CW - Spirit Son has another serous injury and has probably retired (def OFTS).

Great posts above Gentlemen. I agree this year was not a stellar renewal. However, I see no reason RoR will not improve further - he's only raced 8 times over hurdles and he improved 25 lbs on OR last season. I'm also convinced he won the last Champion on merit - he was the best horse on the day, if not in the race.

I agree with those who think Oscar Whisky would have got close (at least) in this champion based on his form with Overturn etc. Therefore, if the next renewal is of a similar standard he must have a chance at a course he likes. However, he probably isn't getting any better so his chance would depend on the competition maintaining its standard. Like RC, I don't think the last Supreme was too good (though I seriously underestimated Cinders and Ashes and could be doing so again) - and it's a poor trial for the Champion anyway. There are big question marks over the few decent horses from the Neptune (most/all going chasing). So we may have a similar field to 2012 in the 2013 Champion.

Grandouet is of interest to me given his form with Overturn, assuming he comes back as good as he was. RoR should be favourite imo for the reasons above.

Zarkander is an interesting one too. I agree he probably wants further but that will never happen while Big Buck's is still winning. Nicholls has been incredibly upbeat about Zark which I take as significant. But tomorrow at Wincanton he's being ridden by Daryl Jacob while Ruby rides Prospect Wells. That seems odd to me if Zark is their main hope for the Champion (unless Ruby has already made it clear he will ride Hurricane Fly and Nicholls wants to establish the Zark/Jacob partnership).

It's a fascinating race - though as RC and WC have said, probably not an inspiring one.

Good points guys.

The jury is still out for me with regards to Rock on Ruby, but as you say RC, the horse may be being crabbed. 

I think people forget just how close he came to winning the Neptune as well.  Many believe that Oscars Well would have won, and at first I thought that, but watching it again several times, I think Rock on Ruby was a really unlucky loser in that race.  He was getting on top of Oscars Well approaching the last, and Oscar's  Well's blunder left RoR clear all the way to the line, and he just got chinned.  I'm convinced he would have won if he'd had some company to race against.

Add to that his good second to Bobs Worth in the Neptune trial, and his Champion Hurdle win, he just could be a horse that improves several pounds for racing at HQ.  I wouldn't be in a rush to back him in something like the Christmas Hurdle, and has been beaten convincingly twice at Aintree, so I think he may be turning into a real Cheltenham horse, which is no bad thing.

I think I also doubted him going into the festival because I can't remember the last time a Champion Hurdle runner won a handicap en route to the Champion.  However, that always looked like good form, but boosted again by Raya Star last week.  When you consider he gave Raya Star 13 lbs and a 10 length beating, and Raya Star is now rated 155, that was some performance.

Actually, I'm talking myself into backing RoR now

With regards to Oscar Whisky, as several have said, if the race was run the same again, I think he would have a massive chance.  I don't think he could do someone like Grandouet for speed, but I do think he could outstay him if he pressed on from the front.  The only possible issue I might have with that is pretty much all of his races, he has sat just off the pace in second or third getting a nice slipstream.  I've never actually seen him front run, so it would be interesting if they tried that tactic with him in one of the trials races?

I think the bookies have his price about right at 12/1(ish) if the Champion was confirmed as his target.

There are so many questions for me with regards to the CH at the moment.  I'm not sure if Unaccompanied is still in training, but she would interest me this year, but at 100+ I have my doubts whether she would run.  Another point is if Darlan and Bino both turn up, which one would AP choose?

Zarkandar is an interesting one today, running in a handicap off 163.  Celestial Halo proved last year that  it is possible to win a handicap from the 160's, but I have my doubts.  As you say Stront, it is interesting Ruby picking Prospect Wells.  It could be that they want Jacob to build a rappor with Zark, or just ruby might think Prospect Wells is well weighted for todays race?

So many questions, so little answers

welsh champion hurdle (nap)   

should be in the relkeel.

I have no doubt whatsoever that the horse would stay the trip and just felt something was wrong on the day, maybe slightly too many runs that season.


....there must be some doubt as even his trainer isnt convinced!!!!!

Will be devestated if Trials Day is off, especially with the rearranged VC Chase, where we will finally see Sanctuaire in a chase around Cheltenham.  Will be doing a 300 mile round trip to go, and have been looking forward to it for ages.

