The Road To The 2018 Champion Chase

I don't doubt it for a minute.

I reckon Sizing John is somewhat in the Kicking King mould: high-class at 2m, and top-class at 3m2f........with 3m as his optimum trip (again, top-class).
 
He's owned by the Potts'. They'd surely have tried him at 3m at some point, and probably again and again every so often even if he didn't stay the first (few) time(s).

It's the fact that he does stay which should keep Fox Norton at the intermediate trip - for now, although even he's being considered for Kempton.
 
Grey said:
Arguably Douvan did Sizing John a favour by beating him five times because otherwise he might never have been moved up in trip, given that for a season or two he would have been the best around at 2m.
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SJ would have finished behind Vaniteux in the Arkle had he not blundered. SJ had to move up in trip.
 
I've nothing against him either really and FWIW I'm all for 2 milers gradually moving up in trip in the mould of Kauto Star. My point was that SJ would have gone up in trip regardless of Douvan.

Plus it's nice to see competition to Giggi and to a lesser extent Ricci.
 
Great Field reminds be so much of Un De Sceaux in terms of choke out ability at the same stage of development, so I was just having a think about this race from Mullins perspective. At the same stage with UDS Mullins skipped the Festival, and I have a feeling he might do the same with GF given what he can fire at the race anyway.

Thoughts?
 
Of the 3 GF appears the most limited in terms of trip.2m is his trip and am sure Barry won't be sitting idly by and not be on his bosses best 2m come March.
 
Willie Mullins is maintaining a trio of options for the return to action of his unbeaten star Douvan.

The Closutton supremo has the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown along with Punchestown's John Durkan Memoria Chase and the Hilly Way Chase at Cork on his radar.

That was taken from an article 12 months ago...Ring a bell? :lol:
 
Maruco said:
Great Field reminds be so much of Un De Sceaux in terms of choke out ability at the same stage of development, so I was just having a think about this race from Mullins perspective. At the same stage with UDS Mullins skipped the Festival, and I have a feeling he might do the same with GF given what he can fire at the race anyway.

Thoughts?
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GF was PU’d in his only a Chelts outing in the Country, though he propped badly at one of the hurdles, and that pretty-much did for his race. However, I don’t think connections would have any concerns about running him there again. Also, as granger points out, hard to imagine McManus not wanting to have a go with him.
 
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Try 100/1 the Tingle Creek.........Here's the script if Min really sparkles over 2 miles Douvan will go to the King george if not he'll stay at 2 miles but no way will he take on Altior first time up...that would be nuts
 
Grasshopper said:
GF was PU’d in his only a Chelts outing in the Country, though he propped badly at one of the hurdles, and that pretty-much did for his race. However, I don’t think connections would have any concerns about running him there again. Also, as granger points out, hard to imagine McManus not wanting to have a go with him.
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I hope not, because I'm on as well as you know. I do however reckon JP would be more than happy to listen to Willie if that was his view though. As I said, the similarities between the two of them at the same stage are remarkable, so there must be every possibility that Willie would take the same view that Cheltenham is a season too early when he has so many other options. Essentially I'm flagging that the Festival may not be a certainty if Willie is consitent.
 
Worth bearing in mind that the only time UDS swerved Cheltenham, was when Mullins had Hurricane Fly going for a third Champion Hurdle. That was a particularly unique set of circumstances, and there was no way he was going to put a stable-mate up in opposition to The Fly.

Great Field is more likely to be routed to the Ryanair, than not run at all, I reckon........though one of Douvan or Min seems more logical to step up in trip, given the way GF uses his energy in a race.

All Ricci knows about racing, is what he learns from Mullins, so he does what he's told, because he knows the trainer knows best. McManus, however, is a somewhat wilier old fox than RR, and whilst I expect he will listen to reason to an extent, I'd also expect him to be much more assertive about GFs target, than Ricci would be if he owned the horse.

We'll have a better idea as to what's happening once Mullins actually makes some firm racing plans for the three of them!
 
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The most interesting thing to take from all the noise coming out of Ricci's mouth at the moment is that where Douvan ends up will depend largely on Min.

I'd have thought it the other way around.
 
Just a strange thing to admit to, implying that Min has first preference.

but as we know, take it with a pinch of salt and all that. I don't remember hearing them saying they weren't happy with Douvan this stage last season but now they tell us.
 
"He could stay at two miles, he could step up in trip. It depends what happens with Min, who has summered particularly well."
 
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seems a bit strange if they are letting Min dictate what happens with Douvan in the long-term (or even medium-term) give the injury problems the former has had.
 
That's what I thought and leads me to think one of two things; either Min is seriously good or Douvan isn't what he was. Possibly a bit of both.
 
I think dictate is a very strong word.

Rich wants to win as many races as he can. His hope is that Min improves enough to be a serious contender for the QMCC which would free up Douvan to go for the King George.

Min wouldn't get the trip in a horse box at Kempton so common sense says step Douvan up.

You can bet the man praying loudest they do is Nicky henderson who clearly thinks he's up against it if they meet
 
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