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Willie has made it no secret in the past that he thinks Douvan would get 3 miles. You have to remember the caliber of horses Douvan works against at home and for Willie to say he could win any race at the festival?
He has probably kicked Djakadam aside many a time at home, and I remember seeing something like Douvan was the only horse able to get Vautour off the bridle. I fully believe we will see him run in this years King George if he is fit and healthy, for better or for worse.
Don’t get me wrong the Champion Chase is the Champion Chase, second only to the Gold Cup in my opinion, but when you have a horse that you believe could be the best you ever have , you want to win the best race there is.
Mullins says a lot of things, we all have eyes.
Of course Douvan “kicked Djakadam aside many a time at home”. That’s the problem when it comes to the Gold Cup, he’s all about speed speed speed, where as Djakadam has stamina. Douvan is yet to race further than 2m1f and although isn’t exactly “free” at that trip… can see his chances of settling well enough to stay 3m2f110yrds on a stiff track (or indeed any track) are minimal to none.
You really think Mullins hasn’t worked Douvan over an extended trip at home? Seems like someone he would have done in his earlier days. Douvan settles quite well in races where he is not running against only 3 or 4 sub par horses, take his Supreme or Arkle run for example. You’re right however ,UDS is indeed a perfect King George horse horse.
Hi Ham, I’d pretty much agree with Vautour here, and also the subsequent posts from Voleur & Jaso.
Faced with the choice of a Champion Chase winner or a Gold Cup winner, I’d think it’s safe to say, most owners would go for Gold every time. You’re absolutely right in that once they cross the line, the question is asked as to whether or not they’re going to step up in trip, but what is equally worth noting, is that once a horse has won The Gold Cup, connections would never be asked if they’d consider stepping down in trip, as giving up another Gold Cup for a Champion Chase just wouldn’t happen.
One Man is your classic example. My favourite ever winner of The Champion Chase, what a day that was, but he was only there because connections had to accept that he just couldn’t get the trip in The Gold Cup, he had hit “the wall” in his 2 previous attempts. More recently, Sizing Europe’s owners were clearly desperate to step up in trip having won The Champion Chase, and wanted a Gold Cup, but he just didn’t get the trip. The last thing connections of Coneygree or Don Cossack would be asked (or even consider themselves) would be a tilt at The Champion Chase the next season.
This works in reverse over Hurdles. Winners of Champion Hurdles would never be targetted for The World Hurdle the following season. I don’t know why this is, but I suppose The Champion Hurdle & Gold Cup are quite simply the 2 biggest and most prestigious prizes at The Festival, and the question will always be asked of Douvan, until he proves that he can’t stay the trip (or that Ricci unearths a proper dynamite stayer)
Sorry for a bit of a rambling response to your earlier question, just thought I’d throw my tuppence worth in.
Whatever happens, look forward to another top drawer performance from Douvan in a few weeks time, until next year, when he becomes the first horse to ever win The Champion Hurdle, Gold Cup, and Boat Race in the one year. He could be that good lol
My Tent Or Yours confirmed for this race! Boom!
Great news – I’m loving the 50/1 ew on this. Come on good ground!!
The more I look at this the more I like Brain Power. Won with ease at Sandown and Ascot and whilst the depth of those races will undoubtedly come into question, he is thoroughly unexposed and genuinely could be anything. Rated 162 v 164 of Yanworth so doesn’t have much to find on ratings, and in the most open CH in years I think he is the one to be on. Working with Altior at home – make of that what you will.
The more I look at this the more I like Brain Power. Won with ease at Sandown and Ascot and whilst the depth of those races will undoubtedly come into question, he is thoroughly unexposed and genuinely could be anything. Rated 162 v 164 of Yanworth so doesn’t have much to find on ratings, and in the most open CH in years I think he is the one to be on. Working with Altior at home – make of that what you will.
I think he will need a proper pace to run at so hopefully, Petit Mouchoir won’t just mess about on the front end.
I think the Henderson horses are flat track horses, Yanworth hasn’t been that impressive and what has Petit Mouchoir beat?
I actually think this is one of the most open races of the festival, call me crazy but I’m starting to fancy The new one for a minor upset.
Could be some sort of sense of completion if TNO was to win this… wins the Neptune beating rule the world who went on to win the grand national… would be nice if a horse as honest as TNO bags his own big race
Just been looking at the videos of the new one in past champion hurdles
he hasn’t got the pace to lay up with them
back to square one
Judge the new one is an each way prospect at best if it’s soft but I can’t help but thinking he has no way around beating yanworth.
Yanworth didn’t jump a hurdle at kepmton and still beat him convincingly!
Cheltenham hill will suit yanworth more
If it’s good going it won’t suit either horse
If it’s soft then it will suit both but we already know yanworth wins that.
I’d yanworth is 100% fit there is literally no Chance the new one beats him that’s without all the rest in the raceCouple of reasons why Brain Power at 7-1 is a cracking E/W bet for CH :
– no Faugheen or Annie Power in the race, no Yorkhill (?)
– ultra-progressive type suited by fast pace, which he definitely will have in CH (MTOY and Petit Mouchoir most likely to go to the front)
– OR 162 (just comparing with few market leaders Buveur D’air 151, Yanworth 164, Petit Mouchoir 162) but might be a bit underrated in my view. In the last run at Ascot he beat Consul De Thaix (140) very easily by 5 lengths giving him 1 stone, horses like Golden Spear, Pyromaniac, Modus were well behind. That Ascot contest was hell a lot of good race, grade 3 though. Shame we haven’t seen CDT at betfair hurdle against Ballyandy…
– Brain Power is a 6-y-o trained by Nicky Henderson who won this race 5 times, last year 2nd to Annie Power with MTOY, yard in cracking form (Altior, Might Bite, Charli Parcs – who is yet to show his real face;-)). Just for the record more than 50% of Champion Hurdle winners were aged 6 or less.
– seems to handle good, good to soft ground very well; question mark about soft one. Although hard to say he won’t handle soft ground, was well beaten on soft at Cheltenham, but it was on the first outing this season and left that form well behind him. Pedigree suggests he will handle any ground, is by Kalanisi – sire of Katchit, who won Champion Hurdle in 2007.The only worry is whether he will handle Cheltenham track, most of his form comes on right-handed tracks and was well beaten on his only run at Cheltenham. I think at 7-1 E/W is worth to check it…This year is not so easy to pick the winner in this open race
The obvious horse for this race is un de sceaux. Surely the owners would prefer to win the champion hurdle than the Ryanair. It’s really his only chance to win one of the big 4 Cheltenham races.
The obvious horse for this race is un de sceaux. Surely the owners would prefer to win the champion hurdle than the Ryanair. It’s really his only chance to win one of the big 4 Cheltenham races.
Dont think he’d be quick enough.
The obvious horse for this race is un de sceaux. Surely the owners would prefer to win the champion hurdle than the Ryanair. It’s really his only chance to win one of the big 4 Cheltenham races.
Are you seriously still banging that drum? He’d get lapped.
Better long-term that he goes chasing. Not many Champion Hurdle winners aged 9+, but plenty of 10/11yo Queen Mum winners. Going chasing now will probably improve his development and long-term provide more wins and prize money.
But yes, he’d very likely win this.
Better long-term that he goes chasing. Not many Champion Hurdle winners aged 9+, but plenty of 10/11yo Queen Mum winners. Going chasing now will probably improve his development and long-term provide more wins and prize money.
But yes, he’d very likely win this.
Touche
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