Cheltenham Festival
There is currently 1 person viewing this thread.
These 254 comments are related to the topic:
Annie Power question
Annie Power question
sort by:
Show
per page
Replies: 254
|
By:
VVM's lack of an entry at Ascot on Saturday does make me question whether they are serious about Ryanair - also all her Irish and UK form is on soft or heavy ground (she did win some 4yo races in France on ground with good in description but also got beaten in a three runner bumper on good ground when odds on). Her sire and dam sire's progeny both have a better strike rate on soft and heavy ground (although Taquin Du Seuil has same sire and he has some good ground form).
So given normal festival ground and the level of her form I don't see VVM as a good thing whichever race she runs in i.e. she's likely to be very opposable at the prices, not as scary a proposition for the opposition as AP if running in the Mares hurdle. |
|
By:
If AP goes WH and VVM the mares I think it's a fair chance that they'll get both Mares beat.
|
|
By:
I'm with you Duffy, this could easily be Mullins and Ricci being a little too arrogant. This is Cheltenham and they're re-shuffling plans late in the day, with one horse that is yet to prove anything past a top end handicapper type rating.
|
|
By:
The irony isn't lost on me that on the face of it at last they are looking to run one of these quality mares in a race that justifies her talent, however this time they are doing so after they've already been given a clue as to a potential weakness with her stamina wise against a top class stayer...better they took this attitude with Quevega a few years back or with AP herself in the CH a couple years back.
|
|
By:
Correct and if it happens (AP WH) it's a decision that you'd fancy not to have been made had connections not been so successful recently.
|
|
By:
Isn't that the whole point of trying to work out which horses go where?
If AP was owned by a small player, the lure of black type and selling on her progeny for top dollar would be the overriding factor but it is not relevant here. I gave up a long time ago believing quotes from Ricci, O'Leary and WPM because they should carry a financial health warning. |
|
By:
Agree with Duffy re fair chance both could get beat.
|
|
By:
Of course there is but if you weren't prepared to risk then you wouldn't be buying horses or racing them. Owners and to some extent trainers are optimists. So yes they could be beat. They could also win both races and they'd probably be favourite and second favourite which says to me all systems go.
|
|
By:
Agree that both get beat but also agree it makes sense to run both in the mares/world with a chance of winning the two. I don't think it ever crossed there mind to run VVM in the world hurdle . Hope she goes off odds on in the mares because I'll be looking to lay
|
|
By:
vvm bombproof in mares
what are you guys on about theres nothing good enough to get anywhere near here |
|
By:
Agree. I don't think anything would touch VVM in the Mares. It's not as if there's a standout candidate to beat her either. I think AP should go WH, and that's defo what I'd do if I were RR/WPM
|
|
By:
So she's definitely declared now for tomorrow ad will be wearing a hood. Though she might need a snorkel with the weather forecast.
|
|
By:
so weird, how does racing against 2 rivals 30lbs inferior at odds of 1/20 prove anything regarding the world hurdle?
they'll still be none the wiser if she's as good at 3miles as she is a shorter trip cannot believe they'd go back to the world hurdle 2 years on from her only defeat (well apart from that fall) without actually testing her in a decent race at 3miles |
|
By:
Tucho i couldnt agree with you more, i think itd be madness to not run AP in the Mares.
|
|
By:
You'd imagine Annie will see out her racing career winning the mares race, See only ran in the World Hurdle in the first place to oblige Quevega. Mullins or Walsh were always of the opinion why run Quevega in the World Hurdle when the Mares race is there. It would me my opinion Annie didn't sway Quevega and Mag won't swag Annie.
|
|
By:
Not sure why tomorrow race has any bearing on the decision to send Annie to the World Hurdle. She would do more work at home against the other decent horses in the yard than a bridle jog tomorrow against two poor opponents.
|
|
By:
Can't believe Annie is almost 6-4 on here and the feckin market is suspended!Anyone know when it's due to reopen?
|
|
By:
Imagine she does harder work at home than tomorrows race, complete joke.
|
|
By:
I still think she will go mares no matter what happens tomorrow!
|
|
By:
After VVM won at Ascot, Ricci was fairly unequivocal in his conviction that if they could get a run into AP before Cheltenham, then it'd be AP to the World Hurdle and VVM to the Mares'. Now that they're getting a run into AP, I don't see why this plan would change. VVM must be highly unlikely to go back over fences for the the Ryanair so the only logical race for her really, particularly in light of AP running tomorrow and previous experience with the WH, is the Mares. Annie to the World Hurdle and Mag to the Mares. It's pretty obvious imo, but what do I know
 |
|
By:
Mares for sure. Willie's plan is the one that matters, not RR's
|
|
By:
Yip I think willy will tell Ricci that she goes for the mares as it's her best chance of a win and it's a well known fact that Annie is the apple of there eye and want a festival win into her but I'm just guessing like the rest of us lol
|
|
By:
Tomorrows race will prove nothing,if they want win for Annie must go mares,as they will have big job beating Thistlecrack for sure imo.
|
|
By:
So what was the point in messing about with VVM over fences and bringing her to England to race? Surely she's intended to slot in somewhere at the Festival and I can't see it being in the Stayers'.
|
|
By:
Since when was Annie Power's seasonal pipe opener ever about "proving" anything? Isn't it just to get the freshness out of her and get her mind acquainted with going racing again? She's a keen going, buzzy sort so again if she's going to have a crack at the Stayers' it makes sense to get that freshness out of her beforehand.
|
|
By:
I appreciate it's unlikely that they'll both run in Mares Hurdle because in same ownership and connections clearly think plenty of VVM but bear with me.
