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Quote: from davidbrady on 12:12 am on Dec. 10, 2006[br]<br>
Quote: from reet hard on 11:22 pm on Dec. 9, 2006[br]Maybe today was his Champion Hurdle?
Surely you jest! It is highly unlikely that there is anything other than a 3rd Champion Hurdle in mind for connections.
Not really DB. His record shows that he hasn’t been hard trained in the first half of the season since his novice days.<br> If they’ve decided that last year’s CH third is as good as he is nowadays, surely it makes sense for them to go for the 2nd biggest pot of the season, (or 47k for 2nd place) in what is invariably the easier option?
In what way would it have been in Hardy Eustace’s best interests to bowl along in front and set the race up for Detroit City? Their only hope of beating Detriot City yesterday was if they could have done in his toe betwen the last two flights.
Hardy Eustace’s days at 2m are done. He won’t be placed in the Champion, I’d love to see him run in the Stayers’. A race he’d have a real chance in.
Its quite possible at my age that my memory is at fault – but I seem to remember Hardy Eustace winning both of his Champion Hurdles from the front! I was therefore surprised at the tactics he adopted in this race. Having said that to my eyes the 4lb was neither here nor there as the race was run and Detroit City is just a better horse than todays Hardy Eustace. ( I wish I had been so sure of that before the race!) The race wasn’t run to suit and he didn’t start to jump until the pace increased.
I am convinced he will beat Brave Inca who whilst obviously a very good horse does not strike me , historically, as a worthy Champion Hurdler. Detroit City is anotherPersian War or See you Then – we are talking of the real thing here.
I am convinced he will beat Brave Inca who whilst obviously a very good horse does not strike me , historically, as a worthy Champion Hurdler.
The usual underestimation of a horse simply because he is not "flashy" or appear as "brilliant" as others. How on earth can an 8 time Grade 1 winner…. including the Supreme Hurdle where he beat a Gold Cup winner, the Deloite Hurdle where he beat a Champion chaser and an Irish Champion Hurdle…not be a worthy Champion yet a horse who has yet to win a single Grade 1 open to all ages is described as "the real thing". The mind boggles sometimes.
Quote: from Aidan on 11:52 am on Dec. 10, 2006[br]
I am convinced he will beat Brave Inca who whilst obviously a very good horse does not strike me , historically, as a worthy Champion Hurdler.
The usual underestimation of a horse simply because he is not "flashy" or appear as "brilliant" as others. How on earth can an 8 time Grade 1 winner…. including the Supreme Hurdle where he beat a Gold Cup winner, the Deloite Hurdle where he beat a Champion chaser and an Irish Champion Hurdle…not be a worthy Champion yet a horse who has yet to win a single Grade 1 open to all ages is described as "the real thing". The mind boggles sometimes.
<br>I understand what you’re saying Aidan and I take your point to a degree but Brave Inca isn’t an exceptional Champion Hurdler IMO. Even at his very best he’s beatable.
Well define an "exceptional" hurdler. Is he a Night Nurse, Istabraq etc…..think its clear he probably isnt.
But describing him as an unworthy winner of a Champion Hurdle is laughable. He is clearly a top class hurdler. Delighted to hear Sean Boyce defend the horse on Get On this morning after the bookmaker representative suggested he had had too many hard battles and he doesnt have the pace for a Champion Hurdle…seemingly forgetting last years exploits.
You say he is beatable at his very best, if he remains at his very best throughout the rest of the year I do not see a hurdler he should be afraid of.
Aidan,
I dont mean to crab Brave Inca – we would all love to own him and he is obviously a very very good horse. However every now and again a truly exceptional horse comes along – for me it was Persian War who from the triumph hurdle as a 4y0 went on to win 3 champion hurdles usually making all and slamming the opposition but showing the ability to battle when pushed. Night nurse and see you then were also exceptional with the latter also winning 3 champion hurdles.
It is my opinion, which is probably worth nothing, that in Detroit City we may be seeing that ilk again. I am convinced we are and that therefore he will beat Bold Inca but none of us can know and I hope they both enjoy the best of preparations and we will see a real championship in March.
I am also hoping the same for Kauto Star! which probably means I am going soft in my old age – but I have been watching and owning racehorses for over 45 years and I have rarely been so thrilled and excited by 2 young horses.
Quote: from Aidan on 3:44 pm on Dec. 10, 2006[br]Well define an "exceptional" hurdler. Is he a Night Nurse, Istabraq etc…..think its clear he probably isnt.
But describing him as an unworthy winner of a Champion Hurdle is laughable. He is clearly a top class hurdler. Delighted to hear Sean Boyce defend the horse on Get On this morning after the bookmaker representative suggested he had had too many hard battles and he doesnt have the pace for a Champion Hurdle…seemingly forgetting last years exploits.
You say he is beatable at his very best, if he remains at his very best throughout the rest of the year I do not see a hurdler he should be afraid of.
<br>Just my opinion but I think the best hurdlers have been much of a muchness for years now the door has been open for a really good one to dominate the division I think Detroit Cty is capable of doing that.
To call a Champion Hurdler unworthy is a bit harsh I agree.
The one thing I took out of yesterdays race was that Detroit City is NOT in a different league to the current bunch of established hurdlers as many seemed to think after his Greatwood win. He has certainly put himself in the mix but give me 6/1 any day about Brave Inca than the 2/1 about DC.
Quote: from Aidan on 4:06 pm on Dec. 10, 2006[br]The one thing I took out of yesterdays race was that Detroit City is NOT in a different league to the current bunch of established hurdlers as many seemed to think after his Greatwood win. He has certainly put himself in the mix but give me 6/1 any day about Brave Inca than the 2/1 about DC.
<br>I’m not sure I agree with that. The ground was softer than Detroit City would ideally prefer, there was no pace in the race and he had to do all his own donkey work. Detroit City will be a better horse on a faster surface and in a race that has enough pace in it for him to travel and quicken off it. Yesterdays race developed into a half a mile sprint.
Ok thats actually fair enough, but it works both ways. If it didnt show DC in the best light it certainly didnt for HE either who not only is a spring time horse (look at his race record) but he got a ride from O’Dwyer that was poor to say the least. Firstly his positioning through the race plus bringing him initially to the far rail up the straight only then to bring him to the standside rail where he flew up it. Coupled with that DC was recieving weight from HE and in the end regardless of people thinking he would have found more he only beat him a lenght or so.
Just looking at it now it looks pretty certain DC will start favourite for the race now as he should have a penalty kick in the Afga while people will continue to underestimate BI even if he wins his races up to the race day.
(Edited by Aidan at 4:14 pm on Dec. 10, 2006)
Aidan,
What makes the sport of racing so interesting is the difference of opinion and obviously we are not going to agree! Lets hope both horses turn up fit and well at Cheltenham and I promise not to say I told you so! ( as long as you promise also)
certainly didnt for HE either who not only is a spring time horse (look at his race record)
I dont believe that HE is being brought along quietly as in previous years.Think he has been trained more with a full campaign in mind
I dont believe that HE is being brought along quietly as in previous years.Think he has been trained more with a full campaign in mind
HE has never been campaigned lightly…as with some horses he is simply comes to hand in the spring.
Thats true but i suspoect that hes been trained less with the Ch in mind this year than previously. He looked exceptionally fit at Ascot. Also, tend to feel he might just need further than 16f now
Lovely horse though and whilst I think DC will continue to develop away from him, would be great to see him win in March
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