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A big well done to Irish racing for once again steeling a march on the uk.
Newbury could have done something similar to its super Saturday but obviously don’t want to make the effort or provide the prize money.
This reminds me of them cracking on with their champions weekend while the BHA messed about leaving their champions day in the Ascot swamp.
This seems like a natural progression but it will end up being another benefit for the Mullins & Gigginstown brigade to gorge on
Maybe, but never a reason to try something new , for the future. The last time Willie Mullins won the Irish Gold Cup was 2013. That is a long time
2014 was the last time a Gigginstown horse won beating none other than Tidal Bay. Sure those two groups did well enough in England in the last 2 years…………….I still think it is a very good common sense idea for them to do it and I meant more the domination of the supporting races rather than the Irish Gold Cup itself – although Mullins has actually won that race some 9 times since 1999.
as I don’t see this attracting that many more overseas visitors (not sure how many English challengers they have had down the years at the corresponding meeting).
Over the years, Nicholls and Henderson brought over some of their best horses to Ireland for these races (mostly Christmas ones though) If there is money to be won, and they have good enough horses, they will come. Who cares about Sandown in February or Ascot in January ?
The Gold Cup itself if they have a suitable horse then yes I totally agree (it seems to be a total missed step by English trainers that Ireland has all these G1 races that tend to have very few English raiders in them), that being said Nicholls is rather light in the G1 3m chaser department at the moment so I am not sure what he could send to be honest and would Hendo come with a say Might Bite when he has the Cotswold or Denman Chase closer to home? The same could also be said for Coneygree (assuming he is still in one piece at that time of course) but he is very ground dependant so Ireland maybe a better option for him unless we have a wet New Year in England.
Obviously quite a lot of the top trainers seem to care about the Sandown & Ascot’s in Jan/Feb as you are more likely not to have a hard race before Cheltenham – don’t forget the likes of Rooster Booster, Binocular & Buveur D’Air have all won the Champion Hurdle following winning at Sandown in Feb so it is a tried and tested method in that sense, maybe it is also a why travel a horse when you have a suitable alternative on your doorstep scenario?
Remember during January/February time there are a lot of trials races
Irish Gold Cup and the Irish Champion Hurdle is not a “trial” race anymore than the King George is
Come on I clearly didn’t say they were – for some reason these races are criminally seen to be mere stepping stones to the Festival rather than the great races they are in their own right with their own unique history. I was of course refering to the likes of the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January (which said meeting for several years now has actual been given the title of Trials Day), the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock, the Denman & Game Spirit Chases at Newbury, the Clarence House at Ascot, the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton and so on and so forth.
More than likely that this will ensure that the majority of any Irish hopefuls that would be looking to come over here during that period will now probably stay in Ireland for a bigger prize and also not have to worry about the hassle/expense of travelling to England.
Over the years, the only reason that Irish horses went over to the likes of the King George of St Stephens (Boxing Day) or the Group 2 trials at Cheltenham or Group 1s at Ascot were either (a) suitable ground conditions (b) test the horse(s) at Chelteham eg Hardy Eustace (c) They were chasing British Trainers Championships (d) Prize money, and belief that the English field was ripe for raiding.
If horses don’t get their suitable ground they ain’t going to run. If the fields are too competitive in Ireland or it is too early to put their horse up against Mullins and co (I am referring to Irish trained horses) they will continue to try out handy enough races like the Group 1 at Newcastle or the odd run at Sandown (eg Special Tiara )
Totally agree
This seems like a natural progression but it will end up being another benefit for the Mullins & Gigginstown brigade to gorge onMaybe, but never a reason to try something new , for the future. The last time Willie Mullins won the Irish Gold Cup was 2013. That is a long time
2014 was the last time a Gigginstown horse won beating none other than Tidal BaySure those two groups did well enough in England in the last 2 years…………….
I still think it is a very good common sense idea for them to do it and I meant more the domination of the supporting races rather than the Irish Gold Cup itself – although Mullins has actually won that race some 9 times since 1999.
as I don’t see this attracting that many more overseas visitors (not sure how many English challengers they have had down the years at the corresponding meeting).
Over the years, Nicholls and Henderson brought over some of their best horses to Ireland for these races (mostly Christmas ones though) If there is money to be won, and they have good enough horses, they will come. Who cares about Sandown in February or Ascot in January ?
The Gold Cup itself if they have a suitable horse then yes I totally agree (it seems to be a total missed step by English trainers that Ireland has all these G1 races that tend to have very few English raiders in them), that being said Nicholls is rather light in the G1 3m chaser department at the moment so I am not sure what he could send to be honest and would Hendo come with a say Might Bite when he has the Cotswold or Denman Chase closer to home? The same could also be said for Coneygree (assuming he is still in one piece at that time of course) but he is very ground dependant so Ireland maybe a better option for him unless we have a wet New Year in England.
Obviously quite a lot of the top trainers seem to care about the Sandown & Ascot’s in Jan/Feb as you are more likely not to have a hard race before Cheltenham – don’t forget the likes of Rooster Booster, Binocular & Buveur D’Air have all won the Champion Hurdle following winning at Sandown in Feb so it is a tried and tested method in that sense, maybe it is also a why travel a horse when you have a suitable alternative on your doorstep scenario?
Remember during January/February time there are a lot of trials races
Irish Gold Cup and the Irish Champion Hurdle is not a “trial” race anymore than the King George isCome on I clearly didn’t say they were – for some reason these races are criminally seen to be mere stepping stones to the Festival rather than the great races they are in their own right with their own unique history. I was of course refering to the likes of the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January (which said meeting for several years now has actual been given the title of Trials Day), the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock, the Denman & Game Spirit Chases at Newbury, the Clarence House at Ascot, the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton and so on and so forth.
More than likely that this will ensure that the majority of any Irish hopefuls that would be looking to come over here during that period will now probably stay in Ireland for a bigger prize and also not have to worry about the hassle/expense of travelling to England.
Over the years, the only reason that Irish horses went over to the likes of the King George of St Stephens (Boxing Day) or the Group 2 trials at Cheltenham or Group 1s at Ascot were either (a) suitable ground conditions (b) test the horse(s) at Chelteham eg Hardy Eustace (c) They were chasing British Trainers Championships (d) Prize money, and belief that the English field was ripe for raiding
If horses don’t get their suitable ground they ain’t going to run. If the fields are too competitive in Ireland or it is too early to put their horse up against Mullins and co (I am referring to Irish trained horses) they will continue to try out handy enough races like the Group 1 at Newcastle or the odd run at Sandown (eg Special Tiara )
Totally agree
Can somebody with the power delete my reply directly above this one as my Mac just had a 10 min meltdown
Thanks
They’d have to drain the reservoirs dry to water the English jumps tracks all summer! Nature does it for us here in the Emerald Isle- it was lashing it down yesterday afternoon.
Ah yes, while the English will swan around in their lovely hats and summer suits at Goodwood in glorious sun, us poor souls will be ducking for cover and rain in Galway
2014 was the last time a Gigginstown horse won beating none other than Tidal Bay. Sure those two groups did well enough in England in the last 2 years…………….
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