it is an odd sensation to agree with matt chapman.

​Matt Chapman, perhaps to your surprise, is a brilliant interviewer. If you do not believe me, seek out his interview with Aidan Coleman on At The Races. As a pundit, though, he can take a bit of sticking with, even when you agree, if only partially, about what he is saying. If only, instead of letting himself go on a rant, he controlled his rhetoric as he achieves so skilfully when playing the part of interviewer.
I find his adherence to the pseudo-science of ratings tiresome and I wish he would not fall back on them when presenting his argument. ‘Ratings are Bollocks’, as I have stated many times. Honeysuckle is not the worst Champion Hurdler of all-time, as he must have said on two-dozen occasions last Sunday. She has beaten Epatante twice in succession in the Champion Hurdle at level weights, which, according to my calculations, makes her at the very least the better Champion of the two.
The essence of his point, though, I agree with wholeheartedly. I will substitute the word ‘pathetic’ for an exercise in pot-hunting if Honeysuckle runs at the Festival in the mares hurdle. I would rather have the mare retired than have her downgraded to the status of Mares Hurdle contender. She has won that race and progressed to the zenith of the sport. A dual with Epatante might add interest to the race but at the race’s creation was it the intention for the race to become the destination for previous Champion Hurdle winners? It is ridiculous for the winners of the last three Champion Hurdles to sidestep the main feature to strut their stuff in a far lesser race. Perhaps Epatante and Honeysuckle are unlikely to win another Champion Hurdle but that doesn’t mean they should not be afforded the opportunity to give context to whichever horse does rule supreme come March 14th. Champions should only turn up at the Cheltenham Festival to parade or to compete in championship races and the Cheltenham executive are doing the sport no favours allowing connections of great horses to sidestep the glory races for the selfish pleasure of pot-hunting.
I would like to add one thought to the debate that went unsaid either on I.T.V. on Sunday or in today’s Racing Post. Henry de Bromhead’s horses are hardly pulling up trees at the moment. Indeed at no point in the season so far could you, with hand on heart, claim that Henry’s horses have been on-form. Yet history, or the form-book, at least, tells us that come the spring Henry makes hay. Come Cheltenham, Aintree, Fairyhouse and Punchestown, Henry can go toe-to-toe with Mullins and Elliott. Honeysuckle is at her best in the Spring, when sun shines on her back.
So I implore Henry, Kenny Alexander, Peter Molony and Rachael, to make no decision on whether the great mare is retired or whether she goes to Cheltenham for either the Champion or Mares Hurdle, until the last possible minute. As Matt Chapman quite righty pointed out, it is entirely possible that one or the other of State Man or Constitution Hill could yet be ruled out of Cheltenham due to something as insignificant as a stone bruise. There is nothing to be gained by throwing in the towel now when there remains the possibility of great good fortune to come.
My difficulty in proclaiming Galopin Des Champ a Gold Cup winner in waiting is Fury Road being upside him at the last at Leopardstown, landing awkwardly, veering to the far rail and then giving the clear impression of not staying the 3-miles. Also, even though Paul Townend, as is normal after a race, had trouble pulling Galopin des Champ to a walk after the finishing line, Stattler was closing on him after the last. It concerns me that in a fast run Gold Cup, like so many before him, Galopin will not get up the hill. Whereas A Plus Tard, as long as he back to his best and Henry’s horses are firing again, will be strong up that hill. As will Ahoy Senor. Do not discount Ahoy Senor. I have this feeling in my water that Scotland may be celebrating come the afternoon of March 17th.
The two horses that most impressed me on Sunday were Gaelic Warrior – I have yet to see a recording of his race but the bare facts will point you in the direction of backing him for whichever race he runs in at Cheltenham – and at a lower level Dancila, a winner at Musselburgh. The horse was still fighting Paddy Brennan going to the last hurdle and there were a couple of winning hurdlers trailing in his wake.
Finally, to return to the Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham. Again, Matt Chapman is right. This race has no place at the Festival as it takes good horses from championship races. Why must all championship races be at Cheltenham. What about a 2-mile Champion Mares Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival? Some years it will not be so good and in others, this year might be a case in point, it would make for a very interesting, high-class race. Food for thought.