HF and BB races can be backed NRNB so not that risky backing them in combo bets really. Nass, not sure Ruby will really need a whip!! Few slaps will do!! I have doubts about Long Run and Sizing Europe but still think the HF / BB / Quevega is an incredibly good bet at 6-1.
Zen, where is that comment about Unaccompanied from Weld? Would you be able to post the link or better cut and paste it?
I got it off Twitter from Cheltenham Festival News (@CheltFestNews). It's run by Paul Jones, who writes the Wetherbys Festival Guide, so should be reliable. "Unaccompanied likely to miss Festival according to D Weld after Irish Champion Hurdle flop & wait for Punchestown".
Cheers Zen, interesting as can still be layed on Betfair at 17-1 plus. Interesting that Quevega is into evens now on betfair.... WH, Tote and Betfred still holding 5/4 but must be bursting at the seams I would think!!
Good stuff lads a fun bet that is all was just the £8.90 sititng on the end and was bored this morning . Nass Big Zeb lol don't be so silly Sizing Europe will put him right in his place at the weekend. As for Quevega I will be totally honest I forgot, once I had the four on just entered stake and submitted without looking at any other race. She is always worth a big single on the day anyways
Will Hill evens now on Quevega.... two bookies left! Wont be for long. All prices to lay Unaccompanied have gone so that was good info Zen.
Correcto. I recall (possibly in the 2004 Festival) when the 4 Champions looked almost 'bombproof', much more so than this year's 4. I think I wagered a 'special bet' on all 4 to regain their crowns at 16-1. They were Rooster Booster who was around 6-4, Moscow Flyer 5-4, Baracouda evens and Best Mate odds-on it did seem quite possible that this would happen. Out of the 4 only one won....It happens time and time again, the bookies will big up these multiples prior to the festival but the odds of it happening are massively slim, as you can be sure that one, two or even three of these champs will not read the script properly If you want to do a multiple I agree with the Dons- Hurricane, Quevega and Big Bucks looks most likely and I'd be pretty flabbergasted should they all turn up that any of them are beaten.
Totally agree BoS. The big multiples are usually the bookies best friend. One always lets you down. That said i think the 3 ive plumped for (if fit) are so far ahead of their rivals i would be very surprised if they were beaten. Quevega may only face a couple of horses at this rate!! Ive put them into large double and treble combos so even if two of the three win it wont be a disaster.
the don, purely speculating, how can you be sure Zarkandar isn't the real deal and competes against the Hurricane?
Can't see any of those 3 getting turned over the don. In fact it'd be a minor surprise should any of them come off the bridle up the hill such is their superiority...
Playing dev's advocate here NassauBoard but you reckon hypothetically Ruby Walsh is in a dilemma over who to ride, given the choice between the Hurricane and Zarkander
In Feb there are always horses who we can't see getting turned over but as BoS's story from 2004 proved what seems unbeatable a few weeks before somehow get turned over. There are two bombproof horses only, Quevega and Big Bucks, there are other solid favs with every chance but nothing comes close to being as concrete as these two. Their targets are known, their opposition is known, and for the last 3 years their opposition cannot get close to them. I'm at a complete loss as to why Quevaga remained odds against for as long as she did and why it took a statement that Unaccompanied may miss the festival for her price to shorten to evens, just staggering how that info should influence the market IMO.....
Nass, i have a nice e/w bet on Zarkander at 15s as i think that he will be HFs main challenger. Dynaste will undoubtedly plenty of improve for his valient effort this weekend but was BB fully wound up? Did Ruby have plenty in the tanks still? Quevega.... may have to beat herself!
True, though I do think that situation was a pretty tight call as Denman had demonstrated a level of form comparable to Kauto's heading into that 2008 Gold Cup. This situation differs completely as Zarkander has yet to show anything near Hurricane Fly's level of form and he really has it all prove this year. As history has repeatedly shown us winning a Triumph is a long way of winning a Champion Hurdle!
and how many horses have followed up a Champion Hurdle in their next season in recent past? We have had Katchit in the time since the last double winner. I agree with you though Ruby will be on the Fly, if he turns up!
Hardy Eustace (04, 05) and Istabraq (98, 99, 00) are two multiple Champions from the last decade, not bad having 2 horses claiming this feat in the same decade. It can and has been done with relative frequency and I do believe Hurricane Fly stands as an exceptional Champion and a better horse than Hardy Eustace to boot. Believe me when I say horses who have followed up a Triumph with a Champion Hurdle is a much, much rarer feat than double Champion Hurdlers!
very interesting comments, struggle to find someone to beat HF, BB, Quevega and Sizing Europe however the GC looks wide open with Weird Al an improver for going to McCains yard
He hadn't. It was just that Kauto Star was hideously below par that day. Joking. Please no response, unless in similarly light heart.
