*** COUNTY HURDLE ***

29th for weights ?

Yes.

its a gimme looks interesting here

Weights ?

Sailors Warn only entry is this race,fwiw. Only dropped a 1lb for his last run and looks in the grip of the handicapper to me.

Local Hero takes my eye at 33s. A course winner, he had to give out weight at Kelso last time but shaped nicely still going well at the last until lack of fitness became an issue. I'm sure Steve Gollings left something to work on and County is its only entry at Cheltenham...his jumping looked much more proficient than last season and a mark of 140 isn't bad considering his proximity to others now rated higher in last years Triumph

Surprised not to see Sweeps third Staying Article in this, CMIYC. Champ Hurdle, injured or waiting for something else?

Anywon have the trends for this?

Positives
    Officially rated 128-135
    Five-year-olds
    Ran in the Betfair Trophy and/or ****.com Hurdle
    The Imperial Cup winner
    Trained by the Irish, Paul Nicholls or Philip Hobbs

Negatives
    Carrying 11st 8lbs+
    Run less than four times earlier in the season

I can give you age groups easy enough, last 10yrs;
5yo 5-5-48
6yo 2-5-76
7yo 1-12-66
8yo 1-3-37
9yo 1-3-20
10yo 0-1-9
11yo 0-0-4

Year     Winner     Trainer     Jockey     Age/Wt     SP
2011     Final Approach     Willie Mullins     Ruby Walsh     5 10-12     10/1
2010     Thousand Stars     W P Mullins     Ms K Walsh     6 10-5     20/1
2009     American Trilogy     P F Nicholls     R Walsh     5 11-0     20/1
2008     Silver Jaro     T Hogan     N Fehily     5 10-13     50/1
2007     Pedrobob     A Mullins     P A Carberry     9 10-0     12-1
2006     Desert Quest     P F Nicholls     R Walsh     6 10-10     4-1jf
2005     Fontanesi     M C Pipe     T Murphy     5 10-0     16-1
2004     Sporazene     P F Nicholls     R Walsh     5 10-13     7-1jf
2003     Spirit Leader     Mrs J Harrington     B Geraghty     7 11-7     10-1
2002     Rooster Booster     P J Hobbs     R Johnson     8 11-1     8-1
2001     No Race
2000     Master Tern     J O'Neill     T Dobbin     5 10-3     9-2f
1999     Sir Talbot     J A B Old     T Murphy     5 10-0     10-1
1998     Blowing Wind     M C Pipe     A P McCoy     5 11-8     15-8f
1997     Barna Boy     N J Henderson     R Dunwoody     9 10-12     14-1

Cheers!

What is Hobbs likely to have for the race, anyone know? I see Snap Tie has shortened up on Oddschecker, but surely it's all a bit late in the day for that one, seems to be well backed for a Festival handicap every year.

Out of Arthurian Legend, Cockney Trucker, Dare Me, Pateese, and Snap Tie, I mean.

Im all over moon dice for this one. I cant get out of my head how classy he looked in the greatwood hurdle..was running all over, rest of the field before getting forced out wide. handicap mark has been protected. Sure to run a big race.

Some stats on weight carried (not  weight set this is raceform so after allowances etc)
10st7 and under 3 wins from 122 -64pts
10st 8 to 11st 0  5 wins from 68 +28pts
11st 1lb+   2 wins from 57  -37points

Answer to my earlier query: "he has had a small setback and won't be going (to Cheltenham)" - EOG

