Cheltenham Festival
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2 time champ
Deserves his own thread.
Back on the track today, be very interesting to see how he shapes up on his quest to join the great triple winners.
The 2 novice hurdle winners from March take him on,so very intriguing.
Not seen Summerville Boy yet, so we don't know how fit he is,but he looked a good winner of the supreme, and is pretty tough judging on his novice season.
We have seen Samcro, and he has to improve a fair bit on that run to win this I think.
But coming out of novice season, hes entitled too.
Trainer form and first time out to me makes BD a tad vulnerable today,but if he runs a big race its ominous for the rest imo
Certainly hope he does.
Watch and no bet for me today. Cant see any value anywhere.
Hope to see
A race to watch and no bet for me.
Deserves his own thread.
Back on the track today, be very interesting to see how he shapes up on his quest to join the great triple winners.
The 2 novice hurdle winners from March take him on,so very intriguing.
Not seen Summerville Boy yet, so we don't know how fit he is,but he looked a good winner of the supreme, and is pretty tough judging on his novice season.
We have seen Samcro, and he has to improve a fair bit on that run to win this I think.
But coming out of novice season, hes entitled too.
Trainer form and first time out to me makes BD a tad vulnerable today,but if he runs a big race its ominous for the rest imo
Certainly hope he does.
Watch and no bet for me today. Cant see any value anywhere.
Hope to see
A race to watch and no bet for me.
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Now lets give BVD the respect a two time Champion deserves. Laughed at Samcro. Nowhere near 100% fit and won at a canter.
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Absolutely Billy.
Great performance. |
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I'll begrudgingly concede
 that's the most impressive I've seen from him finish a race, it was all the more impressive because in his slower paces he hit practically every flight, but into the straight when they, well when he quickened he was right back on it, anyway, let's all get on Samcro for the 4 miler...although that may be a bit sharp for him |
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Didnt even hurdle as well as he normally does either! He's a wonderful horse.
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yup cant see what can beat him fir ch great stuff
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Hes a proper Champion Hurdler,pings his hurdles and gains ground at them.
Travels well and stays really well. Why hes not given more credit baffles me to be honest. Need to see Melon and Laurina,looks like they are the only ones that can possibly beat him in March imo,although maybe Summerville Boy needs a 2nd chance, cos that was too bad to be true yesterday. |
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His wins over My Tent Or Yours (a perennial bridesmaid) and then just outlasted Melon in his 2nd Champion Hurdle triumph did not read well comparatively to previous winner. Nevertheless, post yesterday's pulverising win over Samcro despite lacking full fitness he'll be given the long overdue and rightful accolade as most previous Champion Hurdle winners.
Between Laurina and Melon, the former seems to be the only fly-in-the-ointment if Mullins adopts the cavalier attitude of taking him on. Personally, Melon is too inconsistent, and had his chance last year when Buveur D'Air was below par scrambling home by a neck. |
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I'm going to ask if BD's performance has seen an over-reaction from yesterday and suggest that it must be contradicting if you have found yourself celebrating just how good BD was but in the same breath stating that Samcro is a staying chaser.
Surely BD's performance gains proper credit in relation to the CH ONLY if we knew that what he beat was a genuine proven 2 mile horse. Get out of your head for one minute all the hype and mysticism that surrounds Samcro and look at him as perhaps a JLT or RSA horse!! Substitute Samcro just for one minute and imagine that BD ran away from Black Op's, Kilbricken Storm or even Santini, all horses that in our minds ARE staying chasers in the making and the reaction would have been more reserved. Samcro's name in the CH market and the hype which surrounded him last year has elevated BD's performance, but IF he's a staying chaser, then BD hasn't done anything that he shouldn't have done. Playing devil's advocate to a degree but it's a valid point I think. If you think that Samcro is a staying chaser, then I don't see how it makes BD's performance better. |
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BUVEUR D'AIR (open-air type)
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duffy, that's an excellent point. Bedrock scooted away from Samcro in similar, if not as spectacular sight and no-one's lauding him.
