Kyhber Kim?

Kempton at Christmas. Hopefully they send him for the World Hurdle for selfish reasons.

That's an interesting thought. Graeme. He got the trip well enough at the intermediate distance at Aintree last season. Not sure what I would be expecting if they stepped him up further, but I could see the sense of connections trying him over a longer trip, next season if not this. The horse seems to settle much better now than he did on the flat and in his early runs over hurdles. Presumably that is helping him last home much better than sometimes was previously the case.

We desperately need to find another star in the WH division to provide a bit more interest than currently, with Big Buck's so dominant.

I hope KK has another crack at the CH this time though. Connections  may have learnt something tactically from his second place last season and he possibly wouldn't have been beaten quite so far by Binocular had there been a bit more cut in the ground. Even then, he might not be quite good enough to go one place better this time. But then again there could be a lot of action on near the front in the CH in March, with seemingly such a strong field of high quality hurdlers in the likely line-up, many of whom will not be wanting to hang around. Those nearer the front from two out could be cutting each other up by duelling too soon. If they get the timing right with KK off his waiting tactics, the cookie might just crumble in his favour, particularly if there is a bit of cut in the ground (or dead ground that might make it harder to judge the pace from the front).

Better than an 18/1 shot for the CH, I would say, but realistically probably not much more than a 10/1 chance even if he proves his well being at Kempton.

If Binocular had stayed in his field last March like we thought he was going to (999/1) KK would have been a very, very impressive Champion Hurdle winner. Absolutely no need at all to step him up to 3miles, for a less prestigious prize, racing against a seemingly invincable favourite in Big Bucks.

I fear his chance has gone but WH would be bonkers. He is too quick and who knows he may improve again to defy the odds.

Tucho nobody will know until he's re-appeared. It's purely speculative and i have on quite a few occasions backed a horse a race or even a year too early. I'd imagine if KK does go the WH route it would be next year. Although if they step him up the prospect of stealing Big Bucks crown is a big one. I had a fiver on at over 300s just in case.

value in the market imo.

Agree, ran a cracking race last season and will be fresher this season.

Massive improver last year and, as rightly pointed out earlier, take out Binocular and KK wins by 6L. It is overpriced at 16s but that is because we have not seen it this season yet and there have been one or two nice runs from contenders. Looking forward to seeing KK

In market w/out Binocular with Sid James also nr money back, is cracking e/w bet imo.

agree hes the value.
Unfortunately he caught Binocular on top of his game & giving him 3 to 4 lengths all the way round he was never able to close him down.
Very well suited by soft ground & i believe would have given Bino a race given those conditions .
Looks like we will probably only see him once b4 Cheltenham tho in the xmas hurdle as certainly seems to perform very well fresh.

Going to have a World hurdle entry.Have a bit on now.

Just had a bit on at 390.

grocerjack can you confirm where you heard this as I would love to see him go for the world hurdle.

Going to Kempton on sat.Will know more after race what target may be.

world hurdle??

Champion Hurdle

lol he is 100% a champion hurdle horse. what is everyone's obsession with wanting top class 2 milers to step up to 3m because they get beaten in one race!

Abbot,believe me.im not saying hes going down world hurdle route,im saying,wait until after saturday.It isn`t certain which of the 2 races it is going for yet.He may well go for champion hurdle but a few quid on at big prices for world hurdle isnt a bad shout.

he is 100% going for the champion hurdle. my boss knows the owner.

HE runs sat he goes for the champion hurdle. would be to late to reroute him.

Hope he runs well on Saturday. Had dabble on him at 16's and 14 ew.

liam if soft i think he wins easy on saturday. gl

Prolly the best value in the Champ market

I bet it at 180 average LAST year

Fooking Bino...woulda been life changing money

Layed at 1.8 in running for 20k ...touched evs

Still think this quiet season will work in his favour and the forgotten horse imo

Cheers abbott. Be keeping close eye on him Saturday.

With him being so good fresh and with the ground in his favour on Saturday, I feel that this is his Champion Hurdle at the weekend.

On better ground at Cheltenham I think Binocular would beat him again and there are a couple of others who have strong claims.  Hopefully he will be fully wound up for the weekend as this is his best chance of a big pot this season (oh and I have been getting stuck into him at 7/2!)

His Champion Hurdle my a**e, KK has a great chance on Saturday, first time out on soft ground and should be favourite imo. The market seems to be taking time to factor in the soft ground for this race.

I think Twister's also got more than half an eye on March as well though.

backed it today at 3s,think it will go off 9-4,everything in its favour on saturday

Looks like being his and Starluck's Champion Hurdle today.

No chance with Binocular in the Champion Hurdle ... will they step him up?

you need to look does he have anymore chance against big bucks? personally i would have stepped him up this season but Im not sure they they have given themselves much time now.

He is a 2m 4f horse imo. Everything going for him there with the ground which you would have thought would be against Binocular. They should look elsewhere with him though as you say Big Bucks and the trip may be too far for him. Aintree Hurdle spot on for him imo.

Traiont miss Chelt. The only thing I would say islooking back I dont think kempton suited him

Wouldn't write him off yet as something must have gone wrong with him earlier in the season though wouldn't be rushing to back him.

Abbot,not looking too bad a bet now.Really hope you had a bit on.They still undecided which to go for though.

Also not convinced Kempton suited him. Then factor in Twister's comments about him needing the run (unusual for KK, think NTD was taken by surprise as wasn't mentioned pre-race) and stable out of form as often is mid-season, then 33's looks interesting. I've had some of that but fingers crossed that the Champion remains the target - if he goes to Ffos Las next over 2 miles then surely they wouldn't step him up to 3 next time out at the Festival?

I think Twister was just surprised, unusual as I normally find he has a decent handle on where his horses are fitness-wise. Trainers don't always know how fit and ready they are, eg Nicholls and Kauto, I think he's one of the worst.

The Welsh Champion could be a clue to comparisons with Menorah and Binocular et al.
I didn't think Kempton would suit KK but no reason why Ffos Las shouldn't. With Oscar Whisky a definite really looking forward to it.
Any other likely runners?