View Poll Results: Who will win the 2018 CH

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  • Buveur D'Air

    17 54.84%
  • Faugheen

    10 32.26%
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    4 12.90%
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Thread: The Road To The 2018 Champion Hurdle

  1. #1
    Super Moderator Diamond Geezer's Avatar
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    The Road To The 2018 Champion Hurdle

    For those who may want to take a view, Defi Du Seuil staying over hurdles according to Hobbs. Currently 8/1.

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    Grasshopper (10th July 2017)

  3. #2
    Senior Member Double Handful's Avatar
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    Very informative..... I'd expect Grasshopper to be particularly interested in this news.

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    Senior Member Grasshopper's Avatar
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    For those of us who have already taken a view, it is indeed welcome news!
    "Beat the price and lose. It's what we do".

    SlimChance, March 2018

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    I've had a go at the 8/1

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    Senior Member granger's Avatar
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    I'd send them all chasing.

    wonder does this have any knock on for last years champ
    Some people say he’s the best since Arkle and that’s certainly true when you look at what he’s done

  7. #6
    Senior Member Grasshopper's Avatar
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    McManus should be able to keep them comfortably apart pre-Cheltenham, granger. Keep Defi on stiff tracks, and let BDA run in Fighting Fifth, Xmas Hurdle and Kingwell, en-route to Cheltenham.
    Last edited by Grasshopper; 10th July 2017 at 10:27 PM.
    "Beat the price and lose. It's what we do".

    SlimChance, March 2018

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    Senior Member tiggers1972's Avatar
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    Not for me, he's obviously good but I just can't get it out of my head that we tend to overrate Triumph winners year after year.

  9. #8
    Senior Member Grasshopper's Avatar
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    I'm usually dismissive of juvenile hurdlers graduating into open company myself, Tiggers, but every so often, one comes along that makes you take note. Jair Du Cochet and Our Conor would be examples over the last 20 years, and I reckonf Defi is in that kind of bracket class-wise.

    Think you also have to take into account the relative weakness of the division (probably BDA apart), and the seeming lack of any superstars emerging from the non-juvenile novice ranks. Defi's course form can't really be ignored either.
    "Beat the price and lose. It's what we do".

    SlimChance, March 2018

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    Senior Member granger's Avatar
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    Maybe start him off in the Greatwood?
    Some people say he’s the best since Arkle and that’s certainly true when you look at what he’s done

  11. #10
    Senior Member Grasshopper's Avatar
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    Did think about that, but I'm not sure Hobbs would be keen to run him under (likely) top-weight in a competitive handicap, first time up. Whilst I think DDS is a really robust sort who stands his racing well, he is still only a juvenile, and they might baulk a little at taking on battle-hardened handicappers so soon.
    "Beat the price and lose. It's what we do".

    SlimChance, March 2018

  12. #11
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    Didn't Hobbs send TH winner Detroit City to the Greatwood first up in his second season? He had a great campaign until the wheels came off in the CH.

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    Senior Member granger's Avatar
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    Bula or whatever it is known as now will prob come under consideration too - he could be a Cheltenham specialist hence my thinking around the Greatwood

    Similar to you Nick, I traditionally oppose Juveniles but this guy has a bit of battling spirit to him and a touch of class
    Some people say he’s the best since Arkle and that’s certainly true when you look at what he’s done

  14. #13
    Senior Member Grasshopper's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Len Madeiros View Post
    Didn't Hobbs send TH winner Detroit City to the Greatwood first up in his second season? He had a great campaign until the wheels came off in the CH.
    Yep......but Defi rated some 9lbs higher than Detroit City was at the end of his juvenile season. Might make a difference, you'd think.
    "Beat the price and lose. It's what we do".

    SlimChance, March 2018

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    DC beat a small field in the Greatwood too and it wasn't really his first run of the season as he'd won the Ces a month earlier. The Greatwood is a harder race to win nowadays.
    Alcohol, because no good story ever started with "I was eating this salad..."

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    He also sent Menorah that direction so might be a creature of habit but as you say his rating appears too high for such a move.

  17. #16
    Senior Member granger's Avatar
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    Or maybe JP has something in cotton wool and we have to wait to the Bula
    Some people say he’s the best since Arkle and that’s certainly true when you look at what he’s done

  18. #17
    Super Moderator Diamond Geezer's Avatar
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    Stuart Riley in RP

    We may be in the midst of the Flat season but John Constable appears a genuine Stan James Champion Hurdle contender after running away with the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen.

    Dai Walters' six-year-old made light work of the 16lb hike for his sensational Swinton Hurdle success, pulling two and a half lengths clear of well-fancied Red Tornado, with the similarly well supported Kapstadt a further two lengths back in third.

    What made this handicap-winning performance that of a bona fide Champion Hurdle contender was the fact he did it off a mark of 150. Since 2010 a mark of 150 has been defied just 17 times in valuable British handicap hurdles. The likes of Menorah, Ashkazar, Overturn, Celestial Halo (twice), Any Given Day, Zarkandar (twice), Cape Tribulation, Melodic Rendezvous, Saphir Du Rheu, Whisper, Purple Bay, Silsol (twice), Irving and Arctic Fire proving the calibre of horse required for such a feat.
    Something like the Fighting Fifth has to be on the agenda for John Constable after this as his days as a handicapper look over.

    He is a credit to Evan Williams' patience, the trainer keeping the faith despite a disappointing run of nine consecutive defeats, with a gelding operation in the middle for good measure. Now that John Constable has come right, the trainer is in for a fun winter.

  19. #18
    Senior Member Desert Orchid's Avatar
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    I suppose he could go up to 160 for Saturday (I expect 158) which would put him in the mix but he'd still be a bit of a longshot at that rating.

    I'm just annoyed at the way he's winning now after the number of times I punted him following his excellent second to Sternrubin in the Gerry Fielden two years ago
    Illegitimi non carborundum


  20. #19
    Senior Member Grasshopper's Avatar
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    John Constable is surely going to be hammered for winning a couple of poorly-contested (albeit quite valuable) races during the summer. I absolutely can't have it that he is a serious Champion Hurdle contender, and I'd go so far as to say he will be the worst-handicapped horse in the country, if he goes up to anything like 160.
    "Beat the price and lose. It's what we do".

    SlimChance, March 2018

  21. #20
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    He won't be winning the CH anyway if he goes to The Fighting Fifth


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