Yeah he does know the horse better than us. He also knows valseur lido better than us to.  I have a voucher bias, but i also believe what i say. Cue Card done alright aftter chasing home sprinter sacre. If you had mentioned the other race to the tizzard camp, they wouldn't have any of it. I can also say with honesty, that if i had a horse he would go for the best race. I think the horse will go jlt, but i only have an opinion.

If you asked Ricci which race he wants Vautour to run in he'd say the JLT because he wants to avoid UDS and have Ruby aboard. So if owner and trainer want the same thing then what's the argument?

Thought it was done and dusted,and that everyone knew that Mullins and Walsh want to win both races,so one in Arkle and one in JLT. Add that Ricci leaves it to Mullins to make these decisions,and it is indeed done and dusted.
Last two races they ran in and ran well in kind of confirms it anyway imo.

Dont see any point in discussing it anymore to be honest.

He has an odds on shot in the Arkle duffy, why on earth would he throw in his 2nd best Chaser. Why would any trainer every run their two best novices in the same race when they can be kept apart. I mean it's lunacy.

is nothing

This is another good example of why the JLT and Ryanair races are such a curse to the festival...they just water down the other championship races.

The jlt is a good race. Yeah though, the arkle is the arkle, and the fences come quicker, which i think the horse needs. It's not just a betting forum, its also about racing opinions. The decision may already be sealed, but were entitled to disagree with it for talk sake. Were very aware that ruby rides uds, and who the trainer is, thank you very much.

You say that Duffy,but those races do give certain horses the chance of victory at the festival.

Ryanair has given us some bl00dy good races last few years,and the JLT this year really could be one of the races of the week.
Were it not for the JLT you could have a fair few horses strung out behind UDS,or maybe not even running at the festival.

^ Spot on bud.

If I owned Vautour I'd have wanted to run in the Arkle until today. That was a demolition against two very good horses and I'd do my hardest not to take that machine on.

One of the most nonsensical phrases in racing is the 'never be afraid of one horse' line. Sure, if you have a top-class horse and it has only one option at Cheltenham, you should roll the dice and take on the supposed superstar. But if you have a perfectly winnable other option, why on earth wouldn't you be afraid of one horse when that horse looks to be a machine?

The JLT has much more depth to it, but I doubt Ricci is cowering at the thought of taking on Valseur Lido, Ptit Zig et al. for all that they're very good horses. I bet he doesn't think Vautour can beat UDS.

Lads if any of you owned Vautour you would run him in the JLT. No one really remembers 2nds at the festival. All this talk about owners having balls etc get a grip.

I wouldn't run him in the jlt. The fav will face different conditions, and hasn't run at the track before. One bad jump and it's anyones. I've been honest about gilgamboa and jh.

Sprinter 3 years ago in his Arkle against UDS now would be a mouth watering prospect.

Sadly UDS is a few years too late.

duffy 25 Jan 15 21:18 Joined: 28 Mar 03 | Topic/replies: 13,969 | Blogger: duffy's blog
The point is that even if Vautour wins the JLT, he'll still be living in the shadow of UDS so his victory wouldn't feel the same....much better to have a crack at him and give yourself the possibility of victory.

I just don't agree with you at all. Vautour is a Gold Cup horse for next season. He was bought to be one. UDS is a Champion Chase horse for next season.

Why do you believe he won't stay Gold Cup trip? He's never tried the trip, is bred to be a Gold Cup horse and he was bought to be a Gold Cup horse. Sir Des Champs got the trip fine when 2nd to Bobs Worth.

He would have to be a freak to be able stay GC trip, his worst performance of last season was over 2m4f, maybe a hard season etc.

Cant remember Sir Des Champs winning a supreme.

Im pretty sure THEY told us that CF was bred to be a stayer.

And for some people saying he stayed after his last run where he did not have rival to test him.

He beat Gemix twice over a trip further than UDS would like. Gemix is rated 165 which puts UDS miles clear of Vautours 158 hurdles mark.

Vautour beat Josses Hill, Vaniteaux and Lac Fontana. World beaters clearly.

im surprised you go with ratings and not your personal opinion.

Agree with Vautour beating average horses.

UDS maybe a superstar but i can only gauge him on what i have seen, well behind Vautour imo.

Next you will be telling me that Un Temps Pour Tout warrants a 154 figure

The strange thing about all this is that UDS still is as big as 10/11, if you were shown the race today and guessed the price surely you'd be saying 1/2 at least...he's dismissed 2 potential main rivals today his stablemate likewise after today who despite not going to run is still 2nd fav,another prominent in the betting JH can't jump and then you're really into the also rans.

It seems that the market still thinks there's a chance that Vautour might run or that the chance of better ground, stiffer track/fences and perhaps the occasion buzzing him up, first big festival and all that, adds up to even money.

The one thing we really don't want to see and I can see it happening is the prospect of a great race turning into a farce with no real opposition turning up and 15 odd runners in the JLT....I'll say it just one more time but this situation is exactly why the JLT shouldn't be there...the Arkle undoubtedly suffers from it and races like the Arkle should be protected.

Native Upmanship must be rolling in his grave and being born a few years too soon

UDS has never run at Cheltenham let alone the festival. Vautour has. He won the supreme. One would suppose that part of the reason why he didn't go down the champion hurdle route was because they think he is likely to be top class over fences. You'd think Mullins would learn his lesson after last season and The Fly.

No skin off my nose either way as I don't yet have an interest in either race but it certainly won't surprise me if UDS comes down in The Arkle and Vautour gets done on the run in after travelling like the best horse.