Zarkandar was always in touch in the Triumph, The leading two of Unaccompanied and Grandoeut made there move 2 out and Zarkandar picked them up when he wanted and was always in control, Thats my view of the race. He impressed me first time out at Kempton in the Adonis and he the Nicholls team did a remarkable job getting him over being gelded for him to win his first 3 races over hurdles. Hes had a year under his belt a breathing op, I'd be amazed if he doesn't come back a better horse as he looks to have serious engine and alot of talent weather hes quite good enough to trouble Hurricane Fly is a different matter and at 14/1 that I got anti post for Zarkandar, Im sitting pretty happy... I think its a fair comment to say that Nicholls does better with Chasers, But he is also looking after a one Big Bucks. Spirit Son is in the best hands with Nicky Henderson though look at his record in the Champion Hurdle its second to none, That would be the one positive I'd take for Spirit Son he won very well at Aintree but Aintree form when looking at the Cheltenham Festival is worthless IMO. I can't be having Spirit Son for the Champion Hurdle he was hanging right when he went to make his challenge in the Supreme and was outpaced the last 100 yards we all know Hurricane Fly is like a aeroplane all the way to the line!
Thanks Reebok. Interesting they feel she will improve at 6, maybe suggesting a reduced flat campaign...
A filly or mare to beat Quevega? Surely you jest? Seriously, she wins her races easier than any horse I've ever seen and if Willie didn't have the Fly she'd be running in the Champion Hurdle. A truly amazing mare.
HF wasn't in the CH the previous 2 years, yet Quevega still ran in the Mares race. Quevega is very good, but she is no amazing mare. Amazing horse's don't run in Group 2s at Cheltenham every year
I find the race very simple to evaluate. If HF turns up he wins.It is that simple as far as my reasoning goes....big "if" of course,for some ante post players,given his previous no shows and fragility but I can't seriously back an inferior animal on the pretext that another superior beast might not run. Totally illogical.
The Fly is amazing. The way he cruised up to them at Punchestown was an eye opener. It would be stupid to say that if he runs, he'll not start very short and be the one to beat. In spite of that, I reckon he's not unbeatable, no horse is, especially over obstacles. The race was run to perfection for him at Punchestown. Binocular went off like a scalded cat and did himself no favours. Yet he still managed to cling on at the finish. He seems to have lost any real sprint for mine, he's more of a grinder when the hammer is dropped. AP had him off the bit a long way out, yet he still plugged on. I think if he gets the pace to suit, he'll still run a great race. I think he's a great place chance.
Pricewise has put up Oscars Well at 25/1 EW. I think he was a predictable choice because he is likely to show better form back on better ground and off a strong pace. As such he may be overpriced on the basis of his Irish form in slowly run soft ground races. That doesn't mean I could fancy him though. He says that Hurricane Fly is basically a certainty if he turns up in good form. I wouldn't disagree. It is rare for him to put up something EW so that tells you he thinks the Hurricane will win if he's there. He says Spirit Son is the most interesting of Henderson's trio, but that he is priced on reputation not form. I wouldn't disagree. He says Zarkandar would be his preference of the pair (ie Spirit Son) but that his price was where it should be so no value. I wouldn't necessarily disagree. No mention of Rock On Ruby, Unaccompanied, or anything else. RP Ratings put up Spirit Son, as did Topspeed. I must say I always give Topspeed a wide berth when they had Big Buck's as about the 8th best in last year's World Hurdle! In the connections comments section, Frank Berry said Binocular would most likely go to Sandown, in direct conflict with what Henderson has said, which is that he won't. Not sure whether the plan has changed or whether a communication breakdown is to blame. Grandouet looks like going to the Kingwell and Spirit Son to Sandown or Haydock (I think, doing this from memory so forgive me any errors!). Apparently Zarkandar might run in the Betfair Hurdle (the old Totesport Trophy) at Newbury. A bold move but I suppose if he is going to be a Champion Hurdler he must be thrown in off his mark of 151. He was inexplicably dropped 3lbs after his Aintree effort which gives him more room to manoeuvre. It would be a bold and brave choice but could be a shrewd move. He could well 'do a Rock On Ruby'. Apart from the Hurricane it looks open which I suppose is what we have already concluded!
