Cheltenham Festival 2011 - Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy

[flyingspud75]

To compete in the last 4 years have been placed at worst.

[flyingspud75]

Zarkander will be 2nd.all 5yolds

[flyingspud75]

Nothing can beat hurricane fly this year for sure.

[DEAMURID]

ruby walsh no jockey

[KennedyROI]

@DEAMURID You really don't have a clue do you

[richfairclough123]

does anyone else think the fly would hack up in the ascot gold cup, overturn was reasonably close in the goodwood cup, and this fella is pounds and pounds better than him.... i think the fly might very well dispatch fame and glory without comming off the bridle.... go on willie give it a go, its not like he's got anything to prove hurdling, hes a country mile better than anything out there.... class act simple as that

[oiuslag12]

@richfairclough123 i think your right yes i think it would too but would it ever happen ? .. verrrry much dowt it

[89forks]

Evs. for the follow up this year, get on!

[excelbolt]

spirit son

[MrThebigblueone]

I bet on menorah i was stupid that was to easy for hurricane fly

[TheGooders82]

We will see come march.

[TheGooders82]

To joey joey when in any of my comments did I compare Zarkandar s flat form to hurricane flys??? And you sort of contradicted your self by saying if his form was good on the flat was he wouldn't be going over hurdles but hurricane fly is going over hurdles so his couldn't of been that good???

[oiuslag12]

@TheGooders82 look zarkandar will NOT beat hurricane fly end off ... menorah and peddlers cross are far btter hurdlers than zarkandar .. and look what approach they have taken this year ... fences! they were never going to bet hurricane fly , now hes had a taste of cheltenham well says it all will make him alot harder horse to beat. peddlers cross for the arkle btw!

[ASupremeOwl]

@oiuslag12 Zarkander is still unexposed as far as Im concerned. 3 starts over Hurdles and 3 wins, Won a Triumph after 2 starts pretty impressive I'd say. He as a turn of foot aswell and he will give Hurricane Fly alot to do and may even beat him if he gets to Cheltenham in one piece. I think Hurricane Fly is a brilliant hurdler but hes not unbeatable. The comparisons hes getting with Istabraq are laughable at the moment, We'll see come March...

[ASupremeOwl]

@oiuslag12 I wouldn't bank on Hurricane Fly following up at Cheltenham next year, Hes a good horse but it takes a very serious special horse to continue regaining the Champion Hurdle. See You Then, Istabraq were one off's. Hes got all the potential to do it, But to completely right horses like Zarkander off is ridiculous espcially when you consider who is training him. If anyone knows how to win at Cheltenham its Paul Nicholls and I believe Zarkander is his best ever chance at Champion...

[ASupremeOwl]

@oiuslag12 Hurdle glory, To beat some of the horses he did in the Triumph with a breathing problem takes some doing, Hes clearly very talented. It will be difficult but I don't see any reason why Zarkander cannot mount a challenge on Hurricane Fly. As for the Arkle Im firmly in your camp on Peddlers Cross he looked very at home over fences the other day at Bangor, He didnt beat much but he took it like a duck on water. There is still alot of talented juvenile chasers to come yet though so I...

[oiuslag12]

@ASupremeOwl it always amazes me how they come out AFTER the race they have a breathing problem , cant they see this in training at home before hand? last years campion hurdle was the best for a long time and i dont think next years line up will even entertain hurricane fly .. ithink if any horses will mount a challenge if he could hit old form willbe binocular but that very doubtful, hurricane fly never wins by great margins as people think great horses should , he does what needed to win

[89forks]

@ASupremeOwl Were you watching the Irish champion hurdle today? That was a pretty impressive return from injury by Hurricane Fly.

[ASupremeOwl]

@89forks Impressive but I don't think the form is up to much, Unnaccompanied ran no race, Thousand Stars didn't fire coming into the turn like he normally does and him and Oscars Wells both beat Unnaccompanied by 30 lengths when not long before she beat them both comfortably... If The Fly is in the same form come Cheltenham he will be tough to be beat but Im a big fan of Zarkandar and I hope hes up to giving him a race!

