That's what I'd think too, only thing against it is it leaves JP another year without a Champion Hurdle horse
If Fair Eva, what a lovely name for a filly by the way, is the ‘hope of the county’ re the level then Yanworth is most deffo the ‘hope of the county’ re the Winter sport. I think it is very much still to be decided where he goes later in the campaign but Alan King will be tearing his hair out re his training as being a McManus runner he has next to no involvement in where the horse will be campaigned. There was a wonderful quote from him in December 2014 re Yanworth when he said, after he has been placed in a Listed Ascot Bumper, ‘After this run I’ll talk to A.P., review the race, look at the forthcoming calendar of races and then decide in my own mind whether it be advisable to stay in bumpers for the rest of the season or go hurdling. But inevitably the owners racing manager will tell me what to do.’ It is also worth pointing out that he was only ever stepped up from 2 miles, last term, on the insistence of Barry Gerraghty. I think Yanworth has many, many potentially avenues he could go down this term but will the McManus team get it right?!? I hope they do.
Such a shame Binocular wasn't fit that time McCoy carried him around for a mile and still almost won. Can kind of understand JP and the decision makers when your trainer let's you down on the big days with 80% fit animals.
You'd want Barry Connell's buyer and JPs racing manager old boy Frank to team up for a season or two. Absolute scenes. Imagine it. £350k star pointers ending up running round Taunton in 6 months time off 75, then go off 2/1f in the Coral Cup to be pulled up halfway round
For the bantz, here's Hendo's open day yesterday before he showed off his JP owned hurdlers.. Have your rod back now STH
Bad ride that day as well. He'd be of interest wherever he goes but i've a sneaking suspicion he'll end up in the JLT and maybe win the Ryanair a year after. I think he needs a little time to be seen at his absolute best.
"Hugging the inside rail, Ruby Walsh saved valuable lengths, unlike Yanworth, who was kept on the wide outside by Barry Geraghty. While Geraghty was on the back foot after he was pushed even further wide on the home bend, Walsh had sneaked up the inside to snatch a cheeky victory. “He could go novice chasing but I think the way for him is down the Champion Hurdle route,” said winning trainer Willie Mullins. “This fellow looks smart and sharp the way he came round the home bend here." ://www.express.co.uk/sport/horseracing/653133/Yorkhill-2017-Champion-Hurdle-Yanworth-Cheltenham-Rugby-Walsh-Horse-Racing-News
He won't go Champion Hurdle unless he's not top tier. Ruby won't be giving up an Arkle winning ride so Paul Townend can run a place in the Champion Hurdle.
Ruby immediately said Arkle, Mullins said Champion Hurdle. As usual, impossible to read and I suspect much depends on Faugheen la plans and fitness over hurdles, and Altiors performance over fences. Arkle seemed logical to me last year looking at him but he went a bit barmy in his final two starts after Cheltenham, pulling ferociously whereas at Cheltenham he was sublime.
When hypothesising over Mullin's Arkle horse don't forget Min came back from Cheltenham an injured horse and missed the rest of the campaign. His run in second behind Altior could have been a bit better than it looked at face value. And even though Yorkhill at one stage was strongly considered for the 2m race, Min was very much their top 2m novice. Guessing game at this stage.
Alan King confirms YANWORTH to remain over hurdles this season, with the Champion Hurdle being the target. You'd have to think the English 2m Grade 1s this term will be winnable with a Grade 3 horse so expect this lad to mop up a couple of nice races before March. This side of Christmas races like the Fighting Fifth, the G2 International at Chelts could well be shoo-ins assuming Mullins keeps his A team at home. Therefore this is one horse with potential to shorten considerably in the market and could well be the top home contender come March. I'd be keen to see how he acts on a sound surface, as he was scintillating on heavy on trials day but has also run well on a sound surface at the Festival before so perhaps ground is no issue. Nice to see Kingy with a good one, he normally can peak them for the big day as well as most.
Really pleased with this Beefy- thought he was possibly a bit below par on quicker ground against Yorkhill (no qualms- big fan of the latter too and got beat fair and square) and also had a wide enough trip, not settling so well as I'd like. Absolutely convinced 2m hurdles is his thing and if I can get something near 16/1 I'd be happy with that, assuming you're happy to risk antepost. They still all have to prove they can get near Faugheen though- he's a freak of nature that one. Always wonder how he'd have got on if he went staying chasing so big is his engine! Assuming he's sound and well, he is the benchmark.
Jesus chaps. Yanworth will win some English graded races and get an overblown rep throughout the season as a result. He's not beating a fit Faugheen and he won't beat Annie Power when she gets that allowance. You're backing him each way for two places. It's a stinking bet at the moment.
