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CVByrne
14 Apr 11 18:59
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Date Joined: 14 Mar 06
| Topic/replies: 5,105 | Blogger: CVByrne's blog


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Report CVByrne April 14, 2011 9:39 PM BST
Here's the preview..

Report mossman7 April 14, 2011 11:00 PM BST
what odds you reckon he will be??
Report revedesivola April 14, 2011 11:30 PM BST
i thought he wasnt goin...
Report buddeliea April 15, 2011 7:42 AM BST
What you previewing? who will be 2nd and 3rd??
Report CVByrne April 15, 2011 8:20 AM BST
You not use forum beta to see the picture? The race is just Hurricane Fly winning at a canter. Cool
Report mossman7 April 15, 2011 10:36 AM BST
he is going to punchestown right?
Report mossman7 April 15, 2011 10:36 AM BST
he is going to punchestown right?
Report buddeliea April 15, 2011 12:19 PM BST
ive seen it now,very good mate.
hard to argue with that
Report revedesivola April 15, 2011 12:41 PM BST
i thought he wasnt goin
Report TheFormMan April 15, 2011 9:48 PM BST
he's not going,mullins does not want him running on the likely firm going after such a long season,said the only reason he went last year is cause he missed cheltenham and came good just in time for punchestown,next run will be in the hattons grace in december and the exact same 3 races after that
Report revedesivola April 15, 2011 10:44 PM BST
goin 4 de french champion hurdle isnt he?
Report TheFormMan April 16, 2011 12:33 AM BST
that was the plan but an immediate family member of the owner George Creighton has been taken critically ill and i heard that running the horse was the last thing on his mind right now until they are out of danger,was George's idead to run in france and was suppose to be a big family outing,but has to be in doubt now,still 2 months off yet so could easy happen yet
Report rubyisgodinthesaddle April 16, 2011 3:29 PM BST
No way Hurricane not running @ PunchestownSad.....irish summer is quite strange as we know....we are due a good down poor sooner or later
Report Arkle's Shadow April 16, 2011 7:43 PM BST
Thought Montjeus go in a bog?

They certainly don't get up the Cheltenham hill............ [:o]
Report alexmillwall April 18, 2011 10:41 AM BST
"I am pleased with Hurricane Fly at the moment and the plan is to go to the Rabobank Champion Hurdle," said Mullins.
Report Mooono April 18, 2011 12:58 PM BST
Fly on course for Punchestown wiiiiiiiiiiiii..What a treat this is goina be
Report mightymoyes April 18, 2011 11:52 PM BST
why was theformman talking so much sh1t about him not running?![smiley:crazy]
Report Rondetto April 23, 2011 7:20 AM BST
Not his fault Willie Mullins always gives you the impression his right hand has no idea what his left hand is doing, so rumours are inevitable.

Good news that Binocular will line up at least it will be if the real Binocular turns up.

Would take a brave man to oppose Hurricane Fly bit it could answer the question: Just how good is he if he wins fair and square beating the Henderson horse into second.

Should be no excuses for either horse as they will both have a chance to display their talents on what is a very fair track.
Report CVByrne April 25, 2011 9:50 PM BST
You'd think that Fly is due an upset. He's been a winning machine this far and he can't always be on top of his game. He's gotta run a bad race eventually, no horse is a machine.
Report Can't Catch Me April 26, 2011 1:35 PM BST
True CVB... but I'll still be backing HF. And the good news is that Binocular lining up, should make him a backable price.
Report TheFormMan April 26, 2011 6:12 PM BST
Hurricane has been nothing but consistent his entire career and there is no reason to think that will change anytime soon,the only way he would not run upto his best is if sustaining an injury during a race or old age which is a long way off,will win on the bridle,fill your boots
Report Graeme83 April 27, 2011 9:02 AM BST
CVB is just covering all angles in case Binocular wins, which he has a chance of anyway.
Report Far From Trouble April 27, 2011 3:21 PM BST
CVByrne     25 Apr 11 21:50 
You'd think that Fly is due an upset. He's been a winning machine this far and he can't always be on top of his game. He's gotta run a bad race eventually, no horse is a machine.




