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You don’t even need to believe Winter Fog or Fild D’Oudaries ran to their best in order to rate Brighterdaysahead as a 170+ horse (especially once adding the 7 lb allowance she’d get from geldings).
Value Is EverythingRTB – both comments can be true to varying extents, but the one thing we know for sure about State Man (up until today) is that you could pretty much set your watch by him in that he would turn up and perform race after race day in day out regardless of the circumstances/tactics he faced.
Maybe winning connections should have employed this tactic for the first time at Cheltenham as you can be sure it is not going to work again like it did today especially in a Champion Hurdle (if that is where she ends up). Fool me once shame on you etc etc
Interesting to look at the hurdle race times – there was no direct comparison available for the 2m Nevills Hurdle (run 4.80s fast) but there were 4 races run over the 2m4f hurdle trip and they were as follows:
12:10 Maiden Hurdle – slow by 0.20s
12:45 Novice Handicap Hurdle – fast by 1.00s
13:20 G3 Mares Hurdle – fast by 5.10s (last hurdle omitted)
15:05 Listed Handicap Hurdle – fast by 1.99sThe official going was given as Good to Yielding.
“The Donnelly’s could potentially be without a runner in the Champion unless Sir Geno is rerouted”.
There is not the remotest chance of Sir Gino being rerouted.
“Plenty of the Mullins’ fancied horses are not running to form.”
Which makes Galopin Des Champs’s performance yesterday all the more praiseworthy.
“There is not the remotest chance of Sir Gino being rerouted.”
Take the chance whilst it’s there, i’d say to Hendo and connections.
Seize the moment
Plus, of course, i cashed out my Sir Gino (Arkle), Constitution Hill (CH) double yesterday
Indeed CAS Mullins has had an incredible 74 runners over the Christmas period with 7 winners.
The more I know the less I understand.
Racing Post reported…
Winning owner Michael O’Leary said his initial reaction to the performance was to still favour the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival over the Champion Hurdle, but said he would be guided by Elliott and Eddie O’Leary, his brother who oversees the running of his operation.
“Today was our day,” he said. “Let’s see how she comes out of this – there’s no point making plans for Cheltenham now. If she was beaten today we’d have certainly gone for the Mares’ Hurdle. At least now she’s entitled to be considered for the Champion Hurdle. Odds are I’d still favour the Mares’ Hurdle, a lot will depend on how she is in the couple of weeks before the Cheltenham Festival. I’ll let Gordon and Eddie make the decision; I write the cheques, they make the decisions.”
If Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth go for the Mares then it may be the last non-handicap mares race we’ll see at the Festival.
Value Is EverythingAt this stage I think Lossiemouth is still likely to run in the Champion Hurdle given Mullins comments from the fallout of Kempton – obviously that could all change after her next race, which he seemed to think could be either the Irish Champion Hurdle or the International (which she won last year).
Going to the Mares for Brighterdaysahead would also mean she would need to either make her own running (something that didn’t really suit her in the Morgiana) or connections would need to sacrifice another mare in order to make the pace for her because it was the lack of any pace that was her undoing in last year’s Mares Novice Hurdle where she got turned over by Golden Ace.
“Which makes Galopin Des Champs’s performance yesterday all the more praiseworthy”.
Not necessarily CAS. When some or even most horses in a yard have a virus (if that’s what it is) some will be clear of it and still run at or near their best.
Value Is Everything“Going to the Mares for Brighterdaysahead would also mean she would need to either make her own running (something that didn’t really suit her in the Morgiana) or connections would need to sacrifice another mare in order to make the pace for her…”
The Mares Hurdle is 2 and a half miles so whatever the pace over that trip will be no bother.
“If Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth go for the Mares then it may be the last non-handicap mares race we’ll see at the Festival.”
I wouldn’t have a problem with them running in it, it’ll be a race i would look forward to seeing.
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