FIGHTING 5TH

22/1 for reigning CH can't be bad, well done Norm.

Stew  on my grandkids life was shouting at the Tv as tried to do reverse forcasr the 2 oursiders 349/1  but because im on  D?stick race was off  would been gutted  hope both horses ok after falls

I wonder if they'll hold up the New Lion next time...

circumstances it made running today.

very well done norn

Norn and FOYLESWAR,very well done the pair of you,everyone creaming themselves about the market leaders and you stuck with the Champion Hurdler..


(FOYLESWAR,just watched 9 series of you on Netflix,great show)

Haven't seen the times but dont buy into the 'can't go Champion Hurdle pace' re The New Lion's fall. If that was proper fast 2M pace then I doubt Golden Ace would've been so close so far out going well. They're entitled to stick to the 2M route with The New Lion imop. He wont have to lead in the CH. Didn't think it was a tired fall either, rather his jockey panicking a bit as he can do in big races.

I am trying to remember Istabraq and Hardy Eustace winning their Sun Alliance hurdles before going on to Champion hurdle glory.
Did connections immediately consider the Champion hurdle after their novice wins because they were convinced the horses had the requisite speed, or simply because of the allure of the Champion hurdle?
I'm not convinced at this stage that TNL is a Champion hurdle.
He was going the fastest he'd ever gone in a race last Saturday, and he fell.
This is after being taught to settle over 2m5f during his novice campaign.
He looked to me as though he needed every yard of the 2m5f in March.
Big fan of the horse and impressed by how Dan Skelton has improved year on year, so let's hope his instinct is correct.

Hardy Eustace was upped to 3M @ Aintree after Cheltenham.

The convention was HA wasn't quick enough for the CH, before the race. Hence sp 33/1.