Peddlars cross stepping up to 3m

thanks for that Eboue we knew that 6 months ago

Was anything said about which races he's likely to take in and when he'll meet Big Buck's?

Could be an interesting contender if last season hasn't left a mark. The World Hurdle could be a quality race this year with BB, Voler la Vadette, Peddlers as probables and Rite of Passage, Simenon and Quevega as possibles (though all perhaps unlikely).

Surely to God they wouldn't run Quevega in the stayers?

Weld said this morning that Rite of passage's main target will be the Ascot gold cup.

i genuinely fear they've messed this horse up,He didn't look like he was in love with the game at all last season,He's had quite a few bruising races for a horse his age,Sending him back over hurdles is last resort stuff imo,No one can tell me this horse is not a chaser by looking at him and his breeding just screams chaser,i really hope im wrong as he's one of my favourites,So if he disappoints in his first few hurdle races then what??

if he were mine id keep him over fences and step him up to 3 miles over the bigger obstacles.He may have just been wrong last season.id rather see them try him over 3 miles over fences than go back hurdling with him,it's just silly.

I'm sure Quevega will run in the Mares, but she could run in the WH 2 days later? She probably won't run before the Festival so she'd be fresh. It's not that uncommon for Irish horses. However, that's probably wishful thinking because Q v BB is a race I'd love to see.

Weld also said that RoP might run in the WH on his way to the Ascot GC - it didn't do him any harm the year he won it after running in the Neptune.

Cheltenham - you're right last season could very easily have messed up Peddlers - but they are peculiar creatures and sometimes a change makes a massive difference.

bung solwhit into the stayers mix too, he's starting out back ovr urdles in any case.

over hurdles

Lets hope the break has freshened him up,But i still feel he's a chaser,Hopefully they'll send him back chasing in the not too distant future.
The 3 mile chasers dont look a strong bunch this season (Compared to previous seasons) although a few of last seasons novices could soon change that if they step up this season,peddlers could still be a gold cup horse IF they get him back to his old self.

The 3 mile chasers could be very strong if Grands Crus, Flemenstar, Sir des Champs, Bobs Worth, Last Instalment and First Lieutenant continue to progress and Long Run holds his form. Kauto and Imperial Commander may still have a hand in some of the big races pre-Gold Cup. Finians Rainbow and Riverside Theatre are top class horses stepping up in trip. I'm really looking forward to that division this season.

I agree there's no Kauto/Denman type superstar at this stage but there could be by the end of the season. Novices don't always progress (see the 2011 RSA!) but I have a very good feeling about the crop going in to their second season now.

Sorry CheltenhamRoar but your completley wrong with Peddlers. He is a lovely neat hurdler, in no way is he a chaser. I cannot believe the way Donald talked him up last season as being a class chaser.

Well now that you mention them,it's wetting the appetite already
But as you say,Lets hope they make the step up,We could be in for a real cracker of they do.

rhinestone,you could be right,Just my opinion,But you cant say it was only his jumping that held him back last season surely?

If he were mine, I'd go back down the Champion Hurdle route, and try and jump them into submission from the front (similar to Overturn tactics last year).

I can just see him leading from the front pinging them, trying to get them off the bridle behind.

McCain used to talk about his amazing speed, and as many have said, the 2m hurdling division isn't at it's strongest this year.

Did he real fail at chasing -

2 x weak novices - won nicely jumped well.
Sprinter sacre - Got beaten by a possible great nno disgrace

Long absence 7 then ran one stinker

????

Howdi,Bang on the button there,Thats my point really,it would be different if he had an awful time over fences,But he didnt!
Far from it.

CheltenhamRoar:-

I know he didn't make any drastic mistakes etc.....but it just happens sometimes that horses, even though they have not appeared to jump badly, just don't take to the game. It is massively different from hurdling.

The worry was that when e ran at the festival he backed off the fences looking like he hated every second of it.

duffy,id suggest that was more a physical ailment,Given he missed a few months previous to cheltenham and was at one time doubtful to run at the festival.

Think he's a specialist 2m hurdler. He could win 2 1/2m hurdles on class grounds but put him in against the very best and I don't
think he quite stays.  There has to be every chance that he's wrenched his back muscles jumping fences last year and that he won't
be able to fully recover from it.

HIS BROTHER PEDDLERS CROSS IS A BETTER HOSS IMO

nit picking mood today howdi?

bored.

I can't quite understand Peddlers Cross going back hurdling, For me its a question of whether the horse has had a serious injury or not. He jumped fantastic both his first two runs over fences looking a complete natural doing all the things you'd hope for in taking half strides, being accurate........ Then he gets stuffed by SS where he lost his rhythm early and SS just dictated it going right handed as well. Then he runs a dreadful race where he just seems wrong or injured. He wouldn't have won off 110 over hurdles that day.

From DMc's interview sounds like he hasn't got a clue what went wrong and puts it down to fences which plainly isn't the problem. If he's back over hurdles this year they'll think they are very smart but his opportunities there are far more limited than over fences.

i think your wrong even at bangor which is not really difficult to jump he was just not jumping with the speed and fluency of hurdles,
yes he got from a to b but he was not lightening quick over the fences which you really have to be to be top class,
donald will get him right this season and if he says hurdles i would not argue.

I'd watch that Bangor run again if I were you. Very neat IMO. If you think winging fences is the only type of good jumping then Peddlers is not a good jumper but he reminded me of Panto Prince's efficiency over fences if you go back that far.

i am glad to see mr mc cain agrees with me on his stable tour in the racing post guru.

elaborate flush will you..............

horse looked shot to pieces end of last season

maybe hurdles will get him back to form,but i would not bet on him coming back whatever they do!!

Stopped thinking trainers knew best long time ago. It's served me well.

needs a breething op !

Official or your opinion?

got told a week before cheltenham off a rails bookmaker at carlisle races,mccain has never mentioned it but it stopped to a walk at cheltenham,id love to see it have another crack at the champion hurdle,if its back to its best !

went to a preview of the new season last night they reckon he's had his day/

thats a pity,one of my favs in nh,backed him to win a fortune in the champion hurdle last year and he ran an absolute cracker,the bloke that told me takes the bets off some of the owners in the yard !

are you talking about Peddlers?

what gave you that idea Sint ?

he was 2nd in the race last year,guess that gives you an idea.

I'd love to see him back over 2 miles, at least have a go in the Fighthig Fifth to see how he gets on.  McCain has won his the last two years, so its obviously a race they target.  If he wins, great, stay down the 2 mile route, if he doesn't then they've got nothing to lose by going over 3.

I don't see the rush in putting straight over 3.

I do think he would get 3 miles though.  In his Neptune win, Reve De Sivola was travelling all over him turning for home and it looked for a few strides that Peddlers was treading water, but then flew up the hill.  Similar to his Champion Hurdle run, where approaching 2 out, there were others travelling better but he stayed on powerfully; so no doubt that his staying ability is one of his strengths.

Seems a bit premature to give up chasing, but, if they're decided to go back to hurdles, surely they should be aiming him at 2m.