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Never mind what races all the stable stars will go for, I’d imagine it’s difficult enough to decide which horses go novice chasing or stay hurdling.
Even before Mullins considers the Wylie and Gigginstown horses (I’m thinking of Briar Hill, Sure Reef, Un Atout and Turnandgo in particular), there are five Ricci horses who they’ll want to keep apart. What way would you go with Annie Power, Faugheen, Vautour, Clondaw Court and Pont Alexandre?
In my opinion, another season hurdling with Annie Power would be a season wasted. They said they want her to be a Gold Cup mare, and if she stays hurdling I can see her targeted at the Mares’ Hurdle, and that’s sure to be wildly exciting. I’d send her over fences, and campaign her similarly to how Sir Des Champs was campaigned a few years ago.
Vautour looks tailor-made for the Arkle. He was quite keen in the Supreme and although he won over two and a half at Punchestown, two miles looks his distance until he learns to settle better. He looks built for a fence and he’d be the horse to beat in two mile novice chases either side of the Irish Sea.
Pont Alexandre and Clondaw Court have both had their injury problems and it’s no guarantee they’ll both stay sound for the season. They both look likely RSA types and depending how they perform over the winter one could even run in the four miler. That’s a long way away for both though.
Faugheen looks the most likely to stay over timber and this makes sense to me. He can be reckless at his hurdles and while you’d hope he’ll respect fences more there is the worry that he’ll upend himself if he tries to kick one out of the way. You’d also wonder if a horse capable of winning on winter ground over three miles in Limerick can win a Champion Hurdle. However, I think he showed at Cheltenham and Punchestown that he’s blessed with plenty of gears and the worst that could happen is he’ll get beaten. If he is beaten in a Champion Hurdle it won’t be by far. I’d start him off in the Hattons Grace and take on Jezki at Christmas then.
Exciting times.
the worst that could happen is he’ll get beaten. If he is beaten in a Champion Hurdle it won’t be by far
This is not Dunguib Tommy, it’s the machine Faugheen and I wont hear of defeat……..
The question/conundrum is do we plunder on the 5’s for the Champion Hurdle or play safe with the 5/2 any race?
Blackbeard to conquer the World
According to reports today, they haven’t made up their mind about Vautour or Annie Power. They are chasers in the making but due to their performances over hurdles they could remain over hurdles this season. That then muddies Faugheen’s waters as he stays over hurdles, but not necessarily the champion. It seems a lot hinges on what they do with Vautour…the arkle surely is at his mercy as is the champion to Faugheen, but they could all yet remain over hurdles and therefore avoid each other. Nice headache to have though!
the worst that could happen is he’ll get beaten. If he is beaten in a Champion Hurdle it won’t be by far
This is not Dunguib Tommy, it’s the machine Faugheen and I wont hear of defeat……..
The question/conundrum is do we plunder on the 5’s for the Champion Hurdle or play safe with the 5/2 any race?
Thanks for that Nathan, I don’t know what came over me. Snapped back to reality now though
I’ve already taken some 6’s
Some feat though, 3m on heavy ground ‘easily’, 2m on good/yielding ‘very easily’.
Did you know Faugheen had an uncredited role in Star Wars as ‘The Force’?
Looks like Paddy Power has been having a bit of a laugh over the last 12 hours.
Vautour out to 9s for the Arkle, but is shorter for the Champion than Faugheen. Faugheen shorter for the Stayers than the Champion. Could be a long winter lads!
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Back on topic, this season will be a big headache for Mullins and Walsh IMO. Not only do they have to split up Ricci’s string, but they have Wylie to keep happy too. I haven’t seen many Ricci/Wylie beasts in direct competition over the last couple of years, but this season that could all change IMO.
If you take Ricci’s string (Faugheen, Vautour, Annie, Pont, Clondaw, Djak, Champagne, Ballycasey) and put them next to Wylie’s (Boston/Briar/Sure Reef/Back In Focus) then there’ll be some tasty clashes. And that’s without even mentioning the novice hurdles, where both owners have multiple prospects for all distances.
We actually saw a few chunky bets last week for Vautour for the Champion Hurdle (7s from 10s) and there were rumours of Faugheen not being 100% – if there’s something wrong with him then who knows, could be Vautour Champion Hurdle bound and Annie Power over fences?
Vautour ‘probably’ going chasing according to Mullins
Good news Tommy that at present as I’ve got Faugheen for the Champion and have nibbled at Vautour for any race, although as we know these things are not set in stone and plans change but good news nonetheless.
Blackbeard to conquer the World
Un De Sceaux goes chasing, which is maybe not so great news for those of us who have backed Vautour for the Arkle, as both look best over two miles. Can’t wait to see O’Connell’s horse over a fence though.
Un De Sceaux goes chasing, which is maybe not so great news for those of us who have backed Vautour for the Arkle, as both look best over two miles. Can’t wait to see O’Connell’s horse over a fence though.
Un De Sceaux and Vautour fences bound and presumably split into Arkle/JLT with Ponte Alexandre RSA bound with Don Poli?
I suspect UDS will be the one who goes further, with Vautour going for the Arkle. Just a hunch, mind you.
Twitter=@PGHenn
So don't run, just like the others always do
UDS surely must go for the Arkle. He goes off at such a break neck pace he’d surely not get up the hill over any further yet?
UDS surely must go for the Arkle. He goes off at such a break neck pace he’d surely not get up the hill over any further yet?
willie says UDS going over fences over the
minimum
trip.
Another piece of the puzzle revealed today as Annie Power stays over hurdles. Presumably the Mares Hurdle will now be the aim.
Clondaw Court entered over hurdles at Punchestown on Saturday.
Disappointed Annie Power is staying over hurdles; she’s obviously either going for the stayers hurdle or mare’s hurdle, which, tho nice, are 2nd division stuff. With any other trainer, you’d imagine she’d be chasing, and ultimately Gold Cup bound, but Mullins + Ricci have an embarrassment of riches at the moment
Cheltenham plans;
Arkle – Un De Sceaux
JLT – Vautour
RSA – Ponte Alexandre
Mares – Annie Power
Champion Hurdle – Faugheen
Ryanair – Champagne Fever
Gold Cup – Djakadam
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