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geoff m
19 Mar 16 17:41
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Date Joined: 23 Feb 03
| Topic/replies: 19,691 | Blogger: geoff m's blog
Assuming Faugheen is fit and well where does she go?
Pause Switch to Standard View Annie Power where 2017?
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Report timtin March 19, 2016 4:54 PM GMT
Annie has no other choice as she doesn't stay and the mares hurdle will seem too low after winning the CH. Faugheen goes for the GC, Mullins has to develop some sense if he wants to finally crack that race.
Report Eeternaloptimist March 19, 2016 5:10 PM GMT
I don't think you'll see Annie and Faugheen in the same race. That was the strong impression I got from when Ruby was interviewed. The problem being they will both be very late to a chase career if they went down that route, he's got a lot of ammo for the Mares Hurdle and they were convinced that Annie didn't stay three miles.
Report .Fidway. March 19, 2016 5:15 PM GMT
Faugheen,Arctic Fire....Champion Hurdle
Annie Power..JLT
Yorkhill.....Arkle
Limini....... Mares Hurdle
Vroum Vroum Mag,Shaneshill..Ryanair
Douvan,Un De Sceaux... Queen Mother
Nichols Canyon.....World Hurdle]
Battleford...Supreme
Vautour,BlacK Hercules,Djakadam,Don Poli..Gold Cup

Don't know about the RSA.
Report Gustavo_1000 March 19, 2016 6:05 PM GMT
Faugheen, world hurdle??
Report SoYouThink March 19, 2016 6:12 PM GMT
I think if both are fit and well and Limini/VVM are available for the Mares race, then both would run in the CH.

I do not recall Mullins knowingly running a horse in an alternative race to the detriment of a horse's chances. He's moved them to easier races or more suitable races distance wise. Going chasing with Annie Power or the World Hurdle route with Faugheen would be madness for the sake of keeping them apart.
Report Mikael D'Haguenet March 19, 2016 9:10 PM GMT
Unless one of them goes over fences, I reckon we get the Champion Hurdle we all want.
Report Eeternaloptimist March 19, 2016 10:42 PM GMT
I do not recall Mullins knowingly running a horse in an alternative race to the detriment of a horse's chances. He's moved them to easier races or more suitable races distance wise.

Really?

You don't remember Annie as a six year old not taking on Hurricane? Not taking on Quevega? Taking on three milers having never gone the distance? Easier? More suitable? What would you say?
Report wellchief March 19, 2016 10:57 PM GMT
I think Faugheen would laugh at Annie over 2m personally.
Report SoYouThink March 19, 2016 10:59 PM GMT
If you look back to the lead-up to the race, the view was that she was a stayer. And it wasn't just Hurricane Fly she avoided, it was Jezki, Our Conor, MTOY and The New One. I would say they definitely took the easy option.
Report SoYouThink March 19, 2016 11:34 PM GMT
Also having thought about it now, I would say there must be a strong possibility that Annie Power will not race beyond this season.

I mean in winning the Champion Hurdle, what more has she left to achieve? 9 would be old for a NH mare and she's worth more to Ricci off the racetrack than on it.
Report Eeternaloptimist March 19, 2016 11:51 PM GMT
If you look back to the lead-up to the race, the view was that she was a stayer. And it wasn't just Hurricane Fly she avoided, it was Jezki, Our Conor, MTOY and The New One. I would say they definitely took the easy option.

Well I'm sorry but they clearly didn't. She finished second. Plenty of us were on here in love with the romance of the thought of her taking on the two milers after her performance at Doncaster where she never came out of second gear. Many of us were convinced she could win a champion. She could and did. Not a single person in the land thought Mullins was running scared of any of those other horses. That is a fantasy you've concocted. The very thought is laughable. Mullins wanted to give The Fly the very best chance of winning another Champion and once again he made a mistake.
Report Pg25 March 20, 2016 9:01 AM GMT
Regarding Annie power, apparently she has gone to stud. A friend of mine had Rich Ricci round last night and that is the plan for Annie
Report SoYouThink March 20, 2016 9:21 AM GMT
Fair enough Eeternaloptimist. I've not concocted anything though. If I look back at both those races, the World Hurdle was the easier option at least in my opinion. Anyway, it's irrrelevant now as if the last post is anything to go by, it looks like we may have seen the last of Annie Power which is not surprising.
Report foxy March 20, 2016 1:37 PM GMT
i would be a shame if a champion hurdler didnt defend there crown if they were able to.
Report foxy March 20, 2016 1:39 PM GMT
but things have changed nowSad
Report eric_morris March 20, 2016 7:59 PM GMT
Will have a setback for Cheltenham  then substitute for Faugheen at Punchestown.
Report BornToWin March 20, 2016 9:09 PM GMT
Preposterous for us to think she probably won't be allowed to defend her title.

