I was liking your view and learning on it.

But when you mentioned Irving and Tno, i gave up .


good luck.


2 mile hurdlers dont stay 3 miles, end of.

don't think I need too much luck feller. I won't be backing anything else in the race. Just trying to think what I could possibly back at a price if I wasn't already on. As last year's brigade have no chance Imo.
Alpha des obeaux 68.0 £14
Thistlecrack 25/1     £30
Martello tower 28.0   £30
Windsor park 10/1 nrnb. £70
Arctic fire  82.0       £8
Pretty confident iv got the winner there.

I think you are right in most cases. Solwhit was the exception rather than the norm imo, but I was just pointing out that it can happen. I'd be surprised if Irving managed it, but I wouldn't rule out TNO, though I think he would have to be beaten by some way at Kempton for connections to run him there over the Champion.

The New One looked as if he was going to eat At Fishers Cross over 2 miles five on very soft ground at Cheltenham but seemed to get outstayed. I'd doubt if he'd get a strongly run 3 miles at the top level there.

5/2 mentioned because its the general price.

Nichols has come out and said Saphir De Rheu having a wind op today. Fully revved up & wind sorted any kind of run similar to his one in last years World would see him go close. Think a lot of these questions will be answered in the Cleeve. A field of Thistlecrack, Cole Harden, Whisper, Martello, Saphir De Rheu, Aux Ptit Soins & Windsor park makes a 5/2 3/1 fave look unbackably short given theres still 3 months until its run.

I also wouldn't rule a big run from At Fishers Cross out at a big price (40-1). Placed in a world hurdle behind More Of That, fourth in it last year, second in a Cleeve hurdle, won a grade 1 & 2 around Cheltenham, he's a spring ground horse and IF he jumps well (big If I know), He will massively our tun 40-1

One thing I would say is unless you fancy him in the Cleeve which would be a big shock to me, I'd hold on in the hope of 4 places as he's likely to start of a simular price with no mccoy.

Well yes you do. One not good enough when things were right with the horse and he was on the way up. Now he's both older and beset by physical difficulties. Wouldn't touch At Fisher's Cross with counterfeit money.

His loss at Cheltenham came 9 days after a win on heavy ground at Wincanton and he took a fierce hold in that race too so while
it is a fair enough to point to what was his only really poor run thus far valid excuses can definitely be made for that.

When Thistlecrack was running over 2 miles he usually had amateur jock Mark Legg in the saddle and rarely settled.
He still won races despite looking like he had pulled his chances away. When Tizzard booked Ruby to ride him he was still keen but dropped out last and really caught the eye going last to first with an impressive rattle to win going away.
Since going up to 3 miles and settling better, although still a tad keen early, he looks different gear.

Still lightly raced, looks like he would stay further than 3 miles, strong traveller and seems to go on most ground.
Perhaps Cheltenham will not be the ideal track for him but no obvious reason he can't handle it.

Johnson was delighted with the performance of Reve De Sivola who he hailed as 'a fantastic horse' and that was backed up by part-owner Graham Pratt who toldsportinglife.com: "We are so proud of Reve De Sivola, who finished way ahead of all bar the winner. 

"Our horse gave everything in defeat and was just beaten by a superior rival."

That view was backed up by Johnson who wrote in hisBetway Insider blog: "Thistlecrack has improved a fair bit since Newbury. When he got to me two out I thought I was going to be able to go with him, but he was gone and put the race to bed in a couple of strides.

"It was a very impressive display and a World Hurdle-type performance. He's a Kayf Tara and seems to have really come to himself this season. He travels and stays which is exactly what you need in a World Hurdle.

"He's certainly the best of the English at the moment. Cole Harden would have to improve quite a bit in March to beat him."

Can't knock anyone who's got big prices about Thistlecrack, but at his current odds I'd have to be worried that although he's been impressive, it hasn't been against a real top class stayer and yes I know Cole Harden won it last year, don't know who it will be but I'd be concerned something will come over from Ireland and win it.

Willie/Ruby said AF would be going back over 2m after the Hatton Grace...a few weeks is a long time in racing !!!

I don't know what to think of that race with prince of scars winning. 
Thistle crack looks big at 5/2 after that. 
The knlh thing we learned is that 100% Arctic fire won't be running in the world hurdle

Basically agree with the consensus - missed the fancy prices (I rarely bet ante-post) and would rather back him on the day than take the price now - just a few additional points:

I reckon Ruby Walsh has a good idea how good Thistlecrack is - he actually rode him to victory at Ascot last season - there were quotes from Ruby before the Long Walk that the race looked stronger than recent renewals (Thistlecrack, SDR, RDS) and hence Thousand Stars did n't show up. I really doubt Annie Power will turn up in the World Hurdle given what happened when she took on MOT and especially if she ends up going to the festival without a prep run (still more likely than not surely).

I don't think Thistlecrack's one run at Cheltenham has any bearing whatsoever on whether he'll handle the track (it came 9 days after his maiden hurdle win over 2 miles on heavy ground at Wincanton and he was beaten much too far for the track to be the sole reason for his under-performance).

When I watch his run behind Killutagh Vic at Punchestown, I think he should have won - he was just given too much to do, the two of them were well clear of some very decent/promising animals.

His understated trainer and anonymous owners will help hold up his price come festival week.

He looks to have a massive engine to me - in fact if they send him chasing next season I'd have him on my mind as 2018 Gold Cup winner.

He performed perfectly well at Punchestown after getting shuffled back at a  crucial stage and came with a strong run and only just touched off by a good performance by a good horse with the rest a fair way back. Cheltenham remains the slight question. On balance the new course which is where he flopped shouldn't present too much more of a problem than some of the other courses he's run on but it was a poor run and you have to factor in that against his price.

Well, good luck with that line of defence. What will "they" do? Have Scu over the rails in one of the most high profile races of the year? Trained by WM ,or by PN, Thistlecrack would be no better than 6-4. Don't forget Tizzard has trained festival winners...underestimate his horses at your peril.

thistlecrack is clearly the one to beat - i do however think alpha des obeaux is a bit of a dark horse in this race - imo opinion he is a good horse waiting to happen - last year MMs horses were all wrong all year  - despite this he was running a good race the only time he has had his conditions 3m on goodish ground when he fell chasing thistlecrack home. his season opener at fairyhouse was to blow the cobwebs away and he ran respectably, and the other day was perfectly acceptable as he is NOT a heavy ground horse at all. MM horses are in better form this season, he is only a 5 year old and i am convinced there is a lot more to come from him yet.

would not dismiss Cole Harden back on decent ground in March.
A repeat of last year would see him very close again.

That's the pertinent questio because they don't tend to come out of the clouds to win World Hurdle's. The horses are all there so which of these beasts could conceivably be the one?