I think you're right in that they won't want to be testing the water in the WH again, but all roads lead to Aintree.

I think they've ruled out the Welsh Champion haven't they, because they've turned it into a limited handicap? 

Oscar Whisky, owned by Ffos Las chairman Dai Walters, beat four rivals in 2011.

However, he will be unable to bid for a repeat success as his handicap mark is too high to qualify for a run now that the race conditions have been changed. His trainer Nicky Henderson said on Tuesday that the horse was instead likely to run in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham the week before.

They announced the changes a few weeks ago because they said it wasn't competitive enough, and the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown was on the same day.

Limited handicap now, and they've upped it to 2 and a half miles.

Dai Walters initially said the National Spirit at Fontwell in Feb over 2 and a half was an aim, but I don't know if thats still the plan

I'd love to see the Fly at Aintree over 2m4 against Oscar, I think that'd be an epic race.  Also delighted that they've moved the Aintree hurdle to the Thursday because that's the day I go every year, and is the race of the meeting imo (miles better than the 4 and half miler).

I took the 16's with PP for the Arkle and Jewson next year.  Can see him in the Jewson myself, with Darlan in the Arkle (assuming he won't win the Champion Hurdle).

For this year, they could always give him a speculative entry in the rearranged Haydock Champion Hurdle trial at Donny, incase Cheltenham is off.  I think they might only have one more run before the Festival / Aintree.

If Cheltenham on I think Cleeve > World Hurdle > Aintree.  If Cheltenham is off I think National Spirit > Aintree.

Listening to Henderson few weeks ago I got the impression something wasn't quite right with Oscar Whiskey in the world hurdle and the impression I got was he really wants to try him again over the trip. If he wins well next week he'll be a shortish price fav for the world hurdle and 7/1 at the moment is pretty big.

Can't see him running in the champion hurdle Hendo already has an army of horses for that race.

If its genuinely soft ground for the CH, think OW will run in it, however many Hendo has. The owner's decision remember.

Agree with others who say that OW won't go unless proves he can get 3 miles. If he cannot do that and its decent ground at Festival, he'll skip it and wait for Aintree imo

Oscar Whiskey is running in the Cleeve Hurdle.  Do you:

a) Back him @ 13/8
b) Back him for the World Hurdle, expecting him to win the Cleeve and his price in that contract massively
c) Lay him in a and/or b
d) Watching brief and spend your money something else

You decide!

I already know the answer and will inform you straight after the race

FWIW, I go with d.  Desperate to say a, but I don't know what to make of Reve and 13/8 is pretty sure for a doubtful stayer.  Oscar has a lot more class, but Reve could wear them down abnd run them into the ground.

I want him to win for my ttf, but it would be laying him tomorrow for me, don't get this didn't stay against BB over 3 but without him it would be somehow different, if he didn't stay he didn't stay, this lot would still be good enough to expose him if he doesn't stay, and with that in mind, the ground is going to be pretty testing making it harder still....hope I'm wrong though

I'll be backing Reve myself.  The more I think of it, the more I agree with you gman.

Oscar to be travelling all over them turning for home, but Reve to go past after the final hurdle.

Although I might have just contradicted myself.  Whether Reve front runs and gets them at it, or powers past at the end whilst the others get tired, I think because of the soft ground, I can see him outstaying them.

6 months ago, I would have said there would be no chance of that happening.

KS is definitely the interesting one isn't he,good hurdles form in france , winning a grade 2, beat first lieutenant this year over fences...stays!!...could be a few clicking away at his world hurdle price on here turning in and running to the last tomorrow.

Nick Mordin has a theory that Kauto Stone hates the winter and doesn't show his best at this time of year, I'll quote it from his website.

"So far Kauto Stone has won eight of the twelve times he's run between the second week of May and the first week of November. Outside of this period he's blanked in eleven tries, running well below his best on several occasions."

Yea horses never run below their best at Cheltenham then go on to win at Aintree

Well there's no harm in one more try but I wouldn't be backing him today.

I think Knockbara Beau could well outright his odds today, with a proper jockey on board for once. Conditions suit and he has bits and pieces of decent form.

I think 7/4 looks a decent price for OW. I think he will win.

I can't have a bet today Budd. It's just my opinion on the race. He's drifted to 2s.