A Mouth Watering Aintree Hurdle

I think My Tent Or Yours and Jezki's loss in the Supreme the year before, to a hurdler that went chasing, and then Jezki's loss in this years CH doesn't really give the Champion Hurdle they contested much of a compliment. I agree though the pace wouldn't of suited TNO or Jezki, but good horses need to have versatility.

The Champion Hurdle dream has been poor placement from connections of TNO. He even won the Neptune like a horse that would improve for further, by getting out paced and then staying on well up the hill. They've just wasted 2 years of a potentially very good 3 milers career.

Could you not put Arctic Fires improvement down to a young horse improving from run to run, he was still only a 5 year old in the fighting fifth after all. I know they didn't go a great gallop in the CH, but weren't you impressed by how he finished the race off, he really powered up the hill kicking 5 lengths clear of the likes of Jezki, TNO and HF. It was also the first time of the season he'd encountered some decent ground, so that could be another reason he improved so much. Looking through his overall form his best efforts have come on better ground

 

I think you could be right in regards to the race cutting up, this is likely why they haven't priced it up. I hope he goes off 3/1, I'd be lumping on that

 

He also beats Arctic Fire everyday of the week, but in the end of season races that actually matter, Jezki twice beat him well last year and with Hurricane a year older again, thats why he was 40/1 for the Champion at the start of the season.

Two horses isnt the entire field and who said anything about champions? I think you are taking this as me trying to defend The New One when its not that at all and your whole reply is based on that.

The reason the race was slower than the Supreme is because they went a crawl, you dont need a big field to have a proper gallop, there was only 9 runners last year but the difference then was it was a Championship gallop all the way.

All im saying is Jezki and The New One did not run to the same level they did the year before, or anywhere near it, the fact that the makeup of the race was completely different this year must have played its part but the extent to which they have run below that level suggest it wasnt the only reason.

The previous years race is bombproof form because of the gallop, im not saying it the best form in the history of the universe, im saying its true form and the ratings are solid on paper. Arctic Fire had been beaten all season by Hurricane Fly, you say Hurricane Fly improved in this years Champion, Yet Artic Fire found about 8 lengths on him? That doesnt add up.

What is more likely? Hurricane Fly improved at 11yo and Arctic Fire was still able to turn around 8 lengths on him in the space of a month becoming a 169 horse overnight.... or TNO and Jezki ran way below the level of previous year, which is backed up on paper and explained in part by the evident slow pace, and that Arctic Fire is flattered as a result.

The reality could be that even Hurricane Fly had regressed slightly from last years race even though he finished a place higher and in front of TNO and Jezki.

 

It's a bit of a boring/pointless argument now MBIIJLI, it's been done to death! Faugheen's the Champion much to the delight of you and your avatar!

On a point of self gloating how boss does my signature look now in hindsight lol

 

This argument hasnt been done at all, not once on here anyway.

You are getting mixed up with a different argument, thinking its all about TNO.

As been said before, I am not burdened with allegiances or agendas so you need to remember that I am not writing things for the same reasons you write things.

 

Hang on a minute whose got the fanboy avatar lol You just lost it, what do you know lol

 

Surely ruby has got to ride The Fly but on the drying ground Arctic fire has to be a big danger

 

If Jezki turns up it would become quite an interesting race at Aintree against Fly & Arctic Fire. Flat track and new trips for them to tangle over- interesting!

Good news for Aintree is Un De Sceaux looks like coming over!

 

I hope he stays at home as it ruins the race as a betting proposition. I don't mind lumping on at 8/11 like at the festival, but we're gonna be talking stupidly short if he runs at Aintree

 

Hurricane Fly not running. Race has cut up to 7 runners. The final list is - Arctic Fire, Blue Heron, Jezki, Melodic Rendezvous, Rock On Ruby, Vaniteux, Volnay De Thaix.

Mr Henderson has left both his horses in but both would appear to have plenty to do on official ratings. On those incidentally the heat looks a match between Arctic Fire and Jezki.

 

I'm struggling to see what Rock On Ruby has going for him. 3 runs and 3 losses at Aintree, was lame only a month ago, and is about 3 years past his peak.

If I'm wrong il hold my hands up, but 4/1 looks far to short, think he should be double that price and then some

 

Shergs u going to re create some of that Magic from a couple of years ago 3 or 4 winners from as many selections one being Quito De La Roque if I remember right

 

Il do my best wooly, was doing really well on the horses until today, I've had like 6 2nds

From looking through the form so far I'm drawn to a lot of the fancied horses, but waiting to see what the ground and final declarations are before committing to anything. Hopefully I can pick out some that aren't big favourites.

A few on General chat are after my selections, after I tipped up 3 winners for them on Dubai WC day. So il be doing my best to find some more

 

Can see your reasoning Oddy, though there are a few points id make in regards to your points.

First of all Rock On Ruby didn't miss Cheltenham by design, he missed it because he was injured. So I don't really see that as positive.

Secondly there will be 30 days between the Champion Hurdle and Aintree hurdle, it's more than it is usually. So I don't think the bounce factor will be as big a concern. Also factor in that the CH was a slowly run race, so the beaten horses may not of had as hard a race as usual.

Finally I think the bounce factor does exist sometimes, but I feel it is often over played. Cheltenham and Aintree are such different tracks, so the form is never likely to translate. We can't blame the bounce factor everytime a horse under performs around Aintree.

Plenty of horses manage to win after running at Cheltenham every year. I don't think it's as big a deal as people try to make it out to be. Certainly not for 2 mile Hurdlers anyways

 

Jezki on beautiful ground and a flat track sounds the ticket for me in this. Arctic Fire had some hard races for a young one.

Surprised they arent looking at the stayers route for Rock On Ruby, was interested to see how his stamina would hold up.

Would have been interesting seeimg Faugheen back at the trip demolishing them!