Cheltenham 2015

[granger]

If they do it will be a Mullins benefit

Supreme Novices - Shaneshill
Arkle - Vautour
CH - UDS
Neptune - Black Hercules
RSA - Ponte Alexandra
QM - Annie Power (novice winner)
JLT - Faugheen
Ryanair - Champagne Fever
WH - Briar Hill
AB - Killultagh Vic
GC - Djakadam

These could obviously be mixed and matched but not a bad list to start with.

Annie Power goes to the Queen mum after 3 chases?

Champagne goes for gold for sure

[HawkWing]

WP Mullins 4 wins - 6 runner ups - 2 thirds
N Henderson 1 - 4 - 3
P Nicholls 1 - 2 - 1

[ajax trees down]

I'm really looking forward to seeing west wizard next year, any prices for the supreme?

[chroniclandlord]

One interesting novice for Mullins next season is Turnandgo who has had two races this season. Just beaten by The Tullow Tank on his debut, he then unseated at Fairyhouse in December. I've heard that his setback was minor but that they wanted to preserve his novice status until the new season.

[Ardross]

This thread is making me look forward to the Guineas.

[Euronymous]

Champagne goes for gold for sure

Absolutely. He's been their number 1 novice the last couple of years which means they stick him in the most prestigeous novice hurdle and chase of the week. That can only point to a Gold Cup surely.

[Frankel]

Interesting to see what they do with CF and Djakadam. Whether they split them up, Ryanair/Gold Cup, visa versa.

[HawkWing]

Absolutely. He's been their number 1 novice the last couple of years which means they stick him in the most prestigeous novice hurdle and chase of the week. That can only point to a Gold Cup surely.

Yeah. He runs very free to get home over 3m3f. That would be my worry for ante post. If he stays, he could be a monster.

[reet hard]

Champagne Fever will be a monster - so might MTOY, if Nicky ever learns how to settle him.

[clivex]

Really? After his last run.?

I think he's getting a bit overrated. We are not looking at a Kauto or sprinter sacre here at all

[Bar the Bull]

Conversely, I think a bit too much is being made of TNO's interference. Put it this way. I think it would have been close if Twister's horse had a clear run. But if MTOY had settled, he'd have won by a fair bit over Jezki.

[Bar the Bull]

I am also aware that MTOY is far from sure to get settled. But if he does.....

[ajax trees down]

I think we all just knew when jezki and my tent pulled clear there was only ever 1 winner. MTOY has nightmares about that hill and no matter how quick they go upfront he pulls like a steam engine. Where as jezki stays further.. I don't think my tent will ever reverse form round cheltenham..

[clivex]

I think we all just knew when jezki and my tent pulled clear there was only ever 1 winner. MTOY has nightmares about that hill and no matter how quick they go upfront he pulls like a steam engine. Where as jezki stays further.. I don't think my tent will ever reverse form round cheltenham..

I'm a little bit with you there

Bar. Come on now. its probably easier to avoid a 1/100 event than get a horse in his third season to finally settle. But I'm not convinced that is all there is to it

I think it has to be looked at the other way too. Interference like that very often results in the horse nit getting close at all or simply tailing off. Even if they are as good as anything in the race.

[Bar the Bull]

He just needs to settle a tiny bit more to beat Jezki. And I think TNO would have been in a similar position granted a clear round.

[Bar the Bull]

I guess the game is all opinions. I am not certain....far from it. But gun to my head, MTOY wins next year.

[HawkWing]

Think the disappointing thing for TNO fans was that it was expected that he would lose ground by making one jumping mistake. He didnt. In 99% of NH races, being a couple of lengths further back than desired that early doesn't matter, in the Champion Hurdle I think its important.

[ajax trees down]

If Nicky sends him to cheltenham later this year and he settles and storms home then yes you can make a case for him but he's not on the ante post list... Hurricane won't come over in fact I think they'll retire him.. The novices might be half decent but TNO had that power surge of pace over a furlong I think without interference he would of shot passed them all.. With another year on his back I think he could be better next year.. Un de seux could be anything but Mullins will have 3/4 for this race so may not even come over

[clivex]

Think the disappointing thing for TNO fans was that it was expected that he would lose ground by making one jumping mistake. He didnt. In 99% of NH races, being a couple of lengths further back than desired that early doesn't matter, in the Champion Hurdle I think its important.

I don't agree with that. It's not just being knocked back a couple of lengths (sam reckoned 6) but the loss of momentum and all that goes with it.

Yes in a slow run small field it won't always be critical but that is far from 99 % of races.

Put it this way... 99% of the time When you see interference like that to your horse, you do not give it a moments thought?

I'm not just following my money here but I seriously think that it was some achievement for this horse to get where he did

[JamesRB]

If Nicky sends him to cheltenham later this year and he settles and storms home then yes you can make a case for him but he's not on the ante post list... Hurricane won't come over in fact I think they'll retire him.. The novices might be half decent but TNO had that power surge of pace over a furlong I think without interference he would of shot passed them all.. With another year on his back I think he could be better next year.. Un de seux could be anything but Mullins will have 3/4 for this race so may not even come over

not sure he'll have 3 or 4. annie and vautour probably go chasing.