Cheltenham Festival
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Having followed Cheltenham since 1970, I'm well aware that bigging up a race in advance more often than not leads to anticlimax. It's afterwards we should be calling races classics, not before and, in Champion Hurdle terms, the last such anti-climax (for most of us) was when Sublimity ruined the sumptuous feast that had been anticipated all winter, with the tough as teak old guard of Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca being challenged by the controversial usurper Detroit City.
That said, can any lover of this game fail to lick their lips over this year's renewal? It seems to have everything.
No serious fancy has fallen by the wayside this season (OK, Go Native if you must) and the only horse not there who has been prominent in the betting who has dropped away is Silviniaco Conti - many thought of him as the second coming after Ascot, and are now the poorer.
The first seven horses in the betting won their last race, of whom five won their last two and one (Hurricane Fly) their last three. Five of these are unbeaten this season. Three hurdling Champions fromlast Cheltenham turn up in the race, plus the horse who would have been favourite for another.
We have a reigning Champion who has now won or gone close in three successive Championship races at Cheltenham.
We have last year's Supreme Novices winner, unbeaten and untroubled since.
We have last year's Neptune winner, unbeaten since.
We have an Irish contender mopping up Grade one's at will in his homeland, and only ever beaten there once.
We have another product of the last year's Supreme, seemingly greatly improved, and not off the bridle this season.
We have last year's Irish wonderhorse, back for more, and campaigned to suggest his trainer remains a believer.
We have a horse that would have been favourite for last year's Triumph, improving to take his place at the top table.
And, backing up the Magnificent Seven, we have last year's runner up - far from proven to have declined - plus a horse who has got closer than most to The Fly.
The more I look at this race, the more I see it as simple opinion. There have been so few overlapping form lines, as the principals have taken tantalisingly separate routes to the Festival and, with the seven being all but unbeaten this season, nobody could claim with conviction that one performance is stronger than another. And, of course, questions remain about them all?
Will the real Binocular turn up and, if he does, is he good enough in a far stronger renewal?
Does a beating of Silviniaco Conti when receiving weight, (and Cue Card) justify Menorah's position in the market?
Can Hurricane Fly act at Cheltenham?
Is Peddler's Cross quick enough?
Does Oscar Whisky want further?
Can Dunguib jump at Championship pace?
Is Mille Chief as good as his trainer insists?
My own view is that Hurricane Fly is as good a hurdler I've seen in recent times. He's had no problem being equally impressive in Ireland on different course and different going. In terms of what he's achieved this season, I'm of the view that none of the performances of the English contenders rank with what he's done in Ireland (those who point out Solwhit's eclipse in last year's Champion are pointing to the wrong peice of form IMO) and, while course form again and again is franked at the Festival, that element is factored in to his price. For me 5/1 to find out if he's as good as he's looked in all but one of his races in Ireland is generous.
Right or wrong, however, and completely ignoring my opening comments, this should be one of the great races.
That said, can any lover of this game fail to lick their lips over this year's renewal? It seems to have everything.
No serious fancy has fallen by the wayside this season (OK, Go Native if you must) and the only horse not there who has been prominent in the betting who has dropped away is Silviniaco Conti - many thought of him as the second coming after Ascot, and are now the poorer.
The first seven horses in the betting won their last race, of whom five won their last two and one (Hurricane Fly) their last three. Five of these are unbeaten this season. Three hurdling Champions fromlast Cheltenham turn up in the race, plus the horse who would have been favourite for another.
We have a reigning Champion who has now won or gone close in three successive Championship races at Cheltenham.
We have last year's Supreme Novices winner, unbeaten and untroubled since.
We have last year's Neptune winner, unbeaten since.
We have an Irish contender mopping up Grade one's at will in his homeland, and only ever beaten there once.
We have another product of the last year's Supreme, seemingly greatly improved, and not off the bridle this season.
We have last year's Irish wonderhorse, back for more, and campaigned to suggest his trainer remains a believer.
We have a horse that would have been favourite for last year's Triumph, improving to take his place at the top table.
