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.

considering how many festivals are to come , i dont think this race is actually as telling as it might have been in years gone by . i would be looking for intent as i reckon a top horse not intended could run 20lb below . at the same time it is their champion hurdle , whom wants to win it would be where i wanna be rather than analysing lengths and pounds

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

Hope Apple's Jade goes in here. Could make the CH very interesting.

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

A comfortable win for Apple's Jade. Will she be pitched against Buveur D'Air in the Champion Hurdle with Samcro absent? Must be very tempting for Elliot and the O'Learys, I'd have thought, despite only beating only Supersundae. If so, could it mean Laurina go the Mares' instead given the mentality of Mullins? I'd not be the least surprised if she does.

" 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.

Apple's Jade's performance yesterday was way better than that of Buveur D'Air in terms of class of race, quality of opponents, time relative to the rest of the card and distance won. You can't argue with that. Neither can you read too much into the Sandown race which is a mickey mouse contest and a day out for BD. Can't wait for the Champion Hurdle.

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 dont like apples jade for this . i think that she takes very little getting fit and that she always gives her very best . in other words highly strung and no improvement to come  .on the day i think bvd will show more , i think hes stuffy and his performances gradually rise

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

AJ improved loads? I'm not convinced (as yet); beating Supersundae, Petit Mouchoir and a regressive Melon, I'm not convinced. I'm still happy to side with BD, and the winner will probably be trained in England, I think (and hope).

'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.

impossible123 04 Feb 19 12:24 Joined: 07 Sep 15 | Topic/replies: 9,486 | Blogger: impossible123's blog
AJ improved loads? I'm not convinced (as yet); beating Supersundae, Petit Mouchoir and a regressive Melon


What line of form makes BD so good
His neck beating of Melon?
His loss to hcapper verdana Blue?
His beating of a sick horse Samcro

Supersundae is a 2x GD1 hurdle winner last year beating horse that had finished 1/2/3 in a champion

Apples Jade made em look like 3 mile plodders, despite reservations of ground/trip/sharp track

Personally think she should be favourite on this years form and if she turns up in the same form will take a world of beating

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

I think it's imperative BD is held-up until the last or just after the last hurdle to show his optimum potential; he was infront 2 out against Melon similarly, Verdana Blue; he sprinted away in his 1st Champion Hurdle triumph against My Tent Or Yours, and subsequent wins at Aintree and against Samcro.

BD needs to be held-up and delivered his challenge late just before or after the last hurdle.

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.

not really interested whom goes into the race highest rated autocue . its like boxers looking really good in eliminators , but , they gotta beat the champ on title night and having been and done it twice and in his prime i will be very surprised if apples jade is upto the mark .

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.

One thing for sure,we will find out exactly how good BD is.
I aint as confident as you about what will happen,but i do know that the course is very Much suited to BD's strengths,and AJ has a habit of jumping right at times.
I think it will be a close race,and with the unknown ability of Laurina as well, a tough one to call right now.
I guess we cannot discount Verdana Blue either seeing as she beat BD last time she ran......Looks like AJ aint the only mare thats improved this season!!

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.

Well she should beat BD comfortably then.
Best fill yer boots.

full to brim. @14s and 6s.

Presume the 14 was with WH?
I took that with them Sat Morning, but only in a treble with Altior and Percy,in an attempt to have Percy on my side in the Gold Cup.
Sorry for the kiss of death mate

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

me too mate

Kicking myself for not taking 14 for a single bet for the Champion Hurdle now.Just was not confident enough of her running in the CH to part with the cash and really thought she would still run in the Mares even if she won,but the way she won i was not expecting.
Did the treble,so may have a bet there,but the more i think about it the more i think.....bl00dy idiot!!
Oh well!!

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 .

The opinions could all be academic with this equine influenza news. Could be foot and mouth all over again.