2026 Mares Chase

[Yosser]

Willie all but dismissed Spindleberry for the GC after the race.

Mares Chase

Edit - just seen the comments on this in the mares hurdle thread

 

[Lobos]

Willie all but dismissed Spindleberry for the GC after the race.

Mares Chase

Owners pay the money. Grow some.

 

[riccirich]

Yeah I must say that whole situation with willie completely calling the shots seems a bit weird to me. Owner has basically stated he couldn't care less about winning a mares chase, and having a runner in a gold cup is much more exciting for him, but he's not allowed to because willie says so?

Regardless of whether he's the best trainer or not, if I was paying the training fees in a game where you dont make a huge profit generally and are in it for the love of it, I wouldn't be told my horse is going for a race that I dont care about, to suit willie and Paul's plans, when I eventually got one good enough to run in the race I love the most. Big difference between the trainer having a say, and laying down the law to you about your own bloody horse.

 

[Garrison Savannah]

Yeah I must say that whole situation with willie completely calling the shots seems a bit weird to me. Owner has basically stated he couldn't care less about winning a mares chase, and having a runner in a gold cup is much more exciting for him, but he's not allowed to because willie says so?

Regardless of whether he's the best trainer or not, if I was paying the training fees in a game where you dont make a huge profit generally and are in it for the love of it, I wouldn't be told my horse is going for a race that I dont care about, to suit willie and Paul's plans, when I eventually got one good enough to run in the race I love the most. Big difference between the trainer having a say, and laying down the law to you about your own bloody horse.

In some ways I absolutely agree with you.

The trouble is, if that is your view you shouldn’t be sending your horse to Willie in the first place…

 

[Ellisgittings]

I wouldn't really say it's a concern for anyone but the owner. If he doesn't like it, there's plenty of trainers he can send the horse too.

 

[Lobos]

In some ways I absolutely agree with you.

The trouble is, if that is your view you shouldn’t be sending your horse to Willie in the first place…

Rubbish. You send him to Willie because he gets the best out of them and trains them to perfection for the spring festivals but you pay a huge amount extra pet month for the privilege so you are fully entitled to have a say in where you want them to go even if it's against the trainer and retained jockeys wishes. JP and his team call the shots over Willie......why should a smaller owner be any different. Why should he be able to spoil a potentially once in a lifetime dream.

 

[riccirich]

In some ways I absolutely agree with you.

The trouble is, if that is your view you shouldn’t be sending your horse to Willie in the first place…

Yeah I'm sure the owner knew how mullins operates before he sent horses to him, so in a way he can't really complain. You'd just think at the same time that if an owner is saying he couldn't give a toss about a mares chase and is being kept awake at night by the thought of running in a gold cup, that there might be a bit of leeway given and just say fair enough, if it means that much to you we'll have a crack at it. But apparently not. I've no idea if all the top trainers are like that or not, but if the likes of a skelton/de bromhead/ elliott give a bit more thought to the owners wishes, then I'd be sending my horses to one of them.

 

[Garrison Savannah]

Rubbish. You send him to Willie because he gets the best out of them and trains them to perfection for the spring festivals

Yes…but you do so knowing you’re unlikely to get much input in what race your horse runs in.

Bit daft to complain about something you knew to be the case in advance?

but you pay a huge amount extra pet month for the privilege

I don’t think WPM is any more expensive than other top trainers. Anecdotally I’ve been told for example Skelton is actually more expensive.

Don’t know and unlikely ever to know because I can’t afford even a crap National hunt horse, but that’s what I’m told by people who have and do.

so you are fully entitled to have a say in where you want them to go even if it's against the trainer and retained jockeys wishes. JP and his team call the shots over Willie......why should a smaller owner be any different.

Whether he should or shouldn’t do is moot. He can and does. As far as I’m aware JP is the only owner that doesn’t apply to.

Why should he be able to spoil a potentially once in a lifetime dream.

Presumably because either contractually he can? And/or he’s perfectly happy to lose owners from his yard if they don’t like his way of working.

 

[Durham Edition]

I remember the owner being very keen to go for the gold cup a while back. Might be even more keen now with it looking an open year. He'll probably be talked down though unless there's something else for townend to ride.

Could PT pick up the ride on Karoline Banbou if MW rides Dinoblue? Her first run over 2mile was good and she was staying on. WM said she would be better the further she went but would PT ride a JP horse?

 

[Exar Essay]

Could PT pick up the ride on Karoline Banbou if MW rides Dinoblue? Her first run over 2mile was good and she was staying on. WM said she would be better the further she went but would PT ride a JP horse?

