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First of I think they missed the boat here with Sublimity……surely Kempton would have suited him no end with that short bust of speed he has and the fact he almost beat Punjabi last time out. Non stayer easy course what more do they want Crazy stuff IMO
Pierrot Lunaire 11/2 -5/1 will do for me and look a great bet to upset Punjabi. He’s a good horse is Punjabi but I hear Nicky plans to try and make all the running here which could fall straight into the hands of the Nichols runner…….
2nd to Binny here the course should suit and his Aintree win was nothing short of spectacular.
Don’t rule out Snap Tie if he runs.
I don’t see why making all should be a problem to Punjabi here Fist Kempton is a sharp track that can suit a front runner.
Pierrot Lunaire and Straw Bear on the shortlist for me
If Straw Bear is sent here for this I’d be all over that.
Punjabi may well hack up here but at the forecast prices he’s no bet for me and the other two look more than decent alternatives
Don’t rule out Snap Tie if he runs.
I don’t see why making all should be a problem to Punjabi here Fist Kempton is a sharp track that can suit a front runner.
If he makes all it won’t be a problem Ian
This is probably a very stupid question but how come there is no weight forage allowance in this race? PL still being a 4yo racing against his elders
I can’t answer your 4yo question Fist.
I know it’s not a very original selection, but do people not think that Punjabi will be trained to the minute for this race. He’s won the first leg of the WBX Triple Crown, this is the second leg. If they are going to keep the dream alive (for the time being anyway), he’s got to win this. Sadly for him the last leg is the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Punjabi is very good horse. His recent defeats are all top class, Third in the Champion Hurdle, second in the Tote Gold Trophy with a big weight. You could argue that his worst recent performance was in this race last year. That was his first run of the season though (after eight months off), this season he comes here after a run at Wetherby.
At his probable price, it’s not the type of bet I would make, but I really can’t see him being beaten.
I think the reason four-year-olds don’t get any WFA in the Christmas Hurdle is simply because by this stage of the calendar year it isn’t deemed necessary over 2 miles.
Thanks Friggo I was thinking much the same thing..I guess there must be a cut off point at some stage………pity!!! could have had e few quid more on getting 6lbs or so
I can’t answer your 4yo question Fist.
I know it’s not a very original selection, but do people not think that Punjabi will be trained to the minute for this race. He’s won the first leg of the WBX Triple Crown, this is the second leg. If they are going to keep the dream alive (for the time being anyway), he’s got to win this. Sadly for him the last leg is the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Punjabi is very good horse. His recent defeats are all top class, Third in the Champion Hurdle, second in the Tote Gold Trophy with a big weight. You could argue that his worst recent performance was in this race last year. That was his first run of the season though (after eight months off), this season he comes here after a run at Wetherby.
At his probable price, it’s not the type of bet I would make, but I really can’t see him being beaten.
Don’t get me wrong Colin I am a huge fan of the horse and his trainer. A few years back finishing 2nd in the Tote Gold Trophy with top weight might have been good enough to win a Champion Hurdle but nowadays it is simply not as good a race as it used to be. Iam still wondering if Nicky will send either Punjabi or Sentry Duty for it this season……he loves to compete in the race and I doubt if he thinks either has any chance of beating Binocular in the CH…..perhaps he has it in mind for one or the other?
Nicky said recently really loves the Xmas hurdle it is one of his favourite races. He thought of running Binocular there but the sharp track put him off…..a hint those who think Binny won’t get up the Cheltenham Hill should perhaps pay heed to.
Punjabi could win this easily but Pierrot Lunaire is a horse I really like. PN reckons he was unlucky against Binocular at Kempton last season but I never really found out why he thought so.
Irrespective of that, the horse put up one of the best performances of the season when he absolutely destroyed Blue Bajan at Aintree which must have left Andy Turnell scratching his head wondering if his horse had lost a leg during the race.
A few weeks later Blue Bajan won the Swinton and franked the form no end.
I suggested a long time ago when Pierrot Lunaire ran Binny to just over a length that he was the best hurdler in PN’s yard. I was quickly reminded about Celestial Halo
however PN was very bullish about his chances before Kempton saying he had a real engine……….he wasn’t wrong as he proved at Aintree.Gawd only knows what went wrong first time out this season but I am all for ignoring that.
If he has improved since last season he could quite easily beat Punjabi who, as good as he is, is no world beater.
PN has been boxing clever with this horse and taking his time. He wasn’t seen out after Kempton until Aintree and has had another 2 month break since his first race this season.
A defeat of Punjai could put him right in the Champion Hurdle picture and see Celestial Halo become PN’s second string……..be some red faces around here if I am right
I’m just wondering if PN thinks Cheltenham is not his course as he seems to only run him on easy course like Aintree and Kempton.??? time will tell
Ill be going Straw Bear each way. My only worry is that the fences have took something out of him.
I can see this race developing in to a sprint. Think Punjabi will have to lead bacause I can’t see anything else wanting too. Doubt if Afsoun or Harchibald are capable of making it. Slowly run race would be in all the others best interests, as Punjabi is unlikely to have a sprint finish on good going on a sharp track.
A lot depends on Punjabi’s jockey, if Barry does not set a fast enough pace he’ll be in trouble. I’d like to back the one who tracks the pace (not Afsoun or Harchibald (dogs)), but that is difficult to predict too.
Snap Tie and Pierrot Lunaire are the obvious dangers. Snap Tie’s win against Katchit was on similar ground here but was held up in a well run race. Form has taken a knock too. Pierrot Lunaire might have more speed for the finish than most of these, but took a bad fall on reappearance. How he will jump after that remains to be seen.
Blue Bajan did not have the pace in a sprint finish with Punjabi at Wetherby on soft. Though good might suit better. Leslingtaylor has lost his way chasing. Straw Bear likewise. If over his flirtation with fences no doubt AP would be one to have on your side in a tactical battle. Not sure if he is quite at top form on good ground (sometimes has foot problems). Stable in good form. Harchibald will get the ground he enjoys but possibly not the well run race. Stable could be in better form too. Afsoun needs a certain type of race to put it all in and unlikely to get it here.
With the pace question I am finding it hard to make a 100% book. If I had to nominate a good bet it would be Snap Tie at 5/1 each way.
Mark
Value Is EverythingI think Punjabi would be the one most suited to a slow pace and a sprint finish as he has more toe than any of these, he was the fastest finisher in a slow champ hurdle and the only one to actually be able to get into the race from way off the pace (albeit too late), he was also a decent enough mile, 9f horse on the flat, and IMO all his form over jumps has reflected that with relation to pace in his races.
I would say that Snap Tie and Peirrot Lunaire would be more unsuited to a slow pace, and it is mainly because of their prices and the fact that I think they have the class to be amongst this if everything falls right that i fancy them, although Punjabi would look to have everything in his favour and deserves to be favorite IMO.
If you take another look at the Champion Hurdle, Punjabi was being pushed along when the pace eventually quickened, could not go with them. Was not until the home straight that he began to stay on.
Though even in a slowly run race, if he’s at the front, he’ll have an advantage.
Mark
Value Is Everything
however PN was very bullish about his chances before Kempton saying he had a real engine……….he wasn’t wrong as he proved at Aintree.
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