Cheltenham Festival
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The Stan James Champion Hurdle
The Stan James Champion Hurdle
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Paul Nicholls is under no illusions about the prospect of his big guns taking on Hurricane Fly in the Stan James Champion Hurdle after the Irish ace's brilliant performance on Sunday.
The Ditcheat trainer has several entries in the Cheltenham showpiece on March 13, including Zarkandar and Rock On Ruby. But he knows they will be up against it against Willie Mullins' superstar after his scintillating win in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. "He was impressive. You can't not be impressed. he's done everything asked of him I know Ruby (Walsh) was pleased with him," he told At The Races. "He's the reigning champion and he's the one to beat." Last season's Triumph Hurdle victor Zarkandar has not raced since following up his Cheltenham success at Aintree in April. However, he warmed up for a probable return to action in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday week with a pleasing workout on Tuesday. "He had a little school and I'm very happy with him," Nicholls added. |
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Willie Mullins is delighted with Hurricane Fly as he continues preparations for the defence of his Stan James Champion Hurdle crown.
The reigning champion made a belated return to action when winning the BHP Insurance Irish Champion at Leopardstown last month and the trainer is thrilled with him since. "Hurricane Fly is fantastically well at the moment. Paul (Townend) rides him out every day at home and he said he's jumping out of his skin. "He had a nice easy week last week and he'll have another easy one this week before we start building him up for Cheltenham. I've been very happy with him," he beamed. |
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THE STAN JAMES CHAMPION HURDLE
Class 1, Grade 1, £370,000 Total Prize Fund. Cheltenham, 3.20pm, Tuesday, March 13, two miles and half a furlong. Form Horse Age Owner Trainer 114-321 BINOCULAR (FR) 8 J P McManus Nicky Henderson 00-1130 BRAMPOUR (IRE) 5 Banks, Blackshaw & Gannon Paul Nicholls 210-131 CELESTIAL HALO (IRE) 8 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls 4462-04 CLERK'S CHOICE (IRE) 6 Michael Banks Oliver Sherwood 11-6541 FINAL APPROACH 6 Douglas Taylor Willie Mullins IRE 3B-1F11 GRANDOUET (FR) 5 Simon Munir Nicky Henderson 1/1111-1 HURRICANE FLY (IRE) 8 George Creighton & Rose Boyd Willie Mullins IRE 50-1312 KALANN (IRE) 5 K McConnell Sabrina Harty IRE F-40311 MIKAEL D'HAGUENET (FR) 8 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE 530-42F OLOFI (FR) 6 R&L Channing S&F Roberts McNeill Family Tom George 114-323 OSCARS WELL (IRE) 7 Molley Malone Syndicate Jessica Harrington IRE 3-11123 OVERTURN (IRE) 8 Tim Leslie Donald McCain 120-112 PEDDLERS CROSS (IRE) 7 Tim Leslie Donald McCain 1223-12 ROCK ON RUBY (IRE) 7 The Festival Goers Paul Nicholls 13-6111 SO YOUNG (FR) 6 M McMahon Willie Mullins IRE 5/23134- STARLUCK (IRE) 7 Andrew Wates David Arbuthnot 11-21 STAYING ARTICLE (IRE) 7 Thomas Barr Edward O'Grady IRE 2-22112 THOUSAND STARS (FR) 8 Hammer & Trowel Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE 1220-11 ZAIDPOUR (FR) 6 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE 111- ZARKANDAR (IRE) 5 Potensis Limited & Chris Giles Paul Nicholls 20 entries remain after February 14 scratchings deadline 9 Irish-trained THE FOLLOWING 7 ENTRIES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: BOBBY EWING (IRE), DARE ME (IRE), FLAT OUT (FR), OSCAR WHISKY (IRE), SPIRIT SON (FR), TOPOLSKI (IRE), UNACCOMPANIED (IRE) |
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Thanks BJG - this is exceptionally helpful.
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Peddlers cross not being scratched suggests connections are not 100% committed to the Arkle ,otherwise
why leave him in? |
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Connections have also left him in the Queen Mother. I don't understand it , they must have money to burn or have made a mistake.
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They do have to actively take a horse out. If they do nothing it stays in. It's also not too costly to stay in at this stage is it? Certianly not for a big owner and not relative to the cost of having to supplement later.
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If the Fly is ruled out and Zark flops on Friday they wouldprobably have to think long and hard as might connectionsof Oscar Whisky
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OW would have to be supplemented back in now.
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Indeed that was my point
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Oh, sorry, yes I see.
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Been doing a bit more thinking about Rock on Ruby.
Hes such a good traveller i can see him coming to the last still going well,and he wont be stopping up the hill. He stays further and his cruising speed give him a fair profile for a CHurdler imo,and i have him shorter than the odds currently available. His run at Kempton i think can be improved upon a fair bit at Cheltenham,think the track will suit his style,and i honestly expect a big run. |
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@Buddelia, I was thinking the same and have commented as such on the without HF market thread. I truly believe that if HF turns up in the same form as at Leopardstown or Cheltenham last year he wins. However ROR travels well and will find something under pressure. I watched the way he stayed on last year and he makes up a good deal of ground over the last two flights.
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yeh,without the fav is a fair shout,might have a go at that as well as the win,after all he does have to beat a real goodun!!
When i said the track will suit his style,i meant better than Kempton,we all know the track suits after last year. I rate that Neptune last year,and it has thrown some useful CH types over the years. |
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Bino running today,hoping for a good run to bring him on nicely for the festival.
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Bino running today,hoping for a good run to bring him on nicely for the festival.
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Great stuff,looked good i thought.
Very happy with that. A back to his best Bino would be great for the race. |
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AP's comments will be interesting
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if Henderson can get him there in same shape as when he last won the race probably only one capable of upsetting Hurricane Fly
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Got to be happy with that Budd. Given how terrible he usually looks in his Festival prep race, if they can find the usual level of improvement, he must be a huge player. But he's so incosistent now, maybe he's left his race at Wincanton. fascinating as always!
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Hurricane Fly (4/5) , Binocular (5) , Zarkandar (5) , Oscars Well (14) , Rock On Ruby (16) , Thousand Stars (28) , Overturn (33) , Peddlers Cross (50) , Zaidpour (50) , Brampour (66) , Celestial Halo (66) , So Young (66) , Mikael Dhaguenet (80) , Starluck (100) , Staying Article (100) , Final Approach (125) , Olofi (125) , Clerks Choice (150) , Kalann (200) - Others 0 or more
WHAT PRICE HF on the day ? |
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Binocular (FR) 8 11 10
Brampour (IRE) 5 11 10 Celestial Halo (IRE) 8 11 10 Hurricane Fly (IRE) 8 11 10 Kalann (IRE) 5 11 10 Olofi (FR) 6 11 10 Oscars Well (IRE) 7 11 10 Overturn (IRE) 8 11 10 Rock On Ruby (IRE) 7 11 10 Thousand Stars (FR) 8 11 10 Zaidpour (FR) 6 11 10 Zarkandar (IRE) 5 11 10 Gonna be a teeny field  |