2025 Champion Chase

[Lobos]

With El Fabiolo falling I'd imagine the only race he'd go to, if any, would be the CC. Energumene will be going for 3 wins in race so that just leaves Gaelic to potentially step up.

[delsie777]

With so many doubts surrounding the top of the market, isn't the current stable form of HDB hiding the standout each way value? Captain Guiness 50/1 each way 3 places. He will be right on the day, performs on the Old Course and will be held up off the Solness gallop.

Il Est Francais surely wont be able to lay up to genuine 2 mile pace and God knows how he will deal with the undulations of Cheltenham. Energermene needs a bog, El Fabiolo is too error prone and Jonbon wont be able to resist pressing the leaders. His jumping will be under pressure too.

Gaelic Warrior could just blow them away if on a going day but 50/1 for the Captain in a small field is too good to ignore.

I think there is mileage in the E/W double with Monty's Star in the Gold Cup too.

HDB will be back in form in 5 weeks

[fatherjohn]

With El Fabiolo falling I'd imagine the only race he'd go to, if any, would be the CC. Energumene will be going for 3 wins in race so that just leaves Gaelic to potentially step up.

wonder if they find an easier race for el fab to build confidence/technique back up. tough ask on horse to take on qmcc without a clear run this year

[ComplyOrDie]

wonder if they find an easier race for el fab to build confidence/technique back up. tough ask on horse to take on qmcc without a clear run this year

Ruby mentioned the Red Mills Chase as a possibility.

[ComplyOrDie]

Willie Mullins on GAELIC WARRIOR:
“I was just disappointed with Gaelic Warrior on Sunday. Disappointed in the overall context but I thought he looked to be going so average about the fifth last and it looked to everyone like Paul might pull him up.

“Paul actually said the same to me that he was going to pull him up and then he just seemed to get his second wind and stayed on well, so the Ryanair comes into the equation now after that.

“It could just be a bit too fast going down the back side for him [at Leopardstown], but I’m just wondering has he some other issue, which I’m trying to look into at the moment. I’ve a few things I want to look into and I want to check him before I say any more.”

[Odin]

Willie Mullins on GAELIC WARRIOR:

“Paul actually said the same to me that he was going to pull him up and then he just seemed to get his second wind and stayed on well, so the Ryanair comes into the equation now after that.

FFS...

For what it's worth, the idea the Willie is sending Gaelic, el fabiolo and fact to file to the ryanair but only energumene to the champion chase is absolutely bonkers - so I assume looking at the two quotes Gaelic would still end up here if all is ok after the tests.

I can buy into the idea that they're just going too fast for him though - it fits with the theory that he prefers heavy ground where they go a step slower...

[Istabraq]

Willie Mullins on GAELIC WARRIOR:
“I was just disappointed with Gaelic Warrior on Sunday. Disappointed in the overall context but I thought he looked to be going so average about the fifth last and it looked to everyone like Paul might pull him up.

“Paul actually said the same to me that he was going to pull him up and then he just seemed to get his second wind and stayed on well, so the Ryanair comes into the equation now after that.

“It could just be a bit too fast going down the back side for him [at Leopardstown], but I’m just wondering has he some other issue, which I’m trying to look into at the moment. I’ve a few things I want to look into and I want to check him before I say any more.”

Shock horror, 10l winner of 3m G1 hurdle might need to step up from 2m.
Who'd have thought it....

[ComplyOrDie]

Shock horror, 10l winner of 3m G1 hurdle might need to step up from 2m.
Who'd have thought it....

Despite what's he said I still think they'll say they found something amiss and he'll go for the Champion Chase.

He's been battered by FTF at Leopardstown last season over 2m5f. He didn't run his race at the weekend, he ended even further off Marine Nationale & Solness to say he was right.

He was closer over Christmas.

[Quevega]

Might seem perverse, but I doubt I'd back Gaelic in the Ryanair but have backed for the Champion Chase.
I don't subscribe to him not having the pace myself. Although softer ground may help against others I admit.