Not to these money men though.
Report callitasucit March 20, 2016 9:24 PM GMT
I would have thought considering who trains her, his connection with Dawn Run and his desire for a Gold Cup win, surely its up for discussion??

Ruby said it all, she wont take on Faugheen. Ever.

If Faugheen comes back(which cant be taken for granted), then they have to come up with a viable alternative for AP. I say viable, because they simply cannot run the reigning Champion Hurdler in the Mares Hurdle. That would be preposterous.

The only other option over hurdles is the WH. If they are going to run her over 3m over hurdles, why not go the extra 2 furlong over fences and live the dream??

If they wanted to win the JLT or Arkle with her, they could have done this already. She's too old to be running in them. They have the QM sorted with Douvan.

She may very well be retired, its probably a very big runner in fact.

If she isn't, 31 years on.....we may have another Mullins mare doing the double.
Report eric_morris March 21, 2016 12:11 AM GMT
Ruby said it all, she wont take on Faugheen. Ever.

Nice of him to let the owner know in advance this time what is happening with his horses at next years Festival.

LaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaugh
Report eric_morris March 21, 2016 12:14 AM GMT
Seems he totally lacks confidence in his ability to pick the right one of the two. Gigginstown jockey chose great in the Gold Cup.
Report Arklearkle March 21, 2016 12:17 AM GMT
Eric its very easy to pick the right one in this instance
Report eric_morris March 21, 2016 12:21 AM GMT
We're never going to see a Kauto Star, Denman stable face-off with Mullins and Walsh in future. Shows Nicholls was the stronger trainer on behalf of his bill payers, the owners, the punters and racing itself. Jockeys shouldnt be allowed to cop out of decisions at the cost of everything else. Thank goodness Gigginstown approach the sport in true spirit.
Report GAZO March 21, 2016 11:07 AM GMT
so annie power has been retired and mr ricci doesnt announce it ?
Report ReaseHeath March 21, 2016 11:16 AM GMT
Assuming she comes out of the Champion Hurdle OK, surely she'll go for the Aintree Hurdle? - they've previously talked about that race being ideal for her and they have VVM for the Mares' Grade 1 at Punchestown.

Plus Mullins must still have one eye on UK trainers' championship.
Report ReaseHeath March 21, 2016 11:17 AM GMT
^although I s'pose that race is an option for Nichols Canyon too...
Report trigger3 March 21, 2016 5:27 PM GMT
If it were my choice I'd send Faugheen down the gold cup route as Mullins doesn't appear to have any stronger ammunition in the staying chasing division next season. He has any number of options for the champion n hurdle, he should be aiming his best horses at the gold cup before he runs out of time. Annie Power will win the Aintree Hurdle and hopefully will be back to defend her crown next season.
Report stan246 March 21, 2016 5:33 PM GMT
Douvan Gold Cup, Vautour QMCC, VVM Ryanair, Yorkhill Arkle, Faugheen Champion, Annie Mares, Limini stud after she wins a G2 in the summer Laugh
Report bluebirdfan March 21, 2016 8:38 PM GMT
Surely no chance she goes novice chasing
Vroum Vroum Mags back over fences, Limini in the Mares, leaves World Hurdle again for Annie?
Report sageform March 22, 2016 9:15 AM GMT
You can make all the plans you want but until a week before the Festival they won't be sure which horses are going to be fit and well and if they don't know, neither do punters. I laid Faugheen, Annie for the Mares, Douvan and Un De Sceaux all at around 2.5 in November. They were all at long odds on before Faugheen got injured and the rest is history. I have always said that I would lay anyone evens to correctly forecast 5 out of 10 named horses in November which will run in specific Festival races and stand by that.
Report stan246 March 22, 2016 4:41 PM GMT
"The good thing is that Rich Ricci (owner) has no plans on retiring any of the three mares any time soon, so racing fans everywhere will get the chance to see them in action again next season."
Report stan246 March 22, 2016 4:41 PM GMT
^WPM quote from today
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