Whats up with Annie Power

She is in Irish Champion Hur Jan 29th so presume she is okay?

Willie has 7 of the 10 entries in the Irish Champion. Makes a complete mess of the build up to such a race when the racing public will be in the dark as to what runs until the Friday before.

I'd say they'll say they'll target her at the mares hurdle & Willie will justify it by saying 'it would be an unfair question to put to her to run her in a Champion Hurdle off the worst preparation she has ever had'. they'll spin it that this is the worst run-in to a big race Annie has ever had!

They'll say that that will leave her spot on to defend the Aintree Hurdle which will be a stroll in the park for her.

Faugheen waltzes to the Irish Champion, English Champion and Punchestwon Champion hurdles.

This way they never have to meet, one provides the other with the toughest race, I can see why Ricci will keep them apart.

I'd be surprised if they don't do this.

Either of them would be a moral in the French Champion Hurdle, I wonder if the money hungry side of Ruby would push Faugheen forward for it after a such 'light' campaign. champion Hurdler in 3 countries would catch the public imagination even though they don't mean the same thing.

yanworth at double figures ew for ch is as good value bet ive seen in a while

apologies im weeks 2 late

Tubby After timing of the highest order there mate....

Yanworth is indeed excellent each way value in the Champion, it isn't the type of field with the depth of talent to run him off his feet, Ruby will set his own fractions away in front and you'd think Yanworth willdevour the hill for a place at least.

Its funny, a deeper race would probably help his winning chances, but the weak race it is shaping to be means he will unlikely get out of his ground and should really place.

Massive positive with Yanworth is the trainer who has had big successes on the first day of Cheltenham before and is generally very good. jock isn't bad either!

Not that I think Yanworth is particularly slow, just that he clearly gets further, and if he were to bomb out, that would be why one would think. Would have full confidence in the trainer producing him for the day.

The way he produced Bensalem for the handicap 2 years in a row was one of the best training performances of recent years I thought.

Deeper race, stronger pace which is what he wants obviously!

Good "Irish angle" in regards Cheltenham at the moment with Kieran O' Sullivan, Neill, be worth a look at on their site on replay if unable to see now.

I recorded it Pa, will watch it this evening, whenever I see Kieran doing the Sunday Irish meetings from studio, he seemed to pick a lot of winners. Mainly during the flat I remember him, though.

Good to see them getting an analyst, I'm nearly sure I've seen episodes where it is just Derek Thompson playing the races, lots of guys might find that better but I find I need to be directed a little!

Good luck with that fella at Dundalk, Pa, good spot. Hopefully the draw won't be too much bother, he'll be held up anyway sure.

George B's analysis is very good on that race Neill,Lucent Dreams run was eyecatching alright,almost a mirror image of Walkabouts, anyway off 56 i can't be anything but still optimistic.

Just talking about analysts I never thought i'd ever say it but Kevin O' Ryan has gone from 45-65 to almost listed class,he has been interviewing a lot of the right people pre race last few months.

He is well connected and when he uses that he is very good I agree. he seems like a practical kind of guy that he can give one a bit of mention and we can read between the lines alright i notice.

"champion Hurdler in 3 countries would catch the public imagination" possible ?

By Brian Sheerin 2:33PM, JAN 6 2017
   
Racing fans will be hoping the wait to see Annie Power and/or Faugheen will end in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle on January 29, with both among Willie Mullins' seven entries for the Leopardstown Grade 1.

For Faugheen, the race is probably the last-chance-saloon in terms of having an outing before the Stan James Champion Hurdle. He has not run since winning the Leopardstown contest last January, after which he missed the spring festivals with a suspensory problem, and he also missed out on the Ryanair Hurdle last month.

Annie Power, who has also not run this season, has an alternative option for a festival prep in the Punchestown mares' hurdle she won last year.

One leading two-miler who is an intended starter is Petit Mouchoir, winner of last month's Ryanair Hurdle.

"As long as he's well Petit Mouchoir will run," said Gigginstown House Stud racing manager Eddie O'Leary.