For me I can't see how State Man's will beat CH, maybe change the tactics and try make it real slog of a race going down the hill. But State's Man isn't going to come from behind CH and out sprint it.

Lossiemouth getting half a stone would have a better chance than State Man imo

I'd like them to try Impaire Et Passe from the front this weekend and not sit behind State Man as that will just be the same result again

thats not really the ? is it
the ? is can you see state man beating lossimouth,if as is obvious the answers is yes and they think lossimouth has a far better chance in  the other race its a no brainer

Mystery how Below The Radar drifted quite so much. It was fair enough during the race as his jumping never matched the second but before the race they couldn't give him away. Double coming from Don't Tell Su?

I am trying to argue that horses should run in races that suit them best, rather than the perceived easiest option. Mullins is just hoping to get away with the longer trip. I think Lossiemouth would beat State Man, but more importantly, provide some genuine opposition to Constitution Hill. That would be the best outcome for racing. All sorts of excuses have been trotted out as why she can't take on Constitution Hill, including comparison with Vauban. Vauban didn't look good enough from the start of his second campaign, and of course he didn't get any weight advantage. As regards what I said earlier it is relevant to the choice. Imagine she went to the Champion Hurdle and beat State Man, questions would inevitably be asked why Mullins didn't realise she was his number one hope.

what doe,s it matter if she beats state man but like state man loses to  CH, theres an easier race for lossimouth but no chel alt for state man

Nicely put, Sage.

dd,

Don't you think that Lossie could be being made to look better than she is, she keeps winning what turn out to be sprints and the time she had to get down and dirty, allbeit with a bad run through, she couldn't get back to Gala Marceau who's a stayer, I think a thorough test at 2 miles against CH would not be of any help to her and the step up in trip to the Mares would see her vulnerable too. I'd be more worried from a Constitution Hill point of view of his own stablemate Sir Gino who's race was run way quicker for the majority and who finished off even better than Lossie.

Fun and games splitting CH and SG up next year.

But we are also allowed to voice our opinion.
Even if it does not concur to yours.

Did anyone say you couldn't?

Maybe you do actually think less competitive racing is a good idea - that is what you arguing for - but there is nothing worse than people who just play devil's advocate for the sake of it.

Happy to hear you elaborate on why having less competitive races during the sport's biggest showcase meeting is a good thing.

It is quite possible that Lossiemouth would win the CH by 10 lengths proving you right dd but the decision has to be taken by those closest to the horse and that is the owner and the trainer. I would love to see the Championship races run at different meetings giving some horses the option of running in more than one but that is not the case at the moment when Cheltenham dominates. It is of course quite possible that a Constitution Hill/Lossiemouth clash could happen at Aintree or Punchestown but I doubt it. One thing is for sure, if one of them got a beating at Cheltenham, they would not run again this season.

Amazing, a horse who for 90% of the race didn't look as if he was going to win a shocking maiden hurdle. I can only assume he has joined the Paul Kealy dart throwing club. If the horse didn't have those connections he wouldn't look value at 66/1.

Who's doing that? Is this the number one stable, or confusion corner? Everything about her shouts two-miler and someone thinks it's a good idea to go three miles plus on likely testing ground. All this nonsense would be avoided if you just ran horses over their best distance. It's an idea that plenty of the time Mullins just seems to ignore. Yesterday, he made comments about the winners needing a trip. How is it he can have an instant idea on those lesser horses, but he is still farting about with Ballyburn even though it should have been obvious from last season that this one was a stayer? You can only draw the conclusion he actually enjoys creating confusion and chaos in the markets. It's his messing around that has done more than anything to kill ante-post.

I don't think so. It would make it look as if the original decision was all about State Man, and nothing much to do with Lossiemouth's best interests. I think trainers in general are a pretty stubborn bunch, and once they see things in a certain direction they find it very hard to change track.

I think a huge percentage of the racing public would want to see her in the Champion Hurdle, but sadly, they don't have any clout. If 99 out of 100 people said run in the Champion Hurdle, Mullins wouldn't take any notice. Racing Post site has asked the question, and it feels like they have dragged someone out to decry Lossiemouth just to play devil's advocate. Not very convincing.

Reality check in the RP today. Lossiemouth has not achieved a high enough rating to have PLACED in any of the last 10 Champion Hurdles. None of the horses she beat last Saturday are within 15lb of State Man, never mind Constitution Hill. She is a 5yo mare and as such she has a mountain of stats to overcome to win a CH. Not saying she can't but only 2 5yo geldings have done it in more than 20 years and no 5yo mares have even tried so far as I recall. Honeysuckle was 7 and 8, Annie Power 8 when they won.

Bottom line was that she won a sprint against a horse that wanted further....I agree her only chance would be for State Man to set a crawl and for her to do CH for a bit of toe "perhaps"in a 2 furlong burn up but if that looked to be happening I would fully expect Nico to send CH on and make his own running, we've seen what CH can do off of a through gallop in his Supreme. Let's see how Lossiemouth copes with an eyeballs out 2 mile test.

If you want sycophantic cheerleading stuff count me out. The last few days on here has been akin to having a chat with Rich Ricci. As if that guy needs a platform. I really don't need that, but if that's what people want the floor is yours.

Vega sticks to 2 miles.

Interesting Irish point winner running for Nicholls in NH Flat race at Sandown on Saturday.

DD
This is a HORSE RACING forum… not solely a punter’s forum.

It was an excellent thread

Good piece by Keith Melrose and following on from the Kevin Blake about taking the Mares Hurdle out of Cheltenham and putting it elsewhere in the calendar. It's got more mares racing put it shouldn't stop competition in the Championship races which it has done now for a number of years at Cheltenham.

The chat this weekend on most of the topics on this forum is why it is so dead these days.

This topic, though, has been a very enjoyable read.
Great input and debate.

This weekend has seen a lot of criticism aimed at Mullins as always.

He has an embarrassment of riches, as he has had for a while, but as always he is happy to run them at this meeting.

Unlike most Grade 1s in the early season, his horses run on their merit here as he sorts out his pecking order for March.

Kargese was much improved yesterday in winning the Spring juvenile. She was far too keen on debutwhen only just touched off in a Grade 2. She won nicely yesterday if a little too exuberant and can make her presence felt with her allowance at Cheltenham.

Marine Nationale was very flat. Never travelled or jumped at any stage. Hopefully something will come to light over the next day or two. It leaves the Arkle very wide open.

Galopin Des Champs won well again and will obviously be hard to beat on the Friday. Supporters of FastorSlow should take plenty of encouragement from that run.

The NH flat winner looked very good. The Champion Bumper is not a race I agree with or look at.

Today Fact To File looked top class in a match. The runner up is a decent horse who was made to look very ordinary. I like the winner a lot.

Ballyburn proved Mullins knows what trip to send his best novice over once again. And will take all the beating in the opener at Prestbury Park.

El Fabiolo has never and will never look pretty over a fence but his ability and engine sets him apart from nearly every other horse in training.

Another enjoyable DRF.