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Suppose this is perhaps a one off for the Mullins runners as they wouldn't normally be sent to Aintree after Cheltenham, the majority are kept for Punchestown.
Seems a big ask to attempt all 3 within a short timescale especially when you take into account the travel. No matter how good your horse is, it's still a risk. Obviously there was more to the issues with Sprinter Sacre but the fact is he didn't win again for another 2 years after winning at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown - something Henderson has admitted was a mistake.
I must admit, I was amazed to see Yorkhill entered today. I watched Mullins being interviewed straight after his Aintree win and he said it was almost certain he would be put away for the season (wouldn't take a genius to work that one either - horse clearly had a hard race).
Wasn't as surprised to see Vautour entered given he fell at Aintree but regardless of the drop in trip, he looked a tired horse. Of course, many will say this is likely after a long season and the fact they're peaked for Cheltenham but I expected a win today.
I'm interested to see how the other Mullins horses who have already ran at Cheltenham and Aintree get on this week. Off the top of my head - Djakadam, Don Poli, Augusta Kate, Battleford, Bacardys, Shaneshill, Douvan, Annie Power.
Of course he's not the only one doing this and so far Gods Own has won 2/3. Cue Card another one set to run tomorrow.
Surely you wouldn't want to risk overdoing it with your best horses? Fair enough Annie Power and Douvan have had fairly easy races compared to others at Cheltenham and Aintree but they've went from light campaigns to 3 competitive runs in 5 weeks. Just a thought.
Seems a big ask to attempt all 3 within a short timescale especially when you take into account the travel. No matter how good your horse is, it's still a risk. Obviously there was more to the issues with Sprinter Sacre but the fact is he didn't win again for another 2 years after winning at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown - something Henderson has admitted was a mistake.
I must admit, I was amazed to see Yorkhill entered today. I watched Mullins being interviewed straight after his Aintree win and he said it was almost certain he would be put away for the season (wouldn't take a genius to work that one either - horse clearly had a hard race).
Wasn't as surprised to see Vautour entered given he fell at Aintree but regardless of the drop in trip, he looked a tired horse. Of course, many will say this is likely after a long season and the fact they're peaked for Cheltenham but I expected a win today.
I'm interested to see how the other Mullins horses who have already ran at Cheltenham and Aintree get on this week. Off the top of my head - Djakadam, Don Poli, Augusta Kate, Battleford, Bacardys, Shaneshill, Douvan, Annie Power.
Of course he's not the only one doing this and so far Gods Own has won 2/3. Cue Card another one set to run tomorrow.
Surely you wouldn't want to risk overdoing it with your best horses? Fair enough Annie Power and Douvan have had fairly easy races compared to others at Cheltenham and Aintree but they've went from light campaigns to 3 competitive runs in 5 weeks. Just a thought.
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I love this 'peaked at Chelt and end of season form' myth. They have hard races even if not winning, Gods Own was his fourth race in 2 months, almost a flat horse campaign but most horses thrive on racing, even the GN winner put in a good display after only 2 weeks. The difference in performances from Chelt to Aintree and Punchestown comes mostly from the ground and course, not from their racing schedule. Of course if they have a long season and hard races it might take its toll but horses like Vautour who's been kept fresh and had no race since Christmas and also fell early at Aintree its hard to argue for how tired they looked like, especially since he stayed on really well after the last and passed Simonsig.
Hi timtin, you could well be correct in saying its a myth. Now that I've slept on it, the more I'm coming to terms that Vautour does need 2m5+. Not that I ever thought he should be their Champion Chaser but I definitely think had he won well yesterday, that could have had a major say in his target for next season.
Yorkhill's run was absolutely the sign of a tired horse though. I can see why the temptation is there to run especially as he tends to dominate the Punchestown festival but had it not been known to them that the British Trainers Championship was within reach after a successful Cheltenham, would an army of Douvan, Vautour, Yorkhill, Limini, Annie Power, Bellshill, Augusta Kate, Bacardys, Battleford and Djakadam be sent to Aintree? Absolutely not, no chance. Fair play to him for doing it as it obviously meant a lot to him and would have been some achievement.
I'm just amazed he's running most, if not all of the above mentioned again here. It's very unlike him. Infact I wouldn't be surprised if you saw a few of the big guns due to run from tomorrow onwards withdrawn if today's runners show the affects of a long season. Willie obviously thought Yorkhill was ready for another race or else he wouldn't have risked him. Yes, Vautour was beaten fair and square but had they both not travelled over to Aintree, would it have been a different story? Possibly, they would definitely have been fresher and given 4/5 weeks to recover from Cheltenham. As is normally the case for Mullins horses. Could be an interesting few days ahead.
