- This topic has 14 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 6 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Good to see SE going for the Champion Hurdle again – I think he was the best 2 miler last year.
http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news … urope.html
Zip
Agreed. As long as there are no long-lasting effects of the injury he suffered in the Champion Hurdle this year, he’ll be the one to beat in that division IMO.
Totally disagree – horses who are bred to steeplechasers should be given the best chance of rising to the top of the chasing tree and staying there for some time.
I am surprised by the Irish, especially, wanting to keep their best chasing prospects hurdling – Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca were both bred to jump fences yet never did. Harchibald would probably have been perked up by a fence too, who knows?
I guess it is a desire on the part of the owners to attempt "instant" Cheltenham glory, rather than spend a season novice chasing and then go to Cheltenham for either a Queen Mother or a Gold Cup.
Imagine if Jim Lewis at targeted Best Mate at the Champion Hurdle, he would never have bagged 3 Gold Cups. Ditto the Dutchess of Westminster and Arkle.
Sizing is only 6 if he wins champ hurdle next year at 7 he would be still right age to win a gold cup or two….
or maybe they do a Dawn Run as i have heard they do intend some stage to send him jumping fences
I’m disappointed as I was looking forward to seeing him jump a fence.
Maybe this decision will make up Pipe’s mind regarding Osana’s plans for next season. He’s less likely to win the Champion Hurdle now, so they will hopefully send him chasing.
It can work both ways too you know, Iris’s Gift was never the same horse after being sent over fences.
JohnJ
Good news hopefully he’s back to his best and makes it to Cheltenham so Katchit can beat him again without any excuses this time
There are no guarantees he’ll be better as a chaser. As others have mentioned, horses have failed miserably over the bigger obstacles when expectations were high – and a successful hurdling campaign was seen as a "bonus."
Didn’t Inglis Drever have 1 start over fences and Large Action?
SE looks complete class over hurdles and, injury permitting, I expect him to be crowned numero uno.
Of course, I should have known that bloody Katchit would get a mention!!
I’m sure the defending champ will go down with all guns blazing
Zip
I’m sure the defending champ will go down with all guns blazing
Zip
i know it ages away yet but cant wait for the top hurdle races next season with Captain Cee Bee , Binocular , Jaread, Celestial Halo to be added to the mix
Agreed, Batman,
Personally, I find National Hunt is so much more exciting than the flat.
Binocular has got to be the biggest danger among the novices coming through.
Kapow!
(sorry)
Zip
Sizing Europe has bags of physical scope, and a chasing campaign should be a logical conclusion for the horse.
That said, he has time on his side and it wouldn’t be entirely to the detriment of a chasing career, if he was to run over hurdles again next season.
As has been said though, the concern would be whether connections might want to keep him over the small ones, if he has a successful season next year. Personally, I would be very disappointed if we didn’t get the chance to see him jump a fence.
If Katchit had fallen in October and then pulled up in the Champion Hurdle would he have been voted Champion hurdler the other day; what more can the little guy do other than win?
It can work both ways too you know, Iris’s Gift was never the same horse after being sent over fences.
JohnJ
I don’t think you can attribute his loss of form to jumping fences per se.
In any case, it could also be argued leaving him hurdling for as long as they did may have put paid to his chasing career prospects. Willie Mullins is at least one leading light who has been quoted as saying hurdling can teach them bad habits – I know thats why he elected to send Florida Pearl straight over fences.
Bad habits like wining a Stayers Hurdle!
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.