And, backing up the Magnificent Seven, we have last year's runner up - far from proven to have declined - plus a horse who has got closer than most to The Fly.
The more I look at this race, the more I see it as simple opinion. There have been so few overlapping form lines, as the principals have taken tantalisingly separate routes to the Festival and, with the seven being all but unbeaten this season, nobody could claim with conviction that one performance is stronger than another. And, of course, questions remain about them all?
Will the real Binocular turn up and, if he does, is he good enough in a far stronger renewal?
Does a beating of Silviniaco Conti when receiving weight, (and Cue Card) justify Menorah's position in the market?
Can Hurricane Fly act at Cheltenham?
Is Peddler's Cross quick enough?
Does Oscar Whisky want further?
Can Dunguib jump at Championship pace?
Is Mille Chief as good as his trainer insists?
My own view is that Hurricane Fly is as good a hurdler I've seen in recent times. He's had no problem being equally impressive in Ireland on different course and different going. In terms of what he's achieved this season, I'm of the view that none of the performances of the English contenders rank with what he's done in Ireland (those who point out Solwhit's eclipse in last year's Champion are pointing to the wrong peice of form IMO) and, while course form again and again is franked at the Festival, that element is factored in to his price. For me 5/1 to find out if he's as good as he's looked in all but one of his races in Ireland is generous.
Right or wrong, however, and completely ignoring my opening comments, this should be one of the great races.
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Replies: 8
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I thought after such a detailed write up, it would be sods law youd choose Binocular!!
Good words mate. |
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He was being withdrawn as I wrote. Still, a race to savour, even if has now lost some of its lustre.
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And I think it was a great one, with a finish that had me recalling Monksfield and Sea Pigeon, except that this time the speed horse cruising up went on to win the race. A priceless memory for me and he proved he was the horse I'd hoped he was. Pure magic
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agree mate a great race , must admit i got it wrong didnt think the fly would handle the track, and had a big bet on peddlers cross, the battle up the hill between them two will stay with me , as i was there with the crowd roaring them on , they are both very high class horses , cant wait to see peddlers over fences , the skys the limit hopefully a gold cup winner
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It was a great race between the first 2 but hardly a classic as the rest were nowhere. It ended in disapointment for me as I am a big Peddlers Cross fan. I thought that Overturn could have set a stronger pace as it came down to a sprint from the last flight.
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Fourth favourite came third, sageform, so I'd disagree on that, but understand your disappointment that Peddlers did not have the ideal pace despite a stablemate front runner. However, Hurricane stays very well also and, until proved otherwise,I'll continue to believe he's one of the best hurdlers I've seen.
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Sageform normally when 2 horses quicken up and go clear of a class horse that is a boost to the form not a negative.
Look at the rest. Thousand Stars finished 2 lengths behind Oscar Whisky and that would suggest to me he's run right up to his very best form. Which puts Oscar Whiskey on a par with Group 1 winner Solwhit. Hurricane Fly was harder pushed by Peddlers than he was by Solwhit and as a result he's beaten Thousand Stars 3lentghs further than when they last met. I've seen every Champion Hurdle since Salmon Spray. I'd have to put the Champion Hurdle we just witnessed on a par with the classic Sea Pigeon V Monksfield clashes. Was an absolutely brilliant Champion Hurdle won by an exceptionally good horse. There have been some true champions won the race like Persian War, Bula, Comedy of Errors, Sea Pigeon, Night Nurse, Monksfield and Istabraq. Names that just roll of the tongue when talking about the best hurdlers of all time and Hurricane Fly I assure just joined them. |
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I am not criticising the winner in any way. He is clearly very good and has now proved it over here. I just felt that 5 days ago we had a classic on the cards but the absence of Binocular and complete failures by Mille Chief and Khyber Kim together with a not unexpected moderate run by Menorah (Cue Card let his form down big time) made it less than a classic CH for me. Incidentally I remember the "real" Rondetto very well and my late great friend John Haine was always convinced he would have won the National in Foinavons year.
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