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Altior criticism embarrassing – nobody can label Henderson decision wrong
Willie Mullins made an interesting observation at Thurles recently. The winningmost trainer at the Cheltenham Festival was speaking casually after sending out the potentially exciting Gauloise to score.
"Sometimes when you light them up a little too early, it's very hard to get them back for the spring," Ireland's 14-time champion trainer remarked when asked if he envisaged Gauloise tackling one of the better novice events over the Christmas period.
Mullins is the master of his craft and one couldn't help but think of his Thurles comments when Nicky Henderson faced an almighty backlash over ruling Altior out of the Tingle Creek at Sandown on Saturday, due to what he contended was heavy ground. The race was run on ground officially described as soft, good to soft in places.
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