Mille Chief

MILLE CHIEF
4yo bay gelding; Ski Chief — Mille Flora.
“He’s come back really well from the setback that stopped him running in the Triumph and the only problem I have is that I’ve nothing that can lead him — he laughs at everything on my gallops. I might run him at the first Cheltenham meeting in a four-year-old hurdle. I am aware that he has a fair mark on 136 for handicaps. He grew a lot through the summer and I couldn’t be more pleased with him.”

Sounds very upbeat....Poster Deadloss is best man to ask.

Hopefully he is out there and will post something.  Could be as simple as chosing a different race to start in............or keeping away from that freak that won!!

Deadloss will know more but it was always more likely that Mille Chief would run at Aintree so nothing is amiss. This quote from Gloucestershire Echo - King said: "I would think we will give Mille Chief an entry in the Sportingbet.com Hurdle, but he is more likely to go to Aintree the following week".

Ground I would imagine, waiting for a bit of rain.

Will be given entry for Aintree next week in the 0-140 hcp.

If no rain though don't think he will run.

You will all see him soon just depends on weather.

You want to know why Mille Chief didnt run.

Clerks Choice has been put up to 162 for winning.

Has a great h'cap mark and if he were mine I'd be trying to preserve that (within reason) for a crack at a really big pot (something like the Tote Gold Trophy or even the big Imperial Cup / County Hurdle bonus).

Would be a waste to hack up like Clerks Choice in a little £5-10k race and then get hammered by the handicapper.

If all goes well on Saturday I expect him to go for The Greatwood.

Interestingly he has the handicap mark he deserves imho. Didnt achieve much last season but didnt have to.

The injury denied him the chance to get a higher mark

Would never fool about until February waiting for a handicap pot; everything I've heard from King and deadloss has suggested they think he could be right up there

Unclepuncle; Clerk's won £30,000 for hacking up on Saturday. IMHO Likely to go to Haydock to hack up in the 4yo hurdle there in November for another £20,000.

deadloss....i know where your coming from, basically connections are ensuring he is well placed to develop and collect on the way to some big prizes (hopefully)....thanks and good luck with him!!

Shakepseare's Sheriff ^^^ Deadloss is the owner

pmt - I think I would take Soldatino on the likely ground at Haydock.

I thought deadloss was the racing manager to the owner tbh. Have I got that wrong, deadloss?

re:clerk's choice...you've gotta wonder if connections have made a bit of a mess of it really....he's now up to 160+ for winning what?

A bit dizzee,

That is right. Ive never claimed to be the owner of the horses but Racing Manager to Max and his family.

Only been doing it for a couple of years (since summer of 08).

Do you get paid for doing it, Daedloss?

Cant see whos business that is but no.

Max is a friend and I do it to help him and get enjoyment from being involved with the horses.

Good luck with all the horses this season.

deadloss, I hope you are right and Soldatino turns up at haydock, it would make a race of it on decent ground. I don't think we will see Clerk's Choice on soft  though.
by the way; if Mille Chief is going for the Greatwood after Aintree are you worried about what the handicapper is going to do to you? I have a vested interest in this. I might run leslingtaylor in the greatwood off 134 and I don't fancy getting only 2lbs from yours.

Pmt

I think will be soft at Haydock by then.

He needs a run and hopefully this will put him spot on for it. We avoided the race on Saturday as feared what a good run could do to our mark. Hopefully we can still think of The Greatwood afterwards&I know Alan might have a few for it.

Looking at field on Saturday it looks like won't be too many runners and if he wins and does go up hopefully will go up to a mark which still allows him to be competitive in the Greatwood. It looks like being a hot renewal this year with sanctuaire apparently going and Tom is keen to run Olofi. Also talk of Menorah, get me out of here amongst others.

Hopefully I will be looking at revised ratings on Tuesday and MC mark will still begin 13!

the greatwood promises to be a most informative and competative race.

For a very good cause.

Apologies if my last post doesn't make much sense but it's not easy doing it on my phone!

Best of luck but I will be hoping he goes up to the 150's  !!!

Thanks!

Id be astonished if we could get too much judging by the likely opposition.

you mean on Sat, deadloss not the Greatwood?

I mean on Saturday.

It's a 0-140 handicap and as a result I hope he can win¬ go up too much as a result!

Wonderful to be back in the thick of the jumping season again. Many thanks to pmt, deadloss and others who - like most on this forum - seem to be genuine racing fans happy to keep us common punters in the know with their horses. Really appreciated.

seconded tomdeane.

at least there'll be no ruby walsh to get in the way this time

Don't understand!

u will when u see the decs

think olofi.....not certain we'll run tho

Just like to echo the thanks of the lads regards the likes of pmt, deadloss and others such as Bobby Dazzler on this forum.

It's great to get an idea of the thinking behind the placement of horses and future plans.

Great work.

Do now! Sorry wrong horse.

Wasn't expecting you to run. Olly Greenall booked for other rides but not WW. Why aren't you running? Would have been useful to tie in various formlines&thought you'd have had a favourites chance with race fitness assured. The Kempton race would see you cone out better at levels.

