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You have a point Jasolong, Barry Geraghty said as much after his last win at Ascot, he
indicated that he keeps some in the tank but that he has “more class than he lets on”.
He’s won by a total of 24 lengths in his last 7 wins, and I think he’s improving, winning
his last at Ascot by 4 1/2L, 14L back to the third and in his last but one he strolled to
a 6L win in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, which could have been double that. He can’t
do much more than beat the opposition easily. If he can win like that, whilst keeping
something in the tank, he’s very decent. Harry Fry, who is always understated, commented
after his last run “Sometimes these horses come along and they just keep finding. He is
progressing unbelievably and hopefully long may it continue.”It looks like the Cleeve Hurdle next and then the World Hurdle. I think he’s top class,
others perhaps aren’t convinced. I think it’s going to have to take a convincing win in
the World Hurdle before we’re all singing from the same hymn sheet.I’m still happy with Snow Flacon for the Stayers. The Old Course and ( hopefully ) better ground will suit
By the way, what about the commentary ?! Jesus wept…
I was thinking that way myself but even allowing for the crawl he was still disappointing and his jumping I am afraid looks like an accident waiting to happen, at least with Flanagan on board.
The problem with Vroum Vroum Mag is she is viewed by Ricci/Mullins as the Super Sub and she could/will go anywhere.
I would say if all horses are fit the following will happen.
Annie Power to Champion Hurdle – Ricci said she will defend her crown if fit. No mare has ever won it twice so there’s a shot at history
Faugheen was entered in that 3 mile hurdle (the one Vroum Vroum won) but he wasn’t deemed ready. I reckon they will aim Faugheen at The World Hurdle. He has the entry in The Irish Champion Hurdle over 2 miles later this month but that’s just because they wont be risking Annie. Annie didn’t appear until Feb last year and only raced 3 times (they wrap her in cotton wool)
Vroum Vroum to The Mares because Willie will want to win it and will not want Gigginstown/Elliot taking it with Apples Jade. Having trained Apples Jade Willie will know only Vroum or Annie can beat her.
Things change and if a slot opened up in another race, like The World Hurdle, Vroum Vroum could fill in but from what I have heard so far I think the above is the plan for the Mullins Hurdlers.
FAUGHEEN CH
ANNIE MARES
VROUM VROUM WHThe 1st 2 a penalty kick and Neither having a run is the already prepared excuse
Will all three Ricci horses get to Cheltenham?
If only one of Faugheen and Annie gets there then the remaining one will go Champion and Vroum Vroum will go Mares.
If both F & A see Cheltenham then there’s a chance Annie will go Stayers or Mares. If all three get there in A1 condition (and want them in different races) I’d go Faugheen Champion, Annie Power Stayers and Vroum Vroum Mag Mares.
If Faugheen is ok and they don’t think Annie stays 3m; possible she could revert to the Mares, but connections would get a kicking in the press for running a Champion Hurdle winner there. But in that case they might think of Ryanair for VVM… Although provided Douvan is fit and well Un De Sceaux will end up in the Ryanair
If neither Fugheen or Annie make March then Vroum Vroum could go Champion.Reason: Vroum Vroum Mag struggles at 3m. Had form to win her last race (3m) by a wide margin. Looked like doing so, but despite the slow pace barely got home in the end. Connections apparently think she idled; if so it’s the first time. Just a coincidence it was over the furthest trip tackled? Doubt it.
imo Can’t see VVM going the World hurdle route whatever happens.
Don’t you love the Mullins malaise?
Value Is Everythingconnections would get a kicking in the press for running a Champion Hurdle winner there.
LOL yeah, after LIBOR and Vautour Ryanair, Ricci’s really gonna give a toss what the press says…
Reason: Vroum Vroum Mag struggles at 3m. Had form to win her last race (3m) by a wide margin. Looked like doing so, but despite the slow pace barely got home in the end. Connections apparently think she idled; if so it’s the first time. Just a coincidence it was over the furthest trip tackled? Doubt it.
Barely got home? She’s 3/3 at 2m 6f+. I swear some people just see what they want to see sometimes. She beat 2 out-and-out 3-milers in Clondaw Court and Snow Falcon. She beat Jennie’s Jewel at Ascot a year ago over 2m 7f – she went on to finish 4th in the 3m Grade 1 at Punchestown.
As for idling…Ruby said she was idling. As they said in the RP podcast the other day, she looked like winning the Mares by 10L but only won by a few. Does nothing in front.
Annie Power had her chance to win the Stayers. Her Betfair price reflects the chances of her running in it IMO. Was a really bad Stayers Hurdle as well. At Fisher’s Cross got beaten nearly the same distance Cole Harden beat him.
I think there are 2 things we know for sure. Vroum Vroum Mag will not run in the Champion Hurdle or the Ryanair Chase.
CH Faugheen, Mares AP, SH VVM
CH AP, Mares VVM, WH Faugheen
CH Faugheen, Mares VVM, SH APThose are basically the 3 options.
Vroum Vroum may be the RR ‘super sub’ but they’ve also stated they want to put her in the race that she has the best chance of winning.
