market, and though he has plenty to find on official figures, I’ve backed the thoroughly unexposed Solwhit each-way at 20/1, to cause a bit of a stir.
The only reason he might run is the owners wife wants to go shopping in London.
………won’t be a stir if he beats this lot lt be more like an earhquake hit puntersvilleI hadn’t realised Celestial Halo was entered for the race, that throws another spanner in the works, potentially.
I have always liked Celetial Halo, but i thought they would step him up in trip this season, rather than continue to campaign the horse over the shorter distance. It was originally planned that Celestial Halo would go for the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, but connections obviously wanted to wait another 2 weeks and give him a run at Cheltenham in the Bula.
You cant knock his form to be honest, he has beaten Franchoek, who is no slouch, in the Triump Hurdle, although Franchoek is better over a longer distance, and in my opinion, more suited to jumps rather than hurdles. He finished a good second at Aintree behind Binocular. Celestial Halo also has some of these held on form, Won In The Dark and Serabad, to name 2.
It would have been good to have seen Osana take his chance in the race too, but connections obviously think that the race has come around too quickly for him and they want to prepare him longer for his return to the track.
You can give a chance to a few in the field.
It wouldnt suprise me if Celestial Halo, Binocular, Katchit and also Crack Away Jack were fighting out the finish on Saturday.
Harchibald’s performance will all depend on how soft the ground gets, if it gets too soft and cuts up, then i dont think he will be anywhere near his best, and may run a race, verbatim to his one in the Champion Hurdle earlier this season.
Definately an exciting race in prospect, and hopefully, one which will give us a few clues.
Good stuff bulwark. i agree hes too long too and is surely a good ew play (not that i dabble ew at all). Its easy to imagine him staying on for a place at least
I can’t see any angle at the head of the market, and though he has plenty to find on official figures, I’ve backed the thoroughly unexposed Solwhit each-way at 20/1, to cause a bit of a stir.
The only reason he might run is the owners wife wants to go shopping in London.
………won’t be a stir if he beats this lot lt be more like an earhquake hit puntersvilleGranted he’s an outsider, Fists, but I acknowledged that.
Regardless, he was smart on the Flat, remains unexposed over hurdles, and an OR of 148 puts him within reasonable hailing distance of the main players. If a couple run below par, and he improves again, there’s a chance he can run into a place, imo.
What’s the forecast like for the rest of the week?
Were the ground to come up soft, Chomba Womba looks a fair enough price to me at 8’s.
What’s the forecast like for the rest of the week?
Were the ground to come up soft, Chomba Womba looks a fair enough price to me at 8’s.
If you fancy Chomba there’s 13.5 available on Betfair
I’m of the belief that Nicky Henderson wont run both Binocular and Chomba Womba here – Binocular will run, Chomba won’t.
The going is currently good /soft, soft in places. Soft heavy in places on the cross country course. Cold weather and sub zero temperatures are forecast.
Celestial Halo is reported fine after his allergic reaction that caused him to miss the Fighting Fifth hurdle. He didn’t miss much work and he’s looking physically stronger this season. This is his acid test. They will judge his future after this race. If he’s able to mix it with the best, then they’ll go down the champion hurdle route, and if not then they’ll up him in trip.
It’s a shame Osana isn’t going to be ready for the race. But it’s a great Champion Hurdle trail. Binocular having won his warm up impressively at Haydock. I woner if Nicky Nicky Henderson will let Chomba Womba take her chance as well? If Crack Away Jack were to improve his hurdling he’d be on the premises. Katchit must have a very good chance, having surely been primed for this race, with that rather strange decision to run him, at Wincanton in the Elite. And if Won In The Dark was to run up to his Triumph and Punchasetown form, he’d be in with a very good chance of place money.
All in all a very exciting prospect.
Surely Celestial Halo can’t possibly win this whether Ruby rides him or not.
I know Aintree isn’t Cheltenham but unless the rumours are totally untrue Binocular has improved bundles since last deason. He totally destroyed CH that day and there is clearly a huge difference in class between the 2.
Thornton seems keen on Katchit’s chances and no doubt he will asusual go for home from 3 out and that will be the end of Celestial Halo.
Binoclular will pass Katchit justbefore the last and storm up the hill to win by an easy 5 lengths. Crack Away Jack will finish strongest of all to take second.
and I will have a huge smile on my face
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Fists
If Binocular is that good, why is Punjabi the one chasing the huge bonus?
Binoclular will pass Katchit justbefore the last and storm up the hill to win by an easy 5 lengths. Crack Away Jack will finish strongest of all to take second.
and I will have a huge smile on my face
More likely egg…
I think Punjabi is the one fancied by the yard, and that should mean that Binocular is beatable.
This is a huge race and one that we aren’t underestimating, but the fact remains for me that there’s huge amounts to prove for these other horses.
I’m sure that an outsider reading this thread would’ve thought Katchit was the outsider who’s not proven himself yet.We’ll see on Saturday (let’s hope I’m not eating my words)
Interesting that nobody has mentioned River Liane as yet – was one of the shortest priced favs at last years Festival and ran no sort of race after being badly interfered with coming down the hill. 25/1 is a massive price about this one.
Binocular is a bit short against this field on this course but it is a very tough race to call and each post here makes me fancy something else. A tell tale sign to leave the race alone.
Is there a bonus for the winner if it goes on to win the Champion?Last year there was a £200k bonus put up by Boylesports. I’m assuming the same will apply this year.
This is a huge race and one that we aren’t underestimating, but the fact remains for me that there’s huge amounts to prove for these other horses.
Katchit,
Wouldn’t it also be reasonable to suggest that your charge also has questions to answer given how laboured he has looked thus far in 2008/9, Champion Hurdler or not?
Last year there was a £200k bonus put up by Boylesports. I’m assuming the same will apply this year.
This is a huge race and one that we aren’t underestimating, but the fact remains for me that there’s huge amounts to prove for these other horses.
Katchit,
Wouldn’t it also be reasonable to suggest that your charge also has questions to answer given how laboured he has looked thus far in 2008/9, Champion Hurdler or not?
Depends on how you see it. He isn’t glamourous is he?
The race against Snap Tie was OK, beaten by a horse that was ready for it and Katchit wasn’t…
Wincanton… beaten by Chomba Womba who then went and beat the 2nd favourite for the CH (i don’t remember CAJ giving her 18 or 19 lbs that day)We’ve learned this year that he probably wants a little further than 2 miles at some courses…
What he doesn’t have to prove is that he’s good enough to compete off levels at the top of the sport, or that he’s good enough to win a Champion Hurdle… the only other horse in the race that can say even half that sentence is Harchibald (and I’d probably grant him the whole thing)
We’ll let the boy show us on Saturday whether he’s still up for it, the yard are upbeat, Choc is full of confidence – why would we doubt?
why would we doubt?
I fully accept that as owners you will always be positively biased, it’s only human nature after all. I was just pointing out that from a neutral point of view all of the horses in the Boylesports, bar none, have something to prove on Saturday.
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