Incorrect. Big Buck's is a machine Silly
Report TheFormMan April 27, 2011 6:02 PM BST
he does tend to cover all angles whilst posting on here,that assures he gets it right i suppose[;)]
Report Racecaller08 April 28, 2011 11:44 AM BST
Punchestown Champion Hurdle trends for the past 10 years:

Age (Win-Place-Runners)
5yo: 3-1-9
6yo: 2-5-24
7yo: 4-2-20
8yo: 1-3-10
9yo: 0-0-4
10yo: 0-2-2
11yo+: 0-0-2
Horse aged 5 to 7: 9-8-53.
Horses aged 8+: 1-5-20

Gender
Mares (0-1-5) have yet to win this race and the exceptional Quevega in 2009 became the first female to make the frame from 5 runners in the past decade.

Breeding
Irish bred: 8-6-50
French bred: 1-0-11
British bred: 1-2-8
No strong trends on breeding.

Recent/Past Form
9 of 10 winners finished in the first 3 on their last completed start
10 of 10 winners posted their highest RPR in their last 3 hurdles starts (6 last time out)
9 of 10 winners had run in the past 50 days
8 of 10 winners had run in 3 to 6 hurdles races that season
7 of 10 winners had run in 5 to 11 times over hurdles
9 of 10 winners contested a novice hurdle the previous season or that season
9 of 10 winners had won a grade 1 hurdle
9 of 10 winners were course winners

Punchestown Festival Form
8 of 10 winners had previously won at the Punchestown Festival (the 2 exceptions had finished 3rd in the Champion Hurdle & 6th in grade 1 Bumper)
7 of 10 winners (last 3) had won a juvenile or novice hurdle at the Festival (1 exception was brought down 2 out when looking a likely winner of a novice hurdle, other 2 exceptions had not contested a novice hurdle at the Festival)
Defending Champion Hurdler (Hurricane Fly): 72222 (0-4-5)
Evening Herald Champ Nov Hurdle winner (Blackstairmountain): 31681 (2-0-5)

Other races
Red Mills Hurdle winner (Dunguib): 811 (2-0-3)
Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner (Hurricane Fly): 122 (1-2-3)
Leopardstown Dec Festival Hurdle (Hurricane Fly): 1322 (1-1-4)
Previous year's Supreme Novices winner (Menorah): 13 (1-0-2)
Irish Champion Hurdle winner (Hurricane Fly): F33232 (0-2-6)
Christmas hurdle winner (Binocular): 62 (0-1-2)
Core Hurdle winner (Gimli's Rock): 689 (0-0-3)
5 of 10 winners ran in the December Festival Hurdle, finishing 17243
4 of 10 winners ran in the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle, finishing 1323
3 of 10 winners ran in the Aintree Hurdle last time out, finishing 4F1
3 of 10 winners ran in the Irish Champion Hurdle, finishing F22
3 of 10 winners ran in the Red Mills Hurdle, finishing 211
3 of 10 winners ran in the Morgiana Hurdle, finishing 153

Trainers
Willie Mullins (2-2-7) has gained 2 wins and 3 thirds from 7 runners since 2001.
Jessica Harrington (2-1-5) has also won the race twice in past 10 years.
Nicky Henderson (1-1-4) has saddled Punjabi to win the race in 2008 and finish runner-up in 2009.
Colm Murphy (1-0-3) is the only other trainer with an entry to have won this race in the past decade.
Noel Meade (0-1-10) has a poor record in this race, gaining no wins and just one place (with a 4/6 favourite) from 10 runners.
British trained runners (2-2-10) have a fair record, winning 2 of the last 10 and with 4 of their 10 runners making the frame. Both British-trained winners had won the grade 1 4yo hurdle at the previous year’s Festival.

Price
9 of 10 winners were priced 6/1 or shorter
9 of the last 10 winners came from the first 3 in the betting however no clear favourite has won this race in the past 10 years, with Solwhit winning as joint favourite in 2009 being the only successful market leader.
Favourites (1-6-11) have taken just 1 of the last 10 giving a level stakes loss of 8.50.

Summary:
Based on the trends from the past 10 years you are looking for a horse:
• Aged 5 to 7
• Finished in the first 3 last time out in past 50 days
• Run 3 to 6 times over hurdles this season
• Contested a novice hurdle this season or last season
• Won a grade 1 hurdle
• Previous Festival winning form is crucial
• Previously won a novice or juvenile hurdle at the Festival
• Finished in first 3 in Red Mills Trial and/or Champion Hurdle
• Ran in the December Festival Hurdle
• Trained by Willie Mullins or Jessica Harrington
• Priced 6/1 or below (favourite has a poor record)
Report Rondetto April 29, 2011 4:29 AM BST
I hate stats, useless things. Fav has a bad record which rules out Hurricane Fly and Jessica's only entry is a rag so that's 2 gone. Dunguib is 8 so he's out, No uk horses ever runs in the Festival Hurdle I can remember so Binocular and Menorah are out, as for the rest of the stats I'm sure we can eliminate all the horses and not bother running the race.

