Quevega to stay on mares hurdle route.

if you were the owners wouldn't you like to take a shot at the big boys.
could never understand the way she was campaigned.
they dont seem to be interested in the breeding side so why not have a go, nothing to lose.
she will never go down as one of the greats in my book for this reason.

Mullins gets asked about her campaign at cheltenham every year and has to trot out the same answer, the horse is fragile, suffered a serious injury the first year they had her so they just keep her for the festivals. I understand perfectly the decision to stay with the mares race, they have a penalty kick at the 5 festival wins in a row - the first since Golden Miller afaik - why risk that going for the harder race? Regardless of how you rate her, thats a shot at history. And all being well she'd be back for the sixth, still just 10, in 2014. Like them, i wouldn't be rushing to change a winning formula either

going to run in both as she doesnt run too often in the year

The last 2 Albert Bartlett winners have gone on to win the RSA the next season, i think it's a good race. As for the Jewson i think that will progress into a top festival race too, look at last years first 3 home, Sir Des Champs challenging for Gold Cup favourtism, Champion Court and For Non Stop who hacked up in the Old Roan. Think they are good additions personally.

The diluting of the festival has destroyed national hunt racing, so many different races to choose from, lets all wait and see where x is running and y will take the easier option, triple entries are almost the norm just hours from the festival.

Hurricane Fly the defending Champion ran one race before going for a 2nd tilt at the Champion last season, might run a few more times this season now that his aura of invincibilty has been well and truely shattered.

The 3 protaganists from the International hurdle will be lucky to get one race in between the whole lot of them before the Champion, ok Quevega is a mare but most National hunt stars have no stud prospects whatsoever but you'd swear they were all potential Northern Dancers such is the amount of cotton wool they're wrapped up in.
What happened to the days of the 70's, 80's and 90's where the stars took each other on all through the season, fear of defeat never even registered because they had no balls, their owners enjoyed them.

The Racing Post Chase use to be one of the most competitive races in the calender and often produced winners and placed horses in the Gold Cup, and this race was run at the end of Feb just over a fornight from the Gold Cup, nowadays not one trainer would even dare contemplate an entry for his Gold Cup fancy in the race, as such the Racing Post trophy has become just another run of the mill handicap.

Much tougher breed back then, race hardened veterans.

Yes OTT db1974, not sure why you sound so angry about it. I wasn't saying I'd favour the Mares route if I owned the horse, just that I can understand if that's how they want to approach it. Nor was I comparing Quevega with Golden Miller, just saying that was last time i think a horse had won 5 times in a row at the festival. It goes without saying there's a world of difference between the achievements.
I share your view on the dilution of the once great 3 day festival, but mullins or owners of quevega didn't create that situation and are perfectly entitled to do what suits them best without being abused for their choice. Hope you're able to contain that anger when the festival is enhanced to 5 then 6 days

There is history that matters and history that you shouldn't give a flying **** for. Golden Miller's five timer matters. In my opinion Quevega will run in the World Hurdle but Mullins will not tell you that now as it would expose him as a coward.