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Agreed, he’s not a superstar but on his day he’s a match for most.
I wouldn’t be in a rush to rule both out, nor would i Aba. Even though Aba clearly has an attitude.
Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!Likewise, I wonder if there have been a few overreactions in these markets after the Christmas results. If the Elliott horses are scoping dirty, you can easily put a line through some of his flops.
Abacadabras is arguably the biggest one in that category. For me he has more basic speed than any hurdler in training, although you have to accept the quirks with him as well. IMO his display in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the best piece of form on offer – to tank all over Shishkebab and other good horses then pull himself up from the home turn and only just get pipped…
You’d think this could be a decent size field again this year now Epatante has shown some vulnerability. The bigger the field the better for Abacadbras if he’s healthy again by March.
I also wonder if something nasty might come to light with Epatante. I’ve watched the Christmas Hurdle back a few times and to my eye she lost her action off the home turn and didn’t seem to be moving all that well. Possibly did herself a mischief with that mistake? Would rather chance that Abacadabras won’t be an Abacadaver at 16s rather than the mare at 2/1 when she might well be lame.
If abacadabras wins it its a bad race, mengli khan in disguise, hes not good enough for a champion hurdle, shishkins not a superstar quite yet so i dont think the formline is good enough to base winning this off
Id rather back buveur/saldier/sharjah at this point.
Saldier if finding what he shown against espoir dallen will be bang there and hes what 25/1 to find out? Thats fair
Bvd if finding old form is just better than all of these, hes not a bad price to find out also 25/1 to find out, a fair price also
Sharjah probably should be shorter than he is on what hes done, given a closer ride last season he would have been closer to epetante without beating her and a repeat of that might be good enough
Ham sorry can’t agree , he,s the only horse to give shiskin a race , something went amiss last time and another point maybe being missed is that he needs better ground , if you want to look at a more experienced horse then surely silver streak , saldier woundt win a champ hurdle , buvier had his day and sharjah was primed for last time , the race is now more open after epanante last run but she,still the one to beat
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
Ye I can’t agree with Abacadabras being not good enough. He’s plenty of ability and is definitely the speediest in the field.
My lingering doubt would be a desire to win, has a touch of Harchibalds for me. 16s looks an interesting price although he’ll need an A* ride to get him home in front.
Further to my post a few pages back and the concern in response around Song For Someone being targeted at Aintree rather than Cheltenham, some more (and more recent) trainer comments:
“Song For Someone is in great form and the plan would be to either run in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham or the Aintree Hurdle. We have entered him in the Champion Hurdle and we will make a decision nearer the time.”
<then some chat about a pre-Spring Festival target>
“I was absolutely delighted with his win at Cheltenham and despite the circumstances, it was great to see him prove his liking of the track. It was obviously nobody’s fault that they didn’t jump the hurdles in the home straight, but that would not have suited him as he is such a good jumper. The fact he still managed to win was great and it clearly showed that Cheltenham suits him. The Champion Hurdle is firmly in the picture and it would be great to have a runner in a championship race like that.”Think I’ll take my own advice. 16/1 NRNB now available.
Good luck Coneycard, he’s a really likeable horse.
I’m not really wanting to bet another here, having taken the 25-1 on Sharjah, but I’m impressed by the change in tactics with Silver Streak, and I’ve taken 11-1 on him too
id forgive him that
He travelled strongly then got tired
Its pretty much what I was expecting
Song For Someone looks the likeliest winner of the champion hurdle. 20/1 at moment. Non stop progression since his first run of last season and should be ready to peak as a 6yo and improve again. Won 3 grade 2’s in a row and now looks ready to take the step up to grade 1. Tom Symonds best ever horse and the smaller trainer has a heavyweight contender come the day I would imagine and can take on and beat the big stables like Henderson and Mullins here. Will go there with a decent chance on any ground also which would have to be a bonus. Can see this one going off single figure odds on the day so I think this will be my only ante post bet for the festival.
I’d be cautious with SFS Robbo, Symonds and the owner might wait for Aintree.
I’d hold off until he’s declared for the contenders hurdle personally if you’ve not punted him yet as if he misses that he’s almost guaranteed to not go to the Fez.
I have done my first bet on him already and plan to do some more and have him as my only festival horse. I think having won at Cheltenham giving weight to half the field in the grade 2 last time will force their hand. I think the Champion Hurdle is too big an opportunity for the owner and trainer to pass by so I will be surprised if he doesn’t turn up on the day though I am aware the trainer has said their is no guarantee he will go to Cheltenham, I just think ultimately they will feel they must take their chance in a race he could win. Would be nice to see a smaller trainer land the prize.
I really like this horse he is fast at his hurdles, has great tactical speed and also a turn of foot. He finds for pressure as well when the whip gets drawn and has plenty of fight in him if he gets into a battle. Having gradually Improved over the last 2 seasons with every run, one more improved performance and he is right there and doesn’t need to fear any horse.Initially when silver streak beat Epatante and ballyandy was 15 lenghts behind Epatante i thought wow maybe Epatante underperformed a tad but not much and maybe silver streak just ran a career best and tactics really boosted his performance.
Now having seen ballyandy get stuffed by buvuer dair and Navajo pass in the same manner it makes me think that maybe ballyandy has just blown up in his last 2 runs and not ran to form whatsoever.
Which leads me to believe that maybe Epatante underperformed more than I first thought in the Christmas hurdle, whether it be yard form at the time or in season or the bad mistake she made or maybe just wasn’t herself.
Anyway my point is that I now think that there was definitely something up with Epatante at Christmas and that she can bounce back and beat silver streak at Cheltenham. Whereas I was having some doubts about her getting beaten in a strongly run 2 mile race. But now I have slightly more confidence in her after yesterday
At the moment I’d say it’s the most open of the championship races , question marks against even those at the top of the market
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
I am still keeping faith with Epatante. That run at Kempton was too bad to be true. Had she of hacked up as most expected, she’d be odds on for this. The weight allowance will work in her favour and I can see her returning to form. JP’s record in this race is unreal (especially in the last few years) and seen as Saint Roi hasnt done too much right since Cheltenham, Buveur’s now 10 and its unknown how much ability he retains, it therefore leaves Epatante to fly the flag for the green and gold battalion. Happy to be proven wrong but she still gets my vote.
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