No matter what the stats say Hurricane Fly on all known form should win, Menorah or Binocular are the most likely dangers along with HF stable companion Thousand Stars and the rest don't matter.
Report CVByrne April 29, 2011 2:24 PM BST
You've got to laugh at some on here like Graeme and TheFormMan,

So I'll be right if Binocular beats Hurricane Fly. Baffling in it's utmost. Good to have some clueless people to let the real punters make money.

I'll be heavily backing Hurricane Fly like I always have. I have made a fortune off this horse and he won the race that matters, the Champion hurdle.

So harp away losers. I've already boarded the Gravy Train back in 2008. It's still steaming ahead and whenever it stops all I'll have to do is look back at the money he's made, laugh at the losers who gave me abuse for my support of the horse.

I don't nned to be right, I was right. Cool
Report zilzal1 April 29, 2011 7:05 PM BST
I think i'll have to back Binocular at the price, im not the greatest fan of the horse and opposed him at Liverpool because i thought that 2.5 miles wasnt going to see him in a good light but he has always thrown in some below par runs during a year and i cant have Menorah winning the race, so basically imo im laying Hurricane at 1/5.

If he hadnt gone to Liverpool in what i felt was never going to show him in a good light he'd be much shorter here.
Report Graeme83 April 29, 2011 11:08 PM BST
I backed HF for the CH and all the rest of it. Unlike you CVB, i don't feel the need to go on about it or act as if i own the horse. If Binocular wins, he does so fair and square.
Report TheFormMan April 30, 2011 1:57 PM BST
well said Graeme,most of us just collect our money week in and week out and are happy enough without shouting 'look at me,look at me' from the rooftops,from your attitude cvb,it would seem as though you dont get it right very often and when you do you get a little over excited,good luck finding your next winner
Report Rondetto May 1, 2011 10:20 AM BST
Those who know me will be quick to tell you I was Binocular's number one fan and touting him for the Champion Hurdle the day he won his very first race. Then right after he won the Champion Hurdle I wrote a log post explaining why he wouldn't win this year and that Hurricane Fly would take his crown.

So now they are going to meet,not at Cheltenham but in sunny Ireland which meant a rethink.

My theory at Cheltenham doesn't really apply to any other course and if anything this course could swing things in Binocular's favour.

Binocular's biggest asset is his ability to quicken not so much at the end of his races as it is to quicken the pace suddenly from between the 3rd last and 2nd last hurdle. His best wins have come in this fashion and with no hill to climb he could just steal a march on Hurricane Fly as things tend to happen very quickly round Punchestown. Hurricane Fly beat Solwhit a neck in this last year and if Binocular is 100% on the day he won't be as easy to dispose of.

This may not be as easy as some would think and if both are spot on it could go either way. I wouldn't be having a tenth of what I had on HF in the Champion Hurdle but I will back Binocular who could just about win this with a bit of luck. Either way I expect it to be very close.
Report CVByrne May 1, 2011 2:15 PM BST
I think Binocular has it all to prove, the form of his 2 grade 1 wins is poor. Khyber Kim, Zaynar and Overturn are hardly quality horses.
Report Rondetto May 2, 2011 10:24 AM BST
How can you question Binocular's ability as a hurdler. He would have just about won any Champion Hurdle with his 2010 performance.

AP said of him he's never sat on a more fluent hurdler and the way he skipped clear of his field in the Champion Hurdle could hardly be faulted.

The horse has nothing to prove. When he's right he treats other hurdlers with pure contempt and oozes class.

To be frank you are after timing on the form of horses who have all been top class on their day but like Binocular have been out of sorts or not trained on.

There's little doubt in my mind that Binocular on his day is a far superior animal to Solwhit who was beaten a neck in this last year.

The big question is which Binocular will turn up but if it's the real one make no mistake Hurricane Fly will be flat out to beat him and if Binocular gets first run on him he may not even do that.

