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I realise hindsight is a wonderful thing and the fickle hand of fate plays its major role too but IMHO there was probably enough evidence to suggest Dancing City was an afterthought and a potentially dangerous one at that. Mullins was suggesting owners were contacting him to run but I don’t know if that was the case in this instance?
I don’t know if it’s an impression based on fact but I don’t like Jonjo jr riding horses over fences.
Nicholls must have been deluded if he thought Threeunderthrufive had any chance considering he was 13th in the race last year off just 2lbs higher and that was off the back of a Grade 3 win at Ascot. This time his last run was a pretty moderate effort in the National.
If a trainer wins the title by having 80% less winning horses than the person in 2nd place I’d say the rules need serious tinkering with whoever those individuals may be.
They won’t be changing any time soon as it will be hinting at what can we do to stop Mullins.
The more I know the less I understand.
I think the systems fine the way it is. In fact I’d go as far as saying I’ve never been a fan of the jockeys championship being decided on number of wins. It just rewards the jockey who takes the most rides most of the time not necessarily the best jockey.
I’d suggest the Championships should be points based around the top quality races only, i.e. Grade 1 and the Premier Handicaps.
But, however you cut it this season, I’d expect Mullins wins.
If it was points based, the title would probably have been put to bed on day one of AintreeI’ve no problem with Willie Mullins, but one trainer coming in two thirds of the season and winning or even narrowly being defeated is wrong. I think a more even spread of prize money could be the answer.
You've got to accentuate the positive.
Eliminate the negative.
Latch on to the affirmative.
Don't mess with mister in between.Sir Michael Stoute won Irish Flat Championship , is a 1.01 on tote he had way less runners in Ireland than Mullins in UK this year and doubt he had runner at Irish gaff tracks , Mullins has a go at Ludlow etc at times . Mullins don’t put up the schedule the bha does , he’s just way too good for them all, a long way better .He ran plenty in Bet 365 and went 2 3 4 5 , the best in England need to try get some their senior staff over to Mullins on attachment and try see how to improve things if Mullins would allow it.
I don’t see how there can be a more even spread of prize money unless there is an overhaul of the National Hunt season. Cheltenham and Aintree are both in the last few weeks of the campaign. I can’t see the BHA wanting to downgrade either of those meetings.
Can’t help but feel that there’s going to be a point where some of Mullins owners start to get fed up of being beat by other Mullins horses.
All empires fail; Dreaper in the 60s, Winter in the 70s, then Dickenson, Pipe, Nicholls. Much as I admire Mullins, his time will pass; #Ozymandias
If Nicky Henderson retired and all the horses from his yard went to Skeltons. Dan would win the British Championship by a couple of quid and we can start a thread saying “Is Mullins past it”..
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
Perhaps it requires two top British trainers to take out a joint licence to create a super-yard to take on Mullins at his own game. Won’t make the game any more interesting to watch though.
Mind you if Rachel from Accounts has her way and betting duty is increased there might no longer be any British racing left to compete against any outside competition.
Willie has enough magnetism and easy going charm to keep the big owners onside during downturns in fortunes and form. I’d be less sure Patrick has.
Just when I start wondering if Munir/ Souede for example are content with how it’s going, they land a couple of nice prizes. Bit of an upturn for Ricci lately too. Donnelly’s would no doubt welcome a change of luck.
This man is amazing.
The performances of State Man (after a horrendous fall at Cheltenham), Galopin Des Champs and Final Demand this week were phenomenal. To get Il Etait Temps (who was suspected to be out for the season at one point) back in shape to do what he did to Jonbon at Sandown was astonishing.
We won’t see his like for a long time when he finally calls it a day.
Won’t he pass on his knowledge to Patrick, or whoever else takes over, when he retires? 🤔
“Won’t he pass on his knowledge to Patrick, or whoever else takes over, when he retires? 🤔”
Presumably he was wearing his rose-tinted daddy specs but he has referred to Patrick as a “natural trainer” in the past so the hegemony could last for a while. Patrick seems fond of a tick list and his GB track vanity project might be just that…but look out, as he assumes more responsibility then forays to the likes of the Hennessey and King George might become more frequent.
FWIW, in the short term I think Dan Skelton’s best chance of winning the GB trainer’s championship next year is if Gordon Elliott has a resurgence next year and forces Mullins to look to his Irish laurels. Mullins beat him by about €2m in the Irish trainers’ championship and it was a forgone conclusion ages ago- freeing him up to send good horses to Ayr and Sandown. When Elliott was snapping at his heels (or even leading) after Cheltenham, he didn’t have that luxury. Unfortunately I don’t think that’s going to be the case. Elliott, as usual has no champion hurdle types and precious few G1 horses in general.
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