Brampour (IRE)    Paul Nicholls    11st 12lb   
Get Me Out of Here (IRE)    Jonjo O'Neill    11st 6lb   
Third Intention (IRE)    Colin Tizzard    11st 4lb   
Starluck (IRE)    David Arbuthnot    11st 1lb   
Clerk's Choice (IRE)    Oliver Sherwood    11st 1lb   
Final Approach    W. P. Mullins, Ireland    11st 0lb   
Moon Dice (IRE)    Paul W. Flynn, Ireland    11st 0lb   
Marsh Warbler    Brian Ellison    10st 13lb   
Blazing Tempo (IRE)    W. P. Mullins, Ireland    10st 12lb   
Sire de Grugy (FR)    Gary Moore    10st 12lb   
Kalann (IRE)    Sabrina J. Harty, Ireland    10st 10lb   
Via Galilei (IRE)    Gary Moore    10st 9lb   
Ubi Ace    Tim Walford    10st 9lb   
Prospect Wells (FR)    Paul Nicholls    10st 8lb   
Sailors Warn (IRE)    E. J. O'Grady, Ireland    10st 8lb   
Raya Star (IRE)    Alan King    10st 8lb   
Desert Cry (IRE)    Donald McCain    10st 7lb   
Cockney Trucker (IRE)    Philip Hobbs    10st 7lb   
The Bull Hayes (IRE)    Mrs J. Harrington, Ireland    10st 6lb   
Dirar (IRE)    Gordon Elliott, Ireland    10st 5lb   
----------------------20------------------------
Empire Levant (USA)    Paul Nicholls    10st 5lb   
Dee Ee Williams (IRE)    Nick Gifford    10st 5lb   
Local Hero (GER)    Steve Gollings    10st 5lb   
Far Away So Close (IRE)    Paul Nolan, Ireland    10st 5lb   
Saphir River (FR)    Michael Scudamore    10st 4lb   
Module (FR)    Tom George    10st 4lb   
Attaglance    Malcolm Jefferson    10st 4lb   
Viva Colonia (IRE)    David O'Meara    10st 4lb   
Alderwood (IRE)    Thomas Mullins, Ireland    10st 4lb   
Silverhand (IRE)    Noel Meade, Ireland    10st 4lb   
Lifestyle    Nicky Henderson    10st 3lb   
Alarazi (IRE)    Lucy Wadham    10st 3lb   
Salut Flo (FR)    David Pipe    10st 2lb   
Idarah (USA)    Paul Cashman, Ireland    10st 2lb   
Plan A (IRE)    Gordon Elliott, Ireland    10st 2lb   
Edgardo Sol (FR)    Paul Nicholls    10st 2lb   
Hazy Tom (IRE)    Charlie Longsdon    10st 2lb   
Hell's Bay (FR)    Colin Tizzard    10st 2lb   
Snap Tie (IRE)    Philip Hobbs    10st 2lb   
Vulcanite (IRE)    Charlie Longsdon    10st 1lb   
-------------------40---------------------------
Magnifique Etoile    Charlie Longsdon    10st 1lb   
Higgy's Ragazzo (FR)    Nicky Henderson    10st 1lb   
It's A Gimme (IRE)    Jonjo O'Neill    10st 1lb   
Megastar    Gary Moore    10st 1lb   
Redera (IRE)    A. J. Martin, Ireland    10st 1lb   
Olofi (FR)    Tom George    10st 1lb   
Pateese (FR)    Philip Hobbs    10st 1lb   
Rigidity    Tim Vaughan    10st 0lb   
Ciceron (IRE)    Venetia Williams    10st 0lb   
Dare Me (IRE)    Philip Hobbs    10st 0lb   
Master of Arts (USA)    David Pipe    10st 0lb   
Dan Breen (IRE)    David Pipe    10st 0lb   
Abergavenny    Brian Ellison    10st 0lb   
Ted Spread    Paul Nicholls    10st 0lb   
Knight Pass (IRE)    Warren Greatrex    10st 0lb   
Il Fenomeno (ITY)    Noel Meade, Ireland    10st 0lb   
Ifyouletmefinish (IRE)    Jeremy Scott    10st 0lb   
Bourne    Donald McCain    10st 0lb   
Street Entertainer (IRE)    David Pipe    9st 13lb   
Ingleby Spirit    Richard Fahey    9st 13lb   
Cotillion    Ian Williams    9st 13lb   
Make A Track (IRE)    Charlie Swan, Ireland    9st 13lb   
Ski Sunday    Tim Vaughan    9st 12lb   
Citizenship    Mrs J. Harrington, Ireland    9st 12lb   
Arthurian Legend    Philip Hobbs    9st 12lb   
Flycorn (IRE)    T. Hogan, Ireland    9st 11lb   
Court In Session (IRE)    Martin Keighley    9st 11lb   
Dream Esteem    David Pipe    9st 11lb   
Art Professor (IRE)    Venetia Williams    9st 11lb   
Orzare (IRE)    Gary Moore    9st 10lb   
Nearest The Pin (IRE)    A. J. Martin, Ireland    9st 10lb   
Abou Ben (IRE)    A. Oliver, Ireland    9st 9lb   
Crystal Rock (IRE)    Nicky Henderson    9st 9lb   
Dul Ar An Ol (IRE)    John McConnell, Ireland    9st 9lb   
Celtus (FR)    Nicky Henderson    9st 9lb   
Johns Spirit (IRE)    Jonjo O'Neill    9st 9lb   
Zanir (FR)    Graeme McPherson    9st 9lb   
Akula (IRE)    Mark H. Tompkins    9st 9lb   
Dontpaytheferryman (USA)    Brian Ellison    9st 9lb   
Red Merlin (IRE)    Donald McCain    9st 9lb   
Stormy Weather (FR)    Brian Ellison    9st 9lb   
Heather Royal    Nicky Henderson    9st 8lb   
Chesil Beach Boy    John Coombe    9st 8lb   
Pascha Bere (FR)    Nick Gifford    9st 8lb   
Baracas (FR)    Eoin Griffin, Ireland    9st 8lb   
First In The Queue (IRE)    Nicky Henderson    9st 8lb   
Grams And Ounces    John Flint    9st 8lb   
No Secrets (IRE)    David Pipe    9st 8lb   
Paintball (IRE)    Charlie Longsdon    9st 7lb   
Ascendant    Andrew Reid    9st 7lb   
Lucaindubai (IRE)    Evan Williams    9st 6lb   
Monetary Fund (USA)    Venetia Williams    9st 6lb   
Grafite    Brendan Powell    9st 5lb   
King's Parade    A. J. Whelan, Ireland    9st 4lb   
Cry of Freedom (USA)    John Ferguson    9st 4lb   
Eastlake (IRE)    Jonjo O'Neill    9st 4lb   
Kandari (FR)    Jonjo O'Neill    9st 3lb   
Helium (FR)    Sophie Leech    9st 3lb   
Knight In Purple    John Mackie    9st 2lb   
Glenstal Abbey (IRE)    Jonjo O'Neill    9st 2lb   
Rowan Tiger    Dr Richard Newland    9st 1lb   
Book'em Danno (IRE)    Peter Bowen    9st 1lb   
Silverlord (FR)    Gordon Elliott, Ireland    9st 1lb   
Aine's Delight (IRE)    Andy Turnell    8st 13lb   
Snow Blizzard (IRE)    Rebecca Curtis    8st 13lb   
Drumshambo (USA)    Venetia Williams    8st 12lb   
Open Day (IRE)    Jonjo O'Neill    8st 11lb   
Double Handful (GER)    Lawney Hill    8st 10lb

