General Chat

[Garrison Savannah]

The only possible way that Ballyburn stays over hurdles this coming season that I can see would be if he schools absolutely terribly.

[Appreciate It]

I think he’ll go over fences too… but if Mullins fancies having a horse to win a champion hurdle and a gold cup before he hands in his license, he won’t get too many with better credentials than Ballyburn.

[Fouroverthrutwo]

I think he’ll go over fences too… but if Mullins fancies having a horse to win a champion hurdle and a gold cup before he hands in his license, he won’t get too many with better credentials than Ballyburn.

It wouldn't surprise me if Willie tried to do the Dawn Run double with this fella. I think he is a bit special .

[Benjy23]

Could put worse related doubles on two likely non runners than Ballyburn (CH) and Lossiemouth (Mares) imo

[Lobos]

It wouldn't surprise me if Willie tried to do the Dawn Run double with this fella. I think he is a bit special .

He has already mentioned the idea.

[Lobos]

Willie........

"You have to look for the right horse who could do it, and it struck me that he would fit the bill in my book. He might be the right horse to try and do it with.
"If he happens to be lucky enough to win a Champion Hurdle, and that will be tough, he could do it because he looks like a real chasing model. He's a horse who you could attempt it with."

[Yosser]

Willie........

"You have to look for the right horse who could do it, and it struck me that he would fit the bill in my book. He might be the right horse to try and do it with.
"If he happens to be lucky enough to win a Champion Hurdle, and that will be tough, he could do it because he looks like a real chasing model. He's a horse who you could attempt it with."

Wonder if Willie thinks he can get him to a level where he beats a fully fit Constitution Hill. I know he didn't make it last season and State Man got a freebie but i don't think he would train a horse all season over hurdles in the hope that the Hill doesn't make it. He could but i just can't see it when he has State Man and Lossie to go to war with unless Ronnie Bartlett wants to. If he wants to win the Gold Cup with him i don't think he would throw a season away on hurdles. Surely going to be novice chasing unless Ballyburn headbutts all the fences, which is very possible though he did win a point. For me, Ballyburn potentially only becomes a viable CH bet after watching him jump a fence in public

[Killiney]

On this issue of Ballyburn attempting the CH / GC I cannot see his participation in the CH depending him not taking to fences pre season as there would then be little point on attempting the double. If Willie is keen on the idea the horse will go for CH this season.

[Lobos]

There's only one thing we can be certain of and that is there's not a chance in hell that he'll be 7/1 should he line up in the CH.

[somer1]

Il Est Francais limbering up for seasonal return

All sights set on return to Kempton on Boxing Day.

• Sunday 08 September 2024
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The King George VI Chase remains at the forefront of Noel George’s mind, as Il Est Francais prepares to make his return later this month.

The star chaser, who George trains in conjunction with Amanda Zetterholm, lit up Boxing Day at Kempton last year, producing a phenomenal round of jumping in the hands of James Reveley to claim the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase.

A return to the Sunbury venue for their Christmas highlight was immediately highlighted as a goal for 2024, and despite being well-held in his only appearance since and missing the French Gold Cup, connections have not been deterred in their thinking.

The Richard Kelvin-Hughes and Haras De Saint-Voir-owned six-year-old is pleasing his Chantilly-based training team in advance of his seasonal reappearance, which could be at Auteuil on September 28 in the Prix Richard et Robert Hennessy – a race won 12 months ago by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero’s Geskille.

The outcome of that seasonal bow will determine if British racing fans will get an early sighter of Il Est Francais on UK soil, or if he remains on the continent to complete his King George preparations.

“He’s in great shape and he’s getting fitter every day,” said George.

“He’s not far off his comeback run and we have the option of running him on September 28.

“Our main target is the King George and I think that run will tell us whether we stick to the French programme to get ready for Kempton or come over to England to get ready with a race before.

“The horse will tell us what to do, but he’s in great form and we’re looking forward to getting him back on track. It’s all very exciting and we will see how his comeback race goes then make a plan from there.”

He went on: “We’ve got a few other nice horses to potentially bring over to the UK throughout the winter as well, but obviously we are all looking forward to the King George with Il Est Francais.”

Il Est Francais is currently disputing King George favouritism with Willie Mullins’ exciting Cheltenham Festival-winning Fact To File.

[Lobos]

Can't see FTF running in KG...

Fact To File’s path to next year’s Gold Cup will follow the same route taken by current champion Galopin Des Champs this season so the road to Cheltenham promises to be fascinating.
Mullins said: “He could start off in the John Durkan, then run at Christmas, then the Dublin Racing Festival and back here. That’s the bones of the plan, but he has to stay right and JP might have other ideas, so I’ll have to have a chat with him about that.”

[Lobos]

So..........

John Durkan
Savills
DRF

Willie ran 5 in JD last season and 4 in Savills at Xmas so expect the same again. Creature of habit Mr Mullins.

When was the last time he ran one of his Gold Cup horses in the King George??

[somer1]

So..........

John Durkan
Savills
DRF

Willie ran 5 in JD last season and 4 in Savills at Xmas so expect the same again. Creature of habit Mr Mullins.

When was the last time he ran one of his Gold Cup horses in the King George??

Florida Pearl me west country cousin. BUT. Mullins has never had so many horses to chuck at races in the uk. We now now he wants to be the best here and Ireland.

[Lobos]

Florida Pearl me west country cousin. BUT. Mullins has never had so many horses to chuck at races in the uk. We now now he wants to be the best here and Ireland.

Wow.....so his last horse to go King George/Gold Cup was 23 years ago !!

Think the KG just comes too early for Willies best chasers these days.

***Just looked through Saxons GC Stats and , in the last 10 years he's had 2 horses that have ran in the KG and gone on to run in the GC. Tornado Flyer and the nutter Asterion Forlonge. In those 10 years Willie has had 27 that ran in the GC so a very small amount have attempted the double .

[Craigy14]

So..........

John Durkan
Savills
DRF

Willie ran 5 in JD last season and 4 in Savills at Xmas so expect the same again. Creature of habit Mr Mullins.

When was the last time he ran one of his Gold Cup horses in the King George??

I’ll answer Vautour