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Now that would be a race to savour.
I think Great Field would win personally if he jumps like yesterday. Very impressive performance.
Let’s hope it happens next season.The only thing Great Field would do is give Altior a nice lead to two out; after that, he’d be crushed. Still, let’s hope that they keep hyping the Mullins charge- it’ll only lead to better odds for Altior backers if and when they clash.
Surely Great Field is a very talented horse, but except Altior very early novice hurdle races he has just left every single horse for dead when asked, including the festival winners. I think we can only hope that Douvan comes back to his very best and Altior stays sound.
That overdrive Altior has is a punishing weapon but his racing style in general suggests he could be even better over farther. If Might Bite wasn’t in the yard, I suspect the KG would be a temptation.
Why is there any need at this stage to be thinking about a new trip? He hasn’t even won a Champion Chase. Another unbeaten season at two miles would be absolutely fine.
Got to agree with you Stilvi, some people will never be happy. He wins the Arkle and people are annoyed that he didn’t run in the Champion Chase. He’ll go for the Champion Chase and a few will be seething that he didn’t run in the King George and/or Gold Cup!
Perhaps it’s just a symptom of how fragile racehorses are nowadays – carpe diem and all that.
The only thing Great Field would do is give Altior a nice lead to two out; after that, he’d be crushed. Still, let’s hope that they keep hyping the Mullins charge- it’ll only lead to better odds for Altior backers if and when they clash.
Whilst your probably right I think Great Field would certainly give him a test as he gets from one side of a fence to the other quicker than I’ve seen in a good while.
Great Fields is exciting to watch, no question, and sets off at proper 2m pace. Trouble is he lacks the gear changes that Altior has at the business end. So, I think he will just be brushed aside – much like Special Tiara was yesterday. Watching the Celebration, I thought Special Tiara had Altior at it going down the back and Railway Straight. ST’s jumping was, as usual, fast and accurate, and at times Altior was slow for a 2-miler. Come the straight though and it was one way traffic.
It’s clear that SB see Altior as an out and out 2-miler, so he will go TC-CH-QMCC-Celebration next year. What might take him on from Ireland is more of an open question: I can’t see a clash with Douvan before Cheltenham (assuming he comes back sound), and – after this year’s Irish trainers’ championship – I can see both Great Fields and UDS being kept at home rather than coming over to chase Altior’s tail.
Why is there any need at this stage to be thinking about a new trip? He hasn’t even won a Champion Chase. Another unbeaten season at two miles would be absolutely fine.
Because 3-mile chasing is more prestigious, more competitive and has bigger prize money. Altior finishes his races so powerfully he seems sure to stay further. Really hope Douvan recovers, as his form with Sizing John and Fox Norton has really been boosted; we know know that he was destroying a vintage year of novices. A clash between the two would be incredible
Altior finishes his races so powerfully he seems sure to stay further.
Not only that but Nico seemed a bit concerned at times that his horse might get outpaced yesterday. Altior has matured greatly since the start of the season and seems to me to have learned an awful lot about racing. Newbury would have been a key lesson for him; he was much too exuberant that day. He was a different horse at Cheltenham and I think his Newbury exertions could have played a part in that. He was sharper and brighter yesterday than in the Arkle but again seemed to need that hill to hit top gear and power away. To the eye, he travels and gallops like a horse who wants a trip.
For those getting their knickers in a twist, I’m not suggesting his 2 mile campaign be immediately ditched for a crack at the Gold Cup, but simply making an observation.
I for one fully anticipate such heavyweight clashes not actually happening, as modern trainers and owners continue to avoid racing their best horses against the other very good horses. We all want the super races, but we all know deep down that most hyped duels rarely take place, even at the festivals. There’s always another race to move them to, thus avoiding the fear of defeat.
Pity, but that’s how it seems nowadays.
I have no idea who this “great field” is, and haven’t seen any of his races, but I for one would be amazed if he, or any other horse next season, proved a match for Altior.
Altior finishes his races so powerfully he seems sure to stay further.
For those getting their knickers in a twist, I’m not suggesting his 2 mile campaign be immediately ditched for a crack at the Gold Cup, but simply making an observation.
Not sure what the exact definition of getting knickers in a twist but I suspect it is more accurate to link it to someone who is wishing for something that is unlikely to happen. It wouldn’t bother me in the slightest if Altior continues at two miles.
All really hinges on whether Douvan comes back the same horse, must say I would like to see Great Field going round Cheltenham because it would be one hell of a white knuckle ride for his jockey as he is very low at his fences and has zero margin for error.
With Altior we are still none the wiser as to how good he is and I suspect that of the Mullins trio it will probably be UDS that he will face in the Tingle Creek (especially as the ground at that time of year will be more in his favour) but also don’t forget about Ar Mad who is very good at Sandown.
However, if Great Field also turns up it could be a right burn up over those fences with three confirmed front running tearaways (although I would suspect if UDS is of a mind, Ruby might be able to drop him in behind the other two). That scenario could be a true test as to whether Altior can jump at true 2m pace (i.e. low and slick instead of giving his fences to much air like he did at the last at Newbury).
Hopefully Altior should be taking on at least one of Douvan or Great Field so one of the clashes will happen I’d imagine. If it doesn’t I think it will be more down to injuries rather than different options.
Great Field at present still has a lot to prove for me, he looks to have potential and could be an excuse for Mullins to step Douvan up in trip.Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
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