Cheltenham Festival
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Oscar Whiskey
Oscar Whiskey
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The Stan James Champion Hurdle, in which he was third in 2011, and the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, for which is joint-favourite, are the options for the talented eight-year-old.
The World Hurdle is seen as the more likely option for Oscar Whisky after he was narrowly beaten by Reve De Sivola in the Cleeve Hurdle over three miles at Cheltenham last weekend. Profiles Oscar Whisky (IRE) His trainer Nicky Henderson has an embarrassment of riches in the two-mile Champion Hurdle headed by Darlan, Grandouet and Binocular. "He's fine after his last race, no problems at all," said Walters. "The Cheltenham Festival is the next move. We've got five weeks to decide where he goes. First of all we will see how Darlan and others run at Doncaster on Monday. "There are a number of things to consider. If it dries up it will definitely be the World Hurdle, but if it's soft we will have to see. "At this stage Cheltenham is too far away. Anything can happen in the meantime, the horse can be lame or anything. Then there's the Aintree Hurdle over two and a half miles after that which he's won for the last two years." The chairman of Ffos Las racecourse believes there should be a championship race over that distance for hurdlers. "He's the best two-and-a-half-mile horse in the country. I will stand up and say that," he said. "It's a shame there isn't a two-and-a-half-mile race for him at Cheltenham. I think there should be as there are plenty of horses around who could go for it." |
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If it dries up it will definitely be the World Hurdle, but if it's soft we will have to see.
Thats pretty much how it should be imo. |
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soft ground is very rare at the Festival though since the (over) draining was installed, you only need a week of dry weather and it will be good going, if we have a dry fortnight between now and the meeting they will be turning on the taps to maintain good to soft as in the last few years
the only way it will be soft is if we get freak weather, the Jet stream moves south, exposing the UK to really wet weather or something like that, so basing judgement on what might happen on soft going is a bit pointless |
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bud i think you wasting time thinking he'll run in the CH, if it comes up really soft he wont run at all, if it's better ground it will be WH. the dream is over
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"if it comes up really soft he wont run at all, if it's better ground it will be WH"
Right on the money. IMO. |
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1/5 to run in the W.H
7/1 to run in the c.h 7/1 not to run at all   |
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Talk most of season has been the CH a possibility on soft ground,and given those latest comments from the owner,it still is.
Until its ruled out,i have hope. WH is obviously fav now,but until we know for sure what the ground is,its not definite,as the owner has just said. |
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Darlan's demise may change the thinking a bit, but I doubt it.
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the only way it will be soft is if we get freak weather, the Jet stream moves south, exposing the UK to really wet weather or something like that, so basing judgement on what might happen on soft going is a bit pointless
So the weather we've been having over the last 10 months is normal is it? |
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Boring seeing this debate everyday on here. He's gonna run in the World Hurdle. And he's gonna beat.
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Bally knows
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You're right. I do.
Oscar Whisky Champion Hurdle on soft ground says Buddelia |
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not just me,people that matter as well have mentioned the possibility,like his owner,trainer and jockey.
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thing is, if it is a dry week, they water the going for the first day to make it Gs,S in places so it is not too firm by Friday. With Darlan out who knows what the OWNER is thinking now.
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Champion Hurdler my arse no matter what the ground is
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He's gonna run in the World Hurdle. And he's gonna beat.
Ballydoyle, You have made the very categorical statement shown above. I am interested to know what horse(s) you believe will beat Oscar Whisky in the World Hurdle. |
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Blarney,hes on a wind up mate.
Either that or he knows more than the horses connections. |
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Ok...I'm an Oscar Whisky fan in an Aintree Hurdle all day long but no previous Champion Hurdler contender has won this in recent years (I think it's last 20 years or thereabouts)
He went into Supreme with an unbeaten record (4 from 4) and got found out. Beat 4 lengths. The following season he hosed in 2 starts, went to Champion Hurdle and got found out. Beat 6 lengths. The season after he won 4 from 5, went to World Hurdle and guess what...found out again. Beat 13 lengths. This season he's cruised in twice then stepped up to 3m and outstayed and beaten by one real World Hurdle contender (Reve De Sivola) in a 10 horse race where the time was 51 second slower than standard. This horse is a machine over 2m 4f (7 from 8) but at a Cheltenham Festival he has been found out 3 times and over 3m he has ran twice and been beaten twice. |
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Yes Bally,all that is well known mate.
We pretty much agree on a lot re Oscar,only difference we have really is i happen to think hes a player in a soft ground 2m race at the top level,which to be fair all his connections have said as well. Add to that that imo hes a better and stronger horse now than 2 years ago. If you look at it this way,that hes a top horse at 2 and a half,which we agree on,its his proven optimum distance,then to me its a strong possibility that over 4f less on soft ground he must be a threat to horses that may not be so good on that type of ground. When i look at the betting for the CH,i honestly see only HF to be seriously concerned about if it came up soft. |
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Ballydoyle,
The reason he didn't win a Supreme or a Champion is that he is not quick enough for 2 miles. Plain and simple. He had form at the minimum distance prior to his festival runs because he was not facing top opposition and was still classy enough to beat inferior rivals over the 2m trip. How would Reve de Sivola do at 2 miles? Also, when you say that no previous Champion Hurdle contender has won this in recent years it is worth remembering that, in his first year out of novice company, triple winner Inglis Drever was campaigned over 2 miles with the Champion as his target only to be switched to the World Hurdle at the last minute. You mention Reve de Sivola as "one real World Hurdle contender" however, he only beat OW a quarter length in the Cleeve on his favoured heavy ground. Oscar Whisky's best form is on good ground which he got in both his Aintree Hurdles. It was a fact finding mission in the Cleeve to see if OW stayed and he did enough to convince jockey and trainer that 3 miles should not be a problem. When looking at last years World Hurdle it is obvious that OW paid the price for taking on the imperious Big Buck's too soon. In that rivals absence, OW can be ridden with more restraint and save enough for the hill. No consider your emphatic statement "He's gonna run in the World Hurdle. And he's gonna beat.". |
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Inglis Drever was a warrior found loads off the bridle,just whats required to win a world hurdle,i don't see that in Oscar Whisky
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Different types of horses jasey, no doubt. Both Champion Hurdle contenders at one point though which is the comparison I was making.