Yorkhill's run was absolutely the sign of a tired horse though. I can see why the temptation is there to run especially as he tends to dominate the Punchestown festival but had it not been known to them that the British Trainers Championship was within reach after a successful Cheltenham, would an army of Douvan, Vautour, Yorkhill, Limini, Annie Power, Bellshill, Augusta Kate, Bacardys, Battleford and Djakadam be sent to Aintree? Absolutely not, no chance. Fair play to him for doing it as it obviously meant a lot to him and would have been some achievement.
I'm just amazed he's running most, if not all of the above mentioned again here. It's very unlike him. Infact I wouldn't be surprised if you saw a few of the big guns due to run from tomorrow onwards withdrawn if today's runners show the affects of a long season. Willie obviously thought Yorkhill was ready for another race or else he wouldn't have risked him. Yes, Vautour was beaten fair and square but had they both not travelled over to Aintree, would it have been a different story? Possibly, they would definitely have been fresher and given 4/5 weeks to recover from Cheltenham. As is normally the case for Mullins horses. Could be an interesting few days ahead.
Yorkhill looked finished at Aintree, I know they're not Aiden O'brien with heart monitors before and after the race but maybe he gave the right signs the next day, unlike for instance Min who was put out for the season immediately. Yorkhill at Chelt received the perfect ride nevertheless, I've said it before on here I thought over anything shorter Yanworth would eat him alive especially if BG won't waste 50 lengths by going so wide.
Annie Power who coincidentally has won at Cheltenham and Aintree has been ruled out of Punchestown as something is "not quite right with her". Hmmmmmm.
"Speaking on Wednesday, Mullins said: "We just weren't 100 per cent happy with her over the last couple of days and decided not to declare her.
"The way Vautour and Yorkhill, who like her were at Aintree, performed on Tuesday was a factor in our decision, so we thought it best not to run her. She's done enough for the season, winning the Champion Hurdle and the Aintree Hurdle."
"The way Vautour and Yorkhill, who like her were at Aintree, performed on Tuesday was a factor in our decision, so we thought it best not to run her. She's done enough for the season, winning the Champion Hurdle and the Aintree Hurdle."
One race too many for Cue Card as well it seems. Perhaps this "myth" isn't too far off reality after all timtin.
I think course and ground comes into play even more than people think, Punchestown is such a different track not many horses take to it. CC is one that showed signs last time that he wasn't still performing to his best, Brennan reported that he didn't felt right but still won and yet it was their decision to come here so horse must've worked very well at home. Look at Bellshill looked finished at Chelt, today his 5th race in 4 months, most horses don't have a problem with racing so thats why its a myth because people apply it to all horses and dismiss the end of season form when in fact the ground and course are the ones responsible, unless horses like Yorkhill clearly show they're over the top.
Irish Cavalier, 5th race in 4 months as well, it is a myth and most horses thrive on racing, horses with long seasons give enough signals at home for trainers not to bother sending them.
Not all horses are trained in the same way though. Some are lightly raced but worked hard at home. The horses that "thrive on racing" will definitely not be worked as hard at home.
Take Mullins as an example. The way he trained his horses for Cheltenham this year won't be any different to how he trains them every other year. But yet, the British Trainers Championship was possible and suddenly the horses who he peaks for March are turned out again quickly at Aintree. You'd then expect those horses not to be seen at Punchestown but here they are.
Fair enough, Bellshill, God's Own and Augusta Kate have all won so far at Punchestown having ran at Cheltenham and Aintree. But on the other hand, Yorkhill, Vautour and Cue Card have all underperformed and the first 2 mentioned were a factor in Mullins decision to withdraw Annie Power. I'm surprised Douvan is still entered to run tomorrow.
Take Mullins as an example. The way he trained his horses for Cheltenham this year won't be any different to how he trains them every other year. But yet, the British Trainers Championship was possible and suddenly the horses who he peaks for March are turned out again quickly at Aintree. You'd then expect those horses not to be seen at Punchestown but here they are.
