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Champagne fever and sir des champs maybe? I’m sure there will be ready excuses for both from some but they went backwards. Djackadam is maybe doing so too
Quite a few novices and bumpers seem to disappear into the ether in the past although names don’t come to mind. I do however remember one poster on one forum putting up quite a list a few years back
I’m posing the question rather than stating the fact though
I don’t agree that players have to win medals to be greats because they are components in a side. Was Suarez a greater player than giggs. Definitely in my opinion (I support neither club)
Horses have to win those championship races though
Ronnie O’Sullivan is the greatest Snooker player of all time
but is still too far overrated…….
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Ginge, Days Hotel was beaten 17L at levels by Top Gamble…Where do we stop when trying to just answer the question, should he be up there with the greats?
He’s never beaten a horse rated above 157 (when all rivals completed). Do you think he’s among the greats? That’s the only point I’m debating here, that those calling him ‘great’ and a ‘superstar’ are over-rating him and probably by some considerable margin.
He’s a very good, classy animal who might at some point run and win enough quality races to be spoken of with the greats, but is that evidence there now?
Is he a ‘great’ horse?
Some would make the same type of arguement with Cracksman.
There’s plenty of room between Douvan and whoever’s finished second to fit better horses.You know horses don’t run to form every time, Joe.
tbh I do think Timeform probably have over rated Douvan on 182, depends how much you’re prepared to add to the basic performance for ease of victory. But he’s certainly at least a high 170’s and deserves to be “rated” the best chaser of last season. Is that a “great”? Probably – if only taking in to account raw ability.
Shame he’s not raced against better horses and/or won better races. Compared to what Sizing John has achieved it’s disappointing. How much ability a horse has is only part of success. Consistency, bravery and other attributes meant I voted for Sizing John in the TRF awards.
Value Is EverythingIt all makes me think back to PN winning all those races with Kauto, Nipper, Denman and Big Bucks, and sometimes bringing them back from injury to do so. Seemed awesome at the time but even more so with hindsight.
Champagne fever and sir des champs maybe? I’m sure there will be ready excuses for both from some but they went backwards. Djackadam is maybe doing so too
Quite a few novices and bumpers seem to disappear into the ether in the past although names don’t come to mind. I do however remember one poster on one forum putting up quite a list a few years back
I’m posing the question rather than stating the fact though
Champagne Fever has had his issues unfortunately, not really sure falling out of love with the game is his problem.
Sir Des Champs out for 2 years with a serious injury as well…hard to get them back to where they were before when they get bad injuries..
Djakadam has on RPRs actually ran better in this yrs John Durkan than last years in which he won. His issue is he is a consistent enough horse, but just a bit below a gold cup winner. For him to show up and run how he does each time in these gruelling races where a lot of horses dont come back from, actually goes against your point/question completely in my opinion! He’s ran to a very high level now since January 15, and thats after a good novice hurdle career as well..
On the other note Clive, that’s true, but my point alluded more to goals and quality of players, rather than titles players have won.
Douvan and Suarez can’t be considered greats of the game (in Suarez’s case in terms of PL greats) as they haven’t been about long enough. However, for the time they were there they can be considered two of the best in their fields. Douvan can’t win championship races if hes injures himself in one, and doesn’t run in one again, which i fear could happen?
Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!Yes thats fair enough about Djackadam.
Can go on for ever discussing the criteria of a great i suppose.
I think moehats point about nichols is quite correct though. Its not a straight line but certain trainers just seem to keep their horses at the top of their form more consistently than others. King would be a negative for many whilst NTD a positive
Can’t help but feel that horses trained by NTD probably pick up on the joviality of the yard and it’s peoples. Horses trained by PN do have great longevity but I wonder if their time there feels longer than it actually is. NTD is renting out holiday cottages and I’m tempted to go and stay there for a few days to sample the delights of The Hollow Bottom etc.
Great admirer of Douvan, and his last performance shouldn’t be taken into account in judgement, but he wasn’t a great, Had the potential to be tho, can’t see how he could have been any more impressive in his previous races.
Douvan was unbeaten in 13 races from 13 starts after joining Irish trainer Willie Mullins, until he was seventh in March’s Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Apparently he has surprised every one at home recently and has been given a surprise entry for the CC.
Quite a few surprises???I agree with Joe and other forumites that we might have seen the last from him and that his love for the game has dissapeared.
If you add Faugheen into the equation you might get the impression that Willie Mullins doesn’t know what’s going on. At least sometimes. Oh yes and Vautour’s Festival target was also a mistery two years ago.
Still not sure if Douvan will run tomorrow but what is the thinking behind stepping up in trip.
Only ever beaten twice in his life, in the CC last year when injured and on his first ever appearance in France and all wins over 2 miles or 2 miles 1 furlong.
I cannot see the point of it unless he had been beaten several times.
IMO a strange decisionProbably only race that suits, given timescale for cheltenham.
Kevin Blake mentioned one ina week or so, but this gives him more time.
Safer running over 2m4, than running back too soon off a lay off IMO.
Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!Yep the race was there at the right time, like racing Min over 2.5 for his seasonal reappearance.
Doesn’t run anyway lads.
Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!
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