Foxhunters 2016

[mayo]

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Long Run is set to go down the hunter chase route when he returns to action later this year.

Winner of the blue riband in 2011 and third in the following two renewals, the multiple Grade One winner has been off the track since suffering various injuries on his way home from running at Auteuil in May of last year.

However, owner Robert Waley-Cohen reports his 10-year-old to be back in rude health and he is already eyeing a return to Cheltenham next March for a tilt at the Foxhunter Chase.

"We're just quietly riding him around the farm at home at the moment, but I think we'll go hunter chasing with him," Waley-Cohen told At The Races.

"He's only 10, but he's been in training since he was two. Having a year off isn't at all what we'd want, but it probably hasn't done him any harm.

"The Foxhunter would be the number one target and he'll certainly be entered for the Grand National."

will they keep him there or send him bck to 7 barrows ?

[Istabraq]

I saw this.
One of the strongest trends of the entire festival is to get with a young/progressive PTP/Hunter chase for the race, Long Run could be another in a long line of ex rules chasers to take their chance to come unstuck - whether the race has had anything quite as classy as Long Run is questionable but he's given me the impression that he's been regressing for a couple of years now.
The old French bred chasers regressing quicker is always a live debate but he will have been jumping brush hurdles at 2 and fences at 3 so perhaps it's no wonder that 8 years on he's not enjoying the game as much as he once did ?
Be great to see him take his chance though.....

[dazzler]

Festival focus
Next year's Cheltenham Festival could be on the agenda for Mendip Express after he sold to Philip Hobbs, who saw off Nick Williams, for £75,000.

Hobbs was acting on behalf of owner-rider David Maxwell, who intends to campaign Mendip Express in hunter chases before a crack at the Foxhunter Chase in March.

The nine-year-old son of King's Theatre has won four of his ten starts under rules for Harry Fry, including a competitive handicap chase at Cheltenham last year.

“He was a standout and has the right profile for hunter chasing,” said Hobbs of the 146-rated chaser. “It's a long way off, but with his rating you'd like to think he could be one for the Foxhunter at the festival next year. He's already won impressively round the course. He's a very nice horse.”

[mayo]

If I had shed loads of cash id like a horse like that dazzler.

A 146 rating will get you a run in the national too. One to run in the festival and get into national.ideal.

[dazzler]

Victoria Pendleton 16-1 to be placed. 66-1 to win?

Small interest at the prices , if ap can't get her placed no one can! Ha.
I have backed mendip express already hvnt heard anything yet about him hope he turns up.

[Old Vic]

Victoria Pendleton 16-1 to be placed. 66-1 to win?

Small interest at the prices , if ap can't get her placed no one can! Ha.
I have backed mendip express already hvnt heard anything yet about him hope he turns up.

I havent actualy seen her ride yet ...

[MrMcGoldrick]

I havent actualy seen her ride yet ...

I have, still drooling

[mayo]

Two Rockers ? A few bits of 20 about but wont last I think.

After race at Thurles Thu, 14th Jan, 2016 (1st) He jumped well and got a great ride, but both horse and jockey fell asleep on the ground in the straight. He quickened and picked up well after the last though and is a good horse. If everything is alright, he'll run at Leopardstown next and we'll see what he does after that. I'm delighted with the win as I had my appendix out last week and wasn't around to help out in all the bad weather. Adrian Maguire

[Istabraq]

Having followed the horse over a cliff for years I managed to claw a little back on On The Fringe at the three festivals last year, for some reason it all fell right and the horse fulfilled some of the enormous potential he's always had.
Having found a way to win I think there has to be more to come, they've deliberately held him back this year mindful of his ageing muscles perhaps but the manner in which he dominated this division last season says he'll do something similar this year unless a young pretender appears on the scene.
9/2 looks to be a serious punting price given he's beaten them all before bar Long Run and I've got doubts that one retains the same zest he had 5 years ago given the horse made his racecourse debut almost 8 years ago.
Not original at all but On The Fringe for me in this, there won't be any NRNB on this race until the week of the meeting but this is rare opportunity in that this is the only target for the horse, this will be one of my major hits of the week....

[KingSprinterSacre]

I have him backed in a £2 (£30) lucky 15 with Min 5/1, Thistlecrack 3/1 and Josies orders 7/2. Was starting to get worried about on the fringe. Nothing to worry about then they are just holding him back?

[Istabraq]

KSS - he tends to make his reappearance at Down Royal on Boxing Day but I remember Enda giving an interview a while back saying that was the plan but if he didn't make it they weren't worried, he said a number of races are in the January calendar or they could find a PTP for him, but he is where they want him/expect him to be.
You've certainly got some value on that lucky 15, best of luck !

[paz247]

On the Fringe normally runs Boxing Day and then in Feb ( I think the 6th of Feb this year is when the race is) I agree with Istabraq in that he could well be given more time this time around in the hope of a full on charge at Fest and also the Aintree equivalent, I've backed him the each time he's run at the fest and am on him again this year����

[KingSprinterSacre]

KSS - he tends to make his reappearance at Down Royal on Boxing Day but I remember Enda giving an interview a while back saying that was the plan but if he didn't make it they weren't worried, he said a number of races are in the January calendar or they could find a PTP for him, but he is where they want him/expect him to be.
You've certainly got some value on that lucky 15, best of luck !

Thanks for the update and good luck wishes

[Morning Glory]

On the fringe is a good call. Two Rockers doesnt jump well enough for me. Has a Moscow Flyer style record in P2Ps and 1's and U's.

[Old Vic]

Those odds on Vicky P looking better now ...

Andy Stewart said: “The Stewart family are delighted that Victoria will be riding Pacha Du Polder for us in point-to-points, and who knows maybe even at Cheltenham.

“It was thrilling at Aintree as he looked the winner until Nina Carberry joined him at the last and JP’s [McManus] On The Fringe beat us, so this year it might be a women's race. We’re very excited about the coming months.”