Cheltenham Festival
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Yorkhill
Yorkhill
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I was disappointed with the ride Cooper gave Disko, but take nothing away from Yorkhill, he was by far the best horse.
From my own Disko bet point of view, it was clear they were going no gallop at all, but he was happy to keep Disko off the pace. Why do that when it will turn into a sprint, when you have Yorkhill and a Champion Hurdle fifth behind? Imo Cooper should have taken up the running when he realised there was no pace, as Disko stays 3m and front ran last time. Anyways, Yorkhill was fantastic. Which ever way they go with him, he'll win big races next year |
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A verygGood horse but quirky. Will he stay the Gold Cup trip? King George, very probably but Might Bite the one for me unless Thistlecrack returns, polishes his jumping no-end and defends his title in 2017.
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Same old story give it a rest
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Going to be 12 months worth of questioning Yorkhill's target for next season.
You'd like to think after his JLT win, he wouldn't be sent back over hurdles for a champion hurdle regardless of Mullins looking short of numbers for it - will we see Annie/Faugheen again? Melon nothing special etc. I reckon he's a Gold Cup horse for next year, seems the obvious target and supposedly Ruby came off him saying something along those lines. However, given Ruby said after his Neptune win last year that the horse would "win an Arkle with his mouth open", I fully expect him to line up in the Champion Chase or Ryanair next year! |
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nah he'll be aimed at the gold cup, unless he blatantly fails to stay if they run him in the lexus.
if he wins the lexus impressively and might bite hoses up in the king george could have a clash of the titans situation going into the gold cup, similar to denman vs kauto. well we can dream anyway. |
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I tend to agree that Yorkhill is more likely to be targeting the Gold Cup after the 3rd consecutive defeat of Djakadam in the race and stamina limitation exposed regardless of the well-being of Faugheen and/or Annie Power. But I think Sizing John could be the one to follow for a while.
The King George is already looking interesting with Might Bite, the possibility of Yorkhill and Thistlecrack (personally, I doubt his return for this given his injury); where will Min go when he returns? |
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Assuming all is well with Min and Douvan on their return to the track, I'd say Douvan is the more likely to be stepped up in trip and Min potentially facing a rematch with Altior in the Champion Chase.
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The King George is already looking interesting with Might Bite, the possibility of Yorkhill and Thistlecrack
I very much doubt Yorkhill will run at kempton although it is possible as he ran vautour in the race. A lot depends on Graham Wylie. more likely that he will run in the lexus as leopardstown is his ideal track according to willie. |
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Similar to Vautour I suspect we are in for another 12 months of debate over whether he will or won't stay and go down the gold cup route. Indecisive Willie will probably make up his mind in 364 days time.
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I think yorkhill is slightly different as he's more of a hold up horse with a big kick at the end
vautour was more of a nervous energy type who loved to dominate from the get go they have huge ambitions with yorkhill and I would be very surprised if connections were simply happy with "just" winning a ryanair and don't forget that ricci had other options for the race like djakadam, that isn't so much the case with wylie personally think yorkhill will get the gold cup trip standing on his head |
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Thought Yorkhill was hugely impressive with the way he jumped and traveled. Ruby had him settled perfectly out the back. If anything he came too soon on him and he idled in front. Lesson learned for sure.
Only one target next year i.e. Gold Cup. imo. |
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Mullins has yet to formulate a gameplan for Yorkhill, who features prominently in the betting for races like the Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle.
The seven-year-old has won at the last two Cheltenham Festivals and did really well to take top honours in the JLT Novices' Chase in March. That was his fourth Grade One triumph, but plans for Yorkhill remain fluid at this stage. Mullins said: "We haven't even started schooling him yet so whether he goes over hurdles or fences I don't know yet. "He is in great form." |
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Be amazed if he goes back to hurdles.
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Any latest news on plans?
Gold Cup,Ryanair,Champion Hurdle,Boat race??? |
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After the recent Tingle Creek thread where you clearly weren't happy with the way Mullins had gone about things do you really want to know what connections might have stated regarding Yorkhill 3 months before the Festival?
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His trainer had not dismissed a return to hurdles, if necessary. By that I think he meant propensity to jump left, headstrong, etc; only 10/1 for the Gold Cup here,...a joke given no clear target, I firmly believe.
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Well I ain't interested in parting with any money on him,but I am interested in where he may be aimed.
Like I am with most horses I consider to be top class. It's not all about betting,I do happen to regard NH racing as a hobby. That's why I get involved in discussions on here. |
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Entered in the big chase at Leopardstown over Christmas......and the 3m Hurdle at the same meeting
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Thanks bluebird,had not noticed that.
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Mullins quoted as follows in the Irish Times today:
'He (Yorkhill) probably would have run yesterday (John Durkan Memorial at Punchestown) except it was right-handed. Opportunities left-handed are a little harder to get for a horse like him. But Leopardstown at Christmas looks a good possibility. His pedigree is all staying and I imagine he'll go for the longer trip alright. I imagine that (the race formerly known as the Lexus) will be it. He fine and I'm happy with him." |
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Cheers Rease
Hed be a welcome addition to the Gold Cup field if he does well over 3m beforehand. Look forward to seeing him hopefully over xmas. |
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Not sure Mullins' statement justifies the Gold Cup plunge on him down to 8.6, whatever your views on his ability or likely target.
