I converted him with common sense........................then I backed Faugheen
Buveur D'Air
Faugheen
Other
I converted him with common sense........................then I backed Faugheen
Formely Fist of Fury
It's threads like this that will keep us all young and make mice into men
Unless Faugheen breaks down, the machine wont stop turning
Some people say he’s the best since Arkle and that’s certainly true when you look at what he’s done
Great debate, and I've plumped for the Hendo hurdler. I can't see anything other than these two battling it out - assuming both get there in March - but I still think Faugheen is vulnerable. Even if we take the view that he was ready for his comeback just after the Punchestown Festival, that is still 15-16 months off the track. Do hurdlers or chasers ever come back as good as ever after that period of absence, particularly 9 or 10 year-olds? I'm not seeing it at all. And BdA should achieve a normal level of improvement from 6 to 7. Defi du Seiul or MTOY for third.
Last edited by Kauto Abu; 6th December 2017 at 12:39 PM.
Indeed, I liked reading his tips through the week. You could tell he had his head buried in the formbook which showed his passion. At times he got in a strop, and rightly so, because he was actually criticized for starting a thread on a Saturday race, that other people thought wasn't worthy of a thread!
In hindsight that was a bit uncalled-for and silly really.
From memory he was a stats man wasn't he?
When we had arguments once or twice, we always knew what it was actually about, which was nice to know.
I wish him well.
Last edited by Marb; 6th December 2017 at 12:47 PM.
I have voted, but that is not necessarily how i'd be betting today...
I'm the second to vote 'other'. This is my reasoning.
It's still over 3 months to the race and past experience says that one or even both the principles won't line up but 'other', of course, will. If we look at the bookie's prices, assuming a 115% book, they are calling it something like
Evens - Other
6/4 - Faugheen
3/1 - Buveur D'Air
If the race were taking place tomorrow with every horse going there fit and ready, I'd be firmly in the Faugheen camp but that wasn't the proposition.
Last edited by archie; 6th December 2017 at 1:11 PM.
The older I get the better I was.
Nice reasoning.
Though I'd argue there's no place for logic in the annual champion hurdle / fishwife culling thread.
Alcohol, because no good story ever started with "I was eating this salad..."
I tried to make a nod to that with the final sentence.
As I said earlier, I've got Faugheen at 4/1 NRNB, Buveur D'Air at 5/1 and Melon (who is by a long way the most likely 'other') at 16/1 ew. My book is closed until there is further meaningful information from actual races.
The older I get the better I was.
That's a bit like saying the sting wasn't there when Sprinter Sacre was placed behind Al Ferof.
Yes, I know he showed improved form for the switch to fences but that was only part of it and Buveur D'air's Supreme run reminded me of his. He's a different, more finished horse now.
Alcohol, because no good story ever started with "I was eating this salad..."
Go back to last years champion hurdle thread for that one reet. Too much effort to type all that out again a year on.
Last edited by Kauto Abu; 6th December 2017 at 3:15 PM.
Therein lies my comparison Reet.
Altior was a very high class novice and the more mature of the trio in his Supreme, whereas Buveur D'air ran a similar race to Sprinter in looking like his inexperience caught him out as they were going for home. FWIW Min was probably the least mature and I reckon time will tell he is a very, very good horse.
In the same way that Al Ferof's maturity was the key to him winning his Supreme. I am in absolutely no doubt that had the front three home in the 2011 Supreme run in the following year's Champion Hurdle then Al Ferof wouldn't have seen which way Sprinter or Spirit Son went.
My point is that in Buveur D'air finishing third in what is looking like a comparable version of the Supreme, he lost little in defeat, especially considering he looked like he had plenty of improvement to come. Whereas Faugheen is coming back off an injury, will be 10 and aside from the 11 year old Fly, in Buveur D'air will be facing the best horse he's yet to come up against. Not ideal.
Alcohol, because no good story ever started with "I was eating this salad..."
But my point is; he didn't produce when faced with top class opposition (could be inexperience, or maybe just wasn't up to it). Fair enough,He did in the CH, but only against 2 who had already given their all.
Just my opinion, but it's BDA who has a mountain to climb, rather than Faugheen.