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Champion Chase 2018

Kevloaf said:
The most staggering quote I've heard so far is that Mullins thinks Ruby would sit on Min if they took each other on as "the form horse".

Not, a, CHANCE of Douvan running in the CC with Ruby on another horse IMO.

If that gets proven to be incorrect I'll have to lower my Douvan estimations to being at the same level as Djakadam, rather than Vautour.
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Just backing up my thoughts on this...are Patricks views.... the video on this page I just get the very distinct impression that Douvan is a better horse. Does contradict what Willie said, and I suppose he is the trainer... but I think this is quite clear and the truth!

https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/willie-mullins:-stable-tour/143563
 
Douvan"He has a few important bits of work to do this week, but it’s a case of so far so good. He might have schooled once in the autumn, but that has been the only schooling he will have done since Cheltenham last year and he probably won’t school before Cheltenham this year as I wouldn’t want to risk him."


I find that so shocking even though I know its the case. When you think about the success Mullins has had, and the success Paul Nicholls has had (who schools them all the time) it is amazing how varied it can be!

It is so hard to imagine a horse winning a Champion Chase, after only have one "training session" jumping over fences in an ENTIRE YEAR.
 
Impossible to rule Douvan out for me, hard to gauge where peak Douvan ranks with peak Altior but repeatedly beating Sizing John is arguably better than beating the likes of Cloudy Dream and Ordinary World. Douvan at his peak also slightly better on speed figures. Willie won't run him if he doesn't think he's in top condition, and this is the only race he'll run him in imo, so 9/2 with Hills (safe in the knowledge that it's money back if not running) is actually a bit of value and something I want covered
 
Hard to judge Rob as Altior hasn’t peaked yet, but yes Mullins will only run Douvan if he feels he’ll run his race...
 
At the risk of looking a fool ..I am an old timer bloke who enjoys putting it out there and to hell with it I will say that I have Douvan rated 6lb superior to Altior . I don't think that Min will run here (Ryanair) unless the best 2M horse in training is within 98% of his peak fitness. He wins by 4L.
 
If Douvan is 98% surely Willie will keep him for Punchestown with his eye on the Irish trainer titles, no?
 
Istabraq said:
Hard to judge Rob as Altior hasn’t peaked yet, but yes Mullins will only run Douvan if he feels he’ll run his race...
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Possibly always be hard to judge as even if they meet we won't know if both are at their peak. I'd be worried about Altior with the bounce factor and the fact that he might be niggled off the bridle earlier at Cheltenham. Worthy favourite though
 
robith said:
If Douvan is 98% surely Willie will keep him for Punchestown with his eye on the Irish trainer titles, no?
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I think Willie likes a bit of the limelight, if he gets Douvan back to win a champion chase off this prep he'll be hailed as a genius
 
I consdered that but in my view he only has to be within 3lb of his best to still win. On the subject of fitness and retained ability, when interviewed yesterday WM said that Faugheen 'might not have to be at his best to be competitive' .I take that as WM not rating Buveur Dair as a 4/6 sure thing?
 
Robbante said:
Possibly always be hard to judge as even if they meet we won't know if both are at their peak. I'd be worried about Altior with the bounce factor and the fact that he might be niggled off the bridle earlier at Cheltenham. Worthy favourite though
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I wouldn't be worried at all ..... There's a New " MACHINE " on the Block this year, And It's called " ALTIOR " :triumphant:
 
I was looking through the ORs for this race which I don't usually bother doing as I have my own ratings that we've used for donkeys years. I see that Douvan is on 174 and Altior is on 170. Also Postmark RPR figures have Douvan clearly ahead. I then checked to see the nature of victory when attaining their highest ratings and it stated Altior won comft =+ 3l and Douvan won readily =+ 5L. He's 8L clear on potential OR 's. Mine say the same. Douvan wins this fellas. If he runs that is , if not Min wins by 2L !!
 
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Anyone else think Douvan will be taken out and not run at all? Just got a niggly feeling
 
The 14s nrnb about UDS is probably just a waste of time but had to take it
 
Can’t think who it is but one bookie doing a special of who Walsh will pick for this race
Douvan 4/6
Min 6/5

As I have mentioned before, I have douvan to run in any race 3/1 so as long as he runs I don’t mind, I’m there we’d- for so will be good to see him
 
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