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Agree Nathan. If they want to stand in the winners enclosure at Cheltenham again, she will have to run in the Mares Hurdle.
“Incredibly, Anzadam on the RaceIQ metrics has come in 1st on the Jump Index, 1st on Lengths Gained Jumping, 1st on Entry Speed and 1st on the least Speed Lost.”
I did notice how much better he jumped today, whether behind or ahead. He’s bats- so bats that he mightn’t ever settle enough even though Mullins horses usually wise up and slow down a bit – but if he did manage to relax and race efficiently he would probably be good enough to be thereabouts in the current moderate 2m hurdling division.
I don’t know how much good today did him. For jumping, it was certainly very worthwhile but the carting is not great. I don’t think horses are clever enough to “learn their lesson” and think oh I tanked off and got so tired, better chill out next time. It’s like dogs that pull on the lead so hard they are practically choking themselves, you’d think they’d have the wit to put a bit of slack in the lead so their neck doesn’t hurt and they can breathe but nope.
Nice treble green.
I think he could go novice chasing during the summer months. He won’t be well handicapped for a race like the County and other Spring Festival targets might not be realistic if he fails to settle. I’m sure he needs more obstacles to show his best.
It keeps it interesting that nothing looks streets ahead of the rest. Brighterdaysahead and Wodhooh’s runs were good though, like Lossie, unspectacular. Wodhooh looked like she needed almost of of the 2 1/2 mile trip to get past her opponent today, and none of these 3 mares look like they can light the afterburners and whoosh.
Sir Gino is the rightful fav, and he’s got the magical row of 1s after his name, but is that because he genuinely is that good or because due to circumstances he hasn’t run in enough G1 hurdles to have a decent chance to be beaten yet? He doesn’t jump like a champion hurdler but might not have to, to win.
“I’m sure he needs more obstacles to show his best.”
If there was a hurdle every 5 strides that would be ideal
Not sure about the chasing. It steadies them up a bit but it can’t make a maniac normal. Plus his hurdling technique was so nice today it would be a pity to waste it. Plus he’s fragile so the strain of fences might be a bit much.It you use State Man for form Brighterdaysahead gave him a doing last season , State Man was going to give Golden Ace a similar doing in the Champion , much more of a beating the Sir Gino did , I struggle to see why Lossiemouth is knocked , she delivers , bare in mind she’s won for a yard struggling for winners against a yard on fire , if she goes to the Champion ( which she deserves to ) she’s going to have every chance
Agree HDLG She always delivers and consistent. She has every right to go for the champion hurdle
VF x
If Willie and Mr Ricci think Sir Gino is a weapon then they’ll go Mares Hurdle. They’ll want a win not a run for 2nd.
Sir Gino isn’t a weapon yet , he’s a very talented horse , no doubt about that however he’s still to.prove it against the best , I’m not convinced he can give her weight , plus you have the The New Lion in the mix
I think they would be foolish to swerve the Champion Hurdle with Lossiemouth this season, she can always go back to the Mares Hurdle the following season (where she will still only be an 8 year old) if it transpires that she isn’t good enough in the Champion.
For me Sir Gino is still very much style over substance, as only his 6L Christmas Hurdle win over Golden Ace is form of any real merit and if you think that Rubaud was only beaten 9L in 3rd that arguably isn’t a great deal to shout about.
As Golden Ace showed last season (and in the Fighting Fifth this season), you have to be in the race to win it and you can’t simply run scared of Sir Gino at this stage of proceedings.
“For me Sir Gino is still very much style over substance, as only his 6L Christmas Hurdle win over Golden Ace is form of any real merit and if you think that Rubaud was only beaten 9L in 3rd that arguably isn’t a great deal to shout about.’
Watch the race back again particularly the closing stages. It’s hands and heels after a long layoff. I’d be surprised if there isn’t more in the locker. Willie and Mr Ricci will know that and will have a decision to make nearer the time as to which race they can win.
Lossiemouth is better over 2 and a half.
The only reason why Mullins would run her in the Champion Hurdle is because he has nothing else, I think Annie Power first run in it because of a late Faugheen setback… Quevega never run in the Champion
Vatour should have run in the Gold Cup but Mullins and team +90% of the time go for the winnable raceCharles Darwin to conquer the World
Trainer not losing the Anzadam faith…
“I’m wondering should we be making the running with him in future. He has a fair engine and if we can control him, he is probably a Grade One horse.”
Paul Townend ‘You’d be a brave man to say she couldn’t win a Champion Hurdle BUT y’know she’s winning grade ones at 2 miles. it will certainly have to be looked at BUT err she enjoys the other race as well and it’s always nice to look forward to be in the winners enclosure’.
Willie Mullins ‘Anzadam was the best jumper in the race, we may try different tactics next time’
Judging by the post race comments Paul Townend thinks Lossiemouth will be going for the Mares hurdle. The turn of foot mid race by Anzadam if harnessed a couple of furlongs later may have given a different result. If a change of tactics gets him in the winners enclosure next time he could well be the Mullins Champion Hurdle entry and Lossiemouth the Mares hurdle. I could see Anzadam getting an entry in next month International hurdle at Cheltenham. I think the 40/1/ 33/1 odds currently on offer have been an over reaction. William Hill have cut him to 20/1 and the others may follow suit.
It’d be silly to swerve the Champion Hurdle this season with Lossiemouth.
She’s been very good in her 2 races and I believe she always finds a good few lbs extra at Cheltenham. She loves the place. She’s already won 2 Mares hurdles and as we’ve seen with Golden Ace last season, you can’t win it if you’re not in it.
Anzadam really impressed me on Sunday but we won’t see the best of him until Townends onboard again. We’ve seen it time and time again with Patrick. He can’t settle a horse. The likes of Echoes In Rain and Salvator Mundi etc improved a lot when Paul rode vs Patrick.
Sir Gino was really impressive at Kempton but hardly looked like prime Constitution Hill. He’s also a questionable jumper of hurdles. He’ll be very tough to beat but it’s definitely worth taking him on at least once.
“She’s been very good in her 2 races…”
And this is the fundamental issue: Lossiemouth is a “very good” mare, but she isn’t Dawn Run or Anaglog’s Daughter (the two greatest mares I have ever seen); she’s barely Quevega level.
This season’s Champion Hurdle isn’t the greatest of all time, granted, but there is a potential great running: Sir Gino.
The last time Lossiemouth ran against a top-class two-mile hurdler, the apparently past his best and useless Constitution Hill, she couldn’t lay a glove on him. Why would things be different next time? 🤔
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