2025 Mares Hurdle

[darlojim]

At least you admit it's pocket talk.

It's a good way of turning fans away from the sport imo.

Yeah 100% pocket talk.

I'd have loved to see the 'big 4' clash, but always had it in my mind 1 would 'dodge' but in all honesty up until the last month or 2 Id have had it nailed on to be BDA.

Anyway, we're talking asif its a done deal, which I still wouldn't say it is.

Lets hope everyone first and foremost comes through the next 6 days safely.

[Carnage at Taunton]

At least you admit it's pocket talk.

It's a good way of turning fans away from the sport imo.

Yeah it’s not great.
Maybe if this does happen, then the Mares issue will be seriously looked at.

[riccirich]

Might not be left on the shelf after all.

It's not even a joke anymore. If they do run in the mares I would honestly love to see a bag of shite explode in their faces.

If anyone does do it in the parade ring, I will transfer you 5k on PayPal, as long as you have proof it was you, and I'm 100% serious. Has to completely cover them though, no glancing blows.

[Carnage at Taunton]

It's not even a joke anymore. If they do run in the mares I would honestly love to see a bag of shite explode in their faces.

If anyone does do it in the parade ring, I will transfer you 5k on PayPal, as long as you have proof it was you, and I'm 100% serious. Has to completely cover them though, no glancing blows.

Brilliant

[Fouroverthrutwo]

It's not even a joke anymore. If they do run in the mares I would honestly love to see a bag of shite explode in their faces.

If anyone does do it in the parade ring, I will transfer you 5k on PayPal, as long as you have proof it was you, and I'm 100% serious. Has to completely cover them though, no glancing blows.

If you set up a Crowdfunding site you could make it 10K and up the stakes to throw some feathers after the shit - icing on the cake as it were..........

[Rooster Booster]

I want to caveat my following comment with the point that a final decision has not yet been made. Obviously if they continue to go down the CH plan then this is complete bollocks.

I think the fact that they waited until after the BDA announcement tells you everything we need to know about their assessment of her chance. They knew when connections of BDA were going to make their announcement and they made zero attempt to pre empt this or influence this by making their own announcement first . This tells me they wanted to leave the path clear for BDA to pick the CH so that she could slot into the Mares with a favourites chance and with a justifiable excuse.

Having spent a lifetime working with people with a similar mindset to RR this all feels rather calculated and I suspect a decision in principle was made some time ago, possibly straight after the fall, and everything since, including getting Willie to continue to talk about the CH but with the proviso that RR still wanted to go down that path was carefully choreographed so as to protect Willie from accusations of bottling it and at the same time protect the mares reputation. In short the owner has fallen on his sword to protect his trainer and his horses reputation imo.

[darlojim]

I want to caveat my following comment with the point that a final decision has not yet been made.

Echo this, could all be back to normal in 12hrs time

[Studfarm254]

Echo this, could all be back to normal in 12hrs time

He knows 100% right now where she’s going so why say that if he’s not switching. Either way, I’d love to knock the white off his teeth!

[Middle_Of_March]

Meh.. I don’t blame them.

It’s a piss weak Grade 1 over a grip that suits her better.

Blame Cheltenham for making a Mares Hurdle a Grade 1 with no penalties.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Meh.. I don’t blame them.

It’s a piss weak Grade 1 over a grip that suits her better.

Blame Cheltenham for making a Mares Hurdle a Grade 1 with no penalties.

Yep, that’s all true I agree
But can understand the frustrations

[Prestbury]

I really don't get Ricci. If he was a small owner without a winner at the Festival then I think few would begrudge him going for the Mares. I think people would have been more understanding about BDA going to the Mares given that the horse does not have a Cheltenham win on her CV. But Lossiemouth has already won the Mares and Ricci has had plenty of winners at the Festival already (over 20?). He is obviously not in the sport for the money. So what is he in it for? It really doesn't matter to anyone whether when he leaves the sport his tally is 23 or 24 - what he will be remembered for is taking soft options with horses such as Vautour and now Lossiemouth (and hopefully as the guy who forced the BHA to change the conditions of the Mares race to exclude horses rated above 150).

[Liammet]

If they do bottle it and come here with Lossiemouth then they will surely be pissing off a very good owner in Kenny Alexander
Aswell as everyone that has the best interest of the sport at heart

[riccirich]

Out of interest, did anyone notice any significant movement on the exchange for lossiemouth in this race today before ricci spoke on the preview?

I remember looking earlier today and she looked solid enough for the champion, while being 4.0-5
0 roughly for this race. Interested to know whether the movement only happened during the preview, meaning it would be regular punters backing her just going off his words.

[FredFlintstone]

Ricci did say prior to the race at DRF she’d go for the mares if she was beat. It’s been Mullins that had been banging on about the 2 year plan

[Kautostar]

I don’t know why anyone’s surprised. Willie always chooses the easiest option when it comes to Cheltenham winners.