2016 Novices Handicap Chase

[Guest]

IMAGINE THE CHAT
7 b g Kayf Tara - Be My Bird
Winner of three of his 7 starts. Scored by seven lengths from Sandy Beach in a handicap chase at Newbury (2m 6 1/2f) off his current mark of 115 at the end of December.
"He's a lovely horse and I think he could be very good if he keeps progressing. He won nicely at Newbury last time and I thought for a novice he jumped round there foot perfect really. He stays well and act on any ground so hopefully he will go onto better things. He won very well at Newbury and we will see that the handicapper does but we will look at the novice handicap at Cheltenham that Irish Cavalier won last year. He could run in the next few weeks and we will see what we do after that."


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[Yeehaa]

One horse that will be joining Cole Harden in the stable's team at Cheltenham is Aloomomo who had been pencilled in for the Betbright Chase at Kempton at the end of February.

A new plan has been drawn up for the progressive six-year-old who has seen his rating rise from 108 to 140 in the process of completing a hat-trick in handicap chases.

Three races are under consideration at the Festival and Greatrex is hopeful that there is more to come.

"He is obviously improving and we are not sure yet where his level is, so it makes sense to go there [Cheltenham]," he said.

"The bookmakers have him at the head of the betting in a couple of races which is not a bad sign. Which race he goes for will depend a lot on ground. Three races look appealing; the 3m Handicap and the 2m 4f Novice Handicap on the Tuesday and then the 2m 4f Handicap on the Thursday."

Aloomomo is likely to return to hurdles for a prep run in mid-February.

[Old Vic]

Donn


Sizing Codelco

Sizing Codelco ran another fine race to finish second to Shaneshill in the two-mile novices’ chase at Naas on Sunday.

Sent to the front from flagfall by Jonathan Burke, Henry de Bromhead’s horse’s jumping was superb throughout. He led and disputed on the inside of Shaneshill from the second fence, he jumped the final fence in the back straight upsides the winner and came under pressure on the run to the second last. A mistake there by the favourite gave him a chance, and he led briefly again as they moved away from the obstacle, but Shaneshill picked up again, led at the last and ran on strongly up the run-in. That said, Sizing Codelco also ran all the way to the line, and it was only in the last 100 yards that Willie Mullins’ horse asserted.

This was probably a career-best from the Flemensfirth gelding, and he continues to improve. He started off over fences last season, he fell in Valseur Lido’s beginners’ chase at Punchestown in November 2014, but he didn’t win over fences last season, so he is still a novice this term. An impressive winner of his beginners’ chase at Listowel in September on his debut this season, he unseated his rider at the first fence in the Henry VIII Chase at Sandown that Ar Mad won on his second, which was a real pity. It would have been interesting to have seen how he would have fared against Gary Moore’s horse, who has since followed up in the Wayward Lad Chase at Kempton over Christmas. But Sizing Codelco proved here that that was just a blip, and time may show that he put up a huge performance to run Shaneshill as close as he did, with the pair of them coming clear of Kitten Rock, who is rated 160 over hurdles. He should to even better on better ground.

3rd January 2016

rated 135 so should get in ?

[Old Vic]

One horse that will be joining Cole Harden in the stable's team at Cheltenham is Aloomomo who had been pencilled in for the Betbright Chase at Kempton at the end of February.

A new plan has been drawn up for the progressive six-year-old who has seen his rating rise from 108 to 140 in the process of completing a hat-trick in handicap chases.

Three races are under consideration at the Festival and Greatrex is hopeful that there is more to come.

"He is obviously improving and we are not sure yet where his level is, so it makes sense to go there [Cheltenham]," he said.

"The bookmakers have him at the head of the betting in a couple of races which is not a bad sign. Which race he goes for will depend a lot on ground. Three races look appealing; the 3m Handicap and the 2m 4f Novice Handicap on the Tuesday and then the 2m 4f Handicap on the Thursday."

Aloomomo is likely to return to hurdles for a prep run in mid-February.

also Donn'd


Aloomomo

Aloomomo took a significant step up in class in his stride when landing the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

Settled nicely behind the leaders through the early stages of the race by Gavin Sheehan, his jumping was good in the main for one so inexperienced. A close-up fourth as they turned for home, he jumped into second at the fourth last and he had moved into a one-length lead by the time he jumped the third last. That was a lead that he did not relinquish. La Vaticane looked a danger at the second last, but Warren Greatrex’s horse just powered clear on the run to the final fence and he maintained his momentum all the way up the run in to win by nine lengths.

This was a really good performance by the Tirwanako gelding. He made his debut for Greatrex in March last season, but he looks like a seriously improved horse this term. He has now won his last three chases, his three races this term. He won at Uttoxeter in October off a mark of 108, followed up four days later under a 7lb penalty, and he was winning here off a mark that was another 14lb higher.