Without knowing for sure if Binocular is back to his best it's an impossible race to be having your life savings on.
as there can't be much between them if they're both spot on.
Report TheFormMan May 2, 2011 6:11 PM BST
Hurricane is alot better than you are giving him credit for Rondetto,dont forget that the neck win against solwhit in this race last year was off a long lay off due to injury and he has since proved over and over again how superior he is to solwhit who is a very special horse in his own right,if the very best Bino turns up which i hope is the case then Hurricane will sit behind him,get upsides him as easy as he likes and will be pushed out to win hands and heels,he is simply that good,the best i have ever seen,but you are right in what you say,the only possible way hurricane could be beat is if Bino stalks him and gets first run and takes ruby by surprise,but ruby is not that stupid.
Report thesunaintyellowitsachicken May 2, 2011 10:43 PM BST
backed hurrican fly to win at cheltenham always intended to even if binocular ran see no reason to desert him now
Report CVByrne May 2, 2011 10:49 PM BST
Rondetto, Binocular won a shocking Champion Hurdle. The only 2 good horses in that race Solwhit was sick, and Go Native injured.

He's a hugely overrated horse who loses most of his races. He needs to go prove he is a proper top class hurdler. Because to me he's there with Punjabi, Sublimity and Katchit as just winners of the Champion Hurdle. Nothing more.

He'll have his chance on Friday to prove he's good. But if he isn't in the first 2 then he is just an overrated horse. Plain and simple. No more excuses for this horse, all he is is one big excuse.
Report CVByrne May 2, 2011 10:55 PM BST
Personally, I think Hurricane Fly is on a different planet to Binocular and history will see it that way. But history gets made in the races, Fly wins them Binocular doesn't.
Report aka May 3, 2011 9:20 AM BST
My feeling is that HF and Binocular are both very special horses, though with HF possibly the more versatile in terms of the range of conditions under which he is able to beat the opposition. Rondetto made some good points about Binocular and wrote that:

Binocular's biggest asset is his ability to quicken not so much at the end of his races as it is to quicken the pace suddenly from between the 3rd last and 2nd last hurdle. His best wins have come in this fashion and with no hill to climb he could just steal a march on Hurricane Fly as things tend to happen very quickly round Punchestown.

I don't disagree with that. I wonder though whether it should be added that Binocular's ability to inject pace in the latter stages, which he has shown in his best wins, has come in races that were strongly run and impressive on the clock. In other words, it was Binocular's ability to travel well off a fast pace that came to the fore in winning those races. When others were just starting to feel the effects of the strong pace from three out, Binocular was still full of run. I am not sure that in absolute terms he quickened that well in those races from three out, but off the fast pace he was able to quicken to some extent while the opposition were struggling, in varying degrees, simply to stay on at that stage. It was the ease with which Binocular travelled and jumped off a fast pace that most impressed me in his CH win and in his earlier victories over Celestial Halo.

The early pace in many recent Punchestown Champion Hurdles has not been that strong and there have been quite a few bunched finishes (or the field has been bunched turning for home). I think Binocular's chances against HF would be better served if there were a bit more pace on from the outset.

HF looks a hell of a horse and a tough nut to crack. The one race I would really like to see him tested in though would be facing a top form Binocular on a stiff track with a very strong pace on good ground (i.e. a pace at least as strong as Celestial Halo was able to set in the 2010 Champion Hurdle). Under such circumstances, I think we would see Binocular's ability to quicken from around three out to best effect, though equally we might also then see just what depths there are to HF's brilliance.
Report Albion Dan May 3, 2011 1:28 PM BST
I love Bino, but will there be enough pace in the race on Friday. As alluded to here he needs a very strong gallop to show his best, and if it turns into a bit of a sprint he will have no chance against Hurricane Fly unfortunately.
Report tinkler May 3, 2011 6:47 PM BST
HF is different class to the opposition. The betting reflects this. He's only going to get beat if
(a) he falls
(b) there is something wrong with him and he doesn't reproduce
To me he's like Frankel on saturday too short to back but I wouldn't oppose him.
what will come second is probably a more interesting question?
Report CVByrne May 4, 2011 12:44 AM BST
Rain forecast so I assume thats the Binocular excuse lined up for Friday.
Report JayTrumpOldTomDubbl May 4, 2011 8:06 AM BST
The stable visit by RTE to Willi Mullins setup was of good interest..you get the feeling he has no concerns about HF this time around unlike 2010....sounded really bullish and said HF loves Punchestown....he also expects much better from So Young, saying it kinda happened a bit 2quick at CHELTIE...
Report Rondetto May 4, 2011 10:49 AM BST
Why would rain bother Binocular CV? As far as him winning a bad Champion Hurdle there's no such a thing mate unless you count Sublimity but I refuse to believe that was a Champion Hurdle it was more like a day out for old crocksLaugh.

