ive already backed him on here,otherwise that might appeal.
It does seem more and more likely that he will be in Arkle and Vautour in the JLT.
Shame imo, would love to see them take each other on.
I hope this don't keep happening every year with horses not racing each other cos the top owners keep sending horses to the same yard, we will be missing out a lot.

There was only one race this horse was ever going to run in bud and that's the Arkle. I hear that because they skipped Cheltenham last year they're eager to get him there this year.

yeh mate, and its the obvious race for him, being a novice chaser whose best trip is 2m.
It was all this Vautour talk that put me off backing him earlier, and now hes pretty short for an antepost bet,well for me anyway.
I shall look at his odds as soon as NRNB comes in and hopefully Vautour may still be a possible runner,otherwise I fear he may be a lot shorter.

Shock,
I do think the QM is interesting option for UDS, but they do say they don't like putting novices in senior races.
Like CV,i think Vautour is JLT bound.

I don't think it's as cut and dry that Vautour will be in the Gold Cup next year. Champagne Fever could easily win that this year for connections so he would take preference.

Nothing stopping a horse going Arkle to Gold Cup anyway - War of Attrition, Kicking King, Champagne Fever to name a few. Captain Chris won the Arkle and turned into a stayer.

The Arkle is definitely the right race for Vautour this year, regardless if he goes for Gold Cup or QMCC next year.

I may be pocket talking, backed him at 8.0 and may lay off at around 4.0 if he wins this week, but I'd be gutted if he ran in the JLT.

Yeah mate, that's the worry. Same as when Sir Des Champs and First Lieutenant were 50/50 over who'd go to the Jewson and RSA a few years back.

That's a ridiculous statement if ever there was one, how can u justify that statement? Suppose Annie power would have won the champion hurdle? Willie Mullins knows his horses better than us punters and I don't for one minute think he got champaign fever Cheltenham festival race wrong don't know if ur talking out of ur pocket as there was a few dine there money on him for that race and vice versa with Felix younger for arkle

I thought they should have both been in the Arkle to be honest.

Felix was deffo messed about with last year to fit in around Champagne Fever.

He did not have the form at the distance for the JLT,he had better form at the Arkle distance,thats all in the formbook.

Anyway What on earth is wrong in having a chat about it?

Surely there's a strong possibility Valseur Lido will run in the JLT - I have not seen his name mentioned anywhere in relation to the Where will Vautour run debate.

Secondly the second jockey at Willie Mullins' stable is Paul Townend who I think everyone will agree is no bad option if Ruby is riding something else.

I'd be very surprised if both Vautour and Un De Sceaux don't end up in the Arkle with Ruby on Vautour and Townend on Un De Sceaux.

I really like Un De Sceaux - he's just that kind of exciting horse that's going to generate loads of debate -you'll always have your heart in your mouth watching him though.

Vautour looks much more reliable. I'd prefer to see Un De Sceaux win the Arkle but I can see him fading out of it in the straight and horses like Vautour staying on. At a track like Aintree or Punchestown, Un De Sceaux would have a much better chance of winning. Also if Ruby says he'll have one more run before the Arkle, then it'll be interesting to see where that it is. A win at a course like Navan or Naas would fill me with much more confidence than somewhere like Fairyhouse, Punchestown or Thurles.

I would find it incredible if Vautour, after winning over 2m at Christmas and more then likely the Irish Arkle in January, was upped in distance for the JLT. Likewise if Valseur Lido wins the PJ Moriarty, will he be upped in distance for the RSA?

Mind you, another discussion on this read is Champagne Fever last season. The reason he lost that Arkle was in my opinion partly down to his preparations. He only had 2 runs going into the race. One a beginners chase over 20f and the race Vautour runs in at Christmas where he made the bad mistake. He should have found a race for him somewhere in between.

SYT, I share your view about VL running in the JLT, especially as Gigginstown have Don Poli. At this stage in his career, he has better form in the book than Sir Des Champs. 4 miler?....I don't think so and Cooper thinks the RSA beckons for him. This plan won't suit Ruby but O'Leary couldn't give a flying fook about him!

If this horse ran in the Arkle he'd either hit the deck going down the hill or if he was still upright would virtually collapse up the run in. Some engine but headless chicken. Need to be battle hardened to win an Arkle not beating rubbish time after time on the bridle.

CVByrne
CVByrne 21 Dec 14 11:23 Joined: 14 Mar 06 | Topic/replies: 4,165 | Blogger: CVByrne's blog
Of all the races at the festival. I simply cannot wait to see this lad make all in the Arkle.

When was the last time that happened? Front runners graveyard is the Arkle.

Yeah, can just see it, "listen Rich erm thing is your Vautour has won 3 Grade Ones and is unbeaten over 2m, its won the Supreme by 6 and sluiced up all this season as well, Ruby loves him and as you know we skipped the Champion Hurdle to go chasing, you also know 9 of last 10 Arkle winners either won or placed at the previous festival....erm Rich what we are erm gonna do is run Un De Sceaux who fell in a donkey derby and then beat erm Smashing next time out, has no Cheltenham experience and erm hasn't even ran in a Grade One. We can go to the diddy JLT race with Vautour. You ok with that Rich?" Rich? erm hello...Rich you still there?"

CVByrne
CVByrne 20 Dec 14 13:33 Joined: 14 Mar 06 | Topic/replies: 4,165 | Blogger: CVByrne's blog
I think 2m4f is the trip for Vautour given his breeding, he's going to run in the Gold Cup next season so why not step him up now. Ruby and Mullins want to win races at Cheltenham.

I completely disagree, the horse will be running in the Gold Cup next season. He's by Robin Des Champs so is laden with stamina. 2m4f is ideal. The Arkle has more prestige but to Mullins and Ricci the Gold Cup is the grail.

The 2015 Gold Cup was on Champagne Fever's agenda last year. He ran in the Arkle.

harry callaghan
harry callaghan 21 Dec 14 20:48 Joined: 10 Nov 07 | Topic/replies: 3,327 | Blogger: harry callaghan's blog
very strong opinion collector - you like a lot of others have clearly backed vautour for the arkle and your argument is based purely on pocket talking which would favour your bet

In the fortunate position where I could easily cash out on Vautour but yes, have a strong opinion on Vautour and UDS. Can also weigh into Vautour for the JLT obviously if he was going that way. Also have strong opions on what I have read on these pages from certain people seemingly in love with the stable then come Cheltenham after countless words Champagne Fever beat, Felix Yonger beat, Hurricane Fly hammered, Briar Hill beat, Annie Power beat to name but 5 last year. Only two worthy of all the attention were Faugheen and Quevega

he has a point though budd

You just sound worried to me,apologies if I have you wrong collector.

whats quite funny when reading cv byrnes comments budd - he ramps the argument the other way to favour his bet on un de sceaux and how it would be best vautour goes up in trip and backs it up with breeding and everything else

quite sickening this sort of thing imo

Well I hope he does run both,it would be the highlight of the festival for me, but it goes against what the yard normally do.....unfortunately.

I seem to recall wullie having 3 runners in last years jlt

wellchief   






  21 Dec 14 15:43 
Joined:   17 Dec 09      | Topic/replies: 1,739  | Blogger: wellchief's blog   



Well last year, on good ground, he firmly beat Defy Logic and Trifolium, and Trifolium was the gamble of the Arkle and went off joint fav.

Looking back now, in hindsight I don't think he would have won it myself, and he hasn't turned out as good as I thought he would, but at the time, he definitely earned him place in the line up, the form was in the book.


he beat trifolium and CF 11+ l at punch fest the form was defo there