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#1
01-27-2007, 09:36 AM
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Cheltenham Preview
Tuesday: Champion Hurdle.
My favourite race throughout the four day festival and already this is looking like a very good renewal (not that a bad one is possible, but you know what i mean). So many nice horses entered, old campaigners and new blood trying to overcome the proven form horses. Detroit City is one of those younger horses and he is the current ante-post fav for the race after a very impressive victory in last years Triumph Hurdle (champion hurdle for four year olds) and most recently a nice win in the Greatwood hurdle over course and distanc again. The later victory was visually impressive but the form looks less convincing to me (his main rival not running to form and looks as if he has a physical/internal problem). He has shown he likes cheltenham and a strong pace, which is a great plus, but it is very rare for a 5yo to win a champion hurdle and for me he represents no value at around 4/1. Then we come onto one of best hurdlers we are likely to see for some years, Brave Inca, he has some much guts and his heart must be half the size of his body if not bigger, this horse loves a fight and is prepared to pull out everything to win. Horses like this are hard to come by and for that alone he is something special. This will probably be tougher than the race he won last year but no one could ever count him out of the reckoning. In his last race he beat the up and coming Iktitaf who was fully expected to beat Brave Inca that day, but again, Barve Inca didn't read the script (well, probably did and ripped it up!) as he gamely battled on to win fairly easily in the end and i find it hard to envisage the form being turned around when Brave Inca has much more in his favour. Brave Inca may have most to fear from a female from the same stable....... in the form on Feathard Lady who is unbeaten in 7 starts over hurdles her last win coming in the Gr1 christmas hurdle at Sandown......... but that was back in 2005. An injury has ruled her out sice then, which is the main worry. But if she is fit and well for this race (she is due to have a prep race soon) then i feel she has a great chance. She has a great cruising speed and a lethal turn on foot. The hill also will hold no fears for her after her Sandown win. Feathard Lady no doubt has the class to win a Champion Hurdle but whether she has the guts of her stable mate is still unknown. It would be one great race to see her and Brave Inca battle it out from the last hurdle though. At the moment, she would be my ante post selection....... and yes, i have already put my money where my mouth is. Last year, Straw Bear looked like the up and coming horse and would be a leading Champion Hurdle hope this year and that was well backed up with an easy Gr1 vistory at Newcastle last last year, but the wheels well and truly fell off later at Sandown where he was firmly put in his place by and inferior rival. He needs to show that wasn't his true form to remain in the picture in my opinion, and i also think he is better on a soft surface, which is unlikely at Cheltenham (although the ground is due to be more heavily watered this year after the fatalities in 2006). Yesterday Afsoun jumped into consideration for the champion hurdle after a very impressive win at Haydock on very soft ground which wouldnt have been ideal for him. He travelled very nicely and powered clear. His was well thought of as a novice before his form tailed off towards this time last year. There is always a chance that will happen again this year. If he stays sound though he still could be anything and is a serious up and coming horse. He may not quite be up to levels of the likes of Brave Inca and he is yet to show he has that 'fight' that is usually needed to win a champion hurdle, but even so, if he keeps progressing he could turn out to be a serious contender. Out of the others you can't really dismiss older performers Hardy Eustace and Mac's Joy. The fore mentioned has been in good form this year and is still showing signs that the old boy isn't finished with yet, and who would be prepared to argue with this already dual winner of the Champion Hurdle. He wasn't in the best of form before last years race but still ran well to finish third. He was beaten by Detroit City about a month ago, but that race can be ignored as the race wouldnt have suited him and may people including me feel he wasn't given a very good ride. Everything points to the fact that this 10yo hasn't given up with the racing game quite yet. Mac's Joy, who finished second last year has always been an admirable performer and maybe getting better with age. His trainer, Jessie Harrington has been in temendous form this year and this horse has been freshened up from a long break. He too can't be ignored from this field. Out of the other entries there isn't really anything you could be too confident about unless they show improved form between now and then, but i suppose Asian Maze (who is much better over longer distances), Harchibald (still not confirmed to run, and seemingly unsuited by Cheltenham) and Noble Request (who needs to improve on his current form if he is to have a say, but he does have a lot of ability). edit: since this was written by me Feathard Lady has been ruled out of the Champion Hurdle which is a great shame. Wednesday: Champion Chase Unfortunately this doesn't look like the strongest renewal of the Champion Chase. Infact it looks pretty weak in my opinion, which is a shame after the likes of Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop winning this race in the past few years. The hot favourite for the race at time of writing this is Alan King's promising emile chaser Voy Por Ustedes. He won the Arkle chase over sourse and diatance last year beating the admirable performer Monet's Garden and just a