When Glen's Melody (strange name for a girl) picked up the pieces after AP fall last year she was rated 150 to AP's 162. AP is still rated 162 and VVM is 149 - the logical race for VVM is the Mares race irrespective of where Annie Power runs - otherwise they're just trying to manufacture an opportunity for her. I understand all the variables that mean they're unlikely to be in the same race but history suggests even if they were in the same stable but different ownership, they'd both run in Mares' Hurdle. |
|
By:
But they aren't in different ownership and they can have two very good chances in two different races. Do they have another star to target at the Stayers? No. So why shouldn't they go for the glory and prestige of the better race with one of them in Annie Power that they know has the class and stamina to go very close?
|
|
By:
And if they give the racing public what they want and Annie goes down to fighting to something like Thistlecrack she will still earn connections more for coming second in the more prestigious race than if she wins the Mares.
Who but someone who has backed her for the mares wouldn't want to see her in a proper championship race? |
|
By:
I would n't disagree - I've not backed her in anything incidentally - for what it's worth I think Thistlecrack will prove himself a better staying hurdler than More of That and I think AP's prep is not quite as smooth as it was 2 years ago when she put up an absolutely awesome performance at Doncaster about 7 weeks before the festival.
But it's been known for me to be wrong and strange things happen in horse races e.g. Mares Hurdle last year - it's more about trying to second guess connections (an exercise in futility) - there's probably little sentimentality involved but they might take the view that AP deserves a festival win after 2 near misses and the Mares Hurdle represents her best opportunity. I doubt there would be a Quevega Bar if she'd finished 2nd in 6 World Hurdles.Personally not a fan of the Mares race but there you go. |
|
By:
"Who but someone who has backed her for the mares wouldn't want to see her in a proper championship race?"
Exactly this. There's a lot of pocket-talking going on. Usually Mullins gets slated for avoiding the big races and now it looks like hes giving the punters what they want an everyones moaning! |
|
By:
On another note, why has the Mares and all the championship races been suspended today. Very inconvenient given the AP/VVM speculation today...
|
|
By:
I feel 'we' as the racing fans hang on to trainer and owner comments a little too much sometimes as we always want to be in front or at least up with the game.
given the reaction to Annie having a run tomorrow, I'm almost certain with hindsight RR would have liked to play his cards a little more close to his chest after VVM at Ascot. His willingness to share his thoughts keeps us all 2nd guessing anyway. I'm sure AP will run in the mares as RR wants a festival win for her, unless she shows a ridiculous amount of improvement and sparkles more than usual in her wok at home between now and the festival. Don't be surprised to see VVM stay in her horsebox if AP does go mares either. |
|
By:
if ap wins by 20+ lengths tomorrow, I don't see how that can give any pointers to the owner/ trainer on whether to go for wh or mares. I think the best horse of the 2 has to go to the harder race, Mullins must have an idea whose best.
|
|
By:
Fashion what I was saying VVM will probably go off odds on in the mares race potentially she could be as good as Quevega/Annie Power but until she proves that I'll be looking to take her on . How can you say she's bomb proof on a few lengths beating of Jennies Jewel
|
|
By:
There's a lot of pocket-talking going on. Usually Mullins gets slated for avoiding the big races and now it looks like hes giving the punters what they want an everyones moaning!
Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. What a match-up AP v. TC in the WH. Definitely what racing fans want to see. |
|
By:
Maelduin your totally right , there was complaining on her for about 1yr 1/2 Annie Power too good for mares etc . Now that she's going for the world people complaining (they've backed her for the mares) they she shouldn't . What a race the world will be TC Annie Power Cole Hardin Martello Tower & Alpha Des.
|
|
By:
It might be what alot of racing people would like to see! But mullins and Ricci love to see there horses in the winners enclosure no matter what race at the festival And even more so with Annie! Since Ricci said they might go for the world if they get a prep thistlecrack has since waltzed up and looked even better and putting to bed that he can't go round Cheltenham! So I think once they decide on all factors they will go mares with Annie for the solid win with her. If it was a weak world then mibee but thistlecrack looks one of the best 3m horses around since big bucks and even though I want Cole harden to win the world I have since had a saver on thistlecrack as looks major banker in that race now
|
|
By:
50 Irish-trained horses in 18 renewals tried to win the World Hurdle, but only 1 did.
|
|
By:
Supplement her for the Champion Hurdle.
|
|
By:
Shocking news about Faugheen.
 Let the AP to CH talk begin. |