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We saw it with P Nichols,Big Bucks being denied the chance to go for the Blue Riband because his trainer also had Kauto Star, instead condemned to the 4th division of NH racing. Now the same is happening with Annie Power. Any other trainer would be all guns blazing for the big prize, the champion hurdle; instead we hear whispers of the world hurdle or even worse, the mares hurdle
Have to admit it’s nothing new;I’m old enough to remember seeing Flyingbolt win the 2-mile Champion by a furlong and then go close in the Champion Hurdle the very next day. Anything but run him in the Gold Cup, which for the second best chaser ever was unfair
Down to the owners in the end surely. Nicholls love affair with Kauto Star didn’t stop Harry the Dog or John Hales insisting on putting it up to him, although Mr. Hales was rightly furious on one occasion where team Dicheat seemingly stopped Neptune Collonges running his optimum race to suit Kauto Star (the year Denman was back from heart trouble).
The bloody Mares Hurdle is a boil on the backside of the disaster which is the additional day of Chelts.
I think they will either go World Hurdle with her or leave her for Punchestown. The Champion Hurdle is an option but surely Willie will know how she compares to Hurricane Fly. The Mares race another option and I think she could put it up to Quevega but will they put her up against the horse they are bidding to make history with? With Big Bucks not running for a long time and At Fishers Cross being a bit of a let down so far the WH looks a wide open race and She took the 2m 4f race in very heavy conditions so on better ground should stay the 3 miles in the World Hurdle and that would be the way I would go but then again I already have interests in the Champion and Mares race so I would say that.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Makes me laugh that we have a Mares hurdle, a handicap for 4 yr old novices and yet no senior graded 2.5 mile hurdle. Every novice race has a senior equivalent – except that.
Willie Mullins Champion Hurdle contenders could have a race of their own but i have a concern that he’s all about Hurricane Fly and that a couple of other very talented horses either won’t run or will start in less appropriate races.
Un De Sceaux is a fascinating horse. Beat a fair but overfaced 125 rated yardstick by 29 lengths on the bridle and he must be at least 155-160 at present with likely more to come. Might need soft ground but that’s likely, i’d say.
We saw it with P Nichols,Big Bucks being denied the chance to go for the Blue Riband because his trainer also had Kauto Star, instead condemned to the 4th division of NH racing.
Be fair befair. That’s an out of date comment of an old hand. One where the only race that matters is the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Instead, rejoice in the fact Big Buck’s was (possibly still is) an infinitely better hurdler than chaser. Unlike some, given every opportunity (Kato Star or no Kauto Star) to excel at what he’s so brilliant at. Quite right he should go for the World (sorry) "Stayers" Hurdle, which is now a Premier League fixture.
Value Is EverythingA wiser NH Man than me once said the Stayers Hurdle was for horses "not brave enough to jump a fence and too slow to win a Champion".
I actually don’t mind the Stayers’, but detest the Rynair Chase (which should have been kept as a Grade 2) and the bloody Mares race. The run of Voler la Vedette behind Big Bucks makes me thing Quevega could have put it up to Big Bucks, but the blasted Mares race was a penalty kick year after year.
Makes me laugh that we have a Mares hurdle, a handicap for 4 yr old novices and yet no senior graded 2.5 mile hurdle.
Better still Mark, along with a 2m Champion Hurdle – let’s get Cheltenham to run a 2m1f Championship Hurdle, a 2m2f Championship Hurdle, a 2m3f Championship Hurdle and a 2m4f Championship Hurdle. That way, Hurricane Fly, My Tent Or Yours, The New One, Jezki and Our Connor can all win at the Festival without taking each other on.
Value Is EverythingAnnie could easily topple Big Buck’s, but she’d struggle to place in a Champion Hurdle, imo. She’s a lovely big stamp of a horse with stamina to burn – a Gold Cup winner in waiting
On his site it’s pointed out that she was meant to go novice chasing this year but they decided to give her another year hurdling as she was doing so well. Which novice chase will she go for next year, d’you think?
Big Bucks stayed hurdling because he’d’ve probably killed himself jumping fences. I’d still loved to have seen him run on the flat, though.
Makes me laugh that we have a Mares hurdle, a handicap for 4 yr old novices and yet no senior graded 2.5 mile hurdle.
Better still Mark, along with a 2m Champion Hurdle – let’s get Cheltenham to run a 2m1f Championship Hurdle, a 2m2f Championship Hurdle, a 2m3f Championship Hurdle and a 2m4f Championship Hurdle. That way, Hurricane Fly, My Tent Or Yours, The New One, Jezki and Our Connor can all win at the Festival without taking each other on.
Yawn. A childish, facetious argument as expected from someone without a salient point.
There isn’t any logical argument at all for the omission of a distance that is raced at novice level. Not one.
Big Bucks stayed hurdling because he’d’ve probably killed himself jumping fences. I’d still loved to have seen him run on the flat, though.
Big Bucks has never fell in his career, but has unseated his rider twice – once over fences and once over hurdles.
Big Bucks stayed hurdling because he’d’ve probably killed himself jumping fences. I’d still loved to have seen him run on the flat, though.