repeat of that form woul take him very close to winning this. Since last year he has proved no match for Kauto Star, but that horse seems to be in a different league to other chasers as the moment. He has since won at Kempton very easily and the form of his wins look very solid. He should not be far away. The most interesting runner of the likely field is the David Pipe trained Well Chief, he looked a superstar in the making back in 2005 when beating all but Moscow Flyer in this race and then going onto beat Azertyuiop fairly comfortably. He was made a short price ante post fav for this race last year but picked up an injury and has not been seen on the racetrack since 2005. Fitness shouldn't be a worry from this stable and we should know more when he is given a prep race hopefully sometime in February. Its hard to say if he will be back to his best, if he was, he would win - simple. Last years winner Newmill is likely to line up and has many things in his favour....... he won a stronger renewal last year the the main protaganists either didn't run to form or fell, so he may have been lucky, but even so he went on to win the 2mile championship race at Punchestown and the form holds up well. He is likely to be bigger odds than he should be and he is very much one to seriously consider. The French trained Foreman is a very consistant horse who finished 3rd behind Voy Por Ustedes in lat years Arkle and on all known form he will find it hard to finish in front of Voy Por Ustedes, but he jumps well and is very consistant. Nickname, a very impressive impressive winner at Fairyhouse yesterday beating some useful horses is another to consider, but his trainer consdiers him much, much better on very soft ground (something which is usually a rarity at Cheltenham in March)............ if he maintains in the line up and the ground does become very soft in March then i think this lad could take a bit od beating on all known form. He is very classy. Out of the others to consider are: Sporazene (girls, you will love this horse), a former county hurdle winner at the festival he has taken well to fences this year winning two out of two and winning both of them well. His jumping wasn't great last year but that seems to have improved. He will need to improve on his current form, but that isn't out of the question. Kauto Star is an unlikely runner as the Gold Cup is his aim, but if he did end up going for this race for whatever reason he would be VERY hard to appose, with only his jumping giving any concern. In Complience and Monet's Garden have also been given early entries into this race but would both prefer a longer trip, but both would have to be considered if lining up, especially Monet's Garden Very few of the other entries can be seriously considered. At the moment Voy Por Ustedes is a worthy favourite but if Well Chief is over his injury and as good as ever, he really should win in my opinion. The one at likely longer odds worth a great deal of consideration is last years winner, Newmill, he is the one i like most at the current odds. I will include previews to the other championship races over the next few days. 
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#2
01-27-2007, 09:56 AM
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Okay....
Champion Hurdle.... I do really really like Detroit City...he's been a favorite of mine for a while, and I really don't want to abandon him :P. But my favorite for this race is definately Brave Inca...what a horse. I'd even go so far as to say he's awesome :P. LOL, but anyways, Feathered Lady and Iktitaf are both interesting, and worth watching.... I wouldn't mind it if either of them won  . And and and...I love Asian Maze .But basically...if I had to pick only three, I'd have Brave Inca, Detroit City, and Asian Maze. Champion Chase.... Well, if Kauto Star runs, he's going to be my pick. I just love him . And he's so pretty, lol. But if he doesn't run, then I'm going to go for Nickname (yes, I realize the whole loving soft ground thing, but still, I love this horse). Monet's Garden is also interesting to me, and a possiblity....Yay . It's gonna be awesome....Katy
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#3
01-27-2007, 10:00 AM
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Quote:
Id Like to think Brave Inca will win. the AIG champion hurdle in ireland tomorrow will spread much more light on this race as many of the main candidates are running in it, including Brave Inca. so be sure to watch it in TVG tomorrow, snowdrops
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#4
01-27-2007, 10:03 AM
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Quote:
.But that's sad that Feathered Lady is out...oh well. Hope she's all right. Katy
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#5
01-29-2007, 06:42 PM
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I was so glad I went to leopardstown yesterday (was up all night saturday - no sleep).. What a bloody great race. I was a tad sad as I told my friend that the 9-1 on Hardy was calling my name to have a bet. decided to watch race instead. Hardy is such a great horse.. People say Brave Inca is tough but this guy matches him.. Brave ran a good race but by his lofty standards, people will be disappointed with that.. macs Joy ran an absolute cracker.. He was cruising coming round the turn and it looked like he just blew up in the final 2f.. Lounaos ran a stormer and looks the top juvi hurdler though i was impressed with Katchit and Good Bye Simon and i really like Degas Art.
People think Detroit City's claims have been strengthened but he basically had a sprint against Hardy and I really fancy him reversing form with Detroit. he can lead, he can come from behind and borrowing a well used phrase, he is as tough as old boots.. It's a golen age for hurdlers and we're lucky to see be witnesses..
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