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Fitzy just mentioned on ITV that these big owners purchase some of the best horses before they make it to the sales. Hmmmm …
Anyway, what is boring if the same trainer wins the Ebor and the County Hurdle with the very same horse in one season?
Well done to him.
Probably is but it would be even more so without him.
GDC has run 4 times this season, probably 5 when he reappears at Punchestown. It would be half that if trained by a certain trainer from these shores.
As well as winning Ebor and County in one season , the same horse went half way round the world and ran half decent 7 of 24 in Melbourne Cup in between .
The lesson this week , run your horses and dont leave them in a stable fretting about Cheltenham endlessly .I’m increasingly finding the whole Cheltenham Festival a bit boring now
At one time I would have been glued to the TV all afternoon having watched the morning ‘build-up’ but now I don’t watch or listen to any of the hundreds of previews on TV, radio or YouTube, I turn it off between races and even skip most of the handicaps and only make a point of watching the Championship races, maybe some of the Grade One Novices
The hype has killed it
Glad it’s over and we can get back to 5 and 6 runner handicaps at Fakenham and Ffos Las where you have a pretty decent chance of finding a few winners….. you can keep your Willie Mullins odds on shots and 20 runner handicaps. I can’t remember the last time I bet on a race at the Festival, but it’s years ago
Thoroughly enjoyed it as usual I have to say. There was a fab article in the mail on Saturday last week looking at Willie and his method of training. Sounds so much like aidan with attention to detail but Willie seems to delegate more and spend time with owners. One thing that struck me in the article is how the gallop has a slight incline and when it’s wet he get his horses used to it and gets them so fit. Galopin is a magnificent specimen of a horse and looked ready to go as did nearly all of his team.
It does tend to rain more in Ireland so the horses encounter heavy going when they are young.Part of Racing Post article when they asked Willie about going out on the lash till 4am after he got the century up on Wednesday:
“Astonishingly, he looked as fresh as a daisy.
“What’s the point having winners if you don’t enjoy them and celebrate them?” said Mullins. “What I find fascinating is that the show goes on without me – and it does that because I have such a remarkable team. We had eight runners in the bumper but I didn’t go near the saddling stalls. My team did all that. I’m so lucky to have the team we’ve put together over the last 30 years.
“I once got a great piece of advice from an owner, Noel O’Callaghan, while I was ill in hospital. He told me to do the three D’s – decide, delegate and disappear.” ”
I think his staff could have probably have thrown a blanket over him on a sofa in the hotel lobby and left him there for the rest of the festival and it would have run like clockwork anyway. Patrick would’ve talked to owners and the media and the jockeys’ instructions are usually “Whatever you think yourself” as far as I can gather. He’s built his machine and he can just put it in cruise control when he feels like it.
It is how any well run business should operate.
The things I want most in life are the things that I can't win.
Getting very annoyed at the lack of praise for mullins as opposed to whining about the domination. If this was Henderson dominating then you wouldn’t hear a peep. As luke Harvey said stop looking at mullins and look what the brits aren’t doing. Like aidan we are in a period of exceptional trainers. Yes they have the backing but they have the pressure to deliver like anybody else. Stop naval gazing and actively promote your own product and improve. Klopp has a fraction of guardiolas resources but competes with him. It can be done.
Completely agree RTB and Mickey JP. He has been able to scale because he delegates and makes sure the place can run without him.
He could have kept more profit for himself and not employed so many people but he didn’t.
30 years of building, trying new things, small improvements.
It’s up to the opposition to try and beat him, no point moaning that he has the owners, money etc etc. that’s all been built up over time.
Exactly kendicate. He only had ten winners in 12 years and hadn’t won the gold cup or champion chase till 2019. This have been many years in the making. It will probably be a decade before parity returns as I think it will be the skeltons and Derhams that will probably challenge. Henderson and Nicholls I don’t see getting the horses now but the up and coming trainers might. Build up their stable like mullins,elliot, and de brom head. Godolphins huge resources have stopped aidan totally dominating. There isn’t the same thing in jumps for gb.
Harry Derham has made a promising start. I saw him interviewed at Uttoxeter yesterday and he was very good. But isn’t he being talked up as a big trainer before he has actually achieved anything?
It was a break out Cheltenham for Dan Skelton, in terms of Grade 1s as well as handicaps. He has a real shot at being Champion Trainer this year. The other trainer to note is Ben Pauling, who probably should have had two winners at the festival.
It will take a few years to build up a yard to get anywhere near the big Irish yards. Henderson can’t go on forever and maybe his replacement with large backers could be the answer.
Re the crowds at Cheltenham. I think it’s very little to do with the Irish domination and more the cost,parking and price of refreshments. That’s why they are struggling. Dont think anybody who backed ballyburn,galopin or fact or file were bothered who trained them. A smokescreen for issues that are nowt to do with the Irish dominating.Prices have gone up everywhere but Cheltenham is just extortionate. I’m going to chester in the may meeting. With train fare from edinburgh two nights stay very nice hotel and entrance fee will cost around 250 quid. Not sure of Chesters refreshment prices but if its 7 pound a pint I’ll be topping up at spoons before I go. Chester gets huge crowds whatever is on. Go speak to them why that is.
I’d agree with that Mickey
I lost my ticket (free Rewards4racing). Cheltenham website don’t replace lost tickets and there was no way I was going to pay for one as well as petrol/parking, food off course. On course food is a big rip off.
The weather was also a bit of a downer for potentially last minute off the cuff race goers
If Constitution Hill was running too you could add a few more spectators I’d guessBlackbeard to conquer the World
I am not convinced the price is that significant a factor. All big sporting events have expensive ticket prices now and pricey food and drink. The cost of accommodation is probably more relevant.
I think some people have been put off by the over crowding and generally feeling uncomfortable. At least at Test cricket or Wimbledon you have got a seat, whereas at racing you are on your feet a lot more.
The absence of Constitution Hill and the poor weather probably did keep some people away but perhaps we have just gone past peak Cheltenham now? Especially with more odds on chances and the racing becoming a bit more predictable. And, if the Talking Points on Luck On Sunday are accurate, a crowd full of drunks and cokeheads. Plenty of people, especially older people, would not find that appealing.
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