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Cracking runs from the first three looks a solid Champion hurdle Trial.
Celestial Halo always looked to be just having the measure of Osana and Nicholls claimed that although he had him ready today there is still plenty to work on with Celestial Halo. Connections will be pleased.
Osana – First run of the season and generally runs well fresh anyway. Again connections will be pleased he battled on well and deserves his place in the Champion hurdle.
Afsoun has run right up to his best and has now put two good runs back to back. Plodded on but never a threat to the first two as expected again connections will be pleased.
Don’t know if Afsoun will go to Cheltenham but the other two will and (Celestial Halo in particular) will go to Cheltenham which is a stiffer track than Sandown and should suit perfectly with fighting chances.
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Agree Celestial Halo is one-paced, but that pace would be faster than today’s.
With a his own pacemaker, the Cheltenham hill, and likely slower ground (probably no worse than good today) couldn’t have him out of the first 3 in the big one.I’m surprised the bookmakers haven’t shortened Binocular after that. Celestial Halo doesn’t look like he has enough class or speed to beat Binocular over 2m no matter what advantages (regarding the ground, pace and track) he has – the gulf is too large. Imagine how Binocular would have won that race today.
I hope everyone keeps on asking the ‘will he get up the hill?’ question until the day of the race, and I can get anything like evens.
what is Paul Nicholls record for big hurdle wins at the festival?
He has won the County a couple of times (Sporazene, Desert Quest), and also lifted the Supreme Novices with Noland. I can’t think of too many others, but to be fair to PFN, the yard has very much concentrated on chasing types until fairly recently.
I don’t see Osana turning the form around at Cheltenham at all. This is a horse that goes very well fresh so I wouldn’t expect any significant improvment whereas the stiffer track, bigger field and more stamina sapping conditions will probably bring about a few lengths improvement in Celestial Halo who with his own pacemaker will have the race run exactly to suit him. He is still too big a price whereas bookies have over-reacted IMO by cutting Osana after todays race.
Softer ground will certainly not inconvenience Osana, Ian, given his run under top-weight in last season’s Greatwood, and he certainly improved on that form in the Bula – little doubt about that.
Osana was ridden hands and heels from before the last today, whilst CH was ridden right out under pressure to the line. The bookies have it right as far as their respective Festival chances are concerned, imo, and I think Osana is a reasonably serious threat to Binocular in the Champion Hurdle with Brennan in the plate…….and even more so on soft ground (not that expect we’ll get it).
Softer ground will certainly not inconvenience Osana, Ian, given his run under top-weight in last season’s Greatwood, and he certainly improved on that form in the Bula – little doubt about that.
Osana was ridden hands and heels from before the last today, whilst CH was ridden right out under pressure to the line. The bookies have it right as far as their respective Festival chances are concerned, imo, and I think Osana is a reasonably serious threat to Binocular in the Champion Hurdle with Brennan in the plate…….and even more so on soft ground (not that expect we’ll get it).
I wasn’t refering to ground conditions more the conditions of the race. I’m of the opinion that the ground isn’t really an issue with either Celestial Halo or Osana.
Sandown is a reasonably stiff track but it isn’t as stiff a test as Cheltenham is in a championship race and we know that the race will be run to suit Nicholls horse.
Osana will possibly contest the lead but he certainly won’t have his own way and whilst he’s tough and dogged I can’t see him holding on up the hill. Osana probably won’t improve on his run in last years renewal and that form won’t be good enough this time round. Binocular is a better horse than anything that ran in 2008’s Champion hurdle and Celestial Halo will run (I’m almost certain) to a better mark than he ran to today. I think todays form is as good as Osana is (I can’t find any form to prove otherwise) and I can see him being placed at Cheltenham but I’d be surprised and somewhat disappointed if a couple don’t prove too good for him.
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what is Paul Nicholls record for big hurdle wins at the festival?
He has won the County a couple of times (Sporazene, Desert Quest), and also lifted the Supreme Novices with Noland. I can’t think of too many others, but to be fair to PFN, the yard has very much concentrated on chasing types until fairly recently.
Not forgetting Celestial Halo, of course!
The ground today was good, g/s at worst, on both courses, and given the Festival’s recent history with the hosepipe, I doubt the first day will be run on ground as fair.
Though driven from 2 out today CH was ridden for a finish, which wouldn’t be the way to ride a horse of his nature when the chips are down, nor was it the way he won his Triumph. Given connections fully understand his requirements, he’s bound to be ridden more aggressively come the Champion, and I’d suggest it’s Binocular and Osana that still have to prove they can hack it.
Celestial Halo is still priced on his Ascot defeat by Binocular, yet he’s obviously improved on that form today, (and physically, according to his stable), and given the very different stamina test the CH looks certain to provide, I’d say there’s plenty more in the locker, and he is still over-priced in comparison to his main opposition.The hurdles track at Sandown can make the even the best horses look slow and visually depress their ability…. through a mixture of ground, gradient and configuration.
I was at Sandown the year Rooster Booster scraped home from Self Defence with both of them looking like boats after the last. Six weeks later RB was putting up a mid 170s performance when dancing up in the Champion and only coming off the bit at the last.
12/1 for Celestial Halo looks like one of the very best each-way prices I can remember for a Festival race at this stage.I don’t agree that Celestial Halo put up an improved performance yesterday Reet despite the comments of his trainer I actually have him running two pounds below his Ascot effort.
I agree with you regarding the way the horse was ridden though he will be ridden differently at Cheltenham he will sit in behind his pacemaker then I expect him to kick off the bend. It will take a good horse to go past him and one that gets every inch of the trip.
12/1 as a price is absurd. GET ON!!!!
I was hugely impressed with Osana yesterday. I know he runs well fresh but he must improve for that run. To my eye CHalo had a hard race whilst Osana was pushed out. I think Osana will beat CHalo in March.
I have often wondered how Osana would run being handy off a fast pace rather than front running?
Agree that 12/1 is a good e/w bet for CHalo.
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