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2017 Arkle Trophy Chase

Comments from Mullins about Yorkhill being an Arkle horse.... although just reading through it isn't as scary as I first thought, (for Altior, and Min for the majority in here :encouragement:)

Mullins said: "He has huge scope for jumping and certainly has not lost any of his ability. He's very at home over fences.

"He went a bit left but that would not worry me too much once they have an engine. I hope fences will help him to settle. He took a fairly keen hold but was not rushing his fences.

"He would have no trouble stepping up in trip but he is very good at that trip and can jump at that trip.

"Christmas will probably come a bit too soon for his next run. He could stay at two miles or go up in trip just depending where his next run fits in."
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I am sure I said this back in September, but there was always a possibility that Ruby will want to have the best possible chance of winning the Arkle, as it is on the Tuesday... my thinking now is that....

VERY serious thoughts going through my mind now, that Yorkhill Arkle and American Tom JLT are the two MOST LIKELY winners (for Ruby and Willie). IF American Tom has a better chance of winning the JLT, than Min does of winning the Arkle, then Yorkhill will be the one that moves. Ruby has mentioned the Arkle, Mullins has now mentioned the Arkle... Coral are 9/1 for Yorkhill to win the Arkle and although these options will CLEARLY be kept open until the week before, I don't think the prices will stay the same!

I had 1.5 pts EW on Yorkhill / AT @ 129/1 last week and Coral are still offering that after a successful chase debut today.

I genuinly hope Yorkhill turns up in the JLT for my ante-post but for 3 points I feel a lot happier than I would do, worrying all winter!

Mullins said: "I thought it was a good performance first-time over fences. He did go to the left at several fences but that isn't a worry. If he has to go left or right then going left is better when you think of Leopardstown, Cheltenham and Aintree.

"We think he is Arkle Trophy material and his hurdle form would certainly suggest he is. Leopardstown at Christmas will probably come too soon for him, so we'll wait and see what will be next for him. He would have no problem going up in trip although two miles suits him well."
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That is from the Racing post though, and that is certainly geared more towards the Arkle that the other interview.

Been cut for the JLT across the board though too... so this as I said before, won't get cleared up for months yet.






Taking betting out of it, would be brilliant if Min, Yorkhill, Altior and Identity Thief did turn up!

Double post sorry
 
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Yorkhill was only average at best today. He's one to take on for me this season. His jumping to the left is a big concern.
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
Yorkhill was only average at best today. He's one to take on for me this season. His jumping to the left is a big concern.
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Not a big concern for Cheltenham, Aintree or Leopardstown. What would you have wanted to see for you to qualify as better than 'average'? ...
 
I'd want to see him jump straight for starters. The first time I noticed Yorkhill starting to jump left at his hurdles was Aintree and it worries me that he is doing it over fences.
 
Jumping away from the straight usually means an injury.
I won't pretend to know what I'm talking about but someone I know said it can be a muscle/joint issue and the horse jumps away from the landing side that creates the pain.
They likened it to a human having a knee problem and walking style changes to compensate, and this usually creates a different problem
 
Istabraq said:
Jumping away from the straight usually means an injury.
I won't pretend to know what I'm talking about but someone I know said it can be a muscle/joint issue and the horse jumps away from the landing side that creates the pain.
They likened it to a human having a knee problem and walking style changes to compensate, and this usually creates a different problem
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I can't remember him jumping out to the left on his first few races over hurdles so it's as if something has started to bother him.
 
Vautour jumped slightly left fairly often and it didn't hinder him? Is it ALWAYS a problem? Not something I know a great deal about! It hasn't ever put me off other than the amount of 'lengths' a horse is giving away?
 
I think 2016 Neptune form might amount to nought - hope I am wrong
 
mayo said:
I think 2016 Neptune form might amount to nought - hope I am wrong
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Being quite 'general' here, but before Yanworth stepped up to 2 and a half, he hadn't looked anything special, and I am certain that Bellshill was regarded higher than Yorkhill was too, prior to Bellshill disappointing before the festival... I am sure that was the case even after Yorkhill had won the Tolworth.... Itsafreebee, A Toi Phil, 00Seven

You might have a point, it might just be average form... that looks better because they were the market leaders.
 
