A week is a long time in horse racing. As uncle has pointed out there were other horses entered but not declared but nobody seems to mind.

I don't believe there is anything like as much disinformation from trainers as you do. Misinformation yes, but that's not deliberately misleading and the well-being of horses can change a lot in a week.

Absolutely dead right there

Apols for spelling errors :)

Tough typing on Samsung phone ;)

Mr Mullins/Ricci, what pair of f...... barstewards. I believe sanctions against these two disreputable individuals are long overdue eg similar events last year in the same race, and Vautour (RIP) in the Cheltenham Festival; I hope this pair would consider keeping their charges away from the Cheltenham Festival this year, at least, as a respect to racegoers, supporters and punters of this sport.

The BHA must act to prevent the same happening again next year and in the future otherwise it certainly will bring the gaming/sport of horse racing into disrepute, in my opinion.

Why don't you self-exclude and leave the rest of us to it then, ybm, thanks.

Backing Antepost always comes with a wealth warning. I personally enjoy trying to nick a decent price about a horse that if it does run will be miles shorter. Backing Fox Norton 2 weeks ago @ 7/2 when I thought he'd be up against UDS as the main rival in the Tingle made sense as he'd only be 6/4 or 7/4 on the day.

I wouldn't consider backing Mullins horses for reasons already mentioned.

You pay your money and take your choice....I've also backed Sceau Royal antepost so you can laugh when that doesn't run or drifts to 8/1.

Mullins knew you were on Un De Sceaux Bungle and you would jinx the horse.

I would n't say it's farcical and nonsensical though I take the point about defending champion and Grade 1 vs Grade 2. The syndicate who own UDS are Cork based I believe - it could be something as mundane that it was too late to make the switch at final decs stage because they can't change their plans to travel to Sandown at 48 hours notice. The weather might yet disrupt flight plans over the weekend anyway.I'm not saying that is the case merely raising it as a possibility. -

Generally I don't bet on these markets because I don't like guessing which horses are going to turn up - I accept others see that as a stimulating challenge and some of the threads are of great value anyway in terms of information which can still be relevant on the day of the race.

With regards to Mullins, I'm not particularly trying to defend or criticise him but I think there are a few imperatives which should be apparent to everyone by now:

1. He chooses the races (so Ricci's thoughts should be taken with a pinch of salt - I would n't particularly want to hear Mullins' thoughts on investment banking either).
2. Horse welfare comes first (he does n't want to risk Douvan bombing out - I don't think he's quite as risk averse as Henderson but he is possibly becoming more cautious).   
3. It is a stated goal of his to have his big guns avoid each other until they absolutely have to meet (presumably in part at least to maximise win prize money).

I might not like these things but they're beyond my control so I don't really see the point in moaning about them. I don't like the fact that the market seems to know what's happening ahead of any official announcement either but I'm not entirely sure how that can be avoided - beyond the trainer and his family, there might be the work rider, the farrier, the vet, the bloke who drives the horse box to the Curragh and the rest of his staff who all know what happened on Tues-Wed and all of whom have extended networks of friends and family asking them what's going on with Douvan. How do you police that?

I don't like the bookmaker sponsored trainer blogs - clearly they are, at the very least, a potential threat to the integrity of racing, I'd like to see an regualtory intervention from the BHA/HRI but I'm not holding my breath. I don't think Mullins has a blog though?

Wonder if we will ever have a Well Chief,Moscow Flyer,Azertyuiop race again outside the spring festivals.
A race still talked about now and probably for years to come
Don't look like it.
Oh well.

ReaseHeath...i believe the blogs are just a front so a relationship can be achieved between bookmaker and trainer making contact for the bookmaker to gain advance information from the trainer which the bookmaker will use for betting purposes before it is in the public domain.

The trainer can claim he knows nothing of what the bookmaker does with the information. The bottom line is the bookies arent doing it for the wealth of the punter and it needs intervention from the BHA to prevent it being taken advantage of. All contracts between the two parties should be controlled by and payments made by the BHA from one tothe other.