Moon Dice (12) , Citizenship (14) , Module (14) , Raya Star (14) , Sire De Grugy (14) , Ted Spread (14) , Dirar (16) , Get Me Out Of Here (16) , Ifyouletmefinish (16) , Its A Gimme (16) , Prospect Wells (16) , Vulcanite (16) , Bourne (20) , Close House (20) , Final Approach (20) , Make A Track (20) , Olofi (20) , Snap Tie (20) , Blazing Tempo (25) , Brampour (25)  - Others  25 or more

What they said about the VINCENT O’BRIEN COUNTY HURDLE at the previews......

Philip Hobbs said Snap Tie is in good form, he reported this last year but the horse never got in, hasn’t run for two years, so you’d want a very big price, not sure 33-1 is big enough to tempt me

Jim McGrath - Prospect wells

Jessica Harrington - Citizenship County or Martin Pipe if it doesnt get in county

Tom Segal - Citizenship County

Mike Cattermole -Snap tie-county hdle

Paul Nicholls - Ted Spread running won at Taunton recently. Needs some to come out. Brampour won't run.

Damien McElroy - Toner D’Oudairies too as well as Moon Dice for the County Hurdle.

Paul Flynn said Moon Dice has a great each way chance in the County Hurdle.

wildmanfromborneo 05 Mar 12 12:26
Thats my bet scuppered.I normally don`t fancy Irish horses in Cheltenham handicaps but i like Moon Dice, the ground is coming right for him, his jockey is in flying form and he seems to have been trained specifically for Cheltenham.

lapsy pa 05 Mar 12 12:34
Paul Flynn on ATR just now,while trying to read between the lines sounded very upbeat with his chances.

moneypenny 05 Mar 12 12:56
Tom Doyle had a bit of a mare on the horse in November. Has to have a right chance in the County Hurdle alright.

Olofi if he gets in.

Agree Lockup,20s off 10.1 Cheers

think olofi will get in, but is still in at the 5 day decs for the champion, know the owners have plenty dosh and would like to have a runner in the big one, but it doesnt have a snowballs chance in hell. why bother.

Not sure about that either, hes 46 in the ballot at the moment, I wonder if connections are worried he wont get in the county and want him to run at the festival hence leaving him in the champion. He has ran well before 13 days after his previous race but a 3 day gap after running in thee champion seems a bit mad

when's the ballot result out?

Olofi's owner tweeted earlier that Champion entry is just a back up in case it looks like they wont get into the County.

Moon Dice (9) , Citizenship (10) , Paintball (10) , Get Me Out Of Here (14) , Raya Star (14) , Sire De Grugy (14) , Snap Tie (14) , Dirar (16) , Ifyouletmefinish (16) , Olofi (16) , Prospect Wells (16) , Dare Me (20) , Final Approach (20) , Magnifique Etoile (20) , Make A Track (20) , Ted Spread (20) , Ubi Ace (20) , Brampour (25) , Dream Esteem (25) , Empire Levant (25)  - Others  25 or more