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I've considered it Blarney and he's gonna get beat. And comparing Inglis Drever over 3m to Oscar Whisky over 3m? C'mon man...
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How much you put on?
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Ballydoyle
I've considered it Blarney and he's gonna get beat. I just find it amazing that you think Reve de Sivola is certain to beat Oscar Whisky on good ground at the festival. And comparing Inglis Drever over 3m to Oscar Whisky over 3m? C'mon man... See above response to jasey. I am not expecting much movement in this market between now and the festival so I am happy to wait for race day. |
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blarney 07 Feb 13 15:58 Joined: 03 Jul 04 | Topic/replies: 33 | Blogger: blarney's blog
Ballydoyle I just find it amazing that you think Reve de Sivola is certain to beat Oscar Whisky on good ground at the festival. Sorry - where did I say that? When i said "one real World Hurdle contender" I meant in that race where Reve won he was really the only serious contender from that particular race that would line up next March with a chance. What I have said is that Oscar Whisky won't be winning a World Hurdle because he simply doesn't stay 3m around Cheltenham well enough. It's nothing personal...it's just an opinion based on what I have seen and what the formbook tells me. Here's another one for you... Soft ground or worse 111112...only 1 loss. Good to soft or better 141131F1151...4 defeats..3 of them at the Cheltenham Festival. What makes you think Oscar Whisky is better on good ground or firmer? |
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How much you put on this thing anyway blarney?
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jasey 06 Feb 13 22:49 Joined: 22 Jul 08 | Topic/replies: 387 | Blogger: jasey's blog
Inglis Drever was a warrior found loads off the bridle,just whats required to win a world hurdle,i don't see that in Oscar Whisky Rate reply: | report block user Would tear Oscar's head off going up that hill over 3m |
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Ballydoyle,
I asked you which horse(s) you believe will beat OW in the World Hurdle. In your next reply, you wrote that Reve de Sivola is "one real World Hurdle contender". I interpreted this to mean that you believe RDS will beat OW at the festival. Are you now saying that RDS is not a World Hurdle contender? If not then please answer my original question as to which horses you think will beat OW. With regards to the ground, I think his best runs have been on good. Both Aintree Hurdles (where you have said you are a fan all day long?) and a Champion Hurdle 3rd stand out. Soft/Heavy ground puts an emphasis on stamina and good horses are not able to quicken on the surface. This inconveniences some horses while others thrive. OW has been defeated 5 times in his career. 4th in the Supreme, 3rd in the Champion (reason for defeats - trip too short), 5th in the World (took on Big Bucks too early imo) and 2nd in the Cleeve (fact finding mission to see if he stays but beaten by a better horse on the day). He also fell in a race at Ascot. Now it comes down to stamina and you think he will not stay and I think he will. Both opinions are fine but he came up the hill well enough to convince Geraghty and Henderson that stamina will not be a problem. |
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Well I wish you the best of luck. I haven't played in the World Hurdle as yet but there are a couple I am looking at but it is wholly ground-dependant. Reve De Sivola isn't one of them for me unless it is soft or heavy.
I will be surprised if Oscar Whisky makes the top 3 and anticipate another excuse coming from his loyal supporters. 5-1 favourite in a Grade One when twice ran and twice failed over the distance. I think there is better value to be had elsewhere. Try Sir Des Champs.... |
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Thanks mate and best of luck with your selections. Can you tell me which horses you are looking at with the ground expected to be good?
I know you think OW will not win but it is easy to say that and not nominate the horse(s) you think are good enough to beat him. |
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Owner forks out a grand to keep Oscar in the CH.
ya know it makes sense. lot of dosh for mr walters i reckon at least i still have hope!! |
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still hope,with probable rain to come,all not lost yet.
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CH market in turmoil if Oscar is declared on soft ground.
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cant see it being soft bud id bet the ground at chelts is nearly good ground now and they are only expecting approx 8 mm over the four or five days which is minimal
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just dont know though,do we.
Rain is forecast mate,depends how much we actually get. |
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there has been bits of rain forcast for the last 2 weeks mate but none actually arrived
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Latest weather channel forecast for Cheltenham
Wednesday 60% chance of rain Thursday 60% chance of rain Friday 30% chance of rain Saturday 30% chance of rain Monday 40% chance of rain Just depends how much my friend |
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metcheck
wednesday 2.5 mm thursday 1.7 mm friday 2.5 mm saturday 0.3 mm sunday 0.5 mm monday 1.0 mm not a lot by the look of it |
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as you said earlier,they can get it wrong.
we shall have to wait and see if the rain we do get turns the ground soft,or worse!! think right now its pretty much evens the 2,good/soft or soft. |