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2016 Mares Hurdle

They are concerned by her freshness which some put down as the reason for the fall last year. I'm hanging onto that at the moment as all signs point towards a tilt at the WH (which would wave bye bye to my acca)..

Spot on ... it will be the Mares.
 
I'm not an expert on the exchanges but what are people's opinions on the drift for the mares and contraction in the WH market? Just purely reaction to possible run on Wednesday or more to it?
 
I'm not an expert on the exchanges but what are people's opinions on the drift for the mares and contraction in the WH market? Just purely reaction to possible run on Wednesday or more to it?

It's either a big negative for us all or ppl are starting to poo their pants and started to lay their bets incase she goes for the WH.

I don't like to be negative here but this year the bookies probably have a bigger liability than last year all coming down to AP again. Somewhere down the line one of the big 4 on day 1 either won't run or won't win. It's business at the end of the day.

PP(probably the most connected bookie in horse racing) have partnered with Betfair(the biggest guaranteed winners). Makes you wonder huh?

I hope I am wrong and will have to eat my own shoe.
 
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I said it somewhere (presumably this thread) months ago that AP will go for the mares.
For me it has never been in doubt, she wasn't good enough to win a WH 2 years ago and connections want/need a festival win for her, for me she is an absolute certainty to go Mares and even more so now in Thistlecrack there looks to be a certainty in the race.
Admittedly I don't have ante post vouchers with her so I'm likely to be more relaxed on the subject than most....
 
Last time I do this to myself with Annie, not worth the worry each year. So many vouchers resting on her.

Oh how I long for Quevega!!
 
This is why I'm pleased I got Min at a price. Least now I can bet on a horse who is Value on the Day in the Supreme now for cover. Always going be 1 that lets you down. I never bet Annie at Cheltenham. Imo not 100% reliable like Quevega was each year.
 
Could the weather scupper AP's prep run? Doesn't look too kind the other side of the water...
 
Everybody holding ante post bets for Annie in mares start praying for divine intervention or do a rain dance over Punchestown:p
 
Ricci's quotes on Annie going for the WH if she got a prep run were made before Thistlecrack went on to improve again and hose up. Surely they need to see that its a much stiffer task now than it may have looked.

Also, what difference does a prep run make? Hosing up at 1/9 tomorrow and winning on the bridle is no different to a gallop at home against stronger opposition... it isnt going to tell them anything they dont already know and must know what race she is going in.

Yes my pocket is talking as like many i have the 4 fold placed early December at nice prices, but was wary of this scenario and stuck the same bet on with VVM in place of Annie albeit for slightly less of a return.

However, i dont see VVM as a cert in the same way Annie is and i think RR/Mullins would be taking a big risk by running her in the Mares and Annie in the WH. They could come away empty handed and that would be such a disappointed to see.. a Mare of Annies quality deserves to be in the winners enclosure at Chelts.
 
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Shes in the final decs for tomorrow. Takes on 2 rivals.

Don't do it to us Willie!!
 
Barry Geraghty said last year that AP wouldn't have made that mistake had she had a prep run, with more racing she would have been able to see the stride and adjust.
I see AP running tomorrow a positive for anyone holding a Mares voucher on her, I may set myself up to be shot down but I don't think the World hurdle has ever been on their agenda for AP.

Deebee - there are a number of reasons they send horses to racecourses (for a race or a gallop), they like the horse to get used to travelling, being saddled somewhere different, seeing crowds of people etc, also however uncompetitive a race may be they are more likely to be going a quicker pace than a gallop at home.
 
Shes in the final decs for tomorrow. Takes on 2 rivals.

Don't do it to us Willie!!

Just noticed that now KSS....Also more interesting is the prize money.. 12.3k Euros! This aint a prep run... its a 30 minute trip down the road for her to jog round and them pick up 12 grand.
 
Barry Geraghty said last year that AP wouldn't have made that mistake had she had a prep run, with more racing she would have been able to see the stride and adjust.
I see AP running tomorrow a positive for anyone holding a Mares voucher on her, I may set myself up to be shot down but I don't think the World hurdle has ever been on their agenda for AP.

Deebee - there are a number of reasons they send horses to racecourses (for a race or a gallop), they like the horse to get used to travelling, being saddled somewhere different, seeing crowds of people etc, also however uncompetitive a race may be they are more likely to be going a quicker pace than a gallop at home.

Fingers crossed Ista... and yes it had crossed my mind that simply the look and feel of being on the racetrack might have been more the aim, and now seeing the prize money as well you cant blame them for wanting to get her ran regardless of where she goes at the festival.
 
For connections it's all about getting AP (and the others) 100% for March, I don't see the prize money influencing their planning or decisions, it really is all about winning at the festival even more so for AP after her two previous visits.
That said, the racecourse will naturally welcome their visit as will local racegoers...
 
For connections it's all about getting AP (and the others) 100% for March, I don't see the prize money influencing their planning or decisions, it really is all about winning at the festival even more so for AP after her two previous visits.
That said, the racecourse will naturally welcome their visit as will local racegoers...

3rd time lucky.
 
I wonder what price you'd get on Annie never winning a race at the Festival.

A few years ago, Matt Chapman said that Oscar Whiskey was the worst campaigned horse in his lifetime. Surely Annie Power is a contender for that crown now.

Doing my best to be objective, Thistlecrack has done us a turn by being the true standout at 3m. I think Ricci will see sense and send AP to the mare's. That said, VVM should swerve it too.
 
A few years ago, Matt Chapman said that Oscar Whiskey was the worst campaigned horse in his lifetime. Surely Annie Power is a contender for that crown now.


Champagne Fever !!!
Cold sweats.......
 
I see Paddy Power who are normally well informed with the Mullins yard now go 10/11 Annie and 2/1 VVM! Not a good sign.

I was looking back over last years threads on various forums and saw that the same scenario existed last year with it only really becoming clear 10 days or so before the festival where AP would end up, and in the weeks before that RR was giving cryptic interviews which indicated WH more than Mares... no different this year.
 
Wonder if the rain dance is having an effect? Anyone report on weather in Punchestown? Like we need another facet to this but if the prep run was called off...

Also found Ruby's quote below quite interesting when considering the previous posts about the prize money.

"She was due to go away for a gallop this week anyway but Willie (Mullins) decided that she might as well have a racecourse outing."
 
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Wonder if the rain dance is having an effect? Anyone report on weather in Punchestown? Like we need another facet to this but if the prep run was called off...

Also found Ruby's quote below quite interesting when considering the previous posts about the prize money.

"She was due to go away for a gallop this week anyway but Willie (Mullins) decided that she might as well have a racecourse outing."

where did you see that Rowebot? Certainly is interesting and does make sense... like i was saying this race really cant be any stronger than what she will do at home against some decent inmates. She faces 2 other horses, 1 who hasnt ran for 2 years! Given how close punchestown is to the yard it makes sense to have a jog round and pocket the cash.