Entries in the 2m hurdle at Christmas as well as the 3m hurdle and chase don't imply a route to the Gold Cup is a done deal. |
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Fair comment, cyclops - it did occur to me that he said the same race was the target for Djakadam on Sunday and is on record as saying they'll try to keep the big guns apart (maybe less of an issue in different ownership).
The quote is merely indicative - I'm with budd, really - would like to see how he gets on in a Grade 1 3 mile chase in open company because he potentially enriches the Gold Cup as a contest - I'd not be interested in backing him for any Festival race just now. |
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Nor me,want to see where he races first time out.
Price will fall no doubt if he puts in a performance,but without knowing where that performance will be,can't really take a punt right now. |
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If he races freely (again) he might not last out the Ryanair distance let alone Gold Cup. Or if his jumping is suspect (again) then the Stayers' Hurdle could be his ultimate objective as Mullins would not want him alongside Faugheen in the Champion Hurdle given the owners' pecking order at the stable; he cannot join Vroum Vroum Mag in the Mares!
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To say Yorkhill might not last out the Ryanair distance is utter nonsense. Yorkhill did't race freely in the JLT and was foot perfect with his jumping. On what planet, based on what we saw in the JLT and based on what Willie has said, would the additional 202 metres in the Ryanair find him out, regardless of how the race is run
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Yorkhill was a convincing and well deserved winner in the Ryanair at Cheltenham this year. But in the Ryanair Gold Cup (20f) at Fairyhouse he ran freely, jumped left repeatedly and lost the lead after jumping the last - he finished 2nd. And in the Herald Novice Champion Hurdle (20f) at Punchestown he was held up, but again jumped left repeatedly and was well beaten at odds-on.
If he repeats the above in the Gold Cup ie runs freely and/or jumps left (repeatedly or not) the distance of 24f will probably catch him out; same for the Ryanair if meeting the improved Top Notch whom he beat in the JLT this year by 1l. |
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He didn't win the Ryanair impossible, he won the JLT. He is remarkably more capable going left handed than he is right, so to base his Ryanair credentials on his run at Fairhouse in the Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase is fairly pointless.
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Pretty much everything I123 posts is pointless.
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charlirptl, you are correct about Yorkhill winning the JLT impressively last Cheltenham; he certainly jumped better on a left-handed track. Let's hope connections have got to grip with his quirkiness eg propensity to run freely.
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Yorkhill could be used as a stand-in (again). Faugheen has been deposed as clear fav for the Champion Hurdle (CH). If an update about the latter is not punter friendly the former could be rerouted to CH especially if his jumping is suspect (again) in the Lexus, assuming that is still his target, I think.
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My gut feeling is they want him as a Gold Cup horse,and will give him every chance of proving to be one.
That's not to say he wont end up in the CH,things can happen during the season. As the season unfolds it should become clearer. |
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Sizing John is a worthy fav and a very formidable opponent in the Gold Cup (GC) similarly Might Bite, if he wins the King George in convincing manner. As Mullins likes to target his charges at races that provide the best winning chance Yorkhill would be more likely CH bound, if Faugheen is absent; Min (Champion Chase); UDS (Ryanair).
The GC with being 3.25m, fences rather than hurdles and Yorkhill's quirkiness and propensity to jump left compare to the CH with Buveur D'air, the only principal challenger, would make the CH the more appropriate target for Yorkhill, all things considered, I firmly believe. The above is on the assumption for a negative update on Faugheen (soonish). The Exchange has been a proven accurate indicator of imminent news in the past, and I doubt it would be proven otherwise on this occasion either. |
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In my opinion they really want a Gold Cup and will do their upmost to get one.
Yorkhill has won the JLT and next step is to see if hes a Gold Cup contender,and I imagine that could well be over Xmas. I am not saying I think the Gold Cup should be the target,but I think right now its what they want. |
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I agree budd. I also havent seen anything to suggest he'd trouble BD over 2m either tbh.
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Melon surely the second string behind Faugheen anyway - almost certain to improve markedly for combination of better ground, Old course, end to end gallop, more experience and ran very well last Saturday without any of those.
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The interesting thing for me would be if he fails to stay well enough to be a Gold Cup horse, what then? Ryanair?
Or with the setback re Douvan,could he go QM?? Whatever,pretty sure he will stay chasing,just the distance to sort out. |
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Rease
He would have to improve a lot. Tent and The New One are a fair way behind the current champ. |
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Mullins would dearly like to train a GC winner, nevertheless, I think connections were "kicking themselves" not targeting the 2017 CH post the scratching of Faugheen and Annie Power; the form of the winner Buveur D'air whose 3rd to Altior and Min was inferior to Yorkhill, I think.
CH for me this time (IF) Faugheen is scratched. |
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I take the point, budd, (although he, too, was trying to give MTOY 6lbs) but he's only 5 - plus Buveur D'Air himself is a good example of what's possible - he was still running in novices chases this time last year.
Anyway, don't want to hijack the thread - back to Yorkhill, looking forward to his reappearance  |