As you say you can only beat whats put in front of you, look at last year. It was the strongest field weve had only PC really was a challenger with HF, Oscar Whiskey unfortunately is not quick enough and Overturn is unfortunately not good enough! Thousand Stars Mullins 2nd string horse. Menorah one of the biggest Hype horses, they you had Dunguib (who has never lived up to expectation), Kyhber kimn - is getting on and Mille Cheif (RIP) and clerks choice who (i dont like to speak ill of the dead) those 2 were never good enough to win the CH! So really you only had peddlers cross to challenge the "Fly" where as this year is the strongest field in years!!! and a true Champion hurdler will be pronounced (hopefully not Hurrican Fly)
Your talking like he is a certainty to win, so surely any price is value if hes going to win! Plus he will only get shorter (unless mullins plays those stupid games again about him not turning up)
First and foremost I want Zarkandar to win because I've had a rather large bet on him at 14/1 straight after his Triumph win! But if Hurricane Fly does hose up then I would be delighted also, He would proved himself a true true Champion, As I would Binocular! For Me personally this is the best race at the Cheltenham Festival...
'unless mullins plays those stupid games again about him not turning up' That made me laugh - coming from someone who likes the chances of the non controversial Binocular from the never controversial Nicky Henderson yard
This year anyway! What a strong field! I would like him to win too, have had a bit of him and Spirit Son and would like Nicholls to add this to his cabinet of triumphs!
Jesus Christ, he's no certainty to get there so taking any price about him is daft right now. He's just like Big Bucks - he'll be 2/1 on the day. You heard it here first.
No Danish. I've been saying that the current price for Big Bucks will be available on th day and the I'm saying the same about the Fly. Not that BB will be 2/1
just read through this totally and there are some great arguments for many of the runners. Personally i think it revolves around the preparation of Hurricane Fly, if he goes in the Irish CH then i believe he will take all the beating however if he rocks up at Chelts without a prep run then Zarkandar or Spirit Son will win. Zarkandar is my main bet as i loved the way he put the Triumph to bed and Spirit Son looked aweakish type last season. With good comments on these blogs you also get the extremely funny ones, Grandouet winning is amusing BUT to seriously consider STARLUCK as a placer let alone winner is awesome, i am guessing it was a wind up
There were a lot of "what ifs" behind the question Gary Can't believe a follower of the stats is fancying a 5YO for the Champion Hurdle .................
Spirit Son out to 18s on Betfair. Looks like he may be out, or is Nicky the Needle at it again? Zarkandar wins. With or without Hurricane Fly.
The old Seven Barrow's magic.... Something was a miss when they were struggling to get him ready for the Irish Champion, Hes been drifting in and out all day Doesn't look promising!
Oddy; OK mate fair one! Zarkandar is an above average 5yo IMO and Mr Nicholls will have him ready to rock hopefully! As I said though if Mullins gets a run into the favourite he will take all the beating mate
Megan Nicholls did Tweet after The Hurricane's demolition job "Yes hurricane fly!!!! #awesome Just you wait till Zarkandar is out!!" I think it was said tongue firmly in cheek. Unless . . . . In all seriousness I am a big fan of Zarkandar but he will need to be truly exceptional to get anywhere near Hurricane Fly in March.
Unaccompanied's getting schooled by the Hurricane today has all put Zarkander's Champion Hurdle hopes into perspective. To be fair, his chances were very low to begin with but they've now become zero, or nowt, if you prefer old school.
I'd disagree Beef. Unnaccompanied beat Thousand Stars and Oscars Wells with a decent turn of foot before todays race beating both by a length and half and three and half lengths today she was nearly 30 lengths behind them both so I can't be having that as her true running, She found absolutely zilch off the bridle were she usually finishes strong so something wasn't right. She wouldn't have been anywhere near the Fly but I don't believe that was her true running.... The form of the Triumph as held up quite well this season and Im looking forward to seeing Zarkandar in the Betfair Hurdle to see how hes come on over the summer, He's had a breathing op and that can't be a negative. He was impressive last year with a breathing problem so what's he going to be like now thats been sorted? Who knows, I wouldn't write him off at all Beef. Im not saying he's going to beat Hurricane Fly who is the undisputed Champ and a freak over hurdles but I certainly will be hoping every horse gets to Cheltenham and makes a race of it!
