Tuesday's Meetings Redcar Flat 7 Races 1:50-5:20p.m. Uttoxeter N/H 6 Races 2:00-4:55p.m. Listowel Flat 7 Races 2:05-5:35p.m. Yarmouth Flat 8 Races 2:15-6:15p.m. Newcastle(E) A/W 8 Races 4:50-8:30p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Constitution Hill to remain over hurdles this season. https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/constitution-hill-to-stay-over-hurdles/212398
Not a shock, far from it, i think we all had an inkling that this would happen... It seems that they know that they can milk the Champion Hurdle for as long as he stays fit, possibly bringing up a four-timer of wins. Either way it will split some punters and their thoughts, mine is that it is a shame we don't see him over the big uns but lets hope he can give us more of those thrilling moments that he's given us in the short time he's been around...
And just another thing on CHill, and for those who know there breeding stats way better than me. Where in his line does it indicate that CH wont get the trip...?? For one, I thought Kings Theatre had a good sire record at Cheltenham, and that he had several winners at distance...?? Wasnt Cue Card from KT...??
Maybe, was it bad...?? I don't know he'd even been over the points before, he's only run 7x times as it is... I have no problem with them keeping to the hurdles its just the way it reads that they arn't even going to try him over any longer distances regardless of what anyone says...
He finished second to https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/3457999/anyharminasking/form which must be making Ms Smith absolutely gutted. I guess that is the difference in sending one to Jonjo versus Nicky The Needle. Personally I don't think the decision was ever going to be going chasing, because as I have stated here before, it would kill Nicky The Needle with the worry and concern he would have every time the horse ran.
FIFTY SENT 1:50 Redcar 20/1 Went off favourite last time out at Ayr was going very nicely when clipping heels and unseating his rider at the two pole. Despite that being quite recent and only a six runner affair it has produced no fewer than four winners. The price about him today is just too generous to ignore. I dont know much about the lad on board but the 7lbs allowance is hopefully another plus. Yard won the race last year.
GOOD LUCK FOX 3:00 Redcar 11/1 Paul Midgeley is mob handed in this so I just hope this is the right one. Twelve months ago he was winning off 73 and the handicapper has seen fit to relent considerably and has him in here off 62. Unless he really is regressive he must have a solid chance on these terms.
THUNDER STAR 5:45 Yarmouth 7/1 and falling She didnt really have much of a chance last time as she was racing in a very competitive Heritage handicap at York from three pounds out of the handicap. It was her only fault mind for having absolutely hosed up the time before and getting clobbered 9lbs in the process. The handicapper has been kind and dropped he 3lbs and off that mark she must surely go close to resuming her winning streak. She goes on the surface and has a C&D win to her name.
Cue Card's sire was certainly King's Theatre, and was one of my all-time favourite NH racehorses (along with One Man). He started his racing career winning a bumper at Fontwell Park in February, 2010, afterwhich he won the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, ridden on both occasions by the trainer's son, Joe Tizzard. He did not do well over hurdles, maybe due to a breathing problem which required a wind op. It was such a shame Joe could not continue to ride Cue Card (I always believed CC loved him!), but Joe had to take-up training duties when his dad, Colin Tizzard, retired. Cue Card then ran over the major obstacles and won many big races, although he just could not manage the Cheltenham Gold Cup. I always felt it was a huge mistake letting Paddy Brennan ride him in his latter jump races; never felt CC was happy with this guy on board at all. I could have cried when he fell in his final attempt at the CGC. Thought Brennan rode a stinker at the time. Just a biased opinion, of course! Cue Card was a super racehorse, and a great credit to NH racing.
I guess the thrilling moments will only come if he has some sort of reasonable opposition. I think we can rule out any of the established hurdlers so need to look at last season's novices and Marine Nationale would look the most likely on paper. Trainer Barry Connell said at the beginning of August that he would go chasing but might they be tempted to have a crack at Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth? Enough time to mount an Arkle challenge thereafter if he gets beat.
One theory that gained momentum towards the end of last season, and over the summer, that struck me as somewhat odd (and incorrect) is the view that State Man is some sort of brilliant hurdler and that he would have won almost any other Champion Hurdle ran over the past 20 years. I think State Man is very good but not at the level that some are saying he is (not sure if this opinion is being widely aired by his supporters or Constitution Hill's in a bid to further boost his rep). Current best odds re the 2024 Champion Hurdle - 1/2 Constitution Hill, 8/1 State Man. Impaire Et Passe splits the pair at 6's. It's then 25/1 bar the 3.
4 runner field in the Champion Hurdle then? But which 3 will take him on? Should make the Arkle a decent race
