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Queen Mother Champion Chase 2019

Deserves to be in the (*meaningless) debate about best 2 milers of all time.

Sprinter then Altior. Absolutely incredible for the trainer and us as fans.

If he was EVER going to be beaten on merit it was yesterday.

Saint Calvados is still only 5 but isn't up to the grade of UDS (no shame in that).
Sceau Royal isn't good enough (valid excuse with the ground)

Un De Sceaux is a credit to Mullins. I will admit I'd have fancied UDS on that ground in the QMCC last year but he'd have been swotted away.

Sensational
 
Kevloaf said:
Deserves to be in the (*meaningless) debate about best 2 milers of all time.

Sprinter then Altior. Absolutely incredible for the trainer and us as fans.

If he was EVER going to be beaten on merit it was yesterday.

Saint Calvados is still only 5 but isn't up to the grade of UDS (no shame in that).
Sceau Royal isn't good enough (valid excuse with the ground)

Un De Sceaux is a credit to Mullins. I will admit I'd have fancied UDS on that ground in the QMCC last year but he'd have been swotted away.

Sensational
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He's unbeatable should he make it there.
Still has to make it there though. And not get brought down .......
 
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Is anyone of the opinion Footpad has the class/ability to beat Altior?
 
The risk side of the risk/reward horse that is Great Field there

A bit lit up going to the first with a special Tiara - where i thought he put a great jump in to go clear - followed by a fall
 
Really disaapointing that. Not a backer for the CC but was looking forward to seeing him today
 
Just re-watched the race and rightly so the plaudits go to Altior but what a bloody horse Un De Sceaux is, none of these 'ground excuses', he does his job, not one of them 'soft French crop' that dwindle away after a season or two, he's still fighting.

He's now 10, facing one of the best 2m chasers we've probably ever seen, and still gave him a race.

It's no wonder he is held in the highest regard by all at Closutton.
 
Does anyone know whats happening next with Footpad? Hes not in most bookies KG betting and i haven't seen anything in regards to him. Surely they would be better going Ryanair after Altiors performance at the weekend?
 
darlojim said:
Does anyone know whats happening next with Footpad? Hes not in most bookies KG betting and i haven't seen anything in regards to him. Surely they would be better going Ryanair after Altiors performance at the weekend?
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Champion chase. Runs at Christmas in the "sugar paddy" chase over 2m.

Munir and souede would have no interest in avoiding Altior.
 
Scooby91 said:
Champion chase. Runs at Christmas in the "sugar paddy" chase over 2m.

Munir and souede would have no interest in avoiding Altior.
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He won’t beat Altior even with a 10 length head start. I’ve said that since last years Champion Chase and I’m sticking with it.
 
Scooby91 said:
I don't think anyone's said he would
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I know.

But that is why they should avoid Altior. He has a realistic chance of winning the Ryanair. Whereas he has very little chance (if any) of beating Altior over 2m with that hill finish at Cheltenham.
 
Middle_Of_March said:
I know.

But that is why they should avoid Altior. He has a realistic chance of winning the Ryanair. Whereas he has very little chance (if any) of beating Altior over 2m with that hill finish at Cheltenham.
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They've got top notch for the Ryanair.
They've also no interest at all in avoiding Altior, as we'll see. Anything can happen in a race as we saw with douvan.
 
Yon cant be scared of one horse.What they gunna do just give it to Altior now?If i was Mullins i would chuck my best 2 miler at it and hope to give Altior a race.So enter Footpad.
 
Footpad should be better over further and the Ryanair would be perfect at this stage. If i owned him it would be the Ryanair all day long. Mullins should just throw UDS and great field at the champion chase and hope to finish second unless altior should fall because anything else is just a waste.
 
Kautostar said:
Footpad should be better over further and the Ryanair would be perfect at this stage. If i owned him it would be the Ryanair all day long. Mullins should just throw UDS and great field at the champion chase and hope to finish second unless altior should fall because anything else is just a waste.
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Or look at it another way, Willie believes Min is good enough for the Ryanair and he knows UDS is having won it already with him, those 2 have both been watching Altiors back side in previous races so the only potential one who could have a crack at him (Altior) without knowing if he can really put it up to him is Footpad.
 
Kautostar said:
Footpad should be better over further and the Ryanair would be perfect at this stage. If i owned him it would be the Ryanair all day long. Mullins should just throw UDS and great field at the champion chase and hope to finish second unless altior should fall because anything else is just a waste.
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The mullins tactics will be interesting if they do decide to try and beat Altior, as it will give Nico a decision to make if Great Field shoots off in front, does he follow or stay with UDS and rest of pack ? Or Whoever he has available. DEfinitely an opponent you may need to try team tactics on.
Then Altior probably wins anyway.
 
Footpad would start fav in the Ryanair and win it imo. He’ll finish second in the champion chase so why not go for the race you’re likely to win and let your second or third strings fill the places behind altior.
 
Kautostar said:
Footpad would start fav in the Ryanair and win it imo. He’ll finish second in the champion chase so why not go for the race you’re likely to win and let your second or third strings fill the places behind altior.
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Just a though, Willie may feel Footpad IS good enough. And he has the horses for the Ryanair anyway, so doesn't need to worry about that.
 
Having backed Altior at 6/4 in a double with Man City to beat Shaktar 6-0 I would be delighted for you to present Altior with the Queen Mother right now, but... I know he's is good - but do you want a walkover? These are horses and nothing is certain. A couple of years ago I remember all the same stuff being said about Douvan - and we all know what happened there. Also, I think too much is being read into Footpad's reappearance. When he won the Arkle everyone was saying he was a proper horse and how he would put it up to Altior this year. Now, after one dodgy run - on his seasonal reappearance - he's written off, regardless of whether or not Altior makes it to the festival and if he does, jumps around. I think we will see a different horse at Christmas and Willie and Ruby now know what they need from him with their line through UDS.
One last thing - it was a great Tingle Creek and a great performance - but at the end of the day, he beat UDS who many were calling 'gone' a while back. I simply don't buy into them being scared of Altior. I think they are playing at that and that Willie will move heaven and earth to get Footpad right on the day, and I for one wouldn't put it past them.
 
UDS was beaten in the Ryanair last year and min is by no means a cert this time
 
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