Cheltenham 2023 - Early fancies

[darlojim]

Vauban super impressive there - he doesn't just possess a blistering turn of foot but he can cruise up off a very strong pace also. Fingers crossed he progresses plenty through the summer and has a successful 5yo campaign.

[JackieMoon33]

The Article say's that the Donnely's also bought state man's 4 y/old brother . before Cheltenham.
Any body know what the name of that horse is ??.

Unraced Half brother I believe called Soir De Garde.

[Odin]

My thoughts are GDC Gold Cup , Epetante Mares hurdle and Honeysuckle Champion hurdle. I really don't know about Bob those last two runs were shocking. Facile Vega Supreme or Ballymore (last minute decision probably).

Yes - as we are now, I would agree with all of those in terms of targets

Long way to go before I decide if they are my best picks in each race though. Mares Hurdle in particular is starting to look a lot more stacked next year than it was this year!

[Exar Essay]

Appreciate It another of Willie's that may go Arkle route... A year later than planned.

Really interested to see where AI goes. I’d fancy him to step up in trip, but really need to see him first as that Churdle run was uninspiring despite the lay off.

There’s not been a 9yo winner of a novice chase at Chelts for more than 30 years, and only 6 aged 9 or more ever. Not sure how many have tried, of course.

[Istabraq]

Shady Operator runs at Punch today, a good win would see him clipped from the current 25/1 on offer…

[Pendil1111]

Less confident now after Willie's comments re: GDC but at the time of writing I thought both would go to ryanair. Since then, both trainers have suggested their horses need or would be better suited by 3m which particularly in the case of Bob strikes me as odd. Will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Biggest value in the gold cup could be monkfish now, but I was burnt last year thinking ferny was value for arkle so trying not to make same mistake twice!

My thoughts are GDC Gold Cup , Epetante Mares hurdle and Honeysuckle Champion hurdle. I really don't know about Bob those last two runs were shocking. Facile Vega Supreme or Ballymore (last minute decision probably).

[Benjy23]

Appreciate It another of Willie's that may go Arkle route... A year later than planned.

I can see why he's keeping one or two over hurdles! Champion Hurdle division needs livening up a bit as well.

[Parachute Paddy]

Also agree with most of what you have said as well SB

It has been a while since WPM has had a serious champion hurdle horse though, so why not throw 2 at it? I think we know for certain Sir G is likely to go over fences after his performance imo so State Man and hopefully Vauban (confirms his potential today) will be his darts for the 2m races in open company. He has the luxury of so many top class horses and both horses being young as well, can still go novice chasing at 5 and 6 respectively after next season.

Agree and with Sharjah getting on and Honeysuckle is only around for another season then there are a lot of grade 1s to have in Ireland. I’d completely understand if he went down this route.

[BigChaang]

Another one for Willie that could go Arkle, El Fabiolo . He's honestly so stacked.

Willie say's El Fabiolo look's like a chaser in the making, and that's the aim . in the same interview as State man .

[BigChaang]

….Mullins namechecks the CH for State Man;

https://www.attheraces.com/news/2022...-in-his-stride

The Article say's that the Donnely's also bought state man's 4 y/old brother . before Cheltenham.
Any body know what the name of that horse is ??.

[Craigy14]

Can't disagree with much of that to be honest.

I don't think he should go down the champion hurdle' route for Mullins because I don't think he'll be the stable number 1 for it. I believe Vauban is better.

I couldn't care less about the lack of top class hurdlers, makes the game easier for us really when you think about it (punting point of view).

I believe he was a supreme horse and should have gone for that but it was silly not to make use of his mark given the other two he had.

We'll see how he fills out over the summer.

Also agree with most of what you have said as well SB

It has been a while since WPM has had a serious champion hurdle horse though, so why not throw 2 at it? I think we know for certain Sir G is likely to go over fences after his performance imo so State Man and hopefully Vauban (confirms his potential today) will be his darts for the 2m races in open company. He has the luxury of so many top class horses and both horses being young as well, can still go novice chasing at 5 and 6 respectively after next season.

[DenmanSacre]

Can't disagree with much of that to be honest.

I don't think he should go down the champion hurdle' route for Mullins because I don't think he'll be the stable number 1 for it. I believe Vauban is better.

I couldn't care less about the lack of top class hurdlers, makes the game easier for us really when you think about it (punting point of view).

I believe he was a supreme horse and should have gone for that but it was silly not to make use of his mark given the other two he had.

We'll see how he fills out over the summer.

What odds would you make a match race between Vauban and State Man? If Vauban was favourite I'd be punting State Man all day.

It's incredibly difficult for the 4 year olds in their 5 year old season to prove themselves in open company. State Man is a year older and his County and Punchestown wins are better than any of Vauban's wins IMO. Beating Fil Dor twice (and likely a third time today) is worthless form in the context of a Champion Hurdle. What has Vauban done to prove he is better than State Man? State Man has run to the high 150s yesterday pretty comfortably while also not hurdling brilliantly. A drop down back to 2m with a strong pace should see him in better light and help his hurdling, like in the County. Vauban has a fair bit of improvement over the summer to reach that level IMO.

As fans of racing, we should be wanting the most competitive races possible at Cheltenham. The Champion Hurdle is the pinnacle of hurdling and we should all want some of the great novices staying over hurdles to take on the established hurdlers and give us a great race each year. Saying you couldn't care less about the lack of top class hurdlers because it makes it easier to win a bet on an uncompetitive CH field with an 8/11 favourite who has an easy race is ridiculous and the opposite of what Cheltenham should be about - the best horses racing against each other in competitive fields. Maybe betting is more important to you than the actual racing? If that's the case for most then let's just get the 5th day of the festival sorted so we can all bet on some stupid Mares bumper or a 2m4 hurdle, making the Champion and Stayers hurdle even less competitive but 'easier' betting heats.

[Silverbirch]

I get his hurdling wasn’t the best and not calling you out here SB, just a general point, but we have so many people in racing moaning about the lack of top class hurdlers.

Here we have state man who looks to have some turn of foot and engine and most will want to see him over a fence. He’s only had 4 lifetime runs, one of which as a 3yo in France and his first over here he fell at the second last. Horses can easily scrub up their hurdling. That turn of foot as soon as PT said go the race was over in 2/3 strides was like watching a flat horse.

Can't disagree with much of that to be honest.

I don't think he should go down the champion hurdle' route for Mullins because I don't think he'll be the stable number 1 for it. I believe Vauban is better.

I couldn't care less about the lack of top class hurdlers, makes the game easier for us really when you think about it (punting point of view).

I believe he was a supreme horse and should have gone for that but it was silly not to make use of his mark given the other two he had.

We'll see how he fills out over the summer.

[Istabraq]

….Mullins namechecks the CH for State Man;

https://www.attheraces.com/news/2022...-in-his-stride

Good to see/hear, but I’m not taking that as a done deal…

[FinalFurlong91]

One half of the double green (can't remember which!) was on RTV earlier saying it'll be 2 1/2 miles for Blue Lord from now on.

He better get a good like at allahos arse on the gallops then

As that's all he will be seeing next season, though he may need a set of binoculars

I guess what they should do is aim him at the grade 1races fakir won this season at ascot and aintree