[oiuslag12]

@ASupremeOwl well a champion hardly ever makes amistake ... unnacompanied was never going to win .... hurricane fly will basically win similar to last year will comes along sides then kickon by a length or 2 ,it doesnt matter if its a nose or 20L champions win and the margins dnt matter , this horse gets beter everytime... go watch the rabobnk champion hurdle .. binoclar out of sight 2010 champon hudlr!

[KennedyROI]

@ASupremeOwl Zarkandar dosent have the crusing speed to beat hurricane fly

[ASupremeOwl]

@oiuslag12 wouldn't be backing much yet..

[TheDarleyarabian]

what a horse the way he just cuised up on peddlers cross was awesome u can tell hes an very intellegent horse he just does enough to win. cant wait 4 the 2012 champion hurdle to see him win again.

[TheGooders82]

Watch the Paul nicholls preview on here he won all of his races last year with a breathing problem. Had an operation this summer just think in with a might chance at a decent price. Plus check the times of champion hurdle and the triumph hurdle from last year the triumph was over 2m 1f time 3min 54secs the champion was over 2m 1/2f time 3min 53secs think it speaks for itself 1sec difference over 1/2 furlong more. Anyway at least will be a good battle whatever the out come.

[oiuslag12]

@TheGooders82 im one for looking at what horses ran what races in certain times but its all aload of bollocks really... most of hurricane flys races were won over 4ms slower run races in ireland .. then came to cheltenham and blitzed it .. its cruising gear is too high for the other horses and ruby and pual always get him the front at the right time always calm and collected on him never worried, all he ever has done is to get the race won is all thas needed.

[TheGooders82]

im a lover of the fly like many but i think the aga khan bred ZARKANDAR will mount a hefty challenge to his crown closely bred to ZARKAVA the best filly i ve ever seen zarkandar will stay and go passed anything like his half sister and is 16/1 with some bookies so denfinately worth a punt. Also watch for the colt bred by sea the stars and zarkava running next year!!

[joeyjoejoe6w]

@TheGooders82 wouldnt compare anything Zarkandar did on the flat to Hurricane Flys flat record! Beat Liberato in a listed race Liberato went on to win plenty of group races including the champion stakes Zarkandar won a maiden and couldnt follow up! Last flat race was beaten in a conditions race... Just because its related doesnt mean it compares in class if it did it would not be running over hurdles! Could be a Champion Hurdler in the making but if Hurricane Fly stays fit it wont be this season

[oiuslag12]

@joeyjoejoe6w totally agree with joey ... hurricane fly WILL be the best hurdler there has ever been .. to do what he did in that race is what no other montjeu bred horse has ever done.. montjeu was a awesome horse so if u wanna take zarkarva into consideration they were both ledgends .. but no montjeu bred horse had ever won at cheltenham .. and up steps hurricane fly to end this and cruise it really will a bit of battle at the end , watch the rabobank hurdle at punchestwn this year, incredible

[oiuslag12]

i think the 1 dislike must be a peddlers cross fan!

[TheYungdung]

WHAT A RACE

[MrAido78]

Ive been saying it for 2 years, he's the best we've produced since Istabraq, shame it took so long to get him to Cheltenham. However, fingers crossed he stays in one piece, and he will keep making up for lost time.

[Waynemcintosh1875]

i took a gamble and started backing it after at won at punchestown when unfit last april.happy days

[oiuslag12]

@Waynemcintosh1875 the form from that race he won at the pucnhestown festival was enough to back him anyway to fly past all them top horses , id been saying him seen then but like a toser didnt ante post on him .. but hes had injurys problems before so it was a gamble.

[fswan07]

got him at 6s the week before, thought the bookie was havin a laugh! Champion of Champions!

[oiuslag12]

@BigPhil1982 yeah dont blame ya mullins was worried with him even goin upto the start lol. class act.

[squart69]

Bet of the festival........

[oiuslag12]

the new istrabaq!

[Derotmalone]

THE FLY



[oiuslag12]

1 dislike that gottabe a peddlers cross fan! haha

[ASupremeOwl]

Great horse...

[oiuslag12]

get in! bin saying this horse for months!!!!!