On the Stayers option, I’m with Ginge; I’m one of VVM’s biggest fans but I’m not convinced that she really saw that 3 miles out. There’s the world of difference between beating inferior mares over 2m 6+ and taking on the top staying geldings, as they found out with Annie. Annie too stays 2.6 really well, but for me she just didn’t get up that hill. I can see them having the same doubts over VVM, and for that reason can’t see her turning up in this. If RR wants to win the Stayers then he probably needs to be sending Faugheen in that direction – after all, the other potential joker in this pack is another JP horse, Jezki.
Can VVM win the Mares for a second time? Last year was easy. This time It’s no cake walk: Apple’s Jade lies in wait there (assuming Petit Mouchoir is the Giggi CH horse). Of the three obvious candidates (AP, VVM & Let’s Dance), the only RR mare who definitely would beat Apple’s Jade imo is an on song Annie. Given the Great Divorce, I would not be entirely surprised to see Annie heading here (‘unfinished business’ and all that).
Which Cheltenham races might VVM win? Although I could see her being RR’s representative in the CH (minus Faugheen and Annie), I can’t see her having the toe to win it. Training with WPM’s CH horses is not the same as being the CH horse. Much more likely for VVM, I think, is the Ryanair. OK, WPM has UDS for that but he’s up against everything else that is avoiding either Douvan or Thistlecrack. VVM was good enough to win a so-so G1 hurdle at Punchestown (beating reasonable yardsticks in Identity Thief & MTOY); she’ll see this distance out well, and she jumps fences just as well as she jumps hurdles. I think this is the race she has the best chance of winning.
Barely got home? She’s 3/3 at 2m 6f+. I swear some people just see what they want to see sometimes. She beat 2 out-and-out 3-milers in Clondaw Court and Snow Falcon.
How is Clondaw Warrior an out and out 3-miler? He’s won a Galway Hurdle only a few months ago having tanked around.
I agree with that.
Let’s dance goes to mares hurdle for me. Annie goes to champion and wins. Faugheen if fit to world hurdle.Barely got home? She’s 3/3 at 2m 6f+. I swear some people just see what they want to see sometimes. She beat 2 out-and-out 3-milers in Clondaw Court and Snow Falcon. She beat Jennie’s Jewel at Ascot a year ago over 2m 7f – she went on to finish 4th in the 3m Grade 1 at Punchestown.
As for idling…Ruby said she was idling. As they said in the RP podcast the other day, she looked like winning the Mares by 10L but only won by a few. Does nothing in front.
Annie Power had her chance to win the Stayers. Her Betfair price reflects the chances of her running in it IMO. Was a really bad Stayers Hurdle as well. At Fisher’s Cross got beaten nearly the same distance Cole Harden beat him.
I think there are 2 things we know for sure. Vroum Vroum Mag will not run in the Champion Hurdle or the Ryanair Chase.
CH Faugheen, Mares AP, SH VVM
CH AP, Mares VVM, WH Faugheen
CH Faugheen, Mares VVM, SH APThose are basically the 3 options.
Row of “1”s in a horse’s form line doesn’t mean it runs to the same ability every time, Zark. Sometimes it will be good enough to win without needing to be at its best.
In those three races:
Beat Sportingportrait (who recieved 5 lbs) by 8 lengths.
Beat Jennies Jewel (who recieved 3 lbs) by 3 1/2 lengths.
Beat Clondaw Warrior by 1 1/4 lengths with VVM recieving 7lbs sex allowance from the winner.Do you really think any of those races are as good as the form of:
An unlucky short head 2nd to Apples Jade (who recieved 4 lbs weight for age)? Or…
Beating Identity Thief by 1 1/4 lengths with VVM recieving 7 lbs sex allowance from the winner?I swear some people just see what they want to see sometimes.
Value Is EverythingI agree with that.
Let’s dance goes to mares hurdle for me. Annie goes to champion and wins. Faugheen if fit to world hurdle.Lets Dance is a Novice Hurdler so I can’t see her going to The Mares. She will most likely go to The Neptune or Mares Novice Hurdle. Airlie Beach and Asthuria will most likely line up for The Mare’s Novice Hurdle because they are suited to 2 mile 1F; Augusta Kate and Lets Dance seem to be stayers..
It’s really difficult to see where all that strength in depth will end up.
Ricci is on record (for what thats worth) saying Annie will defend her title if she is fit. To me that means they are thinking along the lines of Annie to the CH, Vroum Vroum to the Mares and Faugheen to The World Hurdle. The other scenario, if Annie is not firing on all cylinders, would be Faugheen goes CH and Annie goes Mares and Vroum to the World Hurdle. I think the above are the only two permutations if all 3 horses stay fit.
In those three races:
Beat Sportingportrait (who recieved 5 lbs) by 8 lengths.
Beat Jennies Jewel (who recieved 3 lbs) by 3 1/2 lengths.
Beat Clondaw Warrior by 1 1/4 lengths with VVM recieving 7lbs sex allowance from the winner.Do you really think any of those races are as good as the form of:
An unlucky short head 2nd to Apples Jade (who recieved 4 lbs weight for age)? Or…
Beating Identity Thief by 1 1/4 lengths with VVM recieving 7 lbs sex allowance from the winner?I swear some people just see what they want to see sometimes.
We’re not talking about whether she’s good enough though, are we Ginge? We’re talking about whether she’ll stay. I think the discussion is nonsense tbh.
I had considered Snow Falcon as an outsider for this but at this level I can’t think of a worse jumper of a hurdle. Anything like a decent round and he would have won today.
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