Spirit Son

Suspect not Tyrone but IMO he wins next yr's Champion.

totally agree Carver....i know barry was nearly as excited about him as he was bout sprinter !!!!!

Yes, a fine horse, but seeing his current price for next year I am laying him to my limit.
There seem to be four options for him:

1. Champion Hurdle
2. World Hurdle
3. Novice Chasing
4. Doesn't recover from injury.

Even if connections pursue the Champion Hurdle option, he needs to, firstly, prove he's as good as he was and then, secondly, improve a deal on what he was.

So, at 12.5/1, I'm thinking this can only be a lay.Can anyone name me the last horse to miss a season and then win a Champion Hurdle?

Will go Champ Hurdle if he recovers

Took some of the 20's with Sid James last week for next year's Champion.

It's a pure gamble, because don't know about his wellbeing, has he trained on etc but at that price I thought it was worth a punt.

I was all over him for this year's Champion and I saw nothing in the race, or this year's novices that will put me off backing him again.

Ps Don't think he will turn up at Aintree.  Hopefully put him away for the summer and have a proper campaign next year.

Henderson made it no secret that he rated Spirit Son better than Grandouet, and at the time Grandouet was 2nd fav for the Champion at 6/1.

Chief , did u see any of hendersons remarks about his well being recently ?

I haven't sorry Tyronesam.

When Henderson announced he was out he said "I'd rather start next season with a horse in one piece than take a chance with the horse finishing up out this year, and next year."

Sounds like he should be back for next year, but that kind of rules out Aintree, especially with him having Oscar Whisky for the race.

i hope so....give him all time he needs....really really like him for ch , would like to hear something from trainer either way

I shall be asking his trainer on Good Friday tyrone,will let you know anything of interest.

Just one thing, can anybody remember the last time any horse came back from a year off from injury and won a championship race??

Inglis Drever was injured in 06 but came back to win 07 & 08 World Hurdles

Hurricane Fly missed most of the campaign (all bar one race in November) before his Champion Hurdle season

It sounds that we wont see him until the Autumn though, so that will be around 18-20 months off

It sounds that we wont see him until the Autumn though, so that will be around 18-20 months off

I understand - and to some extent share - people's concern regarding the lay off but on the other side, he is a young horse, likely to be returning aged only 6, has a trainer who is a master with 'problem' horses, has virtually no miles on the clock meaning he surely has scope to improve, and has not had a serious injury this yr.

He only missed 3 weeks with a 'niggle' in the autumn when being aimed at the Greatwood - this does not sound too concerning. I am not certain about what went wrong this time (other than a 'problem' with his near fore) but the suggestion was that it only just ruled him out of the Champion, so it does not (though I know we do not know) sound hideously serious. It does not sounds like it is a classic 'leg' requiring 12 months box rest.

I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. No question for me on past form he is a cut above this crop (an A1 Hurricane excluded, and he is going to be a yr older next yr).

* and has not had a serious injury this yr as far as we can tell.

Similar to the fly who virtually had a year off and came back, no need to rush him as thought a bit special.
Noticed the 20,s did not last long and nor the 16,s, had a little myself but still got to prove his wellbeing later this/next year.

After my disaster antepost portfolio this year and the great prices available on the day of the meeting he will be my only play this year, well, thats the plan anyway.

many thanks for any info u can get Budd