Definitely don't subscribe to that theory based on last weekend. That was Townend being fucking useless along with the rest of them that let the handicapper go off in front again.
Credit to Marine and his jockey for at least moving.

Think Townend might suffer with the yips and freezes sometimes and then when he realises it's too late he then comes out with shite about how the horse didn't feel the same.

Not many jockeys will admit that they were asleep to the threat in a grade one - Especially so - when on one occasion he knew a pacemaker had been employed and never moved a muscle, and on the next he'd seen the same horse bolt off on the bend previously and never moved a muscle again.

Needs a slap.

[That Horse]

Might seem perverse, but I doubt I'd back Gaelic in the Ryanair but have backed for the Champion Chase.
I don't subscribe to him not having the pace myself. Although softer ground may help against others I admit.

Definitely don't subscribe to that theory based on last weekend. That was Townend being fucking useless along with the rest of them that let the handicapper go off in front again.
Credit to Marine and his jockey for at least moving.

Think Townend might suffer with the yips and freezes sometimes and then when he realises it's too late he then comes out with shite about how the horse didn't feel the same.

Not many jockeys will admit that they were asleep to the threat in a grade one - Especially so - when on one occasion he knew a pacemaker had been employed and never moved a muscle, and on the next he'd seen the same horse bolt off on the bend previously and never moved a muscle again.

Needs a slap.

He'd potentially have an even better horse (than Solness) in Protektorat to reel in up in trip. I suppose Paul T could be more alive to the threat in that respect and know not to give such a horse too much rope.

I'm glad it's more likely F2F is going to the Ryanair, even if Willie is saying nothing in his latest update, but have to say I'm a bit underwhelmed by F2F all of a sudden and now wondering if he's more vulnerable after that last performance. Constantly seeing GdC's arse disappear into the distance might not be doing much for his racing mentality.

[Quevega]

He'd potentially have an even better horse (than Solness) in Protektorat to reel in up in trip. I suppose Paul T could be more alive to the threat in that respect and know not to give such a horse too much rope.

I'm glad it's more likely F2F is going to the Ryanair, even if Willie is saying nothing in his latest update, but have to say I'm a bit underwhelmed by F2F all of a sudden and now wondering if he's more vulnerable after that last performance. Constantly seeing GdC's arse disappear into the distance might not be doing much for his racing mentality.

If I hadn't already had bets on the race I'd still say Protektorat is the best value.
He's been value for months.

[Istabraq]

Despite what's he said I still think they'll say they found something amiss and he'll go for the Champion Chase.

.

It looks to me as if the red carpet is being rolled out for Energumene and everything else fits in line.
Whether that's a 3rd champion chase thing, or because they think he won't go a yard further or maybe Bloomy has had a biog ante post bet and promised to cut Mullins inm who knows, but it seems to me like Bloomys horse is dictating matters...

[That Horse]

If I hadn't already had bets on the race I'd still say Protektorat is the best value.
He's been value for months.

If he wins, he covers my outlays on the race but just seen he's still 7/1, quite tempting.

Trying to make a case in my head for Envoi Allen but age is prohibitive and probably need to see some signs of life from Henry's stable.

EDIT - sorry, just realised I'm in the QMCC thread

[Carnage at Taunton]

It looks to me as if the red carpet is being rolled out for Energumene and everything else fits in line.
Whether that's a 3rd champion chase thing, or because they think he won't go a yard further or maybe Bloomy has had a biog ante post bet and promised to cut Mullins inm who knows, but it seems to me like Bloomys horse is dictating matters...

I think he’s the best 2 miler they have now that EF just ain’t the same as he was.
GW ain’t a 2 miler at the top level imo.
So imo no surprise if he’s their only representative in the CC .

[Lobos]

The only way Energumene has a chance in the CC is if it's a very Soft ground Fez and if that's the case then he's not beating Gaelic.....