That handicapper has raised him another 11lb to a mark of 140, but that still may not be able to keep pace with his rate of progression. He is only five, he is just maturing as a staying steeplechaser, he still has plenty of potential to progress further.

He handles this soft ground well, and he stayed the extended two miles and six furlongs well, leaving the impression that he could improve again for another step up in trip. He did jump a bit to his right on occasion, and his trainer said that he could be even better at a right-handed track. His trainer also said that he came back after the summer a different horse, and that his homework has been super. He jumps great and he relishes soft ground. There is no telling how good he could be. He could be a Hennessy horse for next year.

28th November 2015

[Old Vic]

Sun

Ballyalton

¿A lightly raced 9 year old (only 11 runs under rules) novice chaser who is still a maiden over fences after 3 attempts. He unseated his rider at the 3rd last on his chase debut at Warwick when just starting to get into the race and then he appeared to totally ‘bounce' on his next start at Cheltenham having been off the previous season with injury.

Ballyalton’s latest start was the strongest indication yet that he is getting the hang of fences though. Given a patient confidence-boosting ride out the back by Richard Johnson, he shaped very nicely without been given a hard race behind the useful Venetia Williams trained Aso.

Ballyalton was of course a very good hurdler - rated 146 after a great effort in the 2014 Neptune Hurdle behind none other than the brilliant Faugheen.

He appears to like Cheltenham, as in addition to that excellent effort at the Festival, he also battled out the extremely tough and likeable Garde La Victoire in a novice hurdle at Cheltenham (Doctor Harper well beaten in behind).

He is a tough horse who stays very well and the key to further improvement with him chasing will be when he encounters good ground for the first time. That has been the surface for all 5 of his wins and his second to Faugheen.

Ballyalton is trained by Ian Williams. He has had quite an average season but is capable on the big day so I’d also like to think Ballyalton can be produced fitter for the Festival.

He has been given an opening mark off 140, six pounds lower than his hurdle mark. This is most interesting because it allows him to just scrape into the likely fiercely competitive Chaps Novices Chase on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival (0-140 handicap). He will have loads of options at Cheltenham including the novice races like JLT or RSA plus the 3 mile all age handicap also on the first day.

Surely the plan all along has been the Chaps Novices Handicap Chase over 2m5f though. Incidentally he is not even in the betting yet but the likes of Doctor Harper who could well be given an opening rating above 140 next week and therefore not be eligible for the race is favourite! Ballyalton is one to note and will have a great chance in that race, with so much in his favour granted decent ground.

[Coneygme]

I came here to ask if anyone knew whether Dr Harper would go in this (I'm ante post on him) but having read Old Vic's post above, it sounds like we await his rating!...

[Cashew King]

I came here to ask if anyone knew whether Dr Harper would go in this (I'm ante post on him) but having read Old Vic's post above, it sounds like we await his rating!...

I think it's been rated 141 so will miss this - sorry to be the bearer of bad news !
It's entered at Warwick this Saturday but will likely be up against Lami Serge

[Coneygme]

Thanks Cashew. Will watch the Kingmaker with interest but won't hold my breath re. the rating...

[Istabraq]

Why do I think they increased this to a 0-145 race ?

[Old Vic]

I think it's been rated 141 so will miss this - sorry to be the bearer of bad news !
It's entered at Warwick this Saturday but will likely be up against Lami Serge

Will be very hard to back knowing that a poor run might get them back in.

[Old Vic]

Why do I think they increased this to a 0-145 race ?

it used to be 145 but they reduced it ?

The CHAPS Restaurants Barbados Novices' Handicap Chase was one of the new races introduced to the four-day Festival in 2005. Jewson backed the race from 2005 to 2010, before the builders’ merchant switched support to the new Grade Two two-and-a-half mile novices’ chase in 2011. Pulteney Land Investments sponsored the race in 2012, while Rewards4Racing backed the contest in 2013 and 2014. Initially run as an open handicap for novices, it was restricted to horses with a rating of 145 or less in 2011. There was a further tightening of the race conditions from 2012, with the contest being for novice chasers rated 0-140.

[Istabraq]

Yep, thanks OV.
I also just read that when Hunt Ball won the race he was rated above the maximum but he was allowed to enter because his rating when entries closed was below 140.
So in Doctor Harpers case his first official rating was/is 141 so doesn't qualify

[mayo]

Thomas Crapper anyone?

2nd at last two Festivals and now back down to 135.

[gjt7756]

He ran a shocker the last time when ridden feom the word go but prior to that i thought on tour looked progressive but the current 16/1 doesnt appeal to me but to be honest so far not much else inthe field does, will have to wait and see how the card cuts up nearer the time before i lay any money in this market

[Istabraq]

Thomas Crapper anyone?

2nd at last two Festivals and now back down to 135.

When I saw the betting that one immediately appealed to me but he couldn't win last year off 134 and this more than any of the handicaps surely goes to an unexposed progressive type, not a horse with 10 chase starts to his name ?