Probably not Bob but it'd be nice to see him back. He was a very nice novice and the staying hurdling division would benefit from some more good ones! Another reason I like Fingal Bay is Mr Hobbs is one of my favourite trainers, he's one of the few English trainers who isn't a completely wound up individual like Twiston-Davies or Paul Nicholls
If Big Bucks retains his ability and gets there healthy and fit then he wins the World Hurdle barring an accident. Looking at the opposition I genuinely cannot see a danger apart from Annie Power and another Nicholls stablemate in the shape of Celestial Halo... Boston Bob - looks sloooooow and will need an absolute bog in My opinion to even have a chance of placing, He won't get near Big Bucks on all known form and doesn't have the tactical speed to even get BB at it. Reve De Sivola - would need a miracle to beat BB, I still remember the last image of Big Bucks on the track when he practically destroyed RDS in a canter at Newbury. Quevega - Will line up in the Micky Mouse mares hurdle again, A travesty that a mare as good as her as never had her targets aimed higher at Cheltenham. Fingal Bay - Was a smartish novice and is an intresting addition to the race, Barring he gets there. He'll love the trip and is clearly held in high regard by Phillip Hobbs. He could be a great e/w bet. At Fishers Cross - From what we've seen of him this season, He'd need to start now. He clearly as some physical issues and Im not sure a day away in Ireland and abit of physio will be enough to see him in front of a firing Big Bucks. More of That - Looks smart but looks a chaser in the making. I can see him just falling short. Looking at the other contenders in the likes of Medinas etc horses like this clearly have no chance. And its as simple as that. The main dangers to Big Bucks are Annie Power and Celestial Halo. Annie Power looks like she'd stay any trip and with her mare allowance she would be a big danger but My gut feeling is Rich Ricci will want to go for the Champion Hurdle espcially after seeing his interview on ATR the other day. Celestial Halo on all known form wouldn't beat Big Bucks but hes a game and gutsy horse who if the ground dried up on the day could be a worthy adversary.
WPM is a very cautious guy, as is Andy Stewart. I recon that if PFN had more sway over Stewart it's possible he'd have been tempted into going after her at Punchestown just to prove a point. He tried to persuade Stewart to have a crack at the Fixed Brush Handicap with Big Bucks last year - now that I would loved to have seen. It's a shame in much the same vein as the lack of Un De Sceux/Annie Power/Hurricane Fly match ups this season.
I disagree on Quevega. If she wins the Mares Hurdle race again this year it will be 6 consecutive festival victories, eclipsing Golden Miller's record. If they had been more adventurous after her first mares hurdle she might have bagged a place in 1 or 2 Champion Hurdles and no one would have heard of her 10 years down the line. She also would certainly not have lasted as long as she has. Mullins deserves tremendous credit for bringing her back each season to win at Cheltenham and then (usually) follow up at Punchestown. She will go down in history as a fragile but immensely talented mare who was superbly managed to maximise her career at the top.
Its always hard to go against the grain with any multiple winner in an event, be it a sportsman or horse in this case. Im with Oddy on this one, though I do take in the points mentioned above, she will remembered as a class horse with 'potentially' - (she will win it again this year wont she...?) 6 consecutive Cheltenham wins... That in its self is worth noting, surely...???
Is she fragile Oddy? She always seems as tough as old boots when seen out, I always thought they were economical with her entries just to keep up her reputation. I like Big Bucks - who doesn't - but he has to get beaten sometime, and I think that sometime is now. I'm all over Annie Power for this at 4-1, NRNB of course, as we still don't know for sure if they will throw her at the CH. Much as I'm in her camp though, I can't be having her in the CH - possible because of my already placed bets in the Champion Hurdle, but I just can't see her doing it at 2 miles against an exceptionally high class field.
Yeah sorry, I think my comment came across in a slightly different tone from that intended. I personally don't blame them, and love Quevega, and I don't think that not taking on Big Bucks detracts even slightly from her career. That said it is still a shame purely because I would love to see it - gun to my head I think she would lose but I also think she'd be the best he's faced.
