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That was an exceptional performance. Really jumped well and given that stable confidence for this race was so so, looks as if this lovely horse has come on again this season
Down to 8/1 for the champion now. Still good value I think
Thought this was a very very good performance from Celestial Halo – jumped like a stag.
Is there a chance he was the only one that had a chance that gave his running? I would want further evidence before believing he has improved from his Champion Hurdle run. Mamlook had some task on at the weights and is possibly best over further.
We go round and round saying that about any race though cant we DJ?
Wincanton isnt a freak course, conditions were reasonable and there were enough contenders (of whom only Blue Bajan drifted badly in market) to suggest form is fine. For me anyway…
Is there a chance he was the only one that had a chance that gave his running? I would want further evidence before believing he has improved from his Champion Hurdle run. Mamlook had some task on at the weights and is possibly best over further.
That was my first impression David. Neither Blue Bajan or Whiteoak were anywhere near their best. Take out those and what did CH beat? Do like the horse, has some scope for further improvement. Particularly over a stiff 2m. Encouraging first run, but no more than that, will know more after the Boylesports. Think he may be up against it unless improvement is forthcoming; with Binnocular, Hurricane Fly and Solwhit this year.
Value Is EverythingSome will want to ignore Nichols RP comments this morning and do the usual pretend hardbitten act, but take those on board and what do you have?
The clock never lies! Celestial Halo"s performance yesterday was that of a Champion Hurdle winner.No doubt about it!
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We go round and round saying that about any race though cant we DJ?
Wincanton isnt a freak course, conditions were reasonable and there were enough contenders (of whom only Blue Bajan drifted badly in market) to suggest form is fine. For me anyway…
I don’t follow your logic Clive. David is perfectly right it was a very moderate race considering Mamlook is a 2m4f-3m handicapper and Celestial Halo finished 2nd in the Champion Hurdle. Whitoak was held up and never asked a serious question and she has also shown her liking for an extended trip.
If it wasn’t for the doubt surrounding PN’s horses at the moment added to the fact he got stuffed by Binocular first time out last season he would have started at 4/7 or less for that race. Surely as would Binocular or Hurricane Fly?.
These limited handicaps are designed to give good horses an outing against inferior opponents and usually have very little baring on what will happen in March
You lot can be hard to please
Agreed he didn’t beat any high class hurrdlers but sometimes you have to look beyond the form book. He looked so impressive visually and looked like an improver. He has very solid Cheltenham form and if he has improved again then he would take a fair bit of beating.
If Celestial Halo, Hurricane Run and Binocular all turn up at Cheltenham in March I’d predict Celestial Halo could be allowed to go off too big a price and be the one I’d want on side.
(The above based solely on what we know of the contenders today).
It was a good performance but I doubt he will win the Champion hurdle. Better than I have previously given him credit for.
Henderson in his stable tour today seems to suggest Bin would beat Punjabi. I`d have Bin ( as it is nonsense to say he doesn`t get up the hill )but very close with HF and Solwhit.
Question is will CH get in the frameI thought he was impressive, and he looked wonderful in the paddock too. He has filled out over the summer for sure.
10-1 looks good value to me, having been second as a 5yo it is easy to see him going one better as a 6yo. Binocular is better on a flat track (although still very good at Chelters), and Hurricane Fly does have a good bit to find on the book.
At 10-1 CH looks easily the best value in the race at present.
Very impressive performance.
He has improved and if it wasnt for Katchit a few years ago would be be saying that the earliest age a horse can win a CH is 6? If thats the case, as Punjabi showed last year, then this is gives Binocular and Celestial Halo a great chance this season.
Previously people thought that Wincanton and tracks like that would suit the horse. However, after the performance on Saturday do we now think he is more versatile than we originally thought. If that is the case then could we see him go for the Million bonus?
Mamlook remains in the entries for the Greatwood Hurdle next week, where he could race of his old mark. I’d say that would give us an idea about how strong the form is, except that he’s run poorly in three tries at the course. I’d prefer to see him in either the December Handicap Hurdle or the Ladbroke Hurdle next month to see if he can be competitive of his revised mark.
It’s disingenuous to say that Whiteoak and Mamlook need further by the way. Both have put up patently their best hurdles performances over Wincanton’s supposedly sharp two miles. Whiteoak is looking a little disenchanted with the game and ran in snatches but I’d say Mamlook is rock solid and will prove extremely useful in strongly run races at two miles, especially at the likes of Ascot and Wincanton.
Celestial Halo has met Binocular three times.
At Aintree in April 2008, he was beaten 12L.
At Ascot in December 2008, he was beaten 4.5L
At Cheltenham in March 2009, he beat Binocular by a head.
Leave aside all the hype, the talk of interrupted preparations, the tactics and you have a progression that clearly favours CH.
If these weren’t two Champion Hurdle contenders, but a pair of ordinary handicappers who’d met three times at level weights, I’m pretty sure most of us would conclude that Binocular was a precocious novice who might have reached his peak, whilst CH had continued to improve with every run.
And that the market would reflect that general view.
Which is not to say that Binocular can’t or won’t beat Celestial Halo next time they meet, but that you can deduce which way I will bet if Binocular is priced up as the favourite.
AP
I still have reservations about Hurricane Fly. He’s extremely over-hyped – obviously he could easily find the necessary improvement and be the best hurdler we’ve ever seen, but he could just as easily be a disappointment. Yes, I know the manner of his victories has been imperious, and I know his form has been franked all over the place, but he still needs to improve before mixing it with the established hurdlers.
Could someone tell me what piece of form he’s got
in the book
that entitles him to be such a short price for the CH?
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