Apologies for spelling etc but on the phone doing this!

Also, without a jockey booking haven't considered you a likely runner in the race when discussing field earlier. According to bookings will be 6 runners with you not as one.

Is there any news on whether Walkon will stay over hurdles or go jumping.If he stays over hurdles there wouldn't be much between Mille Chief & Walkon judging by Alan Kings comments

hurdles. wont be back till christmas so doesnt want toget rid of novice status having only raced a few imes

Hurdles. Not just what RDS says.

After his juvenile season and performance at aintree he deserves a chance taking on top hurdlers.

deadloss, obviously you're involved as racing mgr with Mille Chief but what would you're opinion be on how closely matched these two may be?

plan was ascot next sat but as u say race looks like cutting up so might be last min change of plan but not certain yet - ideally would have more than 2 weeks after first run. dont think anyone will take kempton form literally (there's no reason to really - just think of the triumph betting straight after the race) so sure u will be strong favourite but yes hopefully we can link in formlines.

I looked at Ascot but Aintree gives extra week for Greatwood if we do head there. Also gives better chance of having some softer ground.

Sounds like you will be going. With Kempton&race fitness assured it should make it a good race should you lineup tomorrow. Would be good to find out where Olofi rates in grand scheme of things.

Are your initials JA? If so I know who you are and would be good to share a drink tomorrow win or lose.

cheers - going to be difficult to make it tomorrow given such a last min thing and would mean letting others down at short notice so think i'll be stuck in front of tv but will let u know if that changes. good luck - will be useful to both to know where we are formwise but we expect to be in handicaps all season

If youve declared then can guess who the 7 are due to the jockey bookings as of yesterday.

We dont know where we will end up. Its that time of year when he can still be what we hope he is. Could all change tomorrow though or the dream could live on.

Up to 9 decs.

Looks like being more competitive then I originally thought it would be when looking at the entries earlier this week.

Now 15 decs - so much for cutting up!

Looks a tougher race now than looked likely midweek!

16 declared

Westlin' Winds (IRE)
Mille Chief (FR)
Nearby
Caravel (IRE)
Culcabock (IRE)
Kauto Relko (FR)
Hector's Choice (FR)
Gifted Leader (USA)
Cheshire Prince
Teenage Idol (IRE)
Drumshambo (USA)
Master Fong (IRE) (Blinkers)
Heron Bay
Charingworth (IRE)
Hector's House (Blinkers)
Regent's Secret (USA) (Visor)

Are you confident of a win tomorrow deadloss?

Not looked at race closely.

I was expecting a lot less runners. Will be a big test for him giving weight to all the opposition on his first run givign weight to older horses.

a lot of runners but not so much strength in depth

deadloss hows walk on going?

i havnt talked to vinny for about a month so i havnt heard much

any early targets yet?

thanks.

Big swing in the weights after Kempton vp.

Walkon is in grand form. No targets yet. Too far off away from a run to have any specific targets.

Thats not bad name dropping kautokauto!!

11 lbs a big swing yes but WW wouldnt be 25s for the champion hurdle

thats it in a nutshell!

Fingers crossed both horses return sound and may the best horse win.

At the prices I might have my first bet on MC (bar AP) and I am sure you like the price of yours EW.

Good Luck

GL for the weekend Deadloss, hope they run well.

good double by edgy today - good luck too. hope us showing up at least makes it more interesting.....this year all fun for us - already outperforming expectations

Its interesting and competitive.


If its not fun you shouldnt be in the game. Fingers crossed all goes well for us both and if you do make it will share a drink after the race.

Market said it all

Not a ringing endorsement for last years juveniles when considering Westlin Winds performance as well

At least he won't have ruined his handicap mark

A King said this horse is special and that he has nothing that can live with him on the gallops.......that does not bode to well for his up coming season if that is the case...........I'll forgive him this run though, on account it was his first from injury.

Shocking runs by both end of story for Champion Hurdle bit like Barizan bubble burst already?

he said the same thing about lidar at the start of last season, i dont trust the hype from king anymore.

Agree with Ibrahima, he said that Lidar was the best he'd ever trainde or words to similar effect. Just not a fan of the stable anymore.

A lot of hype about this horse given what he's actually achieved on the track - this thread is over sixty posts long, while Champion Hurdler Punjabi's has got a grand total of nine...!

If you set the hype aside, I actually thought Mille Chief's run was promising - 4yo with three hurdle races only before today, coming back from injury, top weight in a competitive Class 2 handicap on going that was testing enough plus jockey was very tender with him.

Was it that competitive though rease? Alot of very average horses in there imo.

I didn't think it was CCM

If Mille Chief was as good as Alan King has led us to believe, he should really have been a penalty kick off 136 today

Backed him myself, and quite disappointed tbh

looked a poor handicap, even an unfit horse with ability should had gone close off 136.

Agreed.

Still, hope he proves us wrong deadloss.

just would n't write him off on the basis of that - be interesting to see where they place him next, the injury lay off has to be a concern although my recollection is that he did n't have surgery?

Not sure about the basis of the hype, comparisons with Walkon because he's in the same ownership?

