Cheltenham Festival
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It can happen. Will connections go for it with Faugheen aged 8 a ready made Champion Hurdle winner.
She can do it at age 9. Listen to me Mullins i know antepost
She can do it at age 9. Listen to me Mullins i know antepost
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Doesn't stay strong enough over that trip. Thistlecrack would eat her alive up the run in.
Be a crying shame if she isn't there in March to defend her title.
The right race for the both of them is the Champion Hurdle, simple as that. I wouldn't be convinced Annie Power would stay a Gold Cup trip and it's already been stated by Ricci that Faugheen will never jump a fence in his career and we don't know for sure he'd stay either. Ok, we know Ricci talks buckets of absolute tosh but the ship has sailed and I'd highly doubt it's in Mullins nature to send two high class animals like this novice chasing as 8, going on 9 year olds. Especially when they'd be bumping into other high class animals in the same colours from the same stable and neglecting the chance of mopping up plenty of G1's over hurdles. It's not happening.
If they both make it fit and in good form and we don't get Annie Power vs Faugheen in next years Champion Hurdle (we obviously won't) it's just further proof the sport is designed to cater for the self serving elites. I suppose we already have plenty of proof of that anyway.
We can dream but on this seasons form it'd be a fascinating race to watch and I think with Annie having the mares allowance it would be terribly hard to choose between the two. I'm still not convinced she was properly fit at Cheltenham. Hopefully they both have a clear run next season wherever they go.
If they both make it fit and in good form and we don't get Annie Power vs Faugheen in next years Champion Hurdle (we obviously won't) it's just further proof the sport is designed to cater for the self serving elites. I suppose we already have plenty of proof of that anyway.
We can dream but on this seasons form it'd be a fascinating race to watch and I think with Annie having the mares allowance it would be terribly hard to choose between the two. I'm still not convinced she was properly fit at Cheltenham. Hopefully they both have a clear run next season wherever they go.
We can be absolutely certain (based on Vautour being kept away from the Gold Cup to please Ruby and to prevent him losing to a stable 2nd string) that Faugheen and Annie Power wont be meeting in next years Champion Hurdle.
Either can win the race and easily.
The conclusion from the above is one of them needs to be considered for another Festival race or miss the Festival altogether due to a made up niggle or a genuine injury.
The most suitable alternative race for either of them would involve Annie Power for a World Hurdle or Mares Hurdle.
Both would be a step back. Annie will be able to jump fences she is very agile and will thrive over the bigger obstacles. As a World Hurdle horse in the past she would have very little to worry about with the Gold Cup trip imo and a couple of years older now will actually improve for it.
Either can win the race and easily.
The conclusion from the above is one of them needs to be considered for another Festival race or miss the Festival altogether due to a made up niggle or a genuine injury.
The most suitable alternative race for either of them would involve Annie Power for a World Hurdle or Mares Hurdle.
Both would be a step back. Annie will be able to jump fences she is very agile and will thrive over the bigger obstacles. As a World Hurdle horse in the past she would have very little to worry about with the Gold Cup trip imo and a couple of years older now will actually improve for it.
If she was mine she would be going Gold Cup fook what Ruby says I would be paying the bills.
As far as I'm concerned the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase are as big as the Gold Cup. Don't get the fascination with aiming every horse at the Gold Cup. Of course it's a great race but so are the other two.
There's also no guarantee she'd show the same level of form over fences and you have to be a mighty jumper to head for the Gold Cup as a novice. Any kind of frailty will find you out. Just because Coneygree held it all together doesn't mean they all will.
There's also no guarantee she'd show the same level of form over fences and you have to be a mighty jumper to head for the Gold Cup as a novice. Any kind of frailty will find you out. Just because Coneygree held it all together doesn't mean they all will.
Yes totally agree it depends on the horse. I think Annie has all the strengths for fences over a trip and it would light up the NH season. Rich's popularity would increase dramatically if he went for the Gold Cup with her and won it.
She'll be nine next year. Plenty old enough to be going chasing. I don't think you can be categorical about things but I'd have serious reservations about the trip regarding the Gold Cup. She'd be ideal for a Ryanair but why would you send an easy champion hurdle winner for that race?
Cue Card was travelling well enough at age 10 this season. She is lightly raced and only 9 next year there could be 2 Gold Cups in her.
No harm in trying a good chase at a trip for her. Prepare her for the Betfair Chase and if she wins that she becomes Gold Cup fav overnight. If she doesnt do the business she can go for a World Hurdle again. Nothing to lose and everything to gain.
No harm in trying a good chase at a trip for her. Prepare her for the Betfair Chase and if she wins that she becomes Gold Cup fav overnight. If she doesnt do the business she can go for a World Hurdle again. Nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Devils advocate but surely if one is to drop out the Champion hurdle to the GC wouldn't it be Faugheen? Either would be going as novice, but Faugheen is less novicey than Annie given he was a PTP horse.
