Late changes in Cheltenham targets shouldn't be a surprise - and why this could be Galopin's toughest Gold Cup test yet
Willie Mullins and Rich Ricci were in the crosshairs for their late decision to switch Lossiemouth from the Champion Hurdle to the Mares' Hurdle, which she won, but if you look back through the quotes for a number of horses running at the Cheltenham Festival you'll see they weren't alone in settling on their choice only as raceday approached.
Il Est Francais' connections said a few months ago that the Ryanair Chase was the least likely destination for their star chaser and they would go where Fact To File didn't. Come the week and they're running in the Ryanair against Fact To File. Last week Golden Ace was certain to run in the Mares' Hurdle when she was a 4-1 shot. Instead she won the Champion Hurdle at 25-1.
Not that long ago I seriously fancied any number of horses for the festival and now I don't fancy them at all. The point is that when you're asked your opinion about Cheltenham months in advance you might think one thing but come the day circumstances have changed and you think exactly the opposite.
Access premium tipping
View daily premium tips from the Racing Post’s foremost experts, including the likes of Tom Segal, Paul Kealy and more
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inTom Segal
Last updated
Copy- This race has diluted the quality of the Cheltenham Festival more than any other - it's time to ditch it
- Olympians do it and so can horses - a hard race before Cheltenham may not be the negative we are led to believe
- Stamina and class are the crucial factors in the modern-day Grand National, not jumping ability
- Not all trainers are equal - so why wouldn't owners send their best horses to Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins?
- This leading Cheltenham Festival fancy must be opposed - he won't be strong or classy enough
- This race has diluted the quality of the Cheltenham Festival more than any other - it's time to ditch it
- Olympians do it and so can horses - a hard race before Cheltenham may not be the negative we are led to believe
- Stamina and class are the crucial factors in the modern-day Grand National, not jumping ability
- Not all trainers are equal - so why wouldn't owners send their best horses to Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins?
- This leading Cheltenham Festival fancy must be opposed - he won't be strong or classy enough