Buveur D'Air
Faugheen
Other
The New One World Hurdle bound according to NTD.
Don’t think Melon would place in a champion hurdle to be honest.
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Melon has still had very little racing but last years Supreme was average enough
Some people say he’s the best since Arkle and that’s certainly true when you look at what he’s done
If TNO is a solid 163, Melon ran to 162 on his 5th run over hurdles. At the same stage of his career, Buveur D'Air was rated 157.
The older I get the better I was.
Don’t think Melon has ran poorly, but I do agree he doesn’t seem to find much, when asked go about it.
"Beat the price and lose. It's what we do".
SlimChance, March 2018
I think it's definitely the resolve. I can see how 20/1 is appealing to people and I can see you getting a great run for your money. And he could/should Tavel into contention, but inevitably he just won't find, imo. We now have 3 strong pieces of evidence to support this.
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Bit of an unfair comparison there. BD had embarked on a career over fences ! His 5th run over hurdles came in February of this year at Sandown. If he was running in and winning Graded hurdles at the end of 2016 that rating would’ve been at a loftier mark.
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Last edited by Kauto Abu; 16th December 2017 at 9:12 PM.
Can't see how anyone can go near Melon for the CH after today! His Supreme is a poor one.
Glad for MTOY, deserved that, well in front of TNO on head to heads, all defeats to TNO have been tactical, today was his CH.
Great race to watch -would have been happy to see either of the first two win.I wouldn't be in a hurry to lay Melon at 20/1 -he was up against hardened performers today and I thought he ran respectably -give him better ground and a faster pace in March and he could be a factor.
I'm not sure about that DH. I've just watched all three back and I'm even more convinced than before that he's not a bridle merchant, but they do need to teach him to settle. He's tanking through his races. Quicker ground and championship pace can only help him with the petrol at the end of his race compared to the field.
For those that don't think he was pulling re-watch the race. Mullins let out an inch of reign at each hurdle and he quickened into them at the speed he was wanting to go for the whole race. He seriously impressed with his jumping though, taking half a length from the field at pretty much every one. It's to his credit that he pulled like that and was a length and half length behind MTOY and TNO.
It's not so much the on/off the bridle part. It's the guts/will/heart or the want to win of the horse. I rewatched the races myself this evening, and that Punchestown race, Cilios Emry comes from so far back, once he got upsides Melon, Melon didn't want to know.
I agree with pretty much all you say in terms of hurdling, pulling hard, appreciate the championship pace more etc. I just think when it's put up him he doesn't like it
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Whichever way you look at it, Melon ran a mighty fine race - for a putative 2nd string.
Depends when a horse is asked to go about it..I said beforehand he should kick approaching 2 out but he sat there talking pull after pull using up energy and had very little left by the last
Criminal ride although probably under instruction..........he really should have gone for home when he was travelling all over them and grabbed a few crucial lengths instead he ended up getting hampered which cost him a length or so.
Formely Fist of Fury
So did half the field Archie.this is no more Champion Hurdle form than flying in the air. There was 4 1/2 lengths and less between Tent and horses who wouldn't be sighted in a Champion Hurdle and Melon is one of them.
You simply won't see the best of Melon until he goes chasing imo and I'd be amazed if Mullins runs him in the CH other than the owner insisting
Make no mistake Mullin was testing the water here and Melon would be 110% fit and what you saw is what you will get in March...and look where TNO finishes year in year out
Formely Fist of Fury
I see NTD has called it "a travesty" and "pathetic" that the Bula/International is not a G1 hurdle.
Weird, but I can't ever recall him saying this after any of TNO's three wins in the race.
The man is a complete plum.
"Beat the price and lose. It's what we do".
SlimChance, March 2018