Kilcooley - World Hurdle.

Charlie Longsdon said he just wasn't sparkling - not the same as he was before Wetherby, so decided to resist the temptation to run on Saturday although he was dead keen to go there

Yeah it's on the trainer's blog, horse will go to Cheltenham either on NYD or trials day.

Can understand if they want to give him a longer break between races this season, he always races hard.

I'm pleased as punch he's missing Saturday. The temptation to then go to the Cleeve would be huge and for me I much refer a softly softly approach. I'd like to see him out in something like the Relkeel and then kept ticking over before the big one.

Thanks for the updates and I believe a real contender for the World Hurdle.

I think the prices post Wetherby were an insult to the horse given that performance. He's long been talking about the French Champion in the summer. Maybe he always intended a spring campaign once it was confirmed how good he was. If he were bouncing maybe he would take his chance in the Stayers but I'm not expectant. It's funny really because I was very impressed by him and also Thistlecrack's run at Newbury given Tizzard's pre race comments. Because the latter was 8-1 I thought the 16's was the value.

Just watched The West Yorkshire Hurdle again and it still impresses me how easily Kilcooley won. He beat Aqalim every bit as easy as Thistlecrack did and I've had a bit more on at 25/1 NRNB.

I think if they get him there he'll be spot on or they'll miss the fez altogether.

I see him as the only danger to Thistlecrack on his Wetherby win.

Good news shockster:

HIGH-CLASS hurdler Kilcooley took an important step towards Cheltenham on Tuesday morning when he came through a make-or-break gallop.

[b]He delighted jockey Richard Johnson and trainer Charlie Longsdon in a workout at Kempton and could now take his chance in the Ryanair World Hurdle.

Kilcooley, 25-1 for the World Hurdle, has not raced since landing the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby in October and Longsdon said: "He's had a few soundness issues, pulled muscles and other things as well. Today was to find out whether we should be going or not, it was very much 50-50 before today.

"Richard Johnson very kindly came and worked him, having won on him at Wetherby, and he seemed very happy with him. Kilcooley showed his normal spark and worked nicely.

"We will see how he comes out of it but from what we saw today there is no reason why he wouldn't go to Cheltenham."[/b]

You're like a coiled spring.

Yep, I'm in Shock.
25 nrnb,like that mate.

I suspect that this will be a non runner. Even if he was tearing it up, he wouldn't be pony with the form he has in the book. Very difficult/impossible to win a championship race off a crap preparation.

wouldn't want the ground to fast this horse but not without a chance

Exactly Shock,he runs he's a runner at a nice price,he don't then money back.

Not the best preparation, only one piece of form at the trip, will do well get an easy lead and perhaps most importantly has no course form and appears suited by a flat track. Plenty of reasons to be sceptical, whatever the price. Would certainly give him a better chance if this were three miles at Aintree. Personally, I would hold fire and try and win a nice prize at Punchestown.

I can see your point differentdrum but until you run them at Cheltenham you don't know. The New Course isn't nearly as undulating as the Old and in any event the horse has plenty of form at undulating tracks. If he were to run I'd expect that Johnson would do as he did in the Charlie Hall and drop him in third or fourth as he usually does. If Longsdon was to target the better races at Aintree or Punchestown he'd be running against the same type of horses and in the case of Punchestown he'd be going there without a run for six months. He's the second top rated horse, with scope for further improvement and smaller trainers need to be willing to race their best horses at the best meetings especially this one to generate interest in their stables. Were he to finish even third he'd win more prize money than for either of his grade 2 wins thus far.

On his class and staying ability, his one piece of form at the trip was a very good effort where he had a very good horse in Rock On Ruby cooked at all points up the straight. His breeding suggests that this distance is exactly what he wants and he was still pulling clear as Johnson eased him down.

Of course I've backed him so I would say all of that.

Update from a Monday night preview - Charlie Longsdon says plenty of positives on Kilcooley. Could run a big race, gave dickey (Johnson) a great feel schooling. Prefers softer ground to be at very best.