They have another with similar profile and embryonic hype running tomorrow in Franklino. Best watched.

Always forgive a horse a poor run, i would had backed it today if it was shorter price. Im sure its a decent horse.

hope all ok. we probably didnt go fast enough in front but nothing would go on with him and we wanted to keep some company but then got outpaced when quickened - up to 2 and a half now

The hype convinced me to back my fancy, Nearby for a place only

To be honest i werent that impressed with MC before his injury.of course its early days in his career and he may still turn out to be a goodun,but that werent good yesterday,although one has to consider it was his 1st run for sometime after an injury.Time will tell but i have yet to see a performance from him that could justify the trainers comments.

That run was so horrible however I think this young horse will develop into something very very special.

Seems pretty much all Alan king's horses badly in need of first run so wouldnt pass judgement on any until seen out again

Well. I was wrong. His handicap mark might start 12 now!!!

Promising .. assuming what you say is correct (and I'm generalising not just for this yard by the way) does that suggest they are fat or unfit or could be fitter or something else. What exactly does in need of a FIRST run mean? How do the BHA interpret in need of a run? Perhaps somebody who knows more about these wonderful animals could explain. I cannot understand why Pipie in his prime could get them right up first time plater or group 1. Am I missing something?

different trainers have different methods....dont think there are many horses which dont tighten up for a first run back however much you try and get them fit on the gallops and everyone bets knowing that's the case; also sometimes a string can be behind as alan king's seem to be (rough generalisation) but with the season getting going it's best for his owners to get them on the racecourse provided fit enough to do justice and not cause an injury and help plan a campaign. Doing the best for one's owners is a relevant concern too (not that i have ever had a horse with alan king btw)...i know you'll say the best for one's owners is having them cherry ripe first time out but not necessarily - you want to bring a horse on gradually and see where you are with the whole season in mind, esp younger horses, not necesarily blow their brains first time out...

ps - deadloss - neither of us dropped...we were hoping for a pound or 2...

All I would add to that is there are no prizes, awards or big races to be won in October...

Well done today with Mille Chief.

Let's hope Walkon can out himself in the mix too.

Surprised that today's performance has not made more ripples for the Champion. Clearly, this was a long way off a Champion Hurdle, but he was scarcely even shaken up, and hurdled particularly fluently. Won off a rating only a few pounds lower than when Menorah won the Greatwood, and, despite the ground, won at his leisure. Its probable that this was the first time we've seen the "real" Mille Chief that Alan King has been so bullish about for so long and he looks a very credible outsider to me. Wouldn't be surprised to hear that he diverts from the Totesport (his weight might well rocket for that now) and heads for one of the trials instead. (Salden Licht looks a likely King candidate for the Totesport). I'm nibbling away at around 40, and am happy to have him in my portfolio for the race, while accepting that its beginning to look red hot.

well done deadloss - you have something special there. up to 3 miles for us - always going a bit too fast for us but jumped well and stayed on at same pace

Without being dissrespectfull,what has this beat at sandown? i must admit this was a pleasure on the eye and a very decent weight carrying performance but in truth to my mind has beat trees and trees that didnt like the going one jot.A knee jerk reaction to a bloody good display but if all goes where i expect,then im a layer not a player

King also potentially has Manyriverstocross for the Totesport Trophy.

Mille Chief is likely to go up to at least 155 next Tuesday when the revised weights come out. They put Salden Licht up 10lbs to 152 for winning a small race at Exeter and surely that will make life very difficult for either of them in the Totesport.

It seems clear from his comments after the race that the trainer thinks the world of this horse however it seems a strange piece of placing yesterday which is going to result in the horse being saddled with a significant rise in the weights well before the Tote Gold Trophy entries are out, if that is indeed the target as reported.

Struggling to understand the logic myself.

It seemd clear from the trainers comments before the race that he thinks teh world of it. I didnt bet it but if the horse is as good as he thinks he should be able to take a 10-12lbs lift in weights and still be competative.
For me the totesport is more about giving him experiance in a top class big field race.

abbott

I am sure he will still be competitive.....my guess is he will go up be at least 12lbs for the victory yesterday, but there is a difference in being competitive and actually winning. They must have know he was well handicapped yesterday, they have picked up a decent hike for the sake of 9k and a few winning bets probably.

I don't know the last horse to win at Newbury off a mark higher than 150, certainly not in the last 10-15 years although Rooster Booster went close off 166. He was the reigning Champion Hurdler at the time though. 

I backed Mille Chief ante-post for the Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot but didn't have a shilling on yesterday due to fears about the weight he was carrying in the ground so perhaps this might sound like sour grapes but I feel his chance at Newbury has been comprimised by the win yesterday, time will tell.

I agree 100% that his chance most probably has been comprimised but for me I think its ore improtant for connection that he gets the experiance he needs before March that what handicaps he wins.

Im just pleased for connections as they have had a rough time of it the last year or so.

Interesting that in today's RP, Choc also volunteers that it might be a good idea to bypass the Totesport for a Cheltenham trial. Suspect that is the way they will go.