I too find him fascinating, sexy in fact, would probably go gay for him thinking about it

Ah yes poor old Oscar Whisky! Boston Bob was the horse that turned me, never have gotten over my first big ante post bet, a loser in the RSA falling when getting to the front, he caught my eye in the run up to spring that year and still winks at me every night in my dreams

I'd love to see Yorkhill in a CH, but realize that's a no chance as long as Faugheen is fit and well coupled with the need for the stable to win a GC. I'd be more than confident he'd beat BD myself, the wish to seek out his stamina is going to see them miss out on his real plus...his speed!!

Yorkhill’s Festival form is pretty uninspiring even though he is a dual winner.

Won a very sub-standard Sun Alliance Hurdle (Neptune) only 9 finishers beating the reluctant Yanworth just over a length. Worst field in the race possibly ever. Followed up in a really poor race at Aintree. Flopped over 2m against the best field so far that season.

Won two low standard fields of half a dozen runners or so, the latter a 25/1 shot Jett by one and a quarter lengths.

Wins the JLT just 8 runners (6 finishers) beating Top Notch a length and Disko 4 lengths.

Nothing too inspiring imo.

Beat Politilogue as well in JLT. Nicholls recently said they havent been using his strength which is his jumping. What he also meant imo by this is he doesnt have much of a turn of foot at the end of two and a half miles as he clearly showed so lets use his good jumping positively over 2m instead to burn them off at a good pace throughout. Dont think we will see Politilogue ever sat in behind waiting to do anything for a kick. Nicholls knows he doesnt have much of one.

BD was beaten fairly and squarely by Altior and Min in the Supreme. I believe Min would have very possibly run in the CH given Faugheen was absent and both in the same ownership.

It is not a foregone conclusion Yorkhill will continue chasing, I believe, especially after the comments made by his trainer at the outset of this season; his run in the Lexus against Sizing John - a good yardstick - on 28th Dec will most likely decide which discipline he'll be competing in. For instance, if putting up a commendable effort to Sizing John or beating the GC reigning champion Yorkhill will most likely stay chasing. Otherwise, the CH could beckon, I reckon.

BD is the champion alright, not the greatest race though was it?? and as for a turn of foot, well I must have missed it, he looked like he outstayed them to me, BD doesn't possess a great turn of foot IMO.

O/T
Yorkhill is friendless for the Lexus but Sizing John has been backed into 1.75 (here). No show for the former perhaps.

Duffy
Personally if both fit and well,i would side with the younger horse.
Watching their respective Churdles I don't see enough to think either would win comfortably,and I believe their times were very similar? similar ground too I suspect,but have not checked,so may be wrong!
Lets hope both turn up in March fit and well,we can then find out.

Back to Yorkhill,i think if he settles ok,hes a leading contender for the Gold Cup,and I hope he proves that this week.

I really hope they’ll aim him at the Champion Chase now

dont know why they went so hard from  the front with yorkhill, was a doubtfull stayer and looks like they went shyte or bust and busted before 2 out , hindsight and all that but would a been wiser to hold onto him a bit knowing the doubts about him getting the trip .

Be surprised if he goes back hurdling as some are suggesting on various threads.
Its not as if he struggles at his fences.
They just need to find his optimum distance,seems they aint yet.
Personally I still would not give up with the 3m distance.
Looking back at the JLT makes me think he could get further,but he needs to settle in behind as he did that day.

budd,

For me (and I accept you can pick holes in the form now) it is still the visual impression I got from him in his Neptune win, he pulled Walsh's arms out the whole way and still took off around the home bend, I just want to see him over 2 miles just to find out....send him from the front, just like the other day, where, if he stayed would have won IMO, judging by the way he was travelling and jumping until his stamina gave out.

I'd have to disagree re his jumping Budd. A few races now he has jumped markedly to the left. He did again the other day.

Even though Cheltenham is a left handed track, to me it's an inefficient way of getting round.

Agree again with Duffy (what's going on!), the visual impression to me is that he's all speed, even though his form is at 2.5m.

Thing is Chief,in the JLT held up and settling..... fairly well!! he seemed to jump ok and won the race,so he can do it.
Maybe hes one of those that you just aint sure what you are gonna get on the day!!!
Had he been held up in the race the other day and not made too much use of himself he may well have run a big race?
Thats why i think they will give him another go at 3m.they are determined to make him a Gold Cup horse it seems,and i dont think they will give that up after one go when the horse did too much early.

Whether its the right thing,well thats another matter!!

He's more a 2 miler than a Gold Cup (GC) horse, I believe. He might have taken up the running a bit sooner in the 3m Lexus but it was not a searching pace; he was a spent force 2 fences out and finished last behind the clinically abnormal Sizing John. And over an additional 2.25f in the GC he'd be hard push to last out even if he settles early. He'd be another Thistlecrack eg in the Cotswold Chase, going swimmingly well 2f out but found little at the business end.

If he was mine definitely the Champion Hurdle (CH) with/out Faugheen present. The CH is the ideal discipline and distance for him, I believe, and the best chance to secure a win.

Hills going nrnb from today and they have Yorkhill at a standout 10/1 for Champion Hurdle and Ryanair, and 6/1 for the QM. Time to cover all bases?

According to Mullins, his next race will be a drop in distance (3m previously) and over fences. Could one assume his Cheltenham target is no longer the Gold Cup? If so, Champion Chase or the Ryanair then; prices are 10 and 13 (here) respectively or 4/1 to win any race.

Not entered in Gold Cup

As he should be IMO.