Champion Hurdle

[eric c]

Back in Front----very impressive today in race won last year by
Hardy Eustace----- and we also have Brave Inca---- and I am not mentioning a certain mare.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[BrianH]

Yes, I'd be interested in a price that the Champion Hurdle goes to Ireland again in 2005.

[PDJ]

What about Roos.. Oh sod it.I haven't the heart for the fight anymore!!

[terry]

I suspect that if it doesn't go to Ireland then it will go to a horse so far unraced over hurdles.

That doesn't mean that I've got any idea who that might be!

[Merlin the Magician]

Mr ED to do the double??? :o Saturday and C/H? seen stranger things happen .......

[an capall]

I'm sure you have.

[CP]

I don't think there was anything yesterday in Navan that makes Back In Front a more live champion hurdle contender. Beat a field of dogs and non triers. Has a bit to find with the likes of Hardy Eustace yet. Inglis Drever the one to be on if they keep him to 2m for me.

[Monty Conna]

Agreed on Inglis Drever, and you can add Sadlers Wings to our list of contenders.

[Galileo]

Its impossible not to take positives from Back In Fronts performance yesterday. He is a fast ground spring time horse returning from injury and he won with everything against him yesterday. I have not forgotten the glowing terms his astute trainer spoke of him in after his Cheltenham win. He is my pick for the race now.

[Monty Conna]

Would definitely represent value to me at 14/1.

[Melendez]

I agree with all that, Aidan. How confident would you be that the problems he had last year are behind him though?

I was just looking at the Chronicle odds on the race, and outside of the first 4 in the betting, I can't see any of the quoted runners winning (Solerina isn't quoted). Of the first 4 in the betting, you would have to suspect that Rooster Booster is on a downslope, though that remains to be seen. Brave Inca needs to improve a fair bit on last years progressive form. Hardy Eustace is a solid, although for me, beatable favourite and I would see BIF as the most talented in the race, but I'm not sure the bookies are factoring in as high concerns about him making it to the starting line fit and well as I would have about him.

If nothing else, I would see Hardy Eustace as a decent trading prospect. I wouldn't see him drifting alarmingly if he puts in any average looking performances. Yet he will probably shorten as each of the potential challengers gets exposed. I am sure they will be thin on the ground on the other side of Christmas.

[PDJ]

Inglis Drever will surely not have the tactical speed. He wil do better in the Stayers, sorry, World Hurdle.

[the golden drifter]

Nothing out there to challenge Dessie's machine, back it now and keep backing it, only injury can defeat it.
Back in Front is a lovely horse but the Bowes wasn't trying yesterday so you can't read anything into that.

[eric c]

What do you mean she wasnt trying??
She ran as well as you could expect against serious opposition.
Some conspiracy??
Did you back her??

[paddy13]

Hardy Eustace has a great chance of retaining his title, but Brave Inca is very decent and like him is a battler who stays further. Back In Front would have a good chance if really back to his best, but it takes a lot of imagination to see Solerina getting involved.

[Melendez]

I don't think it takes that much imagination to see Solerina winning.

She outpaced Hardy Eustace in her novice year over 2 miles 2f. She looked to have Back In Front well stuffed over 2 miles, only to tie up on the run in on her seasonal debut last year over 2 miles. The race against Golden Cross does take some explaining, although Florida Coast ran a stinker a day or two before, it is possible she was not right. When she ran badly against Hardy Eustace at Punchestown, it was her third race since a stamina sapping, non staying performance at Cheltenham. That obviously was not her run, there is no way the likes of Fota Island, Scarthy Lad and Harchibald would beat her when she's on song.

I'm not saying she's the most obvious selection, but now that she is being aimed, I think, at the 2 mile event, maybe she will be seen in a different light.

[Garney]

I think that she simply isn't quick enough. If it came up heavy she is a possible.

[Melendez]

I didn't think Hardy Eustace was quick enough :(
Surely, in terms of speed, she would be his equal anyway.

I'd like to see her have a go at something like the Bula Hurdle before I give up on her.

[Monty Conna]

While recognizing the obvious chances of the likes of Hardy, Brave Inca, and Inglis, I think that Sadlers Wings has the speed and the jumping ability to be a live contender in the Champion. I would have him and Back In Front as two of my early race favourites,

[Maurice]

Solerina is nowhere near fast enough to win a Champion. Hardy Eustace will be very difficult to depose. Only a dramatic return to his best form - and that's unlikely - by Rooster Booster stands in his way at present.

[paddy13]

The day she beat Hardy Eustace she nicked it from the front. He has also improved an awful lot in the interim. With a strong gallop from start to finish I would be confident of him beating her every time over 2m.

And as I've said before, there is no evidence that she did not get the trip in the Stayers - she simply wasn't good enough.

[Monty Conna]

Not good enough for the stayers and won't have the speed to win a Champion. Hardy has improved an awful lot with every race since the Golden Cross race.

[SteveM]

Baracouda.





B)

[Ardross]

Too old :lol:

[DIVER]

I know its a bigish if these days but if there is cut in the ground I think Inglis Drever will be the home team's best chance in the Champion. I don't think a drop back to two miles will inconvenience him and I think he is top drawer stuff.

[sunybay]

Originally posted by SteveM@Oct 16 2004, 02:09 AM
Baracouda.





B)
too old and mainly too slow!!!

[Garney]

Not good enough :lol:

[Melendez]

A fairly tenuous link, but Back in Front's supporters would probably like to see a decent winning performance from Coconut Beach in the last race at Navan. Coconut Beach beat Akilana (runner up to Back in Front) in what looked a fairly average maiden. If he turns out to be no good, then it would take a lot of the gloss off BIF's return. I'm inclined to think that any odds against Coconut Beach should be taken.

[Melendez]

I didn't see the race, but Coconut Beach apparantly walloped three 80+ rated rivals. The 5th in his race with Akilana won his next race by 8l. So it looks like that was a fairly hot maiden. Certainly Akilana's performance in splitting Back in Front and Mac's Joy doesn't seem such a blip in the form.

According to the RP Coconut Beach is off to the Newmarket Sales, so maybe he himself will be turning up at Cheltenham next March.

[Diminuendo]

Very impressive.

[TommyL]

Saw the last few furlongs of Coconut Beach's run and he seemed to enjoy the ground and, positively if he's going hurdling, he also seemed to gallop up the hill at Navan.

The Charles O'Brien trained runner-up (can't think of his name right now) flew home also and should pick up a race very soon given similar conditions.

[SteveM]

I can't believe that you believe the best hurdling force that most of you have seen couldn't beat this dozy shower of Champion Hurdlers if he were allowed to run in it. :lol:

[Galileo]

By all accounts Back In Front has come out of his last race very well.

[SteveM]

He's one I do like.

[PDJ]

Originally posted by SteveM@Oct 23 2004, 11:57 AM
I can't believe that you believe the best hurdling force that most of you have seen couldn't beat this dozy shower of Champion Hurdlers if he were allowed to run in it. :lol:
Is Istabraq coming out of retirement then?

[Relkeel]

Originally posted by DIVER@Oct 16 2004, 09:46 AM
Inglis Drever will be the home team's best chance in the Champion.
I have a dream......

For whatever reason, Andy Thornton gets the ride on Inglis Drever and wins The Champion Hurdle.

Inglis Drever then becomes the first Cheltenham Festival winner to be owned, trained and ridden by Newcastle United fans (Graham Wylie, Howard Johnson & Andy Thornton).

Howay the lads.