• 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!

Champion Chase 2018

Anyone prepared to give me 1000/1 on:

Min Champion Hurdle, Douvan Champion Chase, Un De Sceaux and Djakadam Ryanair, Total Recall and Killultagh Vic Gold Cup
 
Robbante said:
I don’t see that sending him back over hurdles is silly. It’s for one race not the rest of his career, Presenting Percy went back over hurdles for a race, Tiger Roll is going back over hurdles for a race. I think it’s a distinct possibility Min could go for the champion hurdle, he has the beating of the favourite and to my eye looks in better nick now than the favourite too. The big if is that it depends on Douvan being in the kind of form where he could challenge Altior. That’s why I think it’s still unlikely, as Douvan needs to be flying at home this time in a month for that to be the case
Click to expand...

"Min gone from 100 to 26 on Betfair in the last few mins for the champion hurdle..." That was an hour ago. Still 12s nrnb with paddy though...
 
Robbante said:
"Min gone from 100 to 26 on Betfair in the last few mins for the champion hurdle..." That was an hour ago. Still 12s nrnb with paddy though...
Click to expand...

Interesting. I took 80-100 a couple weeks ago before his last race.
 
Folski said:
Not currently but the only other race for him would be the Newlands Chase on 25 February over 2m.

Leaves 2.5 weeks to QMCC
Click to expand...


Press release from Rich Mullins dated 2nd March, 2018:

We have decided to bypass Cheltenham with Douvan this year. We had hoped to run him at Gowran but the ground would have been too heavy first time out; he's too good of a horse for that. We considered the Newlands at Naas but that was only 17 days before the Champion Chase and that felt too quick between runs. We still have Fairyhouse and Punchestown (maybe even Liverpool) to look forward to but, in all honesty, we wouldn't be too upset if he didn't run this season. The good news, and I am sure everyone will agree, is that we still have a great horse to look forward to next season
 
Bayoffreedom said:
Press release from Rich Mullins dated 2nd March, 2018:

We have decided to bypass Cheltenham with Douvan this year. We had hoped to run him at Gowran but the ground would have been too heavy first time out; he's too good of a horse for that. We considered the Newlands at Naas but that was only 17 days before the Champion Chase and that felt too quick between runs. We still have Fairyhouse and Punchestown (maybe even Liverpool) to look forward to but, in all honesty, we wouldn't be too upset if he didn't run this season. The good news, and I am sure everyone will agree, is that we still have a great horse to look forward to next season
Click to expand...

:highly_amused: Probably right on the button
 
There's a quote from Patrick Mullins just now that reads "Douvan is fine and we've decided to go straight to Cheltenham. We just felt we could prepare him better at home."

And Willie Mullins: "We're very happy with Douvan but after reviewing things last night I decided not to declare him for the Red Mills Chase and that it would be better to prepare him for Cheltenham without running him over 2m4f on heavy ground. Cheltenham remains the plan."

Make of it what you will.
 
ComplyOrDie said:
There's a quote from Patrick Mullins just now that reads "Douvan is fine and we've decided to go straight to Cheltenham. We just felt we could prepare him better at home."

And Willie Mullins: "We're very happy with Douvan but after reviewing things last night I decided not to declare him for the Red Mills Chase and that it would be better to prepare him for Cheltenham without running him over 2m4f on heavy ground. Cheltenham remains the plan."

Make of it what you will.
Click to expand...

No reason to think he won't be running at this stage. On good ground you would initially think maybe Min Champion Chase Douvan Ryanair, but depends for me how Faugheen and Yorkhill are looking the week before. If Yorkhill is Ryanair bound then can't see Mullins having Un De Sceaux, Yorkhill and Min/Douvan in the Ryanair. I would guess that Min will be schooled over hurdles at home regardless, gives them options and he is still entered in the champion hurdle which suggests it was somewhere lurking in their thoughts (even though willie block enters them)
 
I had a nibble at 100 on Min 1st Feb but he was showing 180 a couple of days ago, now back to 30, but im sure its just a bit of adjustment as we get closer to the festival with a bit of speculation and covering thrown in. I wouldnt be worried about him not coming here at the moment though, his price for this still looks solid enough...
 
"Douvan's also entered for the Ryanair Chase but the Champion Chase has always been the plan and that remains the situation”. From Willie, really tough one to call
 
I'm tempted to cash Min for profit but it just isn't my thing.

They hold Douvan in such high regard that if he makes it back (seems likely). Then they will switch Min as believe Douvan has the better chance against Altior.
 
And the point of tomorrow's entry was?
 
You tell me?!

My point being... They can’t quiet get Douvan fit enough to run. How many times have we seen this

Saw the same last year with Annie Power and Faugheen, horse doing wel, should be good to go, entered, need them to run well in remaining prep work, ohhh no here we again.... not happy, pulled from the race

Douvan won’t run at the festival, and I’d continue to say it.... he won’t run this season
 
Robbante said:
"Douvan's also entered for the Ryanair Chase but the Champion Chase has always been the plan and that remains the situation”. From Willie, really tough one to call
Click to expand...

The fact Willie had mentioned the Ryanair to me there means it's a lot more likely than any other point this season.

I personally don't expect he'll run ... HOWEVER
If he does ill expect to see him in the Ryanair with the statement ...'Min deserves another crack at Altior and Douvan had always settled so well in his races. It's a tough ask to win ba CC on first run on the season ' ... or they'll say he is fit but not sparking, before putting in a Vautour-like display.

Douvan NRNB for the Ryanair is a must IMO.

Isn't it strange how we read comments!

I have to add that I hope Douvan runs so much, whichever race. Absolute star of the game, regardless of how the betting is affected.
 
Last edited:
Ina simplistic view, it’s not surprising they have decided against running him for the first time 11 months on heavy ground
 
Has any horse made his seasonal debut in a Championship G1 at Cheltenham and won? I can't think of one.
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
Has any horse made his seasonal debut in a Championship G1 at Cheltenham and won? I can't think of one.
Click to expand...

Quevega? :devilish:

Couldn't even name a horse to try in the championship events let alone win.

Not many horses had the string of 1's up to their name that Douvan has though if he did attempt it?

Altior would have been fav to do it this year though too... very strange season?!
 
Kevloaf said:
Quevega? :devilish:

Couldn't even name a horse to try in the championship events let alone win.

Not many horses had the string of 1's up to their name that Douvan has though if he did attempt it?

Altior would have been fav to do it this year though too... very strange season?!
Click to expand...

Yeah. It's going to be a tough ask but I'd also take the 4/1nrnb and trust WPM to get him there fit enough to do himself justice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom