• HELP US - Become a Patron - Fat Jockey is a horse racing community focused on all the big races in the UK and Ireland. We don't charge users but if you have found the site useful then any support towards the running costs is appreciated ... a small donation each month would be a huge contribution. Become a Patron!

The Big Jump Off

Diamond Geezer

FJ Competition Guru - Patron (est. Jan 2021)
Joined
Jan 14, 2015
Messages
1,571
Reaction score
584
Points
0
Location
Cheltenham
Presumably everyone knows about the pull out in today's RP but there's a video version you might know of, about one and a half hours worth.Summary and link follows


All eyes turn to the 2021-22 jumps season as host Dave Orton and a stellar panel give us exclusive views, analysis and much, much more.

Lee Mottershead and Chris Cook kick things off explaining why we're set for another brilliant jumps season.

Paul Kealy and Maddy Playle get their teeth stuck into the chasers, hurdlers and novices, giving us their ante-post selections and horses to follow.

Dave is also joined by Patrick Mullins and 12-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls, as they reveal running plans and tell us what they are looking forward to most.


https://youtu.be/i95dXTHQLn4
 
  • Like
Reactions: Penzance
Most interesting thing so far - Kealy saying Royal Pagaille is over his injury and will go for the Betfair Chase.

Had a little nibble at him for the KG at 25s.
 
  • Like
Reactions: opatcho
Nicholls nominates Matterhorn as his dark horse for the season.
 
Most interesting thing for me was Patrick Mullins saying there's a possibility that Gaillard Du Mesnil could stay hurdling as he's not the biggest of horses. Aound 70mins in.
 
Most interesting thing for me was Patrick Mullins saying there's a possibility that Gaillard Du Mesnil could stay hurdling as he's not the biggest of horses. Aound 70mins in.

I'd assume they'd go the stayers route if they do stay hurdling
 
He also says none of them have even schooled yet so I'd take a lot of what he says as his opinion...
 
I'd assume they'd go the stayers route if they do stay hurdling

Its the only option I'd say unless they intend to skip Cheltenham altogether which is a distinct possibility.
 
Clearly Patrick just reads this forum and spouts it back to the media :devilish::highly_amused:

This from June:

Gaillard Du Mesnil - Before Galopin Des Champs performances at Cheltenham and then more so at Punchestown, Gaillard Du Mesnil was my idea of WPM's number 1 for the BANC, and whilst I do still think he could turn in to a very good chaser himself, I do wonder whether he's going to be the level of Galopin Des Champs now. As with all of the above, it does remain to be seen whether he stays over hurdles or goes chasing, but it wouldn't surprise me if he had another season hurdling, potentially something like the Stayers Hurdle, before taking up chasing the following season. Despite being a G1 winner (it was a pretty weak race) over 2m 4f, I do think the further he goes the better, so he's not one I'm looking to back at anything less than 2m 5f+ next season
 
I always thought he would be better over further, couldn’t understand the talk of intermediate trips.

He beat all the Albert Bartlett horses comfortably over 2m6f so was always going to be better the further he went. I do wonder if the age thing was the reason to run him in the Ballymore, he was/is only 5 and be 6 next year so novice chasing by 7 is absolutely fine.

Stattler was always needing a trip so can understand running GDM in the Ballymore to split the pack and maybe to mind GDM for the future, gold cup 2024 as an 8 year old :glee:
 
I find David Jennings entertaining, but christ he doesn't half offer up some bang average opinions. He has every horse ahead of him at the start of the season, can pick anything he likes and lands on LE for the GC when PN has said hurdling, and CPS for QMCC at 10yo when he couldn't win it at 9. They're not terrible opinions and his rarely are terrible, but they're just not very good are they. Not remotely surprising, I just expect him to up his game every year, but every year he doesn't. I like GL, he knows the time of day.
 
Patrick Mullins is the only person I know who can provide a ‘stable tour’ and you end up knowing less about each horse of his dad’s than you did before you started watching it….
 
I find David Jennings entertaining, but christ he doesn't half offer up some bang average opinions. He has every horse ahead of him at the start of the season, can pick anything he likes and lands on LE for the GC when PN has said hurdling, and CPS for QMCC at 10yo when he couldn't win it at 9. They're not terrible opinions and his rarely are terrible, but they're just not very good are they. Not remotely surprising, I just expect him to up his game every year, but every year he doesn't. I like GL, he knows the time of day.

I don't think PN said Hurdling for definite with LE did he ? Thought it was just under consideration?
 
I don't think PN said Hurdling for definite with LE did he ? Thought it was just under consideration?

Nothing definitive but intimated strongly enough where it just wouldn't be on your mind. It's a lazy selection. 12+ races prices up - hundreds of horses to pick from, 5 months to go and he lands on one that might not even jump a fence this season.
 
I find David Jennings entertaining, but christ he doesn't half offer up some bang average opinions. He has every horse ahead of him at the start of the season, can pick anything he likes and lands on LE for the GC when PN has said hurdling, and CPS for QMCC at 10yo when he couldn't win it at 9. They're not terrible opinions and his rarely are terrible, but they're just not very good are they. Not remotely surprising, I just expect him to up his game every year, but every year he doesn't. I like GL, he knows the time of day.

Yeah i feel DJ also generally tries to lead the British battalion, with him being so keen on horses like bravemansgame and mister fisher last year. Gavin Lynch definitely know his stuff but doesn't have a big enough reach in racing imo. Does he do anything else apart from Upping the Ante bar the odd guest on a podcast or talk show? Doesn't have social media either so his opinions are often kept under wraps bar the tuesday evening show.
 
Most interesting thing for me was Patrick Mullins saying there's a possibility that Gaillard Du Mesnil could stay hurdling as he's not the biggest of horses. Aound 70mins in.

This is Willie Mullin's quote after GDM won at Punchestown in April taken from IrishRacing.com

Mullins added: “That was a very good performance and I think he’s going to be a nice horse next year.

“There is a good possibility that he’ll jump fences next season and that might help him to settle as well. He’s too busy during a race, but once he learns to relax, he’ll give a lot more.”

In stark contrast to Patrick's quote. IMO I actually don't think Patrick has any idea what Willie's plans are for any of the horses, I take what he says with a pinch of salt.
 
This is Willie Mullin's quote after GDM won at Punchestown in April taken from IrishRacing.com

Mullins added: “That was a very good performance and I think he’s going to be a nice horse next year.

“There is a good possibility that he’ll jump fences next season and that might help him to settle as well. He’s too busy during a race, but once he learns to relax, he’ll give a lot more.”

In stark contrast to Patrick's quote. IMO I actually don't think Patrick has any idea what Willie's plans are for any of the horses, I take what he says with a pinch of salt.

100%, and would be sure we aren't alone!