Don't see how Ricci having his horses with other trainers would mean they would run against each other, they'd still be kept apart, unless of course you view the movement of the horses as a clear sign of a change in his thought process, but even if that were true he'd not need to move his horses to achieve this he'd just tell mullins to run them against each other and against other horses from the stable in the top races.

When questioned about this issue, Ricci will always answer it with the idea that he is part of "team mullins" if you like, and by definition is tasked with trying to generate as many festival winners for the stable as possible.

This above all other things seems to be the main thing, even if it means denying the racing public the dream battles it wants, it would take an extreme scenario to shake this unwritten rule, the Annie Power conundrum couldn't alter it and neither were Vautour and UDS allowed to take each other on.

What has to happen is for a horse to come along that is, in their eyes simply too good to be allowed to contest a race "beneath" it, as mentioned Vautour and UDS weren't allowed to take each other on last season but that was then and now we have the memory of that destructive JLT performance in our mind to think about. If Vautour doesn't stay on boxing day I think that scenario will exist and the horse will be allowed to take on UDS with Walsh firmly in the saddle.

Ricci won't find it ideal but I think even he will realize that a horse such as Vautour deserves no less.

If I see on boxing day between the last two fences that Vautour is running out of gas, I won't be joining the crowd and hammering the back button in the Ryanair market, instead I'll be clicking the back button in the Champion Chase market.....it will be a much less crowded place over there!!

there'll be plenty for the CC @duffy but the problem is that market is stronger than the Ryanair. There's no point speculating on that, there's only 2 wks left. As for owners keeping their horses apart, here's what Hendo says: "Top Notch probably won't run as he's in the same ownership" when talking about the Bula hurdle. The OP will have to convince lots of owners to get their horses all in one race. I don't think that creates a lot of competition, it only gives a good horse and no room for speculation among fans of the sport. Each horse has its own ideal conditions and as a owner if you are that lucky to get more than a top quality horse, you'll try to win with all of them a race at the festival. Putting all the eggs in one basket doesnt sound too smart, just like putting all your horses in a single race isn't, unless you don't know the hierarchy amongst them which is where the bumper race comes in, RR had 4-5 in this year's, did any of them won?

Oh btw @duffy with Mullins I wouldn't click any bttons, just wait for the NRNB...

@Arklearkle Ruby expressed many times that Vautour doesn't have the gears against the top 2 miles hurdlers, I don't know about chasers but UDS was near top class hurdler as well so Ruby will most likely choose UDS if RR insists(vvvv unlikely) he wants to run Vautour in the CC, but you know Mullins, he'll decide in the last week whats going to happen and we'll all be blindsided...

What a mouthwatering thought the idea of UDS v. Vautour in the CC. Brings me back to the Buck House, Bobsline & Badsworth Boy era of great 2 milers. If only Ricci had an interest back then we probably wouldn't be having this discussion right now. Pity.

Now that would do nicely.