Thing is Oddy they were saying the same about Faugheen last year! I agree about the price thing, she's awful priced now. I'd have reservations about her myself but you'd have reservations about the entire field now, if you're being objective about them all. She mightn't have achieved much in respect of what you call Champion Hurdle form but it's pretty naive to suggest this firm with there Festival record over recent years (with many other horses who have had this implication fired at them beforehand) don't know what they've got. Don't think they've got near the bottom of her in any race, bar the World Hurdle where you'd forgive her against a top class opponent who was better suited by 3m than she was. My query is the trip being shy of her best, and her prep.
Some hilarious banter thrown about here lads- credit to you! When Boris brought out the Telescope form followed by Beefys crack cocaine comment re:Hargam I almost fell off the chair. It's definitely nearly Cheltenham!
I think Oddy is being objective about the field. It's a grade 2 in all but name so you will not need to produce grade one form to win it. If something does they will win. Based on how poor the field are but how evenly matched they appear, taking below 3/1 for Annie Power is criminal whether she batters the field or otherwise.
id say its a much more interesting race now than it would have been, the non runners have saved the first day for me, if Douvan could just stub his hoof on the stable door ruling him out of the Arkle the first day would be great but im sure knowing boring old Douvan he will turn up without drama and win unchallenged in an utter snorefest ill be backing Lami Serge in a show of defiance
Top post this Dan and saved me pissing off the natives all over again Half the battle is getting your horse to Cheltenham and if the race is Grade 2 without Faugheen and Artic Fire then the Gold Cup is Grade 2 without Coneygree Seems to me that some are getting their digs in early just in case the "wrong horse" wins!
Cheers stick. I just noticed he didn't run too well at Cheltenham last year so maybe a good move to run him on a flatter track.
yes but there was nothing boring about Frankel Douvan is just a boring animal and hes about 10 championship race demolitions off being mentioned in the same paragraph as. Frankel
Why is nobody having camping ground. The only blot on the copy book is finishing behind the Romford pele in the thistlecrack race and he's favourite for the world hurdle. We know he doesn't stay three miles but does two and a half . Why not two . We could have another katchit it on our hands, remember him.
Fair point, I just have him down as a heavy/soft ground specialist who might lack for a bit if speed if the going has some good in it. If it comes up soft or heavy he might be worth a dabble on the day
I'm poorly so have been up tonight and have been able to take a glance at the Champion Hurdle field. However, you cut it this is a weak renewal. Some quite interesting findings when you go past the won/lost data. Annie Power - three grade one wins. All in Mares only races running against horses rated circa 130 odd to early 140's. Identity Thief - one grade one win beating a triumph hurdle horse that's proven worthless as a piece of grade one form. Nichols Canyon - 6 time grade one winner - i think this is of real substance with several grade one winners coming out of these races. The New One - 2 grade one wins. 2014 and 2013. Form of both of these races is okay but nothings subsequently won a grade one over hurdles. My Tent or Yours - hasn't run for two years - 2 grade one wins. The most recent was a decent performance that's been franked at grade one level but the first has proven to be a weak race. Hargam - never won a grade one - best win was a listed race. Top Notch - never won a grade one. Peace and Co - won a very poor Triumph grade one. Bombed since. That's your 15 grade one wins. I think we have very different expectations. I'm not really that interested in the Gold Cup so can't speak for the quality of the form and whether that is a grade two class race this year or not.
So we agree then, grade 1 jump horses are still poor plodders bar 2 or 3. Still, this is far from the worst race of the festival or anywhere near what could be called a poor grade 1 this season, im not aware of a race thats been close to this level.
