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2026 Novice Hurdlers

Clowns on Upping the Ante suggesting there is some talk that Mighty Park could be held back for next year
Anyone heard anything from connections ?
 
That'd be an odd one given how vocal the media have been about Mullins comments on the horse, unless the media were just making some noise as they couldn't see much else to shout about in the division.
Keeping him back for another year on the one hand seems silly, his novice status is gone now, so he will already be on the back foot next season with hardly having learnt anything this season.
The other way to look is they think he's a very promising horse who could go backwards if they press him as hard as the spring festivals tend to, when he has so little physical & mental experience of racing, so the time taken now will repay them later on.
Tricky one to weight up without knowing the horse, but maybe keeping him to bumpers this season will be the move they'll regret the most.
 
From what I've heard, it seems mullins wanted to keep him in bumpers this season, but jp wanted him to go hurdling straight away, presumably because they realised they didnt have much else.

So it would make no sense for them to then skip cheltenham, as going to cheltenham for the supreme/turners was the whole point of him skipping bumpers.
 
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I am sure not running would make no sense to everyone who threw a dart at a big price. For those who didn't the stats are awful for such an inexperienced horse. He is trying to do what no other horse has done in more than 50 years. That's not a small sample. He looks much more a chaser than hurdler, and looking at his long term future perhaps throwing him into a race like the Turners on just his second start, wouldn't be the best idea? If they skip Cheltenham, he could have options at Fairyhouse, Aintree, and Punchestown.
 
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kinloch brae said:
I am sure not running would make no sense to everyone who threw a dart at a big price. For those who didn't the stats are awful for such an inexperienced horse. He is trying to do what no other horse has done in more than 50 years. That's not a small sample. He looks much more a chaser than hurdler, and looking at his long term future perhaps throwing him into a race like the Turners on just his second start, wouldn't be the best idea? If they skip Cheltenham, he could have options at Fairyhouse, Aintree, and Punchestown.
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You mention it's not a small sample.
But in the last 50 years how many have tried to win after winning just the one race they ran in prior.
I bet not many have even tried.
 
Quevega said:
You mention it's not a small sample.
But in the last 50 years how many have tried to win after winning just the one race they ran in prior.
I bet not many have even tried.
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This could be an expensive cash out if we get it wrong!
 
I suppose a recent example of similar would be el fabiolo

Who won his maiden in january and went to aintree not cheltenham
 
not a chance mighty park swerves the festival. I could see it if Mullins had proper strong darts in all the novices, but he really hasn’t. Wouldn’t surprise me if he threw the kitchen sink at them all this year.
 
FinalFurlong91 said:
I suppose a recent example of similar would be el fabiolo

Who won his maiden in january and went to aintree not cheltenham
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He had a hurdle run in france, and also had run on the flat
 
Are we in the silly season stage where we're debating if a G1 novice hurdle favourite isn't going to run at the festival, so they can hold him back to be ineligible for novice hurdles next year?
 
Quevega said:
He had a hurdle run in france, and also had run on the flat
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He got a cut at the DRF too and was a NR which made them reappraise his festival participation. The intention was at the time to run him in the Supreme.
 
Quevega said:
You mention it's not a small sample.
But in the last 50 years how many have tried to win after winning just the one race they ran in prior.
I bet not many have even tried.
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I look forward to you going through 50+ fields and confirming. Only about a 1000 horses. Good luck.

I can only guess for those not running it might have been due to the trainer thinking that with their lack of experience it wasn't worth bothering.
 
kinloch brae said:
I am sure not running would make no sense to everyone who threw a dart at a big price. For those who didn't the stats are awful for such an inexperienced horse. He is trying to do what no other horse has done in more than 50 years. That's not a small sample. He looks much more a chaser than hurdler, and looking at his long term future perhaps throwing him into a race like the Turners on just his second start, wouldn't be the best idea? If they skip Cheltenham, he could have options at Fairyhouse, Aintree, and Punchestown.
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This doesn't make much sense. What evidence is there that the Turners will somehow bottom a horse on its second start is there. In a way that categorically won't happen if it's second start is at one of the other festivals.

He'll run in the Turners.

Whether you think he'll win or not can be questioned but to say he won't run out of choice is complete nonsense.
 
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Benjy23 said:
This doesn't make much sense. What evidence is there that the Turners will somehow bottom a horse on its second start is there. In a way that categorically won't happen if it's second start is at one of the other festivals.

He'll run in the Turners.

Whether you think he'll win or not can be questioned but to say he won't run out of choice is complete nonsense.
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It sounds to me as if you are trying to convince yourself. I would suggest you are the one who is actually talking nonsense, but clearly don't realise it. I actually posed a question, I didn't say he wouldn't run. It doesn't bother me a jot if he runs or not. I have just tried to add a little balance. It would be a surprise if Cheltenham wasn't the toughest task of those four Festivals.
 
Bit of a move for Sober in the Supreme this afternoon
 
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