I do love how it seems the report has shoe horned the Shloer Chase as a possible comeback.The Shloer Chase at Cheltenham in November has been mentioned as a possible comeback race for the eight-time Grade One winner."We'd be inclined to look at an earlier race for his comeback run" suddenly means he's coming over for the Open...sorry November
meeting. No chance he comes over to England for that meeting in my eyes (or Britain at all before March unless he goes up in trip for the King George)
No surprise in my eyes that Douvan will start back over 2 miles. Regardless of where he ends up this season they were always likely to get him a comeback run over 2 miles before then navigating the next route to take. The 2m chase at the start of November at Naas would be an obvious starting point in my eyes. Mullins has run the likes of Felix Yonger, Twinlight there the last few years. That would get an easy run out of Douvan and then give them plenty of time to decide on where they go next. There's definately been a huge over reaction to Douvan's defeat though. Now, the value is 100% with the 10/3 - 3/1 on Douvan but we know part of that price is the uncertainty of targets, unlike say Altior.
Mullins is of course a fan of sending over a 'sighter' to Britain during the Winter and it'll be interesting to see who he sends in this division. Like I said i cannot see Douvan coming over for the Tingle Creek even if they get a prep run in beforehand. Nor Min. Both i'd think will be eased back after last years injury's. Un de Sceaux could very well come back over and try to regain the race but I have a feeling that Great Field could / could also take the journey over.
How does Great Field measure up for everyone? To take Ordinary Worlds form with Altior, Min and Great Field literally, there's not a massive difference between them all:
OW vs Altior = 15 lengths
OW vs Great Field = 11 lengths
OW vs Min = 9 lengths
(Note not that I do NOT take this literally but just gives us some brief comparison)
Went off far too keen in the County Hurdle in 2016 which gave him no chance but minus that his record is faultless (unlike his jumping!) winning with ease. Is he being overlooked? I imagine he could be just what Altior needs and just what will bring out the best in Altior