Also for what its worth, I was at the preview with Ricci and had a 30 second chat with him after. Asked hypothetically speaking whats the big picture plan with his current novices and he was pretty adamant in saying Douvan -> Gold Cup. Take what you will, by no means gospel and probably hogwash but il chance it
Also for what its worth, I was at the preview with Ricci and had a 30 second chat with him after. Asked hypothetically speaking whats the big picture plan with his current novices and he was pretty adamant in saying Douvan -> Gold Cup. Take what you will, by no means gospel and probably hogwash but il chance it
I'm sorry but I'm just not getting your logic eric. There's a reason why there is a novice chase campaign. Whilst it is feasible at the end of that campaign to chance your arm in a Gold Cup it is rare that connections try for obvious reasons. The fact Coneygree did it doesn't mean there will now be a production line of winners. The bar is set extremely high by historical standards in terms of quality horses. Even so if they decide to go down that route they may well decide to give her a shot.
What I don't understand is the suggestion that she can just pitch up in the Betfair smoking a cheroot. That would strike me as about as quick a way to ruin a damned good horse as you could get.
What I don't understand is the suggestion that she can just pitch up in the Betfair smoking a cheroot. That would strike me as about as quick a way to ruin a damned good horse as you could get.
Jb
A week before the Gold Cup Vautour was running in it or staying at home according to Ricci.
A week before the Gold Cup Vautour was running in it or staying at home according to Ricci.
Which Gold Cup winner does this describe?
She turned to steeplechasing but was injured after winning her first race and was out of action for the rest of the season.She made a successful return in December 1985 by winning the Durkan Brothers Chase at Punchestown by eight lengths. She followed up by beating the subsequent two mile champion chaser Buck House over two and a half miles at Leopardstown later the same month despite making a bad mistake at the last fence.
She was a hot favourite to win that season's Cheltenham Gold Cup, despite the fact that no horse had ever completed the Champion Hurdle, Gold Cup double, she was still virtually a novice over fences, and the three and a quarter mile trip of the Gold Cup over the stiff Cheltenham course was further than she had ever run before.
In January 1986, she was given a prep race at Cheltenham, which she was expected to win easily. Her usual jockey, Tony Mullins, the son of the trainer, was on board. As usual, she set out to make all the running but her inexperience showed as she made a mistake on the back straight and unshipped her jockey. The commentator Julian Wilson had just spent about 30 seconds effusively praising her performance, "cruising, coasting in the lead", "it's two years since she's been beaten". Mullins got back up on her and finished the course, last of the four runners. It was an unsatisfactory preparation for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but, despite her inexperience, it was decided to let her take her chance.
She turned to steeplechasing but was injured after winning her first race and was out of action for the rest of the season.She made a successful return in December 1985 by winning the Durkan Brothers Chase at Punchestown by eight lengths. She followed up by beating the subsequent two mile champion chaser Buck House over two and a half miles at Leopardstown later the same month despite making a bad mistake at the last fence.
She was a hot favourite to win that season's Cheltenham Gold Cup, despite the fact that no horse had ever completed the Champion Hurdle, Gold Cup double, she was still virtually a novice over fences, and the three and a quarter mile trip of the Gold Cup over the stiff Cheltenham course was further than she had ever run before.
In January 1986, she was given a prep race at Cheltenham, which she was expected to win easily. Her usual jockey, Tony Mullins, the son of the trainer, was on board. As usual, she set out to make all the running but her inexperience showed as she made a mistake on the back straight and unshipped her jockey. The commentator Julian Wilson had just spent about 30 seconds effusively praising her performance, "cruising, coasting in the lead", "it's two years since she's been beaten". Mullins got back up on her and finished the course, last of the four runners. It was an unsatisfactory preparation for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but, despite her inexperience, it was decided to let her take her chance.
There are less doubts about Annie getting the trip imo.
AP is just too fragile to be taking up a campaign over fences, if so, AP needs to trot the novice route 1st otherwise it could end very badly. Also, there is a major doubt about AP staying the 26.5f and uphill finish.
Faugheen will no doubt be earmarked for another Champion Hurdle, no ifs no buts as far as I'm concerned, despite what connections may say to recapture his crown, why? The musings of connections are just that, nothing else, and not worth further consideration.
If (a very big if post a tumble at Aintree) Vautour does run in the Punchestown Gold Cup and prove ineffective over 25f which many, including yours truly, think it is 2f too far for him; if connections still harbour the Cheltenham Gold Cup (CGC) as their number 1 target next year then the only alternative left would be Douvan, but Douvan still needs to trot the King George route 1st as there is a similar doubt about Douvan staying the CGC trip too.
The only credible musing from WPM is that spouted about Djakadam post CGC ie finding an alternative race for him, if so, Vautour could still appear at the last minute to spoil one's betting slips should Vautour not replace Douvan in the Champion Chase.