This To expand upon the above Mr Mullins does take a fair bit of, in my view, very unfair criticism usually from 'ante-post punters'. Without going into it too much, but if the man came out 2 months before the Festival and said horse A goes here, horse B goes here and lo and behold something changes (a weeks long time in racing, never mind a couple of months!) and those plans change to suit circumstances (a favourite is ruled out for a race for example) the very same people would be calling for his head! He keeps his options open as quite frankly his options exceed every other NH yard in Europe. His duty of care is to his owners, to deliver a Cheltenham winner for them, must be his priority. Ante-post punters obviously have a vested interest and are perhaps more blinkered than they care to realise. You pay your money you take your chance. This little video sums it up very well up for me: [video=youtube;Sw_n-iSaEhw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw_n-iSaEhw[/video]
Oddy she as two races a year, Hardly any miles on the clock I doubt the long lay off she as been between the National Hunt season and Flat season as Mullins pulling too much of his hair out not that theres much left. Most horses could be considered fragile lets be honest. Shes either fragile or carefully handled to win races but not be adventurous - Imagine if his dad was as cautious as he is, No Dawn Run running in a Gold Cup etc. He may have done the right thing by the horse but I see no reason why she shouldn't have been aimed at the Grade 1 race at Cheltenham instead of taking the easy option because lets be fair shes beaten trees for the past 5 years. I know full well had she been with Nicholls the ambitious part of him would have aimed her for the top at the Festival and nobody can doubt his record of winning the big races or maximising the best out of his horses... Mullins is a shrewd/brilliant trainer but I think he lacks the old bollocks sometimes!
There was a fabulous article about Quevega a couple of years ago which focused on her early career and attempted to shed some light on why she runs so seldom. I can't find the fecking thing now but the stats can be found on the wiki page here. After winning the mares hurdle at the festival for the first time in 2009, she was pitched in against the best 2m hurdlers at Punchestown, finishing 3rd behind Solwhit and Punjabi. They then sent her to France for the Prix La Barka but finished 9th and picked up a nasty injury. I remember reading on that article about how they were scared they had lost her and Mullins vowed they would never over exert her again after that painful lesson. Hence her much reduced programme in subsequent years. I wish I could find that article, it was an absolute gem.
Old boy Fingal Bay has this morn got his pic plastered all over the front of âThe Weekenderâ prior to his expected return to the track in Sandown Park £50,000 Grade 3 handicap on Saturday. Heâs been headline tipped for that heat by their âflagshipâ (the publications word not mine) tipster. Off just 142 he ought to go very close although he will have to, off such a low perch, if he is to then go on contest the âWorld Hurdleâ Pip Hobbs has hinted he will do just that if he runs with credit at the weekend. Interesting to see the official assessors reaction to last Saturdayâs âCleeveâ. Big Bucks down 4lbs to 170, At Fishers Cross down 3lbs to 157, whilst Knockara Beau shoots up 9lbs to 154. He clearly still thinks Mr Nicholls champion is considerably better than the 2 horses who beat him at the weekend.
Part of me really hopes Annie Power turns up in the World Hurdle and gets smashed by Big Bucks! It will serve them right for going for the wrong race.. Just cant take to Annie Power.. This may be downthough to the fact she is owned by Rich Ricci who was a fat cat greedy banker (tosser) receiving £18 million in some sort of share deal and then shortly after receiving a pay off of £700k. What a tosser! All this admist a number of high profile Barclays scandals!
What does everyone think of Zarkandars chances in this? Looks like he could run in it.A little odd that he ran over 2 miles last weekend but he is having a similar build up to what Celestial Halo had last year and look what happened with him in the race last year. He hadn't previously run over 3 miles also. Ruby Walsh seems positive about his chances of staying as per an article on Sporting Life. Providing the ground is good or good to soft I think he has a really good each way shout at a good price and we know he's a battler. Plus the new course is more suited to Zarkandar and this race will be over that course. Views?
I think he will put up a real improved showing. One thing he has never looked at the end of his races is tired. Always sticking on well, non more so than at Aintree last year. I'd expect the blinkers are being saved for this race. Really really a massive fan of Monksland but not heard a sodding bean about him coming back. Any ideas anyone?
I love Zarkandar, but wherever he finishes, he will find Annie ahead of him. He has done me proud over the years, starting with his Triumph triumph *cough* but time moves on and you can't fight off the newcomers for ever. I hope he still has a good race victory in him, but I fear it won't be the World Hurdle
Perhaps she can have a canter in the Mares hurdle too. Two races in a day, why not! I haven't seen this much hype about a horse since Cue Card in the Supreme.
TC, i really fancied his chances last year but like you said havent heard anything about him yet which is worrying. Perhaps they will go to Aintree instead. I nailed my flag to At Fishers Cross a long time ago and will be sticking to my guns after he showed improved jumping last time out.
