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2017 Mares Hurdle

Really strange to send her over this trip 1st time out even if its against no one. Maybe they think she looks more of a stayer??
 
She always struck me as an out and out stayer last year.
I think she got done for speed in the festival bumper and ground others into submission in soft ground bumpers in Ireland.
You would expect more of an intermediate trip as a pipe opener but maybe options are limited and they want to keep her to her own sex ?
 
Istabraq said:
She always struck me as an out and out stayer last year.
I think she got done for speed in the festival bumper and ground others into submission in soft ground bumpers in Ireland.
You would expect more of an intermediate trip as a pipe opener but maybe options are limited and they want to keep her to her own sex ?
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She might not be one for this year really if that is the case... I don't think they'd pop her in the Albert Bartlett so she might be seen to better affect in the years to come? .... With the owners she has, you can't imagine they want to sacrifice the chance of a big race one day? ...
 
I may just be overreacting to the trip. it could be a pipe opener and dropping back to 2 and a half for the mares hurdles or the flat 2 as a novice. Either way the potential is there
 
I can't second guess the yard Kevloaf, they've hurt me in the past and made decisions that just don't add up but I'm not paying the bills or training the horses so my view is worthless, as a punter I decided years ago unless playing the 'win any race' market the yards horses should be avoided like the plague.

It wouldn't surprise me if Ricci/Ruby have influenced where Chubby and co run AK to avoid clashes with others.

There are 2 mares races at the festival, one of AP/VVM/Limini will head for the mares and it's likely Ricci has something else for the novice race so maybe they try AK at a longer trip to see if there's a target for her in March without clashing with Ricci's arsenal....
 
Haha I wish I was wise and disciplined enough to not back the Mullins horses' - you've made that point before and I agree, I just can't follow :highly_amused:


I don't think Augusta Kate will be winning any race at the festival... I feel she is over rated based on connections (particularly owners). I don't find her likeable for some reason! Not enough room in my heart for another mare maybe
 
Personally I see Augusta Kate's entry tomorrow as purely a runout. I wouldn't look too much into the trip. Think we'll get quite a few interesting entries over the next month or so just to get these horses a run now we are approaching December. The lack of rain means with the amount of horses Willie has he is playing catch up a little to just get them all out.

With the owners she has, you can't imagine they want to sacrifice the chance of a big race one day?
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On the note it's probably just because it's the only day the owners are free. If you remember last year the only reason she went to Cheltenham is because the owners were busy (Shearer on Match of the Day, Ant and Dec on TV) on the Saturday of the Sandown meeting :D
 
The looked very comfortable for AK, granted she was never pushed but still never came off the bridle. Not really a good indicator to class her as a stayer but its food for thought
 
Anyone like La Bague Au Roi for Greatrex in the mares novice race?.... by the time the festival comes around, she might be a little 'forgotten' as he say shes going to be put away now until the spring?

Yard out of form and she won well? 6s available?
 
Lots to like about that performance!! Looks a very tough mare Kevloaf. Battled and stretched the lead even further when under pressure.

Totally agree with the 'forgotten' status as the focus of the market now will be on the irish raiders over xmas time i think. That will shape the market

Greatrex bulled this horse up last year a lot. If it was still around 8s I think that would have been great value
 
Kevloaf said:
Anyone like La Bague Au Roi for Greatrex in the mares novice race?.... by the time the festival comes around, she might be a little 'forgotten' as he say shes going to be put away now until the spring?

Yard out of form and she won well? 6s available?
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I've always liked this horse and kept a close eye on her since her NH flat races last season when all the talk was on Augusta Kate.
 
Unlikely her price will get any bigger now. Probably be up against a Mullins hot pot so be an each way price before her 'come back' run... One I will keep my eye on too.
 
VVM vs Apples Jade round 2 in March in this race then do we think? No one can really say where VVM will go but i'd be siding on VVM, though i think it'll be close. Think fitness won the day for Apples Jade today, even though so showed a brilliant attitude to dig in deep at the end. Also think Ruby gave VVM too much to do.

Elliott (including myself) had a lot of people confused running Apples Jade so soon after Newcastle but maybe she's a horse who needs a few runs to get going? You wonder how IG beat her looking back on it now but you could say she needed that Cheltenham run and only got into her stride at Aintree and Punchestown
 
I would put my entire bank roll for the week on VVM winning the rematch on the Tuesday.

