Long Walk Hurdle (23rd Dec)

Lil Rockerfella (R) was comprehensively beaten by Unowhatimenaharry (U) last season, and L'Ami Serge (LS), despite winning at Auteuil, over 3m has yet to convince me he truly stays this distance at Gp 1 pace; LS was beaten by R last time out too.

Thomas Campbell and Sam Spinner both need to improve plenty to win.

L'Ami Serge was trying to give Lil Rockerfeller 6lbs last time and meets him off level weights here - with him though, you've always got the issue of whether Jacob can extract full co-operation and time his effort to perfection.

I think The Worlds End can be forgiven his run at Haydock - desperate conditions and none of those carrying 11 stone plus did any better than he did.

They'd be the two that interest me but I'll wait until the weekend - there's definitely a bigger price differential between L'Ami Serge and Thomas Campbell now than there was between the two Henderson horses late last week if that means anything.

Betting just this moment suspended on Sportsbook. Anyone know why? Was just about to go in on Harry

365 taken down now

Final decs at 10am, kosher.

Ta, hope it's still 7/4 when they re-open

15/8 with '365', what a stonking price if one is a supporter, I believe. Any other result than a clear cut victory his price for the Stayers Hurdle will implode big time, I firmly believe.

I'm in...for a penny, in a £1....!

On given opposition and no Nichols Canyon or Apples Jade Unowhatimeanharry is exceptional value. He ought to be nearer odds-on, in my opinion, on form an ownership; he is the best bet of the x'mas period, in my book.

he is  nine year old imp123 and fair to say we have probably  seen his hand ,he may well win but there are some younger improving types in opposition and it may not be plain sailing for the fav ,good luck with your bet!

I concur 'Foyleswar', progressive younger (handicappers) with quite a bit to improve on level weights. But 15/8 is a risk worth taking, I believe, given form over Lil Rockerfella and the rest.

Backed L`Ami Serge each way.

Fantastic result.
The dumb as soup favouite backers who couldn't make an original selction if they tried got exactly what they deserved.
Hopefully we never hear from i123 and woodmanchester again.

Uno is past his best. Straight to the Stayers as he might need a bit longer rest between races, according to trainer.

Puncle, send Harry back chasing. Looked like being a good year with Top Notch behind?

Just because we backed a fav, Puncle: "Hope we never hear from i123 and Woodmanchester again."

We all know Puncle is the bee's knees and the be all and end all but still very much wishful thinking on his part

Merry Christmas!

Anyone with a lack of understanding of the aim of a forum like this one ought to have the decorum not to post; good intellectual sophistication is a fairly easy quality to possess similarly putting "selected" posters / timewasters on ignore. I have, and there are several here that I do not have time and / or patience for; they are complete timewasters and irrelevance to the purpose of a forum.

Merry X'mas!

impossible123 24 Dec 17 15:27 
good intellectual sophistication is a fairly easy quality to possess

How is selecting the red hot favourite in every single race showing intellectual sophistication?

You never think outside the box, always think form will be upheld and that it never changes during the cause season, and even apply novice hurdle form to chase events many years later - i.e. horse a beats horse b in a Cheltenham novice hurdle therefore horse b can never beat horse a in the future.

And then when you actually put your head on the block a bit and state you will leave the forum if a horse you deem can't possibly win actually does you don't go through with it.

The forum would be a much better place without you - I believe!!

We all say daft things. Before Desert Orchid's first King George, I said i'd show my *rse if he won!

Obviously going back a long way but if memory serves, Desert Orchid had back-pedalled in the Champion Hurdle, tailed off, so logic said he had no hope of winning the King George. He must have been about 33/1 first time and I was in the pub getting sloshed and for the hell of it, had a small bet on him, as the horse that couldn't win (well, I was very young). I saw him jump a fence in the home straight and shouted to the packed crowd: " I'll show my *rse if that wins." Thought there was a circuit to go. Didn't realise it was the last fence and Orchid was about to trot up. Needless to say, I reneged on showing my *rse!