Altior strengthened his claims for further Cheltenham Festival glory when taking his unbeaten run over fences to three in the 32Red.com Wayward Lad Novices' Chase.

Last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle hero has now won eight races on the bounce after easily disposing of three rivals with the minimum of fuss under Noel Fehily.

Sent off at the prohibitive odds of 1-9, Nicky Henderson's budding superstar was barely out of second gear as he won in what amounted to an exercise canter.

Fehily, who was completing a hat-trick on the card, said: "He's very good. He does everything so easily and he's such a good jumper as well.

"He made a mistake here (last month) at the ditch down the back, but today he was very neat. He jumped great the whole way - he's a very good horse.

"Nicky Henderson has always said how good he thinks he is. I rode him a piece of work for the first time last week and he blew me away."

He added: "I think he's learning how to relax. He's not going through his races pulling like he used to. It's only when you really switch him that he shows what he can do.

"I think I'm only scratching the surface so far."

Henderson is comfortable with his decision to switch Altior to fences instead of charting a course towards the Champion Hurdle with the six-year-old.

He explained: "It was a big decision (to switch) but at the moment I'm certainly not regretting it. As Noel said, he's working this out and I think he is a very good horse.

"Going round here on his first chase he was good and at Sandown he was also good apart from landing on top of one (of the fences). But today you could see he had really worked it out."

Henderson is looking forward to the eventual rematch with his immediate Supreme victim Min in the Arkle at Cheltenham in March, and added: "What he did just now was really 10 out of 10, but they both look very good.

"Min looked good in Ireland and it looks like we're heading for another head to head (at Cheltenham)."

Asked whether Altior would have another run before the Arkle, he said: "When he came here at this time last season it was his fourth run and we waited for the Festival. This time it's his third start, so let's see.

"If I did do it (give him another outing) I might look at the Game Spirit as that's where we went with Sprinter Sacre."
 
"If I did do it (give him another outing) I might look at the Game Spirit as that's where we went with Sprinter Sacre."

Oh yes Nicky, he's dared to mention him in the same breath.

Hard to find any each way value now, with it looking like 'a match' ...
 
Surprised there's not been much of a mention in here after both Altior and Min put in brilliant performances over the last few days, albeit serious opposition was lacking.

Ruby Walsh on Min after:

was happy with him in Navan but he impressed me today. He reminds me of Kauto
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Just listening to the Racing Post podcast. David Jennings and Tom Segal were waxing lyrical about Altior saying we're seeing another Sprinter Sacre and Segal thinks he's better than Sprinter Sacre!

I'm not quite sure on that statement as much as I rate Altior but he put in a faultless round at Kempton - what a joy to watch. I watched the replay of Min first and admit I started to get a little nervous especially seeing just how much of an impression he seemed to make on Ruby. But then watching Altior put my mind at ease as he then stepped up another level from his last run with his jumping looking spot on.

I love the fact each horse is improving run by run and we're building up to a great Arkle match up
 
Ruby meant he is athletic like Kauto in the way he jumps? (I hope?!) ...

I love it when there is a big clash, and you have to pick a side.I can't fault Min at all, he hasn't done anything wrong and looks really good. I can't help feeling the prices are closer together than they should be though. If they jumped the last together I Would have no doubt in my mind that Altior will power past him up the hill.
 
Yeah - he missed the Arkle through injury.
 
I think the Arkle plays out 1 of 2 ways.. MIN goes off in front sets a decent pace jumps his rivals into submission and either altior stays with him until the 2nd last and goes by or can't get past and MIN wins
 
If Altior is upsides Min after the last I can only see one outcome. The way he devoured the hill in the supreme, added to the fact that he has grown and strengthened in the last 9 months, I'd expect to see something special from Altior.

I really like Min but just think Altior is on a different level.
 
It'll be a Ruby from the front with a double handful job, and Altior will be ridden to get up to him ... Ruby will ask for more from Min as Altior gets alongside and won't be able to quicken .... exactly the same as the Supreme. Altior will give Douvan a race next season. If min can win the Arkle then I might start backing the min (CC) / Douvan (GC) double haha
 
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I must admit at one point altior was 5/2 and MIN was 8/1 just after altior chase debut the value was MIN. But after what we've seen altior at 11/10 and MIN at 3/1 they are about right.. I think you will probably get bigger on the day on both horses at this stage
 
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