However, Buveur has been unbeaten for so long that he really has to be considered as one of the better Champion Hurdlers. Yes, I'd like to see him face a true top class opponent before we can really assess his merit. It is a particularly poor time for 2 mile hurdlers but those periods happen - Istabraq never had to face a top class 2 miler throughout his career and maybe that will be the case with Buveur, although plenty of time for something to emerge this season. |
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Bedrock was race fit and receiving 5lb from Samcro and beat him 1 and a half lengths.
BD was first time out with level weights and won by 8 lengths. Fair difference. Well lets hope for some that a top class opponent comes along soon,if that's what it takes to believe. For me hes a real class act,and one of the best I have seen. |
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Buveur D'air looked very very good on Saturday. Its taken a long time to win me over but,in time, he may prove to be one of the great hurdlers.
Assuming he will have a freebie in Kempton at Christmas, I would really hope he is sent to Leopardstown in Feb rather than that listed race in Musselborough the same weekend - he should not be running outside of grade 1's as a dual champion hurdler. For all that he is the best hurdler around, the champion hurdle is no foregone conclusion. It is always worth remembering that the best horse won't always win - Hurricane Fly and Kauto Star were, by some way, the best hurdler/chaser around for five years but both only got 2 titles. There's a lot that can go wrong on any given day. |
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You know what Henderson's like ftv - he'll fret about the travel and the possibility of a hard race on bad ground 5 weeks or so before the Festival.I suppose there's an outside chance he could go there if JPM wants to make a point of supporting the Dublin racing festival.
Every chance Buveur D'Air will go to Sandown the same w/e for the Contenders Hurdle and race against 1-3 rivals who range from Listed class to no hopers as he has done the last two years.Maybe you meant Sandown not Musselburgh? |
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Yep you are spot on Rease, these horses have frazzled my brain
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I would love to see BD go over to Ireland and take on the Irish in their own back yard.
One or two of the Irish could also come over to Kempton. Both scenarios would give us something to look forward to. The owner and trainer of BD have had triple winners of the Champion Hurdle separately, and I would think they would love to have another together. Any decision being made re running plans for BD would hinge on what they think is the best way to achieve that I would think. Yes its possible the owner may want BD at the Dublin Festival,and if the trainer thinks that's the right thing, bearing in mind Cheltenham, it could happen. Personally I think we all know what is most likely though. One thing I think may happen this season, is BD going over to the Punch festival after Cheltenham, depending how he is. |
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Hendo has already said previously that the Dublin Festival doesn't fit in with is Cheltenham plans. I'll be amazed if BD doesn't follow the same path as last year. I think it's obvious now he's head and shoulders better than the exposed opposition. If there is one it's possibly Laurina but it's still to be proved and the chances are she won't be as good as him. However, looking at Apples Jade, I'd say Laurina may as well have a go at the Champion Hurdle with a 7lb allowance.
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Apples Jade will defo run in the mares, if Laurina does enough between now and March she'll run in the CH, the big thing here is that is what the owners want and have said so.
BD will not come to Ireland at any point IMO, Hendo still believes deep down that taking SS to Ireland was the catalyst to his problems IMO. |
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Re Apples Jade, I was making the point Laurina may as well have a go at Buveur D'air in the Churdle with mares 7lb allowance as opposed to taking on AJ at levels over AJ optimum trip in the Mares Hurdle. Think that makes sense
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She will be.
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It wasn't so much taking SS to Ireland that Henderson regretted(He's a big supporter of Punchestown) ,it was running in both Aintree and Punchestown after Cheltenham, over a 5 week period when he became the first horse to win grade 1s at all 3 major festivals in the same season.
BD is a tough horse who Henderson claims needs a lot of work. In the run up to Cheltenham this year Henderson was worried that he had left him short as he hadn't had a hard enough race in the Sandown egg and spoon race and he consequently had to take him away for at least one racecourse gallop- maybe 2, I can't remember exactly. The Leopardstown race is the only Grade 1 2 mile hurdle between Christmas and Cheltenham and is perfectly positioned for Cheltenham-bound horses as we saw this year. |
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Let's hope he goes over then, long odds against....perhaps he'll go to the Morebattle and take on Cyrus Darius and Chti Balko
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Will he go 2/? 13/8 at the mo.
