Cheltenham 2023 - Early fancies

[HoldenTheReins]

Willie Mullins?

That is what he said yeah

[FinalFurlong91]

He'd need to seriously scrub up his jumping to have any chance in a champion hurdle

[Silverbirch]

He'd need to seriously scrub up his jumping to have any chance in a champion hurdle

Surely he's a prime candidate for the arkle plot. Crazy to stay over hurdles in my opinion.

[Zachx02]

Mental how good of a horseman Willie is, State Man finished second to Busselton on debut in France and if you showed both of them to someone who doesn't watch racing they'd think youre taking the piss

[Exar Essay]

Surely he's a prime candidate for the arkle plot. Crazy to stay over hurdles in my opinion.

Willie said at Chelts he’ll be a dual purpose horse which is probably affecting his thinking. Can’t flit between chasing and flat easily.

The way he settled then came off the pace today makes me think he’d be better over the mid trip and over a fence.

[Craigy14]

Surely he's a prime candidate for the arkle plot. Crazy to stay over hurdles in my opinion.

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.

[DenmanSacre]

Mental how good of a horseman Willie is, State Man finished second to Busselton on debut in France and if you showed both of them to someone who doesn't watch racing they'd think youre taking the piss

I wouldn't take a lot of the 3 year old hurdles in the Spring and Summer at face value. If a trainer has a good one that they think will fetch decent money from the Irish or British, they'll be getting their horses ready and riding for a place so they keep their novice tag in place.

It's likely State Man was better than Busselton even then. The key is Willie having the connections to snap up the really good French horses.

[HoldenTheReins]

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

[Eggs]

…anybody interested, 12-1 State Man CH is a bit of a stand-out with Fred, as low as 6-1 with 365.

[DenmanSacre]

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.

I was thinking this yesterday how bizarre it is that every year we moan about the quality of the Champion Hurdle and yet every year we spend a lot of time talking about which novice chase race the good novices will go to - sometimes before they've even been to Cheltenham.

Part of the problem is that there aren't many (any?) really good flat horses moved to hurdles anymore as they are sold to race abroad. The horses that come through therefore tend to be French breds that have been hurdling since 3 or ex PTPers where it is expected they go fencing.

We could have some great clashes over the next few years if Constitution Hill, State Man and Vauban stay over hurdles. If someone has a spare ?500k+ we could even get Kyrov over to add to the mix. Much more exciting than having them all go novice chasing and 70% of them not being able to jump a fence well enough to contribute meaningfully to the top open chase races.

[Eggs]

….Mullins namechecks the CH for State Man;

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

[Atlantic Viking]

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.

[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

[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…

[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.