Normal service resumed with Hurricane Fly successfully defending his Irish Champion Hurdle crown. Willie Mullins made it a one-two with Thousand Stars just holding off the run of Binocular.
your right last years race was run at a strong gallop and i do agree that hurricane fly should be talk in the same breath as istabraq,fingers crossed he can do the business,it will be the third time i have backed him and last year i put it down to fitness,this year a different story,also point alexander for the Neptune investment hurdle?he is nailed on for that race,thats looking like my prime double!
.... like he showed in 2011, darlan, cinders and ashes, countrywide flame have only beaten themselves and not steppd up to facing horses like zarkandar and grandouet and rock on ruby who have been ther and proven themselves who IMO are better class , darlan ect... how many horses do u see that won a triumph or supreme go on to win the champion??? nt many! binocular won his third time of asking! zarkandar and rock on ruby have run blinders first time in the champion! darlan 2014....
strong pace last year? that race last year was ran about 4 secs quicker than when the fly won it the year before! if zarkandar was to be ridden how rock on ruby did he'd be a hard how to pass, grandouet..... travels like a god but doesnt seem to find much! darlan showed he has a good turn of foot bt he couldnt even win a supreme! the fly is back to his best now and has a good turn of foot only solwhit has ever gone past him no other horse has come from behind to pass him .....
>>>and lets not forget the triumph 2011 ,zarkandar won that dropped in mid pack, off a strong pace,comfortable beating gandouet with Daryl Jacob on board in similar fashion to there last encounter?
ill be backing the fly at this point so im glad ruby wont be on board zarkandar,lol,but i feel zarkandar is a major player,i dont think last years race was run at a strong gallop but i do agree that zarkandar can be caught a bit flat footed,and i think they are still trying to figure out which way is best to ride him,his major asset is his staying power but i feel there is a potental that he could get the right ride at cheltenham,he could be held up off a strong pace or make the pace himself<<<
Don't get me wrong I am a fan of zarkandar he's such a gutsy horse who stays really well like you said. However i can just see him being out paced in the champion in a similar way to last year. The likes of hurricane fly, darlan and grandouet who are faster and stronger traveling horses will thrive off a stronger gallop. If the race was run at a slow pace maybe zarkandar could win the battle up the hill but I can just see him not being able to keep up to be in contention.
@Aidan Mackin yeah i understand what your saying but if your not impressed by how well zarkandar stayed on after making the running your missing something in your analysis,yes he was getting four pounds and had the benefit of a run but how do we know gradouet is going to improve past zarkandar ,plus it will be a different race at chelt where zarkandar could be held up off a strong pace,he has strong claims,don't underestimate him!
Couldn't have zarkandar at all for the champion. Grandouet is the one to be on. Only got beat by zarkandar by a length on his reappearance after a year out, aswell as giving a lot of weight away and the ground was more suited to zarkandar. With a faster pace expect grandouet to be cruising approaching the last. The fly obviously looks a threat and il be having an each way on cotton mill after traveling well with simonsig before falling and look how good he is this season!
hugely disappointed ,and you cant be that confident,when he won two years ago it was by only a length to peddlers cross,and i rate zarkandar as good as him and still improving,but i will be on the fly ,if he does fall it will be because of another horse as his jumping is immaculate,but i hope your right!
FORESTDONS Says:
1/02/2013 6:19:10 AM
Good luck,I don't mind if he win by a nose as long as he wins and prove all the critics wrong.
therobbieunited Says:
1/02/2013 2:21:26 AM
your right last years race was run at a strong gallop and i do agree that hurricane fly should be talk in the same breath as istabraq,fingers crossed he can do the business,it will be the third time i have backed him and last year i put it down to fitness,this year a different story,also point alexander for the Neptune investment hurdle?he is nailed on for that race,thats looking like my prime double!
oiuslag12 Says:
31/01/2013 6:57:05 PM
THE FLY all the way! best hurdler since istabraq!!
oiuslag12 Says:
31/01/2013 6:53:29 PM
... THE FLY all the way this year!!!
oiuslag12 Says:
31/01/2013 6:52:56 PM
.... like he showed in 2011, darlan, cinders and ashes, countrywide flame have only beaten themselves and not steppd up to facing horses like zarkandar and grandouet and rock on ruby who have been ther and proven themselves who IMO are better class , darlan ect... how many horses do u see that won a triumph or supreme go on to win the champion??? nt many! binocular won his third time of asking! zarkandar and rock on ruby have run blinders first time in the champion! darlan 2014....
oiuslag12 Says:
31/01/2013 6:46:05 PM
strong pace last year? that race last year was ran about 4 secs quicker than when the fly won it the year before! if zarkandar was to be ridden how rock on ruby did he'd be a hard how to pass, grandouet..... travels like a god but doesnt seem to find much! darlan showed he has a good turn of foot bt he couldnt even win a supreme! the fly is back to his best now and has a good turn of foot only solwhit has ever gone past him no other horse has come from behind to pass him .....
therobbieunited Says:
31/01/2013 3:27:31 AM
>>>and lets not forget the triumph 2011 ,zarkandar won that dropped in mid pack, off a strong pace,comfortable beating gandouet with Daryl Jacob on board in similar fashion to there last encounter?
therobbieunited Says:
31/01/2013 3:11:29 AM
ill be backing the fly at this point so im glad ruby wont be on board zarkandar,lol,but i feel zarkandar is a major player,i dont think last years race was run at a strong gallop but i do agree that zarkandar can be caught a bit flat footed,and i think they are still trying to figure out which way is best to ride him,his major asset is his staying power but i feel there is a potental that he could get the right ride at cheltenham,he could be held up off a strong pace or make the pace himself<<<
Aidan Mackin Says:
30/01/2013 10:59:08 PM
Does the fact ruby won't be on board not put you off?
Aidan Mackin Says:
30/01/2013 10:54:50 PM
Don't get me wrong I am a fan of zarkandar he's such a gutsy horse who stays really well like you said. However i can just see him being out paced in the champion in a similar way to last year. The likes of hurricane fly, darlan and grandouet who are faster and stronger traveling horses will thrive off a stronger gallop. If the race was run at a slow pace maybe zarkandar could win the battle up the hill but I can just see him not being able to keep up to be in contention.
therobbieunited Says:
30/01/2013 9:17:22 AM
@Aidan Mackin yeah i understand what your saying but if your not impressed by how well zarkandar stayed on after making the running your missing something in your analysis,yes he was getting four pounds and had the benefit of a run but how do we know gradouet is going to improve past zarkandar ,plus it will be a different race at chelt where zarkandar could be held up off a strong pace,he has strong claims,don't underestimate him!
Aidan Mackin Says:
29/01/2013 11:17:19 PM
Oh and I forgot to add zarkandar also had a run under his belt and was more race fit.
Aidan Mackin Says:
29/01/2013 11:16:12 PM
Couldn't have zarkandar at all for the champion. Grandouet is the one to be on. Only got beat by zarkandar by a length on his reappearance after a year out, aswell as giving a lot of weight away and the ground was more suited to zarkandar. With a faster pace expect grandouet to be cruising approaching the last. The fly obviously looks a threat and il be having an each way on cotton mill after traveling well with simonsig before falling and look how good he is this season!
therobbieunited Says:
29/01/2013 7:36:57 AM
hugely disappointed ,and you cant be that confident,when he won two years ago it was by only a length to peddlers cross,and i rate zarkandar as good as him and still improving,but i will be on the fly ,if he does fall it will be because of another horse as his jumping is immaculate,but i hope your right!