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Re Banbridge, he's a much better horse on better ground . Struggled in the Soft today . Was ridden to get the distance and didn't enjoy not getting his head. Clearly failed to stay against better opposition as well. Imagine he'll be given a rest now. One warm up and then straight to Cheltenham on Spring ground in the Arkle. Whether he'd be good enough to beat Jonbon and Possibly El Fabiolo is another matter !
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People will (rightly) say that we cannot take what WPM says too literally, but I think this makes sense. Black Hercules 2.0Originally posted by Lobos View Post
I've topped up another half point on Ramillies at 40/1. Will have a proper look through WPM potential contenders later today.
The thing that always sticks in my mind re the NHC is how important experience around Cheltenham is.
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He doesn't look to have an obvious one yet does he for the NHC. Think GDM was the only one of his qualified at this point? But,with him now seemingly out of the equation, we'll have to keep an eye on future entries to see which ones are placed over 3 miles. Ramillies could well be one.Comment
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I’m not financially invested in GDM but it wouldn’t surprise me if Willie meant “We’ll be going the graded route” rather than exclusively the “Grade 1 route”.Originally posted by charlie View Post
Taken from RP on GDM
Mullins said: "He ran great on his first run back for the season and we can look forward to plenty of improvement from him. The rain came at the right time."
Asked if he would be training him for the Grand National, Mullins replied: "No, we'll be going the Grade 1 route."
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"I thought the trip might be a little short for Gaillard Du Mesnil in the Drinmore but all the rain and weather we had over the last 12 hours made a difference and brought him right into the race.
Unfortunately, there was one too good but he ran a solid race and I think he's still Grade One material, maybe over a longer trip."
Willie Mullins Sporting Life column - not sure where the quotes come from (TV interviews or exclusive for sporting life?)
Doesn't mean GDM won't go NH Chase but potentially suggests he could be one to consider in a novice grade 1 when he's entered (e.g. Xmas?) as there's clearly a lot of belief in him there
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Yeah, I saw this mate.Originally posted by charlie View Post
I would only say this is open to interpretation, to a degree. The route to where? He's not specifically mentioned races and the question/answer was with regards to the Grand National.
His stable tour noted one potentially for the NH chase as Patrick will want to ride him in it. That, for me, is more definitive.
This was the Sportinglife ST: "Gaillard du Mesnil has a big handicap written all over him. If I can get a run into him he could go for the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, or maybe something like the Cork National. He's still a maiden so I'm wondering if he should get an entry in the Drinmore. I'd prefer to run him in a longer race as the Drinmore can be hard on horses early in the season."
I guess the big handicap won't be the Grand National, and I'm also guessing the Drinmore isn't too hard of a race after all. All he's done there is kept the Drinmore open as an option whilst having a ready excuse as well
And from the ATR stablr tour: "He’s still a maiden over fences, so looks to be a lovely horse for staying novice chases. Patrick will be trying to get him on the National Hunt Chase route! He looks that type, but the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase is there too."
He said he looks the type for a NH Chase, and the comment about the Brown Advisory's Chase sounds like it's 2nd preference to me, and I imagine, would depend how his other options get on prior to the festival rather than how GDM does throughout the season leading up to the festival. GDM has already had a crack at the Brown Advisory and failed to win it, I'm sure Willie will have better options this season.
Just my take on them quotes.Comment
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It’s WP Mullins - it’s only ever complicated with himOriginally posted by Lobos View Post
Don't complicate matters JM !
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ComplyOrDie those quotes take me back to thinking its 50/50!! The NHC would be an easier option for GDM IMO and Willie loves the easiest option, so thats a big tick in the NHC column. The red flag is saying they wouldn't run yesterday and then saying post race (after having ran a blinder) that they'll stick to Grade 1's. Stinks of Turners or BANC to me, but time will tell.Comment
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I think unless GDM wins a big grade 1 or shows he’s Willie’s best staying chaser then it will be the NHC for him. He has so many potential horses to throw at the turners I don’t see this as an option. A lot will depend on how good minella cocooner, classic getaway and James du berlais turn out to be with regards to the pecking order and the banc.Originally posted by charlie View Post
Last season he let Stattler go to the NHC even though he could have easily been competitive in the banc.Comment
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To add to that in the Sportinglife review by Willie he said
'I thought the trip might be a little short for Gaillard Du Mesnil in the Drinmore but all the rain and weather we had over the last 12 hours made a difference and brought him right into the race.
Unfortunately, there was one too good but he ran a solid race and I think he's still Grade One material, maybe over a longer trip.'
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Thank God we don't have threads for the individual races!Comment
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Apparently jonbon was 7 or 8 lengths faster than edwardstone on the final circuit
And he did that in 2nd gearComment
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