Sageform, most trainers would much prefer to say nothing at all but when they have journalists and reporters on their case every day they don't have much choice.

This coming weekend Mullins has 3 entered for a novice chase,4 in the Durkan,2 in a novice hurdle, 2 in the Hilly Way and 5 in a beginners chase.And that's just a normal weekend's entry typical of any big yard. None of these races have much ante-post interest and so nobody really cares what runs or where.These entries were made on Tuesday and final decs are tomorrow morning. In that period any of these horses could have worked well, worked bad, got a serious injury such as a tendon, got a minor muscle injury etc.

I am in no doubt that early this week Mullins intended running Douvan in the Tingle Creek. If he subsequently wasn't entirely happy with the horse then he is right in not running. The horse galloped on Tuesday so he had to be ok to do that. If he didn't take that gallop well then so be it. But people questioning how any horse could be ok on a Saturday but have a problem a few days later, should be shot on sight.

^ and the trainer's son, forgot him -

Absolutely.......as long as its all above board and no hint of anything untoward going on,we all take antepost on the chin with horses that don't end up running.
Problem is with this yard,one can never be sure,well I for one cant be.

The only despicable behaviour is coming from yourself again impossible123. As you know, he didn't withdraw UDS or even Douvan. You have to be declared before you can be withdrawn and neither were declared to run.
And if he chooses to take the option of running UDS in Cork on Sunday, where he also has an entry, then he's perfectly entitled to do so and he doesn't have to justify it to you, me or anybody else.

In my honest opinion,it is not advisable to back any Mullins horse antepost unless you spot what may be an interesting one that has gone under the radar,as I managed to do with Bacardys last season.yes it went pear shaped at Cheltenham but it was a lot shorter on the day.
Anyone taking shortish prices on a Mullins horse antepost needs to think hard before doing so,and then don't do iit!!
Personally I just don't trust the yard and his main owner neither.
That's my thoughts now and going forward.

Ordinary World non runner (coughing) so down to 6 runners now...

This game`s not for you Bungle.

I'm wondering if there is something amiss at the Tizzard yard as his best horses aren't firing. It didn't occur to me after Cue Card and Thistlecrack were well beaten as there were plausible reasons, but his promising novice White Moon ran too bad to be true today. He was up in grade but ran out of gas a long way from home and couldn't finish ahead of a horse that was beaten after the second flight. Also the betting was revealing. He was favourite yesterday evening but drifted all day today then during the race his price suddenly jumped from 4 to 9 when passing the stands first time even though he was travelling and jumping well at that time. Somebody knew he was going to run a stinker. There could be an upset tomorrow though my tipping is all to **** these days.

I'm wondering if there is something amiss at the Tizzard yard as his best horses aren't firing. It didn't occur to me after Cue Card and Thistlecrack were well beaten as there were plausible reasons, but his promising novice White Moon ran too bad to be true today. He was up in grade but ran out of gas a long way from home and couldn't finish ahead of a horse that was beaten after the second flight. Also the betting was revealing. He was favourite yesterday evening but drifted all day today then during the race his price suddenly jumped from 4 to 9 when passing the stands first time even though he was travelling and jumping well at that time. Somebody knew he was going to run a stinker. There could be an upset tomorrow though my tipping is all to **** these days.

Is this how the Racing Post see the fiasco about the recent events concerning the Tingle Creek Chase? Little or no comments from them but this is from one of their head writers, I believe.

"No Douvan but get over it! It is still a Saturday to savour so just enjoy it."

No Altior; no Douvan; no Un De Sceaux the defending champion who has chosen to run in a lower grade race instead. A Gp 1 race now has degenerated into a sub-standard renewal resembling a glorified handicap.

I've planned to go to Sandown tomorrow but definitely not now. I'll watch the Henry VIII Novices Chase for Cheltenham pointers, but not the Tingle Creek this year.