'He would be a class horse in that division' - Willie Mullins considering surprise Cheltenham target for Vauban

The Melbourne Cup mission has been aborted with Vauban, who will not be going back for a third attempt at winning Australia's great race in 2025, but Willie Mullins is toying with the idea of transforming him into a Stayers' Hurdle contender instead. 

Vauban finished 11th of 23 at Flemington, three places better than last year, and his trainer thinks it might be the right time to send the 2022 Triumph Hurdle winner back over hurdles, but not over the distance you might have expected. 

Speaking from Naas on Sunday, Mullins said: "With Vauban, would you go for a Stayers' Hurdle or something like that? I think that would be a possibility if Rich [Ricci] wants to do that, or if he wants to stay on the Flat and go to Saudi Arabia. 

"He probably wasn't good enough to win a Champion Hurdle, or didn't jump well enough, but going a half-a-mile an hour slower over an extended trip might suit him better. He would be a class horse in that division, I think."

Willie Mullins: considering his options with the versatile VaubanCredit: Vince Caligiuri

Vauban was fourth behind Constitution Hill in the 2023 Champion Hurdle, but the last time we saw him tackle jumps was when he finished second to State Man in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle in April last year.

Since then, he has developed into a seriously smart stayer on the Flat and is rated 115 in that sphere. He won the Group 2Lonsdale Cup at York and chased home Kyprios in the Irish St Leger at the Curragh in September. 

"He just doesn't seem to travel down there," Mullins said on Racing TV, when asked about his Melbourne Cup effort. "Absurde ran great and the two of them trained more or less the same. I don't think he'll go back down there again next year, but Absurde will go back. With a clear run, he would have been a top-three finisher, so he has every chance. 

“We'll look at going to Saudi with Absurde. It's a nice meeting with some good prize-money. The two horses are due to travel back on Wednesday so we'll have to make a decision between now and then."

Vauban is 14-1 with bet365 for the 2025 Stayers' Hurdle, but BoyleSports go shorter at 12-1. He has never gone further than two miles and a furlong over hurdles, but did finish fourth to Kyprios over two and a half miles in the Ascot Gold Cup this year. 

Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Thursday March 13, 2025)
Sponsors: 2 Teahupoo, 12 Strong Leader, Impaire Et Passe, Dancing City, 14 Lossiemouth, Vauban, Ballyburn, Losange Bleu, 16 Slade Steel, 20 bar

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