Irish Champion Hurdle - Feb 2nd

One can safely discount Laurina being pitched here - her price is the giveaway - unless it becomes super soft, and her stable backs her like no tomorrow. I do not fancy Apple's Jade or Supersundae either. Thus, Melon or Sharjah (not heavy)? On this season's form Sharjah for me, but the race will be a watching brief given the regular occurrence of dodgy form.

just look at bvd and verdana blue thats how big the swing can be if one is oiling the cogs and the other is at the top

Boom, come on Gordon, don't be dictated to.

" I'd have thought, despite only beating only Supersundae."

Aye despite only beating a dual GD 1 2 mile hurdler in Ireland last year 16 lenghts pulling up.

I'd be happier for BD to face AJ at the Festival than Laurina solely on AJ's known hurdle form; the full potential of Laurina is an unknown even though form wise she still  has a lot to prove (yet) she truly is Champion Hurdle material. on the other hand I do not think BD had the opportunity to encounter (not his fault) the higher calibre opposition AJ had in Ireland.

But I'd side with BD (2/1 here) any day against AJ (or Laurina) especially if he'd get a lead until just before or after the last hurdle something he'd not had so far due to vastly inferior opposition (he was mugged by Verdana Blue), all things being equal. A great prospect of a race beckons come next month if these 3 protagonists turn up.

I think she's improved loads from last season when she would also have taken very little getting fit by your logic.

'improved loads' was a fatuous exaggeration but I reckon she's at least 10lb better than her best effort last season. She should go into the race highest on OR taking her allowance into account.

You cant use Petit Mouchoir and Melon to beat Aplles Jade(who beat em 20 plus) when both of em have finished within a neck of Buveuir Dair

So Melon is in CH runner up form this season then?
Dont look it to me.
Petit M has clearly regressed and Supasundae aint a Champion Hurdler.

Not knocking AJ though,shes clearly a big threat to BD.

If Apples Jade is in the same form next month then the race is on for second. There is nothing to touch her. Her improvement this year is sensational.
Nothing against BD, he's a grand horse but AJ right now is on a different planet altogether to what he's been running against for the last 2 years.
The standard in the 2 mile brigade in Ireland is weak enough. Laurina could be good but no way can I see her being streetwise enough to beat AJ. Supasundae has the form to at least expect a podium finish.
Apart from BD, the standard in the UK is appalling.
Anything above evens Apples Jade is a gift,so there's serious juice in her price right now.On the day I would expect to see her go off odds on.

Agree with 1st time visor she should actually be clearfav.
The reason she aint is antepost liabilities.
She will be virtually a skinner in the books

What has B.D actually beat.

He was mullered  by Altior and Min and when push come to shove a 150 hcapper Verdana Blue beat him under relative tender handling

You dont have to be einstein to see that Apples jade form rates her superior to Buveur Dair. and he has to give her 7lbs.

He needs to hurdle @ his supreme fast effient best to keep in touch with her. Hope Laurina turns up as well for what will be a corker.

full to brim. @14s and 6s.

same here Budd.with Billy Mountains.
hope yer still in with a shout of dragging on friday.

well i wish you all the best with apples jade . its an opinion game and nothing i say will sway the aj camp . i will restate though that she wont improve and others will come on leaps and bounds . i think you are rating her wins against horses that arent tuned up and i expect to see that born out . best of luck to ya , if we all agreed the fav would be 1-100 and their wouldnt be betting opportunities so differing opinions is a good thing .