Had to top up a bit more at 10-1. If / when that happens Giggsy, I can see him being 7-1 joint fav.

Two years ago, thought Grandouet had a great chance in the Champion Hurdle, as he travels so well in his races. Since then, a tumble, some niggles, and now I think he may not really be the type of hardy battler you need for Cheltenham. Got to be a great jumper at speed. We'll go somewhere towards finding out today I guess, but I have my reservations.

PFN says Hinterland bled after his thumping by Simonsig fwiw.

Still keen in his races.

Slips torn up already. Sure he will improve loads etc etc, but agree. Couldnt have him on my mind for the Arkle after that.

Do you know when Champagne Fever is due out BJG?

Reckon the unseating by Grandouet today was in part due to Hinterland coming across him as they jumped the last. I suspect Barry will say something similar. That said, even with a clear jump and landing the form does not look good enough. Grandouet could be a bit of a bridle horse as well.

Fair point duffy. He does need a strong pace to run at. Maybe the Owner can use Raya Star

No pace in the race didn't help. Ground almost certainly too soft. Must have schooled better at home for them to go to Sandown first time up. I wouldn't give up om the Arkle if I was on at a fancy price but he doesn't look a natural and I don't think Cheltenham is his track.

Unless you mean jumping errors / jumping too big catching up with him.

wasn't affording him gained ground on the field that should read.

I was just thinking that, why didn't he just let him go, the horse was in 2nd place on sufferance for most of the race, although I accept that we've seen horses pull far more than he did today, you can still see after a number of the fences that the horse momentarily got lit up and geraghty quickly put the brakes on, I'm not a fan of these "hurdlers" belatedly taking up an alternative career, but for all the negatives today I can see a lot of hope for him, there were a couple of mistakes granted, but he jumped very well too for the majority.

Bear in mind too that in hinterland, although much maligned as an over-rated horse, he was at the start of last season, nicholl's great hope for the arkle and although not living up to that, certainly isn't no mug and himself will be better this time round considering he appears to be more tractable through the race, grandouet didn't do that bad against a far more experienced rival in him.

The horse has always been a hold up horse and assuming that he gets to The Arkle that is exactly how he will be ridden so I don't imagine it's the end of the world for connections to lose this battle if it helps him in the war. He's also only six. Ideal time to be going chasing and he's always had the build of a potential chaser.

Defy Logic then, maybe?

Think joci was using a play on words, as in defy logic the actual horse and arkle contender

Aprt from the first couple, I don't actually think he jumped too badly, and I feel it was a tough assignment for a first ever chase.

However, I don't think there are any excuses; he was simply beaten by the better horse, and Hinterland would have won if the partnership would have stayed intact.  Hinterland was firmly put in his place by Simonsig and Captain Conan last year (Simonsig pulled a lot harder than Grandouet as well), so Grandouet is miles away from being an Arkle winner at the moment.

Luckily I had a nice price, so I have layed off the win part at half the odds I backed him at (I'll keep the place part though because the race will cut up), but imo, you'd need your head testing to back him around the 12/1 mark for the Arkle after that.

To be honest, I expected him to make the odd mistake because it was his first race, but I expected him to be tanking between fences and make up the distance lost.  I was surprised that he looked like he couldn't go with Hinterland at the end, because I expected a comfortable 3 or 4 length win, and to say, "when he improves his jumping he'll win further".

well chief
He was tanking between fences, geraghty put the brakes on after every fence, he didn't jump as bad as it's being made out, he winged quite a few of them, he was keen through a lot of the race and travelled by far the best horse in the race too, as he should, he emptied quick enough at the end, but I'd forgive him that, all in all,it wasn't no great disaster to my eyes, and I'm not even a fan of these hurdlers going chasing and certainly haven't backed him.

And if Hinterland is anywhere near winning an Arkle then its a poor show imo.

The main thing that disappointed me was Simonsig had already crossed the line before Hinterland reached the last when they met, and Grandouet would have struggled if he's stayed up.

He travelled well in the race, but Hinterland travelled just as strongly and was drawing clear. I'd accept that if he was pulling really hard and got beat by Champagne Fever, but I think he should have won yesterday no matter how hard he pulled to be honest. Not many think of Hinterland as an Arkle winner, but he jumped better, travelled as well and was finishing the race better than Grandouet, but is twice the odds?

I'm probably being a bit harsh on Grandouet, and he should improve with every run, but he just didn't have the engine at the end that I thought he would.  I know i keep going back to it, but that's what was impressive about Simonsig, because he pulled really bad, but had the massive engine to compensate; I'm not sure Grandouet has that.

I must point out, that when making cut throat judgements I have a terrible record so prepare for Grandouet to sweep all before him now and win the Arkle in a common canter.