Where will they go ?

[The hill]

Could Imgine go the 4 miler? Stayed on in the pipe same line as Chemical Energy? Maybe a year to early

[Odin]

Could Imgine go the 4 miler? Stayed on in the pipe same line as Chemical Energy? Maybe a year to early

I'm no expert on breeding, but it doesn't scream 4 miler to me. I've got my eyes on one of their other ones for that...

[Cheltenham Novice Chase]

From the comments thus far I would hazard a guess as follows:

CH: Impaire Et Passe
Champion Chase: Constitution Hill
Arkle: Stateman, Marine Nationale

IET is one year younger than State Man hence it would make sense to send State Man chasing and hold back IET for the Champion Hurdle. I think Constitution Hill’s destination may depend on how a performance in the Game Spirit in open company goes. If it goes well then he may go for the CC. If it doesn’t go in line with expectations then I would imagine he would go for the Arkle by which time it’s probably too late for Willie’s horses to be re-directed. Just my view.

[Ice]

Not knowing which direction Constitution Hill is likely to head is making antepost almost impossible on so many races, it's scrambling my brain !

[Lobos]

Constitution Hill - The world wants him to go Champion Chase State man - Easy one.....Champion Hurdle
Impaire et passe...... He'll go chasing IMO. Has the speed and stamina to be an Arkle horse.
marine nationale......Champion Hurdle if The Hill goes elsewhere.

[Morley Street]

Granted not Hendo’s usual route but we are talking about an unusual horse and if the 2025 Gold Cup is the target then the most logical stepping stone would be the Turners

IEP will be CHurdle bound imo after he bolts up at Punchestown. Also think it’s likely State Man has another go

No need to doubt Barry when he says MN will be trained for the Arkle

[HesTheOne]

Granted not Hendo’s usual route but we are talking about an unusual horse and if the 2025 Gold Cup is the target then the most logical stepping stone would be the Turners

IEP will be CHurdle bound imo after he bolts up at Punchestown. Also think it’s likely State Man has another go

No need to doubt Barry when he says MN will be trained for the Arkle

Do you think WPM would keep both Impaire & Stateman over hurdles? Can’t see that happening with 2 of his best shown at the festival

[Eggs]

….Seem to recall Mullins suggesting this was a ‘year too early’ for Vauban’s main chance at the CH.

[gwaaan]

Does Vauban have the pace for Champ Hurdle? Could they look to step him up in trip?

[Benjy23]

He's also still adamant that Facile Vega is a 2 miler, and I doubt he'll give up on (over) rating him either. Can see FV being targeted at the Champion Hurdle as well.

Although he's got about five options for every race again hasn't he, so difficult to know how they impact on each other.

If IEP was mine though he'd be targeting the Champion Hurdle for sure.

[Lobos]

Michael Buckley on The Hill......


"No decision has been made about what he’ll do in the future but if he's as proficient at jumping fences as he is hurdles, then my ambition would be to equal what Dawn Run did and try to win a Gold Cup.
"There’s an attraction for me, on the one hand, to move on to chasing and trying to do a Dawn Run but there’s another attraction in trying to win another Champion Hurdle – that would be Nicky’s tenth."

[Lobos]

After Tuesday's race Constitution Hill's jockey Nico De Boinville said he wouldn't want him 'pigeon-holed' as a hurdler and that would indicate a switch to novice chasing next season is likely.

[Istabraq]

Does Vauban have the pace for Champ Hurdle? Could they look to step him up in trip?

He suffers from what so many 5yo non novices do, and that's a lack of targets.
There's been a huge focus on enhancing the mares programme (rightly or wrongly) but we still get almost a forgotten generation of horses who have nowhere to go after their Triumph hurdle season.
Why there isn't a 5yo championship final somewhere (Aintree, Sandown or even Fairyhouse/Punchestown) I have no idea, talented horses like Vauban end up in races they can't be competitive in instead of targeting a winnable race/series.
Pied Piper went close in the County off 154, but he needed to be beaten out of sight by State Man a couple of times to have not been given a mark higher than that.
So so hard for these horses...

[Kevloaf]

Facile Vega surely targetted at the Arkle as well until beaten at 2m over fences?

Same with Marine Nationale. Can see those two re-opposing for sure.

The lay off worked for MN this year too, so maybe misses the DRF?



Not checked the prices (I'm going to guess 8/1 and 10/1) - .... checked, was close ish, 5/1 and 10/1 ..... Skinny

[Lobos]

Facile Vega surely targetted at the Arkle as well until beaten at 2m over fences?

Same with Marine Nationale. Can see those two re-opposing for sure.

The lay off worked for MN this year too, so maybe misses the DRF?



Not checked the prices (I'm going to guess 8/1 and 10/1) - .... checked, was close ish, 5/1 and 10/1 ..... Skinny

Trouble is..............The Hill !