Or Jade even? I know TBW beat her but there’s no shame in that. I don’t think it’s a certain she reverts to hurdles.

 

[Craigy14]

It may be the owners wish but it would be a waste of time imo, she’d finish out the back of the tv. Might be a bold statement but would anyone actually back her for it pre festival? Has she done anything or likely to do anything pre festival to warrant backing her?

Her form is 20lbs short of a Gold Cup winner for starters, she’s never raced beyond 2m6f which would be a negative surely having never ran over 3m. The extra 2f that is always talked about for horses going GC is a concern nevermind a half mile for a horse never to run over 3m.

 

[Wayward Lad]

I am also in the camp that believes that JDG first two runs over fences doesn’t automatically push her towards the Mares Hurdle, however would be worried if non form reasons dictated which race she runs in come March.

IMO She jumped much better on more preferable ground and looked the winner a fence from home against TBW

To be beaten by Kala Conti on her first run isn’t looking so bad as that horse looks to have taken to chasing well, maybe improving a stone for fencing?

JDG has beaten Spindleberry easily over 2 1/2 miles hurdles last year, so with only Dinoblue and Kala Conti to beat in the Mares Chase then I am confused by why she is still 20/1…..and maybe a little suspicious

If she runs to her hurdle rating over fences then she has nothing to fear from Spindleberry or July Flower and if she improves a few pounds for fences then she has to be in the reckoning come March doesnt she?

But I accept that she would also have a chance in the Mares Hurdle on a line through Lossiemouth, if Lossiemouth runs in the champ hurdle, as she was beaten 7 lengths in the Mares last year after an interrupted season (initially a chasing campaign was the plan) and Wodhooh was beaten two lengths by Lossie after the festival…….so a good one to tackle Wodhooh if Willie wants.

And then there’s the Lossiemouth equation where a fair few believe that she will still go Mares Hurdle this year, even though her performances so far over 2m would put her in with a cracking chance in the Champ Hurdle.

If Lossiemouth goes Mares Hurdle does that push JDG towards the Mares Chase, even though she finished second to Lossiemouth last year in the Mares Hurdle?……I think it does as her chance of winning the Mares Chase must be higher surely?

As CaT would recommend…….Paracetemol please

 

[Eggs]

…..Mullins re Dinoblue;

‘There are only three rivals for Dinoblue and the conditions of the race suit her. She should be very hard to beat in this company, it looks a nice opportunity and she'll handle the track and ground. It's probably hers to lose so we're hopeful.’

 

[Eggs]

….Mullins re Karoline Bambou;

‘This is a horse we’ve always thought a good bit about. I was pleased with her chasing debut at this track last month and if she puts it all together on Saturday, she must have a very good chance.’

 

[Lobos]

Panic Attack is a big price for this imo. One of if not the most improved horse this season.

 

[Lobos]

Panic Attack.....

Post race comments today will be of interest...

“She’s going to go to Newbury in January, there’s a mares’ race for her there,” said Skelton.

“Then she will possibly go to Kelso en route to the Grand National, that’s our aim.

“If we fancy having a go at the mares’ chase at the Cheltenham Festival then we might, but our sights are firmly set on the Grand National.”

 

[Wayward Lad]

Panic Attack is a big price for this imo. One of if not the most improved horse this season.

Whilst improved will she have the pace at graded level for the Mares Chase?

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Panic Attack.....

Post race comments today will be of interest...

“She’s going to go to Newbury in January, there’s a mares’ race for her there,” said Skelton.

“Then she will possibly go to Kelso en route to the Grand National, that’s our aim.

“If we fancy having a go at the mares’ chase at the Cheltenham Festival then we might, but our sights are firmly set on the Grand National.”

I thought they'd give her a break tbh, I'm surprised she's back out today, though she must be well in herself and Skelton is probably after some easy prize money, plus, given the opposition, she'll probably get little if any sort of rise in the weights for winning it as she likes.

 

[Lobos]

Whilst improved will she have the pace at graded level for the Mares Chase?

She won the PP Gold Cup

 

[Lobos]

I thought they'd give her a break tbh, I'm surprised she's back out today, though she must be well in herself and Skelton is probably after some easy prize money, plus, given the opposition, she'll probably get little if any sort of rise in the weights for winning it as she likes.

Yep, good placement. Think they just want to "Make Hay" this season as she's getting on a bit and this could be the only season she really fires.