Champion Hurdle entries are now out. Press Release: HURRICANE FLY HEADS 27 IN STAN JAMES CHAMPION HURDLE UNACCOMPANIED BIDDING TO BECOME THIRD MARE TO WIN HURDLING CROWN Defending champion Hurricane Fly features among a total of 27 entries for this yearâs £370,000 Grade One Stan James Champion Hurdle, highlight of the first day of The Festival at Cheltenham, Champion Day, Tuesday, March 13. The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old recorded an authoritative length and a quarter victory in the extended two-mile championship contest last season before going on to capture a ninth Grade One success at Punchestown in May. He is currently the 2/1 favourite for the Stan James Champion Hurdle with the race sponsor as he bids to become the first horse since Hardy Eustace (2004 & 2005) to win back-to-back renewals. Hurricane Fly is due to make his seasonal return in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 29, when his main opposition is set to come from last yearâs JCB Triumph Hurdle runner-up Unaccompanied, who gained a second success at the highest level when taking the Grade One Istabraq Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 29 and is bidding to emulate the two other mares to win the Stan James Champion Hurdle â Dawn Run (1984) and Flakey Dove (1994). The five-year-old, a 12/1 chance for Cheltenham glory with Stan James, is trained by Dermot Weld and owned by Moyglare Stud, who have enjoyed numerous successes together on the Flat with horses such as 2,000 Guineas winner Refuse To Bend and Belmont Stakes hero Go And Go. Stan Cosgrove, manager of Moyglare Stud, commented: âUnaccompanied is due to run in the Irish Champion Hurdle and then she will hopefully head on to Cheltenham. I think that Dermot is confident that she can run well against Hurricane Fly and we have to take him on at some point. âShe was impressive in the Istabraq Festival Hurdle, when she was given a great ride by Paul Townend, and her run in the JCB Triumph Hurdle was very good at last yearâs Festival. She is better with a bit of give in the ground but she beat St Nicholas Abbey on the Flat and I can definitely see her as a serious contender for the Stan James Champion Hurdle.â Zarkandar, who beat Unaccompanied by two and a quarter lengths in last yearâs JCB Triumph Hurdle, may return to Cheltenham for trainer Paul Nicholls alongside the third from the same race, Grandouet, who features among a formidable quartet of entries from the stable of Nicky Henderson that also includes the 2010 Stan James Champion Hurdle victor Binocular, last yearâs William Hill Supreme Novicesâ Hurdle runner-up Spirit Son and Oscar Whisky, third behind Hurricane Fly last year. Other entries of note include Hurricane Flyâs stable companion Thousand Stars, the Nicholls-trained trio of Brampour, Celestial Halo and Rock On Ruby, plus the Donald McCain pair of Overturn and Peddlers Cross, who was second to Hurricane Fly in last seasonâs Stan James Champion Hurdle.
THE STAN JAMES CHAMPION HURDLE Class 1, Grade One, £370,000 Total Prize Fund. Cheltenham, 3.20pm, Tuesday, March 13, two miles and half a furlong. For four-year-olds and upwards which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the senior BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and taking account of races run up to and including March 6 - horses which are not qualified for a rating in GB, IRE or FR may also be entered (such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horseâs racecourse performances up to and including March 6 would merit a minimum rating of 130 - the decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final). Weights: 4yo: 11st 2lb; 5yo+: 11st 10lb; fillies & mares allowed 7lb. Entries closed January 17, entries revealed January 18 (27 entries). Scratchings deadline February 14, £18,500 supplementary stage & six-day confirmation stage March 7, final declaration 10.00am, March 11. