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I doubt they’ll just switch to fences mid season; if he’s not quick enough for Champion Hurdle he will end up in the Stayers.
There’s still time as there are novice chasers like Next Destination that haven’t run. They can get 2 runs in still. Maybe 3.
Time will tell on the decision.
I suspect this’ll be the destination of La Bague Au Roi after she gubs Santini in the Kauto Star, by which time she’ll be 5/2 rather than 16/1
For whatever reason I don’t think La Bague Au Roi operates around Cheltenham. If she were mine I would keep her fresh for Aintree. There is a lot of pressure to go to Cheltenham but it wouldn’t surprise me if that is what happened,
She’s simply a different animal over fences – transformed. I doubt she’ll have a problem at any course and for all his wary protests, come Cheltenham, La Bague Au Roi will be the best horse he has trained. No way will she miss the festival and I’ve had my biggest bets for an awful long time that she will win there. Hills apparently still go 14/1 against her winning any race there – whoever signed that price off must have balls of steel.
She’s wholly transformed to my eye – a different horse. I didn’t take to her at all last season over hurdles and couldn’t see what the fuss was about. She uses herself much differently over fences, more powerful, poised and much more athletic, as though she was born to it.
Mark, reading back my last post it seemed quite defensive – wasn’t meant to be. You are dead right in that transform would normally be read as a horse doing much better win-wise. My bad communication in the original post. Apologies.
Joe
Can’t have La bague au roi at all. Its one thing winning a couple of 4 and 6 runner races in November against 140 to 145 horses, and a hatful of listed mares hurdles but its another challenge entirely to win a grade 1 chase against 155-165 horses. She has already shown very average form at spring festivals. In fact the only 4 times she has been beaten have been the only 4 times she has ran at the spring festivals, with her best finish being 6th. I have no doubt that whatever Mullins, Elliot, Nichols and Henderson send to this race will be better than her
Quite alright, SC ! I agree with you as regards improved technique
It could be that fences have taken her up a couple of levels, as she doesn’t look out of place in open company now, but the staying chase division is hot this year, with most of the bigger stables having very promising novices
Reading between the lines of the interview with the assistant trainer at Plumpton it would seem to be odds against her going anywhere near Cheltenham which probably explains why bookmakers are willing to quote big odds. Easy money if they have had a nice little steer.
Might well be the case, Stilvi, and Greatrex is playing down the festival too. But he’s obsessed with the festival, understandably, and is long enough in the tooth to know that when you get the horse of a lifetime, who is fit and healthy in March (touch wood) how do you spend 4 days at Cheltenham among your peers with that horse standing in its box at home? He’s hardly got a yard full of such animals.
If she continues progressing as I believe she will, there is no way I can see that she doesn’t turn up somewhere there.
Tomorrow at Exeter Black Op vs Topofthegame vs White Moon. That will give us some clues for this race.
DB,
I’m hoping it’s 4 Miler for White Moon, but added him on the “win any race” market, just in case, as I know he could head here as well.
Snashing race that tomorrow.
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