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What ever runs in the CH, I can't believe that Verdana Blue is rated 20lb behind Buveur D'air. She will have the 7lb allowance again in the CH and having just watched the Xmas Hurdle back just now, Nico never even picked his stick up to beat him. I saw Buveur make one significant mistake so give him 3 lengths for that but I still think that VB would still have beaten him as she was never asked a question until the last 50 yards. She should be CH favourite in my view.
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Looks like another weak and winnable Champion Hurdle.But Verdana Blue favourite?? Surely things havn't gotten quite that bad.This is a mare that finished 4th in the Mares Novice! She would be at least 10s for the Mares Hurdle in March if she went there.
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No 2/1 yet; 5/4 nrnb with Bet***. I think Verdana Blue ought to be shorter than Melon and Laurina given present and known form. But will any be able to dethrone BD if BD is delivered late for a challenge? I believe not.
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hendo has said her target is the aw flat race at lingers easter ,he also said she wouldnt get her ground (firmish?
0 in champion sageform i also fancied her for churdle but on deeper investigation the above has forced me to hold fire |
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beavair dair has proved he is vulnerable in last years champion and at kempton wether he is delivered late or early
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I firmly believe BD needs to be held up until the last hurdle or even just after which were not the case last year, and at Kempton at x'mas - both times he took it up with 2 to jump. And VB is going for the CH - she's won on good/good to soft; the Flat race at Lingfield is on 19th April.
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Verdana Blue has no chance of winning the champion hurdle - NO CHANCE !!!
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Sage - Verdana Blue should be fav are you on drugs??
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Personally, VB has more chance than Laurina or Melon; Laurina needs further and soft ground; Melon is exposed and not good enough. Let's hope one or both run in the Irish Champion come February.
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melon not good enuff ? how far was he beaten by bd in the champion ? a neck or 20 lengths
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A neck when BD took it up 2 out, whose fault was that? Similarly, how was he ridden at Kempton? Compare these two rides to Newcastle, etc, when held-up; the difference was significant and convincing.
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one is 6/4 the other 12/1 to win... melon is 9/4 to place
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Sorry, Melon is living on last season's credential; this, he's not delivered. Hopefully, he shows up for the Irish Champion Hurdle in February; Melon 9/4 or less for a place on the day I'll seriously consider laying him, and betting against him in a match with VB or Sharjah.
I think if Apples Jade heads to the CH Laurina will run in the Mares. |
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I don't think that was anywhere near BD's true running at Kempton.
Personally think only the unexposed Laurina is a threat to a 3rd Champion Hurdle. I guess if conditions are similar to last year we could have others involved, as Melon nearly beat BD. |
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Laurina will run in the CH, regardless of where AJ ends up, she remains full of potential, we don't know what or how good she is, that trot round last week didn't prove or disprove anything, it didn't confirm how good she might be but it didn't burst any bubble either.
The owner wants to run in the CH and is not one to be pushed around, he's no Wylie, Walsh is going to ride the mare which is probably down to the rumours that she does the best homework out of the stables other contenders as being true. We've just seen the favourite beaten by another mare with the allowance and if Laurina isn't better than VB then we may as well all give up the game. |
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Laurina ducked the Morgiana, Relkeel and then the Tolworth instead ran in a non-entity race against her own sex on the same day and track as the Tolworth spoke more to me than 1000 words - Vroom Vroom Mag (achieved more than Laurina had done) ran in the Tolworth. Mullins can only use the ground as an excuse so many times for scratching her from her intended races but ducking the Tolworth was a significant pointer (to me) regards the opinion of Mullins; whichever horse Ruby chooses is immaterial (he feeds off the bookies) to me either.
Unless she turns up for the Irish Champion Hurdle in Feb I'd give her no better chance than Melon in the CH. And I do not think she'll either; her owners just want a nice day out at the Festival with the bubble intact prior, I think. The CH is on tuesday - what chance of soft or worse ground unless it pours many days prior? Buveur D'Air will have a chance 2nd to none if Geraghty holds him up till the last or just after, I firmly believe. |
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Laurina wouldn't have needed soft ground to run in the Tolworth, she'd have needed a time machine.
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