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According to the Racing Post Sizing Europe (who would’ve trotted up in the Champion hurdle had he not injured his back – which is now confirmed by the way), is likely to go novice chasing next season.
Given the way he’s capable of skying his hurdles its an exciting prospect. I’m already looking ahead to the 2010 Queen Mother clash between he and Master Minded.
(Slightly tongue in cheek but you never know).May go to Punchestown first (recovery permitted) but is this such a wise move? Personally I’d be inclined to leave the horse till next season now and let him have a proper lengthy recovery. Just wondering what others think?
I would keep him over hurdles so that we can see for sure that he was the "real" Champion Hurdler.
There’s not much to be frightened of in that division, admirable though Katchit, Osana and Sublimity are…
Hoping he recovers quickly enough to run at Punchestown and show how unlucky we were not to make Zoso look an even bigger prat….
If he wins there he’ll stay over the small ones I reckon….How can SE be the "real" Champion Hurdle winner? Perhaps the reason he injured himseld was because of how he jumps hurdles? It’s like saying Manduro was the real Arc winner…
Hardy and Al Eile finished within a length of each other behind Sizing Europe. Before that run they had again run within a length in the December Hurdle. Could they have run to form?
Ginge
Value Is Everythingso Sublimity shouldn’t have won the Champion Hurdle last year and Katchit shouldn’t have won it this year; is a winner only a true champion if people have backed it….?
so Sublimity shouldn’t have won the Champion Hurdle last year and Katchit shouldn’t have won it this year; is a winner only a true champion if people have backed it….?
Excellent post moehat.
JohnJ.
so Sublimity shouldn’t have won the Champion Hurdle last year and Katchit shouldn’t have won it this year; is a winner only a true champion if people have backed it….?
Its not a question of backing it. The last two Champion hurdles have been very poor standard for champion hurdles neither Sublimity nor Katchit would win a Champion hurdle in an average – good year. Both have been title holders but neither are true champions. Frank Bruno won a heavyweight world title but you’d hardly call him a true champion in the same way you would Marciano or Ali.
Say what you like, but my visual impression was that SE would have won this year’s version comfortably had he stayed sound. That wouldn’t have been such a shock given the proximity of his Greatwood victim Osana in second, beyond whom he surely improved with his AIG win. It looks as if the injury wasn’t too serious and I’m betting he proves himself the superior of the CH principals if he retains his ability. That’s just an opinion, but it’s one I’m entitled to hold!
This is very "poor form" indeed from people who ought to know better. Give Katchit the credit he deserves and keep the Sizing Europe hype on ice until he proves himself a top class hurdler which the AIG form clearly was not (Lounaos and Hardy Eustace serously holding the worth of that down, and Al Eile an enigma).
Completely agree, good post.
If Sizing Europe was mine he’d be hurdling again next year. Why send him chasing when the Champion Hurdle is his in 2009 imo. Inexperience of the owner perhaps? Hope Henry makes him see sense.
All very subjective stuff to say what would/should win a race.
Sadly soundness is a pretty big factor in the hurly burly of the race and
experience should teach us not to overlook it.Its not a question of backing it. The last two Champion hurdles have been very poor standard for champion hurdles neither Sublimity nor Katchit would win a Champion hurdle in an average – good year. Both have been title holders but neither are true champions
Cant have this at all. Sublimity hardly runs…ok that doesnt help assess him but Katchit is the youngest winner for 23 years. How do we know he isnt going to improve again? To dismiss him at this stage is bizarre and its not as if they finished in a heap. He beat two possibly improving horses too
According to the Racing Post Sizing Europe (who would’ve trotted up in the Champion hurdle had he not injured his back – which is now confirmed by the way),
This is total conjecture. Doesnt wash with me at all . Going well that far out at Cheltenham means nothing to me. How many times have we seen that only to see the horse fold? This is cheltenham not wincanton…and even then…..
Im not a fan of times generally but wasnt Katchit final sectional pretty decent too?
Good to see SE go chasing and hes an exciting horse. But isnt there a thought that if he was nailed on for the CH next year, thats where he would be heading? Dubais comment about the jumping style and the effct of the same might be very relevant though
So you are a fan of times when they back up what you think, but disregard them when they tell you something you don’t want to hear?
Regarding Katchit, he can’t improve because he has no scope. I’ve been telling you that for 18 months.
Absolutely right.
Thanks for your past advice DJ. It helped me lump on
(well not really…but won a bit)
Katchit’s closing sectional was slow, but that’s not something I would make a lot of in this context.
To suggest that Sizing Europe should stay over hurdles to see whether he is better than the likes of Osana, Sublimity and Katchit is not to denigrate that trio. Nor is saying that that trio are not ones to be frightened of in a Champion Hurdle context.
I happen to think that this year’s Champion Hurdle has been underassessed in some quarters. But we are not talking about Istabraq-like horses here, or at least not yet.
SE’s form was very overrated – as I’ve thought before, when a horse wins a race by a wide margin as in the AIG, caution should be exercised.
SE is a decent horse, probably nothing more. Maybe CH placable. Maybe, just maybe he has the potential to win it, but he has a lot to do to convince me.
(Slightly tongue in cheek but you never know).
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