OK boys & girls another festival over as said previously I don't post on here to often but I like to have a look and check out everyone's thoughts. Anyway lets cut to the chase. Looking back on everything that has happened this week I'm going to put this to you all as to what the future holds. Willie Mullins needs to make a choice as to which angle he wants to take. I feel that he should have not just for the betting public but for the NH enthusiasts like myself let Annie Power & Un Deaux Sieux both take their chance in the Champion Hurdle. I feel this was a selfish move to give the Hurricane the easiest path to victory.... If I owned on or the other I would be totally ****ed off not my horse not being given the chance to serve it up up the Fly, Jezki and crew. That aside lets look at what could be heading our way in the future... This list off the top of my head and what I have seen could potentially be a new golden era for chasers. More of That The New One My Tent or Yours Vautor Faugheen Briar Hill Un Deaux Sioux Annie Power I've highlighted a few potential new kids let alone Sprinter & Simonsig to come to the party in the chasing division but I think you guys can see where I'm coming from. I'm no trainer but W Mullins has a fair hand I just wish he will let the horses ala P Nicholls run in the races that most people feel would be best rather than the other option. Thoughts
Don't forget Pont Alexandre and Un Atout... Although it's always difficult to say what they'll be like after a year off, I'm never too hopeful really. I'd be surprised if The New One and My Tent Or Yours go chasing. I think both trainers will feel that there's a Champion Hurdle to be won if they keep at it. Similar comments apply to More of That, although I don't know if that's a confirmed decision? Sadly if you take them out what you're left with is 7 WPM horses. Which probably means Une De Sceaux goes Champion Hurdle, Faugheen goes World Hurdle, Vautaur = Arkle, Annie Power = JLT, Un Atout = 2m Novice Handicap Chase, Pont Alexandre = RSA and Briar Hill = National Hunt Chase and he doesn't have to run any of them against each other all season! I hope that's not true.
Guys The New One & especially My Tent Or Yours Have always been deemed as embryo chasers and whilst there may be a chance of Champion Hurdle victory for one of them their futures belong over the bigger obstacles. I read Rubys column on the RUK site and he seems sure that Vautor & Faugheen will be going chasing next season. Have to agree with Danish the man W Mullins has an army in his barn that everyone else would die for.
MTOY doesn't strike me as a natural chaser but I'm amazed your list doesn't include Champagne Fever, a horse who I know connections feel will win a Gold Cup. You also touched on Mullins placement of horses and I am convinced he doesn't give all of his horses the best chnace to win a festival race. Champagne fever won a hot Supreme last year, probably the hottest Supreme in my lifetime, when he should have been in the Albert Bartlett but was re-routed to the Supreme because connections had Pont Alexander for the Neptune and Ballycasey for the potato race, that left just one option for Champagne Fever. The horse is not bred to run 2m, the fact he managed to beat MTOY and Jezki over their prefered trip shows how good the horse is. He should not have been in the Arkle this year but yet again Mullins has Ballycasey booked for the RSA and Felix Younger for the JLT. Annie Power would have gone close in the Champion hurdle and would have won the mares race half a track, but Mullins was clearly looking to protect Hurricane Flys bid and Quevega's tilt at history, I can only assume the Ricci's are very accommodating people to pass up the opportunity to win a festival race. But yes, all being well we can look forward to some exciting chasers in the season or two...