I cannot fathom Mullins letting his grip on this Mares race go, to a Gigginstown, ex-horse. Just no way. He will KNOW exactly what can beat AJ and if he ends up needing Annie Power in it, then I think Annie Power would run in it! (I don't, I think VVM will now run in this) I think fitness is definitely the factor today and VVM cruised through the race and I still can't believe she has been beaten looking at it!

She (VVM) might not be a good horse in a battle? but if she showed any improvement in her next run (which you'd fully expect from a horse in Willie's yard - especially peaking at Cheltenham in regards to 'the rematch') then she won't ever be in a battle against AJ again anyway. I already smashed loads on to VVM to win any race at 5/2 and if she turned up in this she could be even and I would go in again!
 
Tony Elves has gone 2 points VVM for the mares race at 5/2 this week....

He should have checked out the "any race" thread and had a nibble on the 11/4 :highly_amused:

Big price if she turned up, and I'd be happy to see her there for sure... I think (as I said above) Willie will probably feel VVM has AJ covered and he won't want to waste Annie Power in this.... unless Limini or Karalee (?) etc look like they're going to be decent, I think VVM for this race is looking like a 'smart' move... however, not worth backing a Ricci horse ante post with any amount of uncertainty.
 
Nicky just on ATR saying that Kotkikova entered over hurdles this weekend, Barry is schooling her tomorrow but hurdling most likely! Surely only the mares they can go. She is certainly not a 2 miler and they have already rerouted Yanworth coz they have too many in the World. If that is the case she is my nap of the meeting at the prices, but i wouldnt be backing her yet if you hadnt, id be waiting to see if she gets declared for hurdle, its certainly not definite but more likely than it appeared last week.
He did mention that she looks all stamina though and so could go for the World hurdle but JP seems to have that race well covered.
 
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Do not be surprised to see the mighty Annie's Power in this race come the festival, reason, not even mentioned today re targets but VVM and Faugheen were, already said at start of season that if not fit or training well will have Mares as target, also Mrs Ricci wanted to retire after Champ Hurdle, after what happened to Vautour shows how delicate these horses are so think they will wrap her in cotton wool until new year, give a run possibly and then send her here for a final swan song before announcing retirement, Mrs Ricci absolutely adores her and she is the apple of her eye so I'm think that will have a big part in it
 
If they get a prep into her and shes on form surely they will try and win the Champion Hurdle, the first time a mare has been able to win it twice. Ricci said that was the reason they didnt retire her. If they cant get a prep into her i think you could be right about the mares Paz.
 
I think I said this months ago, but I can only see Annie in the mares if it is her first race of the season...

I do think that because of the majesty of a mare winning back-to-back champion hurdles, and how adored AP is, that after all she has been through, (loss, fall, win) she could go out on the 'ultimate high' .... I would see her returning and retiring on the back of a mares hurdle as a massive and underwhelming finale, that the Champion Hurdle does seem her only option.

In spite of that, if they did declare Faugheen for the CH, and Annie for the Mares, I'd have my biggest ever stake in history. Annie Power would be the shortest ever priced runner in festival history if she turned up in this.

I have swayed between thinking VVM or Limini will turn up in this but I am solidly in the camp now that VVM will 'defend her crown' ... this is still a grade , and Mullins will be OH SO AWARE that without VVM, Apples JAde, for Giggy, would be a solid fav... I would LOVE someone to put up a strong arguement that says they think Willie will send VVM elsewhere (Ryanair or Gold Cup) but I just cannot see it./... on there last run, VVM and AJ were very close, and in a rematch, with a different ride, match fitness and C&D form behind me, I would absolutely go over the top on VVM winning this race. I do genuinly feel that if WIllie doesn't think VVM could win this race, he'd run Annie Power..... the option of VVM not running, or AP, and Limini or Karalee turning up for example, would also increase my confidence in either of them... in short, whoever Mullins runs, WIN. I know that might sound boring and obvious, but I just can't see him letting this race go this season especially. - It Isn't great for the sport, but when declared, a double with Douvan is going to be my idea of 'free money'.
 
Camelia De Cotte runs @ Tramore tomorrow guys, one to watch for the mares novice hurdle :encouragement:

Anyone had an a.p bet on her already?
 
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