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2017 Champion Hurdle

Kevloaf said:
Yorkhill NOT entered?
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Nope! Think it gives a clear indication that NC will be Wylie's representative in the race (and likely won't be going for the stayers) and that Mullins must be happy with either Faugheen and/or Annie's wellbeing (in that I don't think the yard would have NC as their main player in the race)

Though it is worth remembering Annie was supplemented in last year.
 
jono said:
Nope! Think it gives a clear indication that NC will be Wylie's representative in the race (and likely won't be going for the stayers) and that Mullins must be happy with either Faugheen and/or Annie's wellbeing (in that I don't think the yard would have NC as their main player in the race)

Though it is worth remembering Annie was supplemented in last year.
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If they had any doubts about Faugheen turning up, they'd have given him the free entry though surely? It can't be anything but positive. Obviously a set back and supplementin becomes a factor but at this stage it looks really good?

NC for this and Shaneshill in the Stayers looks am obvious way to split them up.

NC better value than Brain Power for me!
 
Just read a piece on the ATR website about Faugheen, and the injury that kept him out of the race last year, 'possibly' flaring up again if he runs before Cheltenham.

My question is, if Mullins had him ready, would Faugheen in the Champion Hurdle without a prep put you off? Obviously his only defeat came on the back of a break, albeit to another Mullins horse (which raises my own doubts about the defeat), but if they specifically targeted him, running once a season, at this race, to prolong his racing, would that be good enough for you to back him?
 
ComplyOrDie said:
Just read a piece on the ATR website about Faugheen, and the injury that kept him out of the race last year, 'possibly' flaring up again if he runs before Cheltenham.

My question is, if Mullins had him ready, would Faugheen in the Champion Hurdle without a prep put you off? Obviously his only defeat came on the back of a break, albeit to another Mullins horse (which raises my own doubts about the defeat), but if they specifically targeted him, running once a season, at this race, to prolong his racing, would that be good enough for you to back him?
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Personally I wouldn't back him. After a break of over 400 days id try to find something else. He'd be a short price because it's Faugheen even without a run so id try and find something with a chance of beating him
 
If I could back Faugheen at odds against without a run I'd steam right in. Even an 80℅ fit Faugheen would beat this Champion hurdle field (bar Annie Power), and WPM wouldn't run him unless he was spot on.
 
The thing is, if there are any question marks over fitness Mullins won't take the chance of risking it and his reputation, so if he lines up on the day he is presumably fit enough to win. In usual circumstances I'd be wary of backing something in the CH without a run in 400+ days, but this is an incredibly weak CH and like FM says he'd only need to be 80% fit (if that) to win.
 
I agree with you FM, at the end of the day, for me, and it is only my opinion, he is without doubt the best 2m hurdler in training, and likelihood of Willie risking his reputation on running a below par Faugheen is not in question.

I assume you have had a bit of the 5/4 NRNB that is on offer then?
 
Willie just give a very positive update on the big 2 on ATR to Gary O'Brien. Said Faugheen and Annie both done a nice bit of work and that their work is now pleasing him much more than it had been. Plan is Faugheen the Irish champion and Annie the mares race she ran in last year.
 
WILLIE MULLINS on Thursday gave the biggest indication yet that Annie Power and Faugheen, winner of the last two Champion Hurdles, are on the verge of returning to the track for the first time this winter.

Mullins told At The Races: "Both worked nicely this morning so I'm very pleased with them. Both horses are pleasing me a lot more now than they have been."

Faugheen has not been seen on the track since his BHP Irish Champion Hurdle win last January, arguably the performance of his career. He achieved an RPR of 177, which ranks him as the best two-mile hurdler since Istabraq on that scale.

Annie Power made a late reappearance last season too, returning at Punchestown after Faugheen had been ruled out of the Champion Hurdle and taking his place at Cheltenham on the strength of her success there.

She too emulated Istabraq by going on to complete the Champion Hurdle-Aintree Hurdle double, which had last been achieved by that horse 17 years earlier.

History repeating

Mullins seemed hopeful of bringing both horses back to a similar level of form compared to 12 months ago.

"We're well on course with both of them," he said. "We'll see how they go between now and then [Irish Champion Hurdle]. I'd like to get Faugheen there and Annie Power to the mares race at Punchestown, that would be the ideal scenario."

It is widely expected that only one of Faugheen and Annie Power will run in this year's Champion Hurdle. The 2015 winner Faugheen is the 9-4 favourite, while Annie Power is 5-1 but only 2-1 with firms offering non-runner, no bet.
 
Excellent. Just seems to have confirmed what we had been reading between the lines in terms of targets pre-Cheltenham but great to hear the work is good. He wouldn't say it if it wasn't true?

Maybe he has been keeping them back on purpose to deflect conversation and scrutiny on where they'll run and swapped it for "how they'll run".... not stupid is he haha
 
Mullins chooses his words very carefully and usually makes these statements with his fav three words "at the moment".I would not take anything for granted until the decs are out for any of his horses, last years chelt switches re Vautour Yorkhill Shaneshill Bellshill are still fresh in my memory.A govt wealth warning required if backing Mullins hoses ante post:confused:
 
Hi everyone first ever post on here,i seem to remember rich ricci saying on atr that annie power deserves to defend her title and what a story that would be for the horse,i think it will be vroum vroum for the mares which she would win imo
 
cufctony said:
Hi everyone first ever post on here,i seem to remember rich ricci saying on atr that annie power deserves to defend her title and what a story that would be for the horse,i think it will be vroum vroum for the mares which she would win imo
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389/1 for the Anne CH, VVM Mares, Faugheen WH treble... Not beyond the realms of possibility. Looks unlikely at the moment but we all know things can change.

Welcome.
 
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cheers mate,im thinking more faugheen and ap running in ch,really don't see the point in ap going for the mares,especially when vroum vroum can win that
 
It's going to happen, I can sense it.

Faugheen to regain his title by beating Annie Power by 5 lengths - Townend on Faugheen.:triumphant:
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
It's going to happen, I can sense it.

Faugheen to regain his title by beating Annie Power by 5 lengths - Townend on Faugheen.:triumphant:
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Haha I'd LOVE them to price up Ruby's mount if they did. He'd be on Faugheen every day of the week :triumphant:

You'd HAVE to back the other one though if the market over-reacted... or would you, would they KNOW.
 
Why not try and win all three though Tony? If VVM wins well over 3m again they must think she would have a decent chance in the World Hurdle.
 
I think my ante-post potential returns would take a hammering if they turned up in the same race, because I really haven't considered it, so usually they're in it together. I suppose I'd rather the bets went down because they took each other on though rather than one of them didn't make it at all..... A very interesting prospect, I actually see AP has shortened for the CH today and drifted for the mares on the exchange.

I hope that is just my mind making me panic, when in reality, it is the first positive (or even ANY news) on AP for months from Willie, so likely to shorten for the CH in light of that regardless?
 
Can't Catch Me said:
Why not try and win all three though Tony? If VVM wins well over 3m again they must think she would have a decent chance in the World Hurdle.
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I don't think vroum vroum would win the world hurdle,annie power couldn't win it,and it would be a big ask for faugheen to step up to 3 mile,and as usual I'm talking through my pocket,done various doubles trebles round robins lucky 15s on Jenkins supreme, annie power champion hurdle,vroum vroum mares and invitation only Neptune,at the moment all four could miss out lol
 
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