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Champion Chase 2018

I can see Politologue doing a Dodging Bullets on it this year, he isn't the most sexy or appealing on paper but has the form in the book and jumping is his biggest asset which can win you a champion chase around HQ, he was foot perfect in the Tingle Creek, but less spectacular in the Dessert Orchid but i think that run was an afterthought from Paul Nicholls in trying to avoid a energy sapping clash with UDS before the big one.
 
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Very unlikely; he had a boot fitted last Thursday and is likely to be in that for 5-6 weeks. Looking like the end of February would be a possible target

Despite the Leopardstown cards being good, no wayRuby will rush coming back for that and doing himself out of Cheltenham.


I was thinking last night about UDS and how I'd back him to beat Politilogue over and trip on any ground with soft in it... and think because of that I should take the NRNB about him!

6/1 - what if it was heavy :O he'd beat Altior :devilish:
 
Despite the Leopardstown cards being good, no wayRuby will rush coming back for that and doing himself out of Cheltenham.


I was thinking last night about UDS and how I'd back him to beat Politilogue over and trip on any ground with soft in it... and think because of that I should take the NRNB about him!

6/1 - what if it was heavy :O he'd beat Altior :devilish:

UDS one to wait for the weather forecast for me - if it's good ground i wouldn't fancy him for anything this year, can't forget the way an aging Sprinter put him so quickly to bed at Cheltenham. I think if it's soft ground he'll run here (and have a great chance), on good ground he'll be in the ryanair but i'd expect something to beat him there (Fox Norton most likely if running)
 
The thing stopping me is because if it isn't soft I couldn't see him winning a CC but there is a chance he will run in the CC anyway (because of Bachasson OR any of the other Mullins runners).

6/1 NRNB not quite big enough .... but I am tempted!!!

If I knew he would ONLY run in the CC if it was Soft or worse... then I would take 6/1 now.
 
WPM now saying there's a chance that Douvan makes the Cheltenham festival.
 
WPM now saying there's a chance that Douvan makes the Cheltenham festival.

Would be simular scenes to that of vautour after winning the Ryanair. Was a Strange atmosphere. Imagine people who laid off at huge prices to get a few quid back wouldn't be too pleased.
 
WPM now saying there's a chance that Douvan makes the Cheltenham festival.

You're kidding!?! The scenes if he lines up!
I heard the Ricci quotes at the weekend but dismissed the fact Cheltenham could come into play.
The entries for this race (and the Gold Cup and Ryanair) are due on Tuesday...guess we shall be seeing an entry for him then
 
Mullins, in his Saturday column for the Racing Post, said: “We’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well things are going with him. It’s a long shot at this stage and getting him back on the track this season might not be a runner, but we are cautiously optimistic now compared with his situation a month ago.”

No actual quotes saying he could be back for this race. With the and Ricci's comments it sounds like he will get an entry but could also just be making a headline out of nothing?
 
No actual quotes saying he could be back for this race. With the and Ricci's comments it sounds like he will get an entry but could also just be making a headline out of nothing?

Mullins, in his Saturday column for the Racing Post, said: “We’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well things are going with him. It’s a long shot at this stage and getting him back on the track this season might not be a runner, but we are cautiously optimistic now compared with his situation a month ago.”
 
Mullins, in his Saturday column for the Racing Post, said: “We’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well things are going with him. It’s a long shot at this stage and getting him back on the track this season might not be a runner, but we are cautiously optimistic now compared with his situation a month ago.”

This is what I read.
 
If he's back ... for the festival ... I'd guess Ryanair!

First run back after last season's CC to be in the CC?


None story.
 
I listened to exactly nothing that comes from that yard until I see the confirmed decs.
Ricci loves nothing more than having a microphone shoved under his sunglasses and not everything that's said can be believed....
 
Faugheen's owner Rich Ricci also has another star, Douvan, on the sidelines at present and Mullins has an open mind as to whether the pair will line up at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

He added: "It is day by day with himself (Faugheen) and Douvan and while Cheltenham is obviously the target if he keeps going, I'm not making any real plans or targets."
W p mullins
 
Great field is back in pre training and due back in Willies next week. Aim is to get him back for Leopardstown in Feb
 
365 can't be expecting Douvan to run.....

5/1 NRNB CC?
 
If he's back ... for the festival ... I'd guess Ryanair!

First run back after last season's CC to be in the CC?


None story.



Douvan?

First run back after a year and you step him up in trip?
 
Douvan?

First run back after a year and you step him up in trip?

I'd consider it an option ... if 1. it is an easier race.

2. If Yorkhill looks fantastic over 2m at Leopardstown....

3. They've got to find a future Gold Cup horse again too. Ryanair this year might not be out of the equation?

CC is most likely, if he gets there... but I wouldn't be surprised if he attempted the Ryanair.
 
Footpad being well supported for this race? 9/2 with 365