Seriously if you don't think Binocular is a very good hurdler if wat they are saying at Sevenbarrows about him and his latest work is true I think your face will look like an egg sandwich very soon.
Report thefarmer May 5, 2011 10:40 PM BST
Binocular is a very good hurdler on his day under the right conditions (2m on quick ground on a stiff track) but history has shown us that he is not as effective on slower ground, often running stones below his CH win. Henderson is a master trainer but Binocular will need to run a career best to even have a chance of winning this and even then Hurricane Fly might still be too good for him.

Should be fascinating from a tactical point of view but no matter how the race is run i can see only one winner. Thousand Stars looks the ew call to give Mullins a 1-2
Report Fazak_Red May 6, 2011 1:23 AM BST
Binocular is a very good horse. Hurricane Fly is a great horse.
Report bluebirdfan May 6, 2011 11:26 AM BST
I can honestly see HF winning this by 10 lengths on the bridle, nothing in the field is anywhere near his class
Report Rondetto May 6, 2011 1:18 PM BST
I want some of whatever it is you've been smokingLaugh The way he's ridden he wouldn't win 10 lengths if running against selling platers.

I just hope it's a cracking race..

I wouldn't read too much into Binocular's form Farmer, don't forget who trains him.

Nicky Henderson has never been shy to send horses for trials short of a gallop or 2. Very seldom will his Cheltenham horses be spot on between Xmas and March and always run a few pounds below what they are capable of. Binoculars had more than a few of them in the past so it's more a case of do you trust Nicky Henderson to have him spot on for this. Nicky knows his stuff so and Binocular wouldn't be here if he didn't feel he had a very good chance of winning. Expect some fireworks today I think it will be a helluva race and nowhere near as easy as my friend with the bong thinks.
Report sj May 6, 2011 1:59 PM BST
Binocular at his very best V the Fly at his very best is a great race. But for me its very rare Bino produces his best on a regular basis, unlike Hurricane
Report dermo79 May 6, 2011 5:50 PM BST
so whats Binoculars excuse for today then, rain /ground..just aint that good fellas, Hurricane the real deal as we've just seen AGAIN
Report tinkler May 6, 2011 8:30 PM BST
HF looks good enough to mix it with the big guns on the flat. He'd be a very interesting runner in the Ascot
gold cup , especially with a little bit of cut. Enough pace for an Irish st ledger too.
Report CVByrne May 6, 2011 9:52 PM BST
Where can I buy more wheelbarrows?
Report CVByrne May 6, 2011 10:03 PM BST
Anyway, this is over, you can't have debate in the face of Ruby having a look through his legs for the former "champ", a move that had the the stands in laughter. That was hilarious.

B-Pig. That is Binoculars name. The horse is a pig, he has cost punters money non stop based on this stupid hype with an excuse lined up every time he's beat. He gets hammered almost every time he gets on a race track. Overrated pig. B-Pig.

And people called Fly Irish Hype. Thousand Stars and Solwhit are quality horses, as is Go Native by the way.

Anyway, that's the last that needs to be said on it imv. Lets not get things wrong here, I was a big binocular fan even this season. But a pig is a pig. He is a pig.
Report CVByrne May 6, 2011 10:21 PM BST
By the way that was more a joke / wind up that it might appear ^ Silly
Report Newmanix May 7, 2011 11:23 AM BST
you were spot on cv. Great picLaugh
Report brigust1 May 8, 2011 6:34 AM BST
What is it with people calling horses, pigs? It didn't sound like you were joking either CV.
You, and I for that matter, have been reading his form wrong, that is the problem, not the horse.
He beat Celestial Halo and Kyber Kim and we probably thought the form was stronger than it has actually proved to be. Both CH and KK are not as good as we had believed. That is not Binocular's fault.
In the race he and AP at least tried to make a geniune race out of a farce so how about a little credit where it is due. He can only do his best and doesn't need unnecessary criticism.
Then you say how good Hurricane Fly is. How can he be a brilliant champion in your opinion? He only beat a 'pig'.
Report CVByrne May 9, 2011 2:08 PM BST
We call binocular B pig or Binocuhype for a laugh. The horse has had some amount of hype and never ending string of excuses since his defeat in the 09 champion hurdle. He is clearly just an average hurdler who gets routinely defeated in most of his races. Fly on the other hand is a model of consistency and a great champion

