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In reply to Ginger’s and Green’s fancy from the Sir Gino thread, Willie said Mystical Power has a fair bit to find to win a Champion Hurdle in March in his stable tour. He did hint he wanted to go chasing with him but owner may have decided to give this a go.
I backed Mystical Power for this before the Supreme last year, by the best flat stallion ever out of a CH winner, loads of scope for this 5yo to improve and can take high rank for the next 2 or 3 years. He proved last year that he is tough enough to take plenty of racing so seems a natural successor to State Man for all the big dances.
Every novice hurdler “has to improve a fair bit to win a Champion Hurdle” (well almost, Constitution Hill’s Supreme was supreme). As Green says, Mystical Power has the breeding and scope to improve a fair bit further.
Value Is EverythingI backed him for the Cheltenham and Aintree races so don’t dislike the horse, it just that it may be a year too soon for him in this for the win. Willie even mentioned the Stayers Hurdle as a consideration this season though i don’t see him as a 3 miler.
Mullins always says daft things at this time of year. Smoke and mirrors.
To stay 2 1/2 in top company Mystical Power will need to relax a lot more. The way he travelled last year there is no way Mystical Power will run at, let alone stay 3 miles. At 2 miles he was outstayed by Slade Steel after travelling best for a long way on heavy ground on the stiff Cheltenham course in the Supreme (test of stamina at the trip). Then won on the flatter Aintree on slightly better ground (lesser test)… And Punchestown on better ground still (even lesser test of stamina) gaining revenge on Slade Steel. Latter not having the pace in speed favouring conditions.Value Is Everything“Willie even mentioned the Stayers Hurdle as a consideration”
Only because he doesn’t have a Stayers horse. I’d say Frank Berry will have reminded him of Ted Walsh’s view of the Stayers hurdle
“nobody gets up in the morning with the aim of breeding a Stayers’ Hurdle winner”
Annie Power ran (and got beaten in) the Stayers hurdle at the age of 6 to stay out of Quevega’s way. I would think the owners of her son will give Willie short shrift if he starts on about 3 miles. GT is right- he’s far too keen.First start will tell the tale. If it’s the Hatton’s Grace the trainer might still be angling to go up to 3m. If it’s the Fighting Fifth he can say “right we’ll give 2 miles a go and if he doesn’t win then I’ll do my plan”.
I heard IEP had a slight setback and wouldn’t be out until Christmas or New Year.
So I wouldn’t be sure about him going chasing.Value Is EverythingI may be made to look very stupid (again) in March, but having Lossiemouth as favourite for this race is insane.
Both her RPR and official rating are 156, compared to 170 and 169 respectively for State Man and 177 and 175 for Constitution Hill.
I don’t lay horses, but if I did Lossiemouth would be top of my list. Even with the mares’ allowance, she has plenty to find.
It’s about potential and not yet knowing what the ceiling is with Lossiemouth.
Same thing applies to Grey Dawning in the Betfair Chase, another behind on the ORs.
I reckon she’ll end up in the mares again. They’ve got her in early against State Man in the Morgiana. Townend prefers State Man. The writings on the wall isn’t it? Get beat there and they’ve got an out.
Would it surprise anybody if Lossiemouth was declared a NR Saturday morning. Why isn’t Danny Mullins down to ride?
Because Ricci lets Patrick ride all his horses if Townend isn’t on them. Like Gaelic Warrior at Limerick last year. Danny gets the Cheveley Park horses I think – well I hope- will be raging if golden boy rides Grangeclare West on Sunday, should be Danny (assuming GDC declared).
“Would it surprise anybody if Lossiemouth was declared a NR Saturday morning. ”
If she’s only in as emergency backup for State Man, they could easily withdraw her on the day. It’s yielding at the moment but due to start chucking it down in the early hours of Saturday morning so they wouldn’t have to do a pretendy wendy “Not Eaten Up” they can just cite change in going I think.
The alternative is that they do intend to run to find out early if she’s all that and a bag of chips, and if so they can send Mystical Power to the Hatton’s Grace and make sad noises about him not being fast enough for the champion hurdle leaving SM and Lossie over 2 miles.
The other benefit of running her here not the Hatton’s Grace could be to get her settled better behind pacemakers at 2 mile speed.
I’d laugh if they both ran and Sir Gerhard beat them both. Won’t happen like…but it would be funny. Even though I have both SM and Lossie in my TTF but forfeiting the points would be worth it.
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