Big Bucks has never fell in his career, but has unseated his rider twice – once over fences and once over hurdles.
I think Big Bucks future over obstacles was decided on New Years Day 2009. Probably in that handicap hurdle to help restore his confidence, he wins easily. Nicholls looks at his yard, sees Denman, Kauto Star and Neptune Collonges and realises he doesn’t need another Gold Cup horse but suddenly has a chance of winning the four big races at the festival in one season.
After his defeat of Punchestown later that month, it’s full steam ahead.He was an extraordinary price that March at Cheltenham.
He always struck me as a clumsy horse, though. And PN always said he was a difficult horse to train, with his box walking etc.
Big Bucks stayed hurdling because he’d’ve probably killed himself jumping fences. I’d still loved to have seen him run on the flat, though.
Big Bucks has never fell in his career, but has unseated his rider twice – once over fences and once over hurdles.
I think Big Bucks future over obstacles was decided on New Years Day 2009. Probably in that handicap hurdle to help restore his confidence, he wins easily. Nicholls looks at his yard, sees Denman, Kauto Star and Neptune Collonges and realises he doesn’t need another Gold Cup horse but suddenly has a chance of winning the four big races at the festival in one season.
After his defeat of Punchestown later that month, it’s full steam ahead.He was an extraordinary price that March at Cheltenham.
Yes agreed, my statement was in relation to the comment that he was such a poor jumper of a fence he would have be dead if he have carried on.
Not the case. He unseated Sam Thomas, was sent over hurdles for a freshen up and performed so well they decided to keep him away from other stable stars.
Makes me laugh that we have a Mares hurdle, a handicap for 4 yr old novices and yet no senior graded 2.5 mile hurdle.
Better still Mark, along with a 2m Champion Hurdle – let’s get Cheltenham to run a 2m1f Championship Hurdle, a 2m2f Championship Hurdle, a 2m3f Championship Hurdle and a 2m4f Championship Hurdle. That way, Hurricane Fly, My Tent Or Yours, The New One, Jezki and Our Connor can all win at the Festival without taking each other on.
Yawn. A childish, facetious argument as expected from someone without a salient point.
There isn’t any logical argument at all for the omission of a distance that is raced at novice level. Not one.
Lighten up Mark.
There is a "salient point" to my (attempted) jovial point.
OK, you wanted "logical arguement"…Ask any trainer, jockey, or owner if another valuable Festival race is a good idea and they’d say YES! Purely because it is in their best interests to do so. A Ryanair Hurdle immediately makes it half as hard to win a Championship Hurdle. Half as hard to win a very valuable prize.
Admittedly this year there might (if all keep sound) be more top 2m to 2m4f horses around than average. But what about another year when there’s a short priced (probable winner) favourite?
Go back to 2012 with a 4/6 (
60%
of the book)
Hurricane Fly
. How many of his 9 rivals would’ve taken him on?
Rock On Ruby
(SP 11/1
8.3%
of the book) Had run really well 2nd to First Lieutenent over 2m5f the previous year.
Overturn
(20/1
4.8%
) is a stayer on the flat, would stay 2m5f…
That’s the Champion Hurdlewinner and second out of the way
…
Binocular
(4/1
20%
) Probably would’ve kept to 2m.
Zarkander
(9/1
10%
) Had not run at 2m4f before, but always thought of as one that would get/be suited by the trip.
Oscars Well
(14/1
6.7%
) who’d been beaten out of sight by Hurricane Fly last time out and going like the winner in the race won by First Lieutenent, 2m5f the previous year – before a terrible error at the last.
Brampour
(50/1
2%
) Would probably have remained at the 2m trip.
Zaidpour
(22/1
4.3%
) Stays 3m let alone 2m4f and Hurricane Fly’s stable companion, so likely to have taken the "Ryanair" flight path.
Celestial Halo
(50/1
2%
) Always thought of as a staying 2 miler and had won the Salmon Spray over 2m4f on soft.
Kalann
(150/1
0.66%
) Out and out speed horse, so for what it’s worth kept at 2m.
Bookmakers betting to 119%
8.3% + 4.8% + 10% + 6.7% + 4.3% + 2% = 36.1%
36.1% of the book could have defected to the "Ryanair Hurdle"!
Meaning Hurricane Fly could have started long odds-on, around 1/4 fav!Whether you believe it would be 36% or not, dilution will be significant!
…And it is not only the Champion which would suffer. With Big Buck’s the 5/6 fav in the World Hurdle, many rivals would’ve gone down to the intermediate distance. Including second and third favourites Oscar Whisky (SP 4/1 20% of the book) and Thousand Stars (8/1 11.1%). Both doubtful stayers and alone taking out over 31% of the book. Meaning Big Buck’s could easily have started long odds-on too.
…And it doesn’t only effect favourites, all horses would have their prices shorten too.
Cheltenham is THE BEST meeting in the World because it has the
MOST COMPETITIVE TOP QUALITY
racing. Diluting it with yet more races will only lessen competitiveness and make it just like any other "top" quality meeting.
Breeders Cup is nowhere near as good now as it was, having too many races for connections to choose from. Don’t do it to Cheltenham!
Value Is Everything
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