Remember Willie’s words on Yorkhill

THE following were Willie Mullins’ words in March 2016, after Yorkhill had beaten Yanworth in the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle: “He could have been the best of the bumper horses last year but we didn’t get to run him until just before Cheltenham and then he went and won in Punchestown.

“He could be that [a Gold Cup horse]. I’m wondering whether he could come back to be a Champion Hurdle horse.

“Ruby got down off him and said he’d win the Arkle with his mouth open next year, so we’ll go home and digest all that and see what we have.”

The Gold Cup is out but you just hope that, wherever he now goes, it proves the right decision and allows the horse the best chance to live up to the expectations.

On TWITTER

Richard Francis@getrichbetuk

Everyone in racing seems fixated on having a chaser, but if you have a great hurdler let them be exactly that. Finian’s Oscar, Yorkhill and Yanworth should have been allowed to achieve something at the highest level in that discipline.

Jay Dutton@JayLfc94

Absolute scenes when the Stayers hurdle is the best race of THE WEEK, Sam Spinner, Finians Oscar, Yanworth, Bacardys, Unowhatimeanharry and L’ami Serge

Gar Toohey@gjt90

100% correct decision for Finians Oscar. Yes, campaigned poorly but hasn’t looked comfortable over fences regardless of the trip. Back over timber, still young & nobody has died, the lynch mob out after Tizzard, chill lads.

Sylvia Insole@SylviaInsole

Tonight we lost our amazing Dad, Vivian Kennedy. We are totally devastated. Great jockey, great trainer and the best father in the world! RIP Dad. Xxxxx