Binocular isn't a pig, but isn't a very good horse either.
Report neill d May 9, 2011 8:22 PM BST
I think Binocualr has serious physical problems and they have nothing to do with having a tail and a snout before anyone says anything. I think given his pedigree, son of failed flat sire Enrique, it was always likely he was going to have problems. He's hardly likely to be improving now, but hey, on his day I think he was a very good horse who won a champion and probably should have had another. He is no Hurricane Fly, but who is?
Report buddeliea May 10, 2011 12:17 PM BST
Race was a farce to start of with and Bino and Menorah played it right into HF's hooves!! Bino had no chance the way he was lit up,no chance.
Yes HF is the better imo,but no way was that Binos running,absolutely no way.
Report buddeliea May 10, 2011 12:19 PM BST
I would still like to see them meet next March and both run their race.
Report CVByrne May 10, 2011 1:53 PM BST
Hopefully they will meet next march and I hope binocuhype has extra hype going in, any way to get a price on hurricane fly is good for me. Fly is on a different planet to his contemporaries, he is racing against the legends of the 70s and Istabraq himself for all time great.
Report buddeliea May 11, 2011 7:50 AM BST
getting carried away mate,needs to win more to compare with Istabraq and the 70,s horses.Could happen but not yet comparable.
At the moment he has won 1 CH,and beaten the best of Ireland,which imo are nowhere near horses like Night Nurse etc etc
Lets wait and see before saying things like that.Iknow how much you think
of him,but still a lot to achieve before being hailed a great.
Report CVByrne May 11, 2011 5:25 PM BST
Oh he has to go do it alright, bit those are the heights he has to aim for now.
Report duffy May 13, 2011 1:50 AM BST
yeh...he has to beat more horses of the likes of theatreworld to be compared with istabraqConfused
Report duffy May 13, 2011 1:59 AM BST
the only negative that could be levelled against him was his fragility which seems to be behind him now...quick ground, soft ground, 2 miles, 2.5 miles, fast pace, slow pace, on the bridle or getting down and dirty....and doing it all in a supposed strong year....he is the complete champion hurdler....he's got it all.....blasphemy to say of course but he has the potential to surpass even istabraq.
Report buddeliea May 13, 2011 7:50 AM BST
potential that still has to be fulfilled.He does seem to have everything needed though i agree,but he has to keep that going for another 2 or 3 years.
One could of course argue that had it not been for injury he would have been top of the tree for 2 years now,but unfortunately he was fragile(unsure if he still is),so we have to see what he can do over the next few years and see what emerges as challangers.
Report buddeliea May 13, 2011 8:03 AM BST
CV,
Not sure Binocular will give you a decent price next March mate.Think people have got a bit fed up with him now.He just has not really repeated his CH victory,and that can be questioned given how his opposition that day have fared since.
Personally i still think that was a very good performance and had HF been in the race that year we would probably know for sure the comparable merits of both horses.
Certainly looking at the times of both horses when they won,albeit on different ground,their dont seem to be much in it,but thats times and not the best way of judging.What would be perfect is if both horses turned up next March in the form of their respective CH wins,but i doubt that will happen.
HF is top dog right now,but Bino is a horse that imo if on his day is capable of matching him.
Report CVByrne May 14, 2011 12:17 PM BST
Would Fly have beaten Khyber Kim further than 3 1/2l in that Champion Hurdle? Khyber Kim won the greatwood from Medermit and beat Celestial Halo in the Bula. Menorah imo had done more than that and he was beaten out of sight twice by Hurricane Fly. Khyber Kim won the Aintree Hurdle then when Celestial Halo fell, Oscar Whiskey was well beaten in the Champion Hurdle.

All this and Fly's worst run of the year was the Champion Hurdle. I have little doubt had Fly not been injured and had run in the two leopardstown races on the way to that Champion Hurdle he'd have beaten Binocular.

Fly simply is the best since Istabraq and could go down as the best ever if he can manage to win another 2 champion hurdles.
Report buddeliea May 15, 2011 8:50 AM BST
yeh yer probably right mate,but i still would like to see the 2 race against each other at their best.Thats just me though and i agree it all points to HF being the best we have seen since Istabraq.
Report Howdi May 15, 2011 9:10 PM BST
CV best ever  slow down abit - see 1970s hurdling scene.
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