Fair enough, Bellshill, God's Own and Augusta Kate have all won so far at Punchestown having ran at Cheltenham and Aintree. But on the other hand, Yorkhill, Vautour and Cue Card have all underperformed and the first 2 mentioned were a factor in Mullins decision to withdraw Annie Power. I'm surprised Douvan is still entered to run tomorrow.
Irish Cavalier is a bad example in my opinion - he's mostly been running on unsuitable ground or when his stable has been out of form or both.
I've not seen today's race so can't comment but I will say I'm pretty sure Cue Card is much better going LH generally - his stats back that up (not saying that's why he was beaten today).
The Gold Cup is an attritional, tough race - the last two winners are injured - the last seven winners have won a total of 3 Grade 1s between them subsequently.
One of the relatively recent multiple Gold Cup winners is Best Mate whose trainer used to come in for a fair amount of criticism for racing him very sparingly - I also doubt even his biggest fans would claim that his victories came in vintage renewals, the other multiple winner is Kauto Star, an all time great.
I've not seen today's race so can't comment but I will say I'm pretty sure Cue Card is much better going LH generally - his stats back that up (not saying that's why he was beaten today).
The Gold Cup is an attritional, tough race - the last two winners are injured - the last seven winners have won a total of 3 Grade 1s between them subsequently.
One of the relatively recent multiple Gold Cup winners is Best Mate whose trainer used to come in for a fair amount of criticism for racing him very sparingly - I also doubt even his biggest fans would claim that his victories came in vintage renewals, the other multiple winner is Kauto Star, an all time great.
Douvan is intriguing in that he's attempting the novice version of the triple crown which supposedly did for Sprinter Sacre - I think they're right to run him personally - he's clearly showing his well being at home and for me they can't not run him on the basis of what's happened to other horses.
Rule The World did run well but was in the unusual position of being eligible to contest a novice event (albeit a high standard one).
Was n't Many Clouds earlier in the year, the first Grand National winner since Bindaree to subsequently win a chase?
That may have as much to do with generally ageing chasers being rewarded with a high handicap mark for winning a unique race as it does with the race leaving a mark but it's an interesting stat nonetheless.
Rule The World did run well but was in the unusual position of being eligible to contest a novice event (albeit a high standard one).
Was n't Many Clouds earlier in the year, the first Grand National winner since Bindaree to subsequently win a chase?
That may have as much to do with generally ageing chasers being rewarded with a high handicap mark for winning a unique race as it does with the race leaving a mark but it's an interesting stat nonetheless.
re Vautour - I basically agree with timtin - looked for all the world like a horse beaten by the trip for me - anyway we were told he was too heavy for both his first two races and he fell in the one of the other two before it got serious so I'm not sure how it could be one race too many in his case.
Perhaps he's a little bit overrated or perhaps he will do an Imperial Commander next March.
Perhaps he's a little bit overrated or perhaps he will do an Imperial Commander next March.
I think Pineau De Re was the first to even win a race and then Many Clouds first to win a chase 
There's no denying NH racing is a much harder sport than flat and some jumps horses with flat pedigree don't take it well but most horses improve with racing and RR/Mullins cautious approach for Annie Power proves nothing, she was lightly campaigned this season and would've performed well again.
Trainers know better which horses are over the top because they show it at home and only very few underperform for these reasons when they arrive on track, mostly are just finding the course/ground unsuitable while others improve on the same conditions. Irish Cavalier proves this point, took part in many hard races in the last months but still performed well under top weight today. Bellshill the same with 5 races in 4 months. Some would use the 'end of season' myth as excuse in case they would've lost but I like to think their trainers know better. Mullins and Walsh certainly didn't used any excuses for Vautour and they both stated that he needs the trip on yesterday evidence, the only ones that used the end of season excuse were some his fans and RR.
There's no denying NH racing is a much harder sport than flat and some jumps horses with flat pedigree don't take it well but most horses improve with racing and RR/Mullins cautious approach for Annie Power proves nothing, she was lightly campaigned this season and would've performed well again. Trainers know better which horses are over the top because they show it at home and only very few underperform for these reasons when they arrive on track, mostly are just finding the course/ground unsuitable while others improve on the same conditions. Irish Cavalier proves this point, took part in many hard races in the last months but still performed well under top weight today. Bellshill the same with 5 races in 4 months. Some would use the 'end of season' myth as excuse in case they would've lost but I like to think their trainers know better. Mullins and Walsh certainly didn't used any excuses for Vautour and they both stated that he needs the trip on yesterday evidence, the only ones that used the end of season excuse were some his fans and RR.
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