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, January 17. Form Horse Age Owner Trainer 114-321 BINOCULAR (FR) 8 J P McManus Nicky Henderson 141/- BOBBY EWING (IRE) 7 Just Good Friends David Pipe 00-1130 BRAMPOUR (IRE) 5 Banks, Blackshaw & Gannon Paul Nicholls 210-131 CELESTIAL HALO (IRE) 8 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls 4462-04 CLERK'S CHOICE (IRE) 6 Michael Banks Oliver Sherwood 1/162/11- DARE ME (IRE) 8 Trevor Hemmings Philip Hobbs 11-6541 FINAL APPROACH 6 Douglas Taylor Willie Mullins IRE 152/11U- FLAT OUT (FR) 7 M O'Riordan Willie Mullins IRE 3B-1F11 GRANDOUET (FR) 5 Simon Munir Nicky Henderson 1/1111-1 HURRICANE FLY (IRE) 8 George Creighton & Rose Boyd Willie Mullins IRE 50-1312 KALANN (IRE) 5 K McConnell Sabrina Harty IRE F-40311 MIKAEL D'HAGUENET (FR) 8 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE 530-42F OLOFI (FR) 6 R&L Channing S&F Roberts McNeill Family Tom George 131-F11 OSCAR WHISKY (IRE) 7 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Nicky Henderson 114-323 OSCARS WELL (IRE) 7 Molley Malone Syndicate Jessica Harrington IRE 3-11123 OVERTURN (IRE) 8 Tim Leslie Donald McCain 120-112 PEDDLERS CROSS (IRE) 7 Tim Leslie Donald McCain 1223-12 ROCK ON RUBY (IRE) 7 The Festival Goers Paul Nicholls 13-6111 SO YOUNG (FR) 6 M McMahon Willie Mullins IRE 11121- SPIRIT SON (FR) 6 Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson 5/23134- STARLUCK (IRE) 7 Andrew Wates David Arbuthnot 11-21 STAYING ARTICLE (IRE) 7 Thomas Barr Edward O'Grady IRE 2-22112 THOUSAND STARS (FR) 8 Hammer & Trowel Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE 111-0P TOPOLSKI (IRE) 6 P M Claydon David Arbuthnot 112-411 UNACCOMPANIED (IRE) 5 Moyglare Stud Farms Ltd Dermot Weld IRE 1220-11 ZAIDPOUR (FR) 6 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE 111- ZARKANDAR (IRE) 5 Potensis Limited & Chris Giles Paul Nicholls 27 entries 11 Irish-trained Latest odds from Stan James: 2/1 Hurricane Fly; 6/1 Grandouet; 8/1 Spirit Son, Zarkandar; 10/1 Binocular; 12/1 Unaccompanied, Rock On Ruby; 16/1 Oscar Whisky, Oscars Well; 20/1 Thousand Stars; 33/1 Final Approach; 40/1 Starluck, Staying Article, Peddlers Cross, Overturn, Zaidpour; 50/1 Celestial Halo, Flat Out, Olofi, Topolski, Brampour, So Young; 66/1 Mikael D'Haguenet, Bobby Ewing; 100/1 Kalann, Clerk's Choice, Dare Me
15 entries for Nicholls (4), Henderson (4) and Mullins (7), and 15 for the rest! No secret as to where the power lays in the jumping game. Their contingent include the first 6 in the betting: Hurricane Fly, Grandouet, Spirit Son, Zarkandar, Binocular and Rock On Ruby.
Bet365 go NRNB and quote Peddlers Cross at 8/1. If he runs he must be shorter than that so is it a bet to nothing . . . ? Surely the only reason that he would run is if Hurricane Fly didn't make it, making the 8/1 look even better. A solid EW investment me thinks.
I'm surprised McCain has left Peddlers in the race, it does suggest that they're not 100% sure his future is over fences. If he was to appear in this race he would be a fascinating addition and it really would stir up the market - I remember him getting backed off the boards last year into 7/2, he really does come alive at Cheltenham...
Just don't think he's good enough Oddy. I couldn't see him in the first 6 let to be honest alone placing, or even winning it.
This is what I mean. I'm sure they would only run in this if it cut up, ie Hurricane Fly didn't make it. That makes the 8/1 NRNB a stonking bet in my opinion. If he doesn't run then you get your money back. If he does he'll be nearer the 7/2 or even 3/1 mark on the day.
Zen that's the kind of thinking I was applying to Starluck - he wasn't beaten far by Peddlers Cross in the Fighting Fifth and on that running he could be a player for a place if the second season lot don't cut the mustard
This was the race which convinced me that Peddlers Cross was the best of the British for last season's Champion Hurdle. The race wasn't run to suit him at all and yet he still won. If Starluck couldn't beat him that day then I don't think he ever will. I think he has a fair chunk to find to trouble quite a few of them. I can see your thinking though. He'd be more of a 20/1 (IMO at least!) shot if he turned up.
Each Way NRNB is a steal at 8s. As you say, if he does turn up something signifiacnt would have to have happened and he'll be much shorter, allowing for a period out of hurdling he may be at his absolute sharpest but will still run a big race you would have thought, 2/1 first 3 NRNB is something of a gift IMO....
I think the market has it spot on here, if Hurricane Fly gets there fit on the day, theres only one winner. I like Grandouet, horse has so much speed, is a good jumper and proved he can do it at Cheltenham last time, I still think he is better on flat tracks but he looks the main danger to Hurricane Fly.
I can never forgive Starluck for the way he stopped to a walk in his Triumph having travelled better than everything at the bottom of the hill, I'm just not convinced the horse gets on with the track or has the stamina to go that quickly over 2m. If he was mine I'd be holding him back for a late Spring campaign on quick ground around flat courses....
