2022 Arkle

[Our_Duke]

Possibly one to add to my made up interview comments this... But was this when they claimed Vautour wasn't fit and would go for the Arkle or be a non runner right until the 48hr decs?

Either way they were both RR owned which could have had some baring on being split

Hmmm was that the year after with the Ryaniar? For 2015 UDS won the Arkle so a different owner. For 2016 I think Djakadam would've run in the Gold Cup (and Vautour went Ryaniar)

[ToniC]

Possibly one to add to my made up interview comments this... But was this when they claimed Vautour wasn't fit and would go for the Arkle or be a non runner right until the 48hr decs?

Either way they were both RR owned which could have had some baring on being split

Memory not that good I’m afraid, but UDS wasn’t owned by rich richy

[Craigy14]

Yeah.
If Ferny wins impressively in Dublin.
And goes even money/odds on.
And the owners of Blue Lord ask Willie if he can beat Ferny.
What would Willie say ?
Especially if Bob was no longer in the Turners for some reason.

I think Blue Lord looks safe for the arkle if he doesn't run again and disappoint.
But shit can happen.

That’s exactly how I see it too, especially if Blue Lord skips Leopardstown.

If Ferny does run and go odds on, that question will most definitely be asked. I was doubtful about him and others may want to take him on but his last performance was extremely impressive.

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

[charlie]

Interesting numbers Our Duke. Those numbers tell us that over the last decade Willie habitually only sends one horse here. Setting that to one side (which lots seem happy to do), I think there are two important sides being overlooked. The first is not ability, but evidence of ability. Willie separates his best horses, thats just how he operates. When Willie presents options to Anthony Bromley (which is a good point Q just made), yesterdays weak race does little to inform discussions, especially if BL doesn't race again (not saying BL is not better, he just hasn't had a chance to show it). The world has seen Ferny win a competitive Grade 1 posting an RPR of 166, and if you're Willie (and you want to separate your best horses), how easy will it be to sell Ferny as the better horse to Anthony Bromley? Very, but forget better, and think prepared. Willie controls largely how each horse is campaigned. By campaigning Ferny as he has he's giving Ferny the experience that stands an Arkle horse in good stead. Jumping at speed vs decent rivals is where horses do their learning, and 8's into 7's should tell everyone that we learnt little re BL yesterday. Aside from always sending just one horse here, I'm pretty sure all of Willies runners have taken in at least one Grade 1 pre Arkle, so IMO BL needs to be thrown in the deep end at the DRF to feature here. I hope Willie breaks the trend and goes for it, but I think its unlikely.

[Kevloaf]

It's a trend that's on the verge of changing though?

Although I do go back to an earlier point, the DRF funnel of the Irish Arkle means if beaten there, a horse is more likely to go up in trip to try something new.

[Our_Duke]

Yeah very fair point regarding BL not having as much proven form at top level as the typical Mullins horse here. I'm not saying that BL will definitely come here - I was definitely curious to see how likely that FH will be the only runner. I think there's a good chance that with the ever increasing number of talented Novices Mullins has the trend will break - whether with BL or another horse, I wouldn't be sure. If all of them (FH, BL, Haut En Colouers, Jungle Boogie etc) turn up at Cheltenham this year and only FH is in the Arkle, I think this stat will be really strong going forward!

[Milbear0]

Jungle Boogie is extremely fragile. 2 runs in two years I think?
His performance LTO was impressive enough to stake a claim as Willies Marsh first string, but in the event he doesn’t stay sound you’d expect BL and Haut to both step into the void rather than one back up Ferny.

There’s always the option of GDC dropping down to 20f of course but then who is Willies RSA horse? Stattler?

incidentally, any ideas of GDM’s wellbeing?

[Carnage at Taunton]

Mullins saying BL is an Arkle makes me think a conversation has already been had with Bromley.
I think it’s already been decided.
Although past history tells me I’m probably wrong

[Odin]

Didn't someone on here speak to Bromley who was very downbeat about BLs chances in the arkle? If so is that likely to have been smoke and mirrors or legit at the time?

Fwiw I'm taking the view that ferny is just the better horse and that it was some performance beating riviere like he did

[charlie]

Mullins saying BL is an Arkle makes me think a conversation has already been had with Bromley.
I think it’s already been decided.
Although past history tells me I’m probably wrong

'Blue Lord looks an Arkle horse. He galloped all the way to the line there. He's run twice over fences now so I'm not sure if he needs to run again before Cheltenham but the Irish Arkle is an option. We also have Ferny Hollow for that and, if we can. We'd like to split them up'

[Exar Essay]

'Blue Lord looks an Arkle horse. He galloped all the way to the line there. He's run twice over fences now so I'm not sure if he needs to run again before Cheltenham but the Irish Arkle is an option. We also have Ferny Hollow for that and, if we can. We'd like to split them up'

Interesting! That's the first time I've read the last part of that quote. Thanks for posting. Definitely one to think about NRNB then rather than now.

[Atlantic Viking]

Has Willie ever mentioned Ferny specifically for this?

[Madmoose]

Has Willie ever mentioned Ferny specifically for this?

No but the owners did.

Those quotes above to me seem to mean they will separate them before the Arkle?

[charlie]

Has Willie ever mentioned Ferny specifically for this?

Serious question or tongue in cheek?

[Benjy23]

Aye, notwithstanding the punctuation, I'd interpret it as splitting them in the Irish Arkle rather than in the proper one.