Couldn't agree more. I was so impressed by CH (who coincidentally has the same initials as the Champion Hurdle!) today. Will either be tempted by that race, I don't know. I tell you what though should Honeysuckle suddenly be ruled out for the term I would imagine, or indeed hope, both would be tempted as her apart what is there to beat???
The fact that Appreciate It is 2nd fav for the Champion Hurdle (and Sharjah 3rd fav) says it all. If anything happens to Honeysuckle we could have another Katchit or Punjabi year I do like Teahupoo but unlikely he will be good enough
Each-way I quite like Zanahiyr who ran very well over Christmas and must be considered both progressive and somewhat unexposed. Also I do wonder if they may try to 'control' the race, in his favour, by running one or more pacemaker to aid him (Petit Mouchoir did this re Zanahiyr last time). The owners have got enough horses to choose from for this role. Must say though that I'd rate both CH and Jonbon well, well clear of Zanahiyr. Re the Betfair, that you mentioned earlier, would you consider Stage Star using the same logic (i.e. a Grade 1 winning novice. Albeit over further). He's on 143 and certainly doesn't appear slow.
As you well know, the Betfair Hurdle usually has nearly as many plots as the Pertemps Final and has been dominated by novices in recent years. Dear old Agatha would have a field day. Stage Star certainly a contender if Mr Nicholls so chooses.
Just reading the Henderson interview on Sporting Life and he seems to think CH would need another run for the Betfair so I guess that rules him out. He also says both CH and Jonbon have been bought as future chasers so why wouldn’t you chuck one at the Champion Hurdle this year? It would hardly ruin them would it?
I thought that was Lenient with a capital 'L'. Especially when you further consider that Not So Sleepy is on 159 and Sceau Royal 158! I think Constitution Hill would win, and some, off levels let alone in receipt of the best part of a stone from both.
Would you expect NSS or SR to win a handicap off their marks? It just shows how inflated UK ratings are because of the massive lack of top quality horses in most divisions in the UK. I think 148 is fair enough for what he has shown it puts him 1lb below Teahupoo's irish mark.
Yep, those high 150's are on the high side of high. Interesting to see the handicappers comparison re Constitution Hill and Jonbon. 148 and 145 respectively. The handicapper hasn't gone as low re the novice chasers though. Edwardstone 159. Look he's admirable but 159?!?
Problem is that he was 149 and handicap form over hurdles, so graded form over fences has been a reason to put him further up. The handicap marks are bonkers for horses that have run in "top" graded races as novices.
They have put Stage Star (143) in then. That can only be described as interesting... Will Broomfield Burg (134) go here or wait for the County Hurdle??? That to me though is the most interesting quest of all re the race at the min. I would guess that if the answer is the latter connections would chuck No Ordinary Joe in instead. The Hendo / McManus combo have a very strong hand with this pair, methinks.
