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**realdanbreen** · 21 February 2017, 07:58 PM

Well someone might as well kick off.

Buveur d'air---CH
Melon----------Supreme
Hells kitchen---Close brothers
Saphir du rheu--Ultima

**Old Vic** · 21 February 2017, 08:46 PM

I thought I read something about Hell's Kitchen being injured but can't find a link

**Old Vic** · 21 February 2017, 08:48 PM

Nicholls not keen on ultima

Something of a frustrating horse but came good at Kelso last week, where he bolted up as he should have done. He jumped really well there and is just starting to get his act together a little bit. When he won a Grade One at Aintree we thought he was going to be a superstar over fences but he just lost his way a little. His last few runs have been good. He jumped really well at Cheltenham and stayed on strongly over a trip that was too short for him the time before. He's a little in no man's land as he has a high mark and I've entered him in the Ultima Handicap Chase on the first day but he's almost certain to run in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup. Andy Stewart is dead keen to run there and it is hard to argue he's a certainty in a handicap of 11st 12lb. On all known form he's not going to trouble the main ones but he's the sort of horse who'll run a tidy race and finish fifth or sixth. He has plenty of ability and we haven't seen the best of him yet. He's in at Aintree after Cheltenham but that may come too soon and we'll wait another year but there is a really decent race in this horse somewhere and at long last he's getting his act together.

**Faugheen_Machine** · 21 February 2017, 08:49 PM

You're right OV - Harry Fry said he had a set back and is not in training at the moment.

**ComplyOrDie** · 22 February 2017, 09:12 AM

I'd like to put Squouateur (16/1 NRNB) up for the Close Brothers Handicap.

He's perfectly aged, looks like he's going to be perfectly weighted, having been given an Irish mark of 133 and finishing 2nd over a distance too short LTO with many previous winners in behind him.

A lot of strong stats/trends back him up:

Ran within the last 60 days - last 11 winners had all done so.

Finished 2nd LTO - 9 of the last 11 winners finished top 3 in previous run.

Has had 5 Chase starts - Last 11 winners have had between 3 & 7 chase starts.

Has won over 2m 4f+ before - 9 of last 11 winners had also done so prior to the race.

Had a hurdle rating of 141 - 10 of last 11 winners had official hurdle ratings above 124.

Only had 7 hurdle runs - 9 of last 11 winners had raced in 8 or less hurdles races before going chasing.

There are of course a couple of negatives, but not ones that scare me off, and to be honest, finding a horse without some sort of negative in a race like this seems nigh impossible.

The horse was really well thought of last season as a hurdler, especially for the festival, being backed heavily all day in to favourite for the Martin Pipe before being unable to land a blow in that race. The fact they switched him to Fences so quickly suggests they expect more over these obstacles than they did over hurdles yet he was so readily fancied over them so he must have some ability.

His chase runs to date haven't exactly been inspiring but then again we have seen JP's horses run below par for a nice handicap mark before so this isn't an issue that overly bothers me, and it was nice to see him come back to some kind of form LTO as we head closer to the festival.

He also seems to have contested the hottest beginners chase races, against horses like Anibale Fly, Min & American Tom, all over what would suggest to be an inadequate trip, 2 of which have gone on to win or place in Grade 1 races.

**Aldie1988** · 22 February 2017, 09:27 AM

Some early selections before deadlines etc.

Supreme - Moon Racer
Arkle - Altior
Champion - Buveur D'Air
N.Hunt Chase - Beware The Bear

**Istabraq** · 22 February 2017, 09:51 AM

CorD - I can't find the profile because despite a gazillion attempts I'm still spelling the horses name wrong, however, I do remember this one being well touted last year and it may have been either (or a combination of both) the soft ground or the more stamina sapping New Course that was his undoing.
The day one nov chase is on the Old Course which may suit him better so a definite runner and if I ever get the check his form/profile I'll let you know....

**MrMcGoldrick** · 22 February 2017, 02:52 PM

I like the chance of Bunk off early in the supreme, better ground will play to his strengths and may still be the choice of Ruby, over Melon, price will likely be much lower than the current 8's, or thereabouts, if he does

**Kevloaf** · 22 February 2017, 04:56 PM

Limini.

**Istabraq** · 27 February 2017, 01:16 PM