AP is no Dawn Run, has never been over fences, no respectable and formidable opponents like Don Cossack, Cue Card, Coneygree and possibly Thistlecrack to overcome, hence any musing about AP chasing the CGC glory is bunkum to me.
Listen to WPM/RW/RR musings at your peril as they could be financially painful, if so!
Faugheen will no doubt be earmarked for another Champion Hurdle, no ifs no buts as far as I'm concerned, despite what connections may say to recapture his crown, why? The musings of connections are just that, nothing else, and not worth further consideration.
If (a very big if post a tumble at Aintree) Vautour does run in the Punchestown Gold Cup and prove ineffective over 25f which many, including yours truly, think it is 2f too far for him; if connections still harbour the Cheltenham Gold Cup (CGC) as their number 1 target next year then the only alternative left would be Douvan, but Douvan still needs to trot the King George route 1st as there is a similar doubt about Douvan staying the CGC trip too.
The only credible musing from WPM is that spouted about Djakadam post CGC ie finding an alternative race for him, if so, Vautour could still appear at the last minute to spoil one's betting slips should Vautour not replace Douvan in the Champion Chase.
AP is no Dawn Run, has never been over fences, no respectable and formidable opponents like Don Cossack, Cue Card, Coneygree and possibly Thistlecrack to overcome, hence any musing about AP chasing the CGC glory is bunkum to me.
Listen to WPM/RW/RR musings at your peril as they could be financially painful, if so!
AP is no Dawn Run, has never been over fences, no respectable and formidable opponents like Don Cossack, Cue Card, Coneygree and possibly Thistlecrack to overcome, hence any musing about AP chasing the CGC glory is bunkum to me.
impossible123, were you not following racing at the time of Dawn Run? In her Gold Cup she beat 3 times King George winner Wayward Lad into second and the previous years Gold Cup winner Forgive 'N 'Forget into third. Real quality opponents every bit as good as the current crop.
Also, you must be against the possibility of Thistlecrack going Gold Cup as he, like Annie, is a World Hurdle horse going over fences? Annie stays imo and she has the speed of a Champion Hurdler at the business end which Dawn Run showed to get up. She would be perfect for a Gold Cup.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iC9dRA15F9s
Dawn Run was trained by Mullins’ father, Paddy, to win the 1984 Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup two seasons later. Her mythic status is bound up with her death later that year at Auteuill, where she broke her neck in a fall. A couple of days later, her usual jockey, Jonjo O’Neill, was diagnosed with cancer. The great Jonjo’s miraculous recovery still inspires the National Hunt community, 30 years on from Dawn Run’s Gold Cup win.
So now the ultimate challenge is tempting Willie Mullins, who has brought a 60-strong team to this year’s Festival and who also won the Arkle Chase with the 1-4 favourite Douvan and the Mares’ Hurdle with Vroum Vroum Mag, brilliantly ridden by Walsh - though the same team lost Pont Alexandre.
“If he [Ricci] wants to try and emulate Dawn Run – why not,” Mullins said.
“It would appeal to me. Yeah, I would love to do it. We’ll see what happens. But it’s much easier to keep horses sound jumping hurdles than it is trying to go after a Gold Cup.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/racing/2016/03/15/annie-power-evokes-spirit-of-dawn-run-with-talk-of-gold-cup-bid/
impossible123, were you not following racing at the time of Dawn Run? In her Gold Cup she beat 3 times King George winner Wayward Lad into second and the previous years Gold Cup winner Forgive 'N 'Forget into third. Real quality opponents every bit as good as the current crop.
Also, you must be against the possibility of Thistlecrack going Gold Cup as he, like Annie, is a World Hurdle horse going over fences? Annie stays imo and she has the speed of a Champion Hurdler at the business end which Dawn Run showed to get up. She would be perfect for a Gold Cup.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iC9dRA15F9s
Dawn Run was trained by Mullins’ father, Paddy, to win the 1984 Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup two seasons later. Her mythic status is bound up with her death later that year at Auteuill, where she broke her neck in a fall. A couple of days later, her usual jockey, Jonjo O’Neill, was diagnosed with cancer. The great Jonjo’s miraculous recovery still inspires the National Hunt community, 30 years on from Dawn Run’s Gold Cup win.
So now the ultimate challenge is tempting Willie Mullins, who has brought a 60-strong team to this year’s Festival and who also won the Arkle Chase with the 1-4 favourite Douvan and the Mares’ Hurdle with Vroum Vroum Mag, brilliantly ridden by Walsh - though the same team lost Pont Alexandre.
“If he [Ricci] wants to try and emulate Dawn Run – why not,” Mullins said.
“It would appeal to me. Yeah, I would love to do it. We’ll see what happens. But it’s much easier to keep horses sound jumping hurdles than it is trying to go after a Gold Cup.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/racing/2016/03/15/annie-power-evokes-spirit-of-dawn-run-with-talk-of-gold-cup-bid/
Ironically Dawn Run survived fences but was killed returning to hurdles in France.
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