Christmas Hurdle 2017

[ham]

What a disaster this race could turn out to be, is this still open for entries? This could end up with 3 runners… and they could all be wearing the same silks lol

[Middle_Of_March]

Just had a look at the market. I can’t even find a decent each way angle. There’s no substance to the race at all.

[thewexfordman]

With the usually small field this race ends up with I’m surprised some of the bigger trainers don’t enter novices, just to get a bit of prize money and experience of jumping at a faster pace on usually better ground.

I’m also surprised that middle of the road trainers of horses rated 150-160 don’t target this race more, instead of trying to carry heavy weights in competitive handicaps. Its a Pity that nearly every 2 mile hurdle (with the exception of the champion hurdle) end up as 5/6 runner races.

[ham]

Middle_Of_March wrote:

Just had a look at the market. I can’t even find a decent each way angle. There’s no substance to the race at all.

Limini,vvm,faugheen wont run, will he send melon over so soon? Cant see it

Will TNO appear so quickly after talking up the stayers? Doubtful

Same applies to MTOY, will nicky throw him out so soon again i cant see it,

BVD is the only runner i can confirm, with maybe DDS, old guard being priced up by only one bookie is because im assuming he is not running

I get its usually a small field, but unless the entries are open and someone reappears pretty quickly, ittl be pretty bad, hopefully the second place prize money convinces someone to stay in,

[jackh1092]

It’s a disaster really but i suppose with the International hurdle just past, it rules out some of them runners- albeit i don’t think any of them would challenge, they’d atleast make some numbers.

There aren’t enough 2m hurdlers about these days.

Just look at the Fighting Fifth as an example.

Then go back to Cheltenham-
2nd MTOY, ran on Saturday
3rd Petit Mouchoir- chasing
4th Footpad- chasing
5th TNO- not good enough, maybe finally go WH and ran at the weekend
6th Sceau Royal- chasing
7th Yanworth- chasing
8th Wicklow Brave- been in AUS and on the flat. Not good enough, but at least a runner for Chelt maybe?
9th Brain Power- chasing
10th Cyrus Darius- chasing

We may hope some of the novices stay hurdling…Its an awful turnout these days, and if you look down the antepost market, there aren’t many to come out.

Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!

[thewexfordman]

These are field sizes for the last 6 years in each of the big two mile races
Christmas hurdle 5,5,5,6,7,5
Irish champion. 4,5,6,4,5,5
Irish christmas. 5,4,7,5,5,7
Fighting fifth. 5,6,7,6,8,4
Morginana. 4,5,5,5,3,4
Punchestown. 10,6,4,3,6,4
Cheltenham. 11,12,8,9,9,10

Other than the champion hurdle, there have only been 2 fields of 8 or more in the last 6 years.

[thewexfordman]

And the two grade one 2.5 mile races had:
Aintree. 6,6,6,7,9,5
Hattons grace. 7,7,7,5,5,5

[ham]

As i said i know its usually a small field, 5/6 but usually the 5/6 is a decent enough field, but realistically theres a chance of only 3 runners in this, if faugheens drift does infact mean hes out then melon will definitely be kept for the ryanair and the others all have question marks bar BVD and DDS

[stevecaution]

There is an utter drought of talent.

My Tent Or Yours still winning after all his problems shows just how little quality there is at the top in the Hurdling game.

A race of little or no relevance in general and an utter disgrace this season.

I’ll tape the Queen’s Speech and watch that instead of this tedious rubbish.

Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.

[Kris]

Have the entries officially been released for this yet, or are the horses listed just a general list from the firms?

[ham]

Im not sure if they will reopen the entried was my initial question, but this is the entries for now kris

[Mike007]

What would happen if BD is the only runner? Would he still have to run?

[ham]

Yes lol he obviously wont be but theres every possibillity that it could be two runners

[Mike007]

6 declared but there may only be 3 of them running i.e. BD, The New One, and Old Guard.

[CharlesOlney]

Re-opened.

I can see a few no-hopers being added. I thought maybe Mullins would send over something like Cilaos Emery to see where he stands with Buveur D’air but that doesn’t seem likely.

[ham]

Thats good news hopefully soemthingnhalf interesting turns up

Yeah youd think he would maybe someone of that sort although hes already confirmed he will run in the ryanair

[CharlesOlney]

Is The New One a smashing e/w bet at 13/2?

If anything happens to the fav then Twister’s old boy will win and no matter how he’s ridden he’s not going to finish any worse than 2nd, in which case at 1/4 of the odds you’d make a small profit.

[Author]

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