Un De Sceaux and Willie Mullins

UDS avoids Cheltenham again due to "ground concerns" thus avoiding Vautour clash so WPM/Ruby are happy campers.

They'll probably wait for another year to campaign Annie Power over fences so unfortunately yes he has to be Mares Hurdle, given that MOT looks like staying hurdling.

Vautour should have one target only i.e  Arkle, en route to CC domination

So much to look forward too.

A few people have said UDS can go JLT but can someone please explain why the horse isn't even in the betting for the race with any firm?

Would have to agree with you there Howdi. Just can't see another french campaign for UDS this year and in my opinion, Vautour and UDS would cut each others throat in the Arkle.

Totally agree Howdi. Have placed three single AP bets so far for next years Festival - Josses Hill/Arkle, Taquin Du Seuil/Ryanair and Silver Concorde/Supreme. Bit of risk in each ref final destinations but have convinced myself I have a balanced risk.   

In previous years by this time of the year I have normally placed numerous AP bets trying to snaffle the good prices. Taken the decision this year to ignore the drama surrounding the Mullins/Ricci horses ante post. Cant cope with the stress. Decided I will do them in a few doubles/trebles/acca multiples once we know their plans. I do think Annie Power, Faugheen, Pont Alexandre and Vautour all have great win chances whatever races they go for so decided my strategy for 2015 is to ignore them AP and double/treble them up when we know their plans and add 5 years to my life expectancy. All in all feels a winning strategy !

I would agree with most the OP placement of the Mullins horses at this stage of affairs. Would place Djakadam in Ryanair, Champagne Fever/Sir Des Champs both in Gold Cup, Pont Alexandre in JLT and add Clondaw Court in RSA…………and just looking at this reminds me why I opted for the new 2015 strategy ref Mullins/Ricci. Nightmare trying to guess where they all go. I am at peace !

GOOD HAYLING I DO ENJOY YOUR POSTS

Champion Chase is where I'd be aiming Champagne Fever at.

So UDS goes chasing and will run over 2m.
Lets hope he gets the chance to run in the TOP 2m nov chases.
Those hurdles in France are bigger than ours,so should stand him in good stead I would think.
Exciting!!

I wouldn't back UDS for the Arkle if Vautour is around.  We know Willie doesn't like internal competition for Riccis horses.  Come March we'll find out UDS is being saved for Aintree or the like.

We probably won't see who is the better horse I suspect,they will be kept apart and un de sceaux will miss cheltenham !

It wouldn't surprise me if UDS or Vautour had a Champion Chase entry in the new year.  Not saying either will run in it, but Mullins only really has Arvika as a 2m chaser, as Ricci has already said Champagne Fever is stepping up in trip.

Who else does that leave for the Champion Chase?  Felix Yonger?  When the going got tough at the end of last year, he wasn't up to the job.  Djakadam and Ballycasey aren't 2 milers, so nothing springs to mind, unless I'm missing a really obvious one?

Well chief what about ballycasey,he said it would step back in trip maybe,Felix yonger was quite unlucky at Cheltenham,personally I think champagne fever would have a great chance !

Yeah mate, Bally could drop back to 2m, but don't think he'll be anywhere near good enough to trouble Sprinter or SDG over the minimum trip.  I said before last years RSA that I didn't think he was a 3 miler, but I don't see him being a 2 miler either.

Cheers Slabster, had no idea Arvika had been retired.  One of the horses that I could never work out - looked to have all the ability in the world, but was only at 20% whenever he came over here.

Probably a good strategy that Billy - follow Mullins in the hurdles, especially novice hurdles, but his chase record is pretty poor.

Very excited to see UDS go over fences, looks a dream Arkle horse to me.

Vautour is by Robin Des Champs same sire as Sir Des Champs won the JLT Nov Chase and came 2nd in Gold Cup.

Ruby will want to ride both those horses and Pont Alexandre in RSA. So all 3 will be kept apart imo.

All depends how he jumps, if he is slick and quick it'll be a stunning sight. I eagerly await his debut.

UDS still needs to prove himself on good ground. Nothing stopping Willie putting him over a fence in Ireland then back over to France where he would get the softer ground. Not as though Willie is short of options for the JLT if Vautour goes Arkle and UDS misses Cheltenham ....

wellchief • October 23, 2014 7:15 PM BST
One that I'm really looking forward to over fences is the Tullow Tank - entered into a 2m4f beginners chase next week.

Whatever distance he ends up in, he could have a few good battles with either Vautour or UDS.

with you there chief, slightly forgotten horse i feel.

I can not see Vautour going for any race other than the Arkle.
He was a very impressive winner of the Supreme beating promising horses with ease. I think it was one of the best performance I have seen from a novice at Cheltenham and I can see why team Mullins talked so highly of him post race.
The Arkle is the prestigious novice chase and this is their number one horse.

If UDS was the real deal, why was he not entered in the Champion Hurdle last year? And please spare the "Willie didn't want to interrupt The Fly's final crack at the Champion Hurdle" rubbish. Vautour needs to prove he is as effective over fences as he is over hurdles but imo UDS has far more to prove; good ground, effective over fences and face a serious rival. UDS looks like a strict 2 miler and the fact he is going over fences makes it very likely he is Arkle bound. I only hope Vautour goes the Arkle, would hate for him to go the JLT route for the sake of avoiding another horse from the yard and of course for poor King Ruby to avoid choosing between the pair!

brandyontherocks 24 Oct 14 13:57 
I can not see Vautour going for any race other than the Arkle.
He was a very impressive winner of the Supreme beating promising horses with ease. I think it was one of the best performance I have seen from a novice at Cheltenham and I can see why team Mullins talked so highly of him post race.
The Arkle is the prestigious novice chase and this is their number one horse.


In a nutshell.