After this article on the Racing Post today, regarding the plans for Samcro this coming season (i.e. stay hurdling or go novice chasing) I had a good old think about what I would do if he were mine, and why. I have to qualify this by saying, I would have aimed him at the 2018 Champion Hurdle, given the lack of depth in that race. Yes, he might have fallen there (rather than subsequently at Punchestown) but I firmly believe he would have been in the mix and he would certainly have stayed on strongly up the hill. Whether he could have out-sprinter Buveur D'Air I don't know, but I think he could have ensured a better pace in the race and maybe nicked it from the front. We will never know. Back to this season, and I would lean towards keeping him over hurdles. Start him off in the Morgiana and if he get's beat there then send him novice chasing. I think the Champion Hurdle will be more open this season as I think Buvuer D'Air's best days may now be behind him. If Samcro wins the Morgiana impressively then all roads must lead to the Champion Hurdle. But what would you do?
I'm with you on the hurdles Oddy, and I'd also agree to going to the Morgiana. But I differ from you from there as I would stay on the hurdle route even if in defeat, as long as it's not a stuffing, and go to the Champion Hurdle regardless... If there is a heavy defeat in the Morgiana then get him over the jumps asap... He must still have some ability, I mean, he was the next coming in some quarters...!!
I would give him a stiff test over hurdles against BVD, Melon, or one of the other leading candidates to see where he stands. If he beat them easily the go for the champion hurdle, if not so convincing then go over the bigger obstacles. Im still not convinced by him.
O‘Leary said that if they run him in the Morgiana they want to charge for the extra half mile and make him check the jockey in online
JLT this year, gold cup next year, simples. A hard champion hurdle could take the edge off him if they want to win the big one.
Not going to beat Buveur Dair at 2 miles, the highlight of the festival last year was surely the double champ cantering all over the 3 miler Faugheen before brushing him aside with disdain.
I said a while back that Samro was not the best jumper in the game and he would get done for speed on a sound surface. I could still be proven wrong (he seemed to be going well in the Champion) but I believe he needs a soft surface to take on the best. Jumping at speed on a fast surface is not his forte. I would keep him over hurdles and wait for his ground. Enter him in the Champion and pray for rain
He reminds me a lot of Faugheen in his early years Ron - his jumping was absolutely horrible at times BUT he had such a motor that it just didn't matter. His jumping improved with experience and at his peak he was one of the finest Champion Hurdle winners ever seen. I think Samcro could develop in the same way, certainly seems to have a monster of an engine.
Quite a statement that, not sure that I would agree. Take a look at some of the Champion Hurdle winners over the last, say, 50-years, many would give Faugheen a run for its money, and more?
Oh I'm sure they would, and some of them would beat him. By "one of the finest" I just meant he was more of a Hurricane Fly or Istabraq than a Katchit or Punjabi
