JLT Novices 2018

[Scooby91]

Happy to take on Death Duty at 4/7 in the Drinmore. 10/3 Rathvinden, and 10/1 Dinaria, looks more than fair to me, and I can only see those getting shorter once the market takes proper shape. I have Death Duty backed for any race at the festival so I won't count it as a loser if he wins nicely, as I said, ideally himself or Rathvinden put in a good display. Will be a strong formline to take into the JLT whoever wins.

Aslong as they are declared. Death duty would lookl too short. Not sure giggi will declare them all though

[PitLad]

I really think Death Duty will go this race, think they'll swerve the RSA (just gut feeling). Back him for the JLT before he wins the Drinmore cosily.

[Kevloaf]

Happy to take on Death Duty at 4/7 in the Drinmore. 10/3 Rathvinden, and 10/1 Dinaria, looks more than fair to me, and I can only see those getting shorter once the market takes proper shape. I have Death Duty backed for any race at the festival so I won't count it as a loser if he wins nicely, as I said, ideally himself or Rathvinden put in a good display. Will be a strong formline to take into the JLT whoever wins.

I imagine that'll be my mindset too RC... although might not bet at all depending on how short Rathvinden gets

[ComplyOrDie]

I really think Death Duty will go this race, think they'll swerve the RSA (just gut feeling). Back him for the JLT before he wins the Drinmore cosily.

The exchanges would tell a different story, though shouldn't be the reason for a definite decision or bet on him, but over £2.5k for the RSA, as opposed to the £850 odd for the JLT in traded money. Before Monalee come out DD was by far the most backed horse for the RSA on the exchanges than any other.

Just to put in to context, Finian's Oscar has over £3k traded on him for the JLT, so the DD money is minimal in comparison, and I'd suspect is people using it as cover should they go for this race instead. Of course, my belief, despite the ramblings on about the exchanges are that he will head to the RSA anyway.

[Robante]

Don't understand any love for DD. The two times he's raced at the very top level (Cheltenham and Punchestown) he's been found wanting by a distance. I don't see anything to suggest that he's improved that much for a fence that he'll be winning anything at those two festivals this year either. Many of the horses that have already beaten him will be reopposing whatever race he takes in, so they all have him covered as far as I can see

[Scooby91]

Don't understand any love for DD. The two times he's raced at the very top level (Cheltenham and Punchestown) he's been found wanting by a distance. I don't see anything to suggest that he's improved that much for a fence that he'll be winning anything at those two festivals this year either. Many of the horses that have already beaten him will be reopposing whatever race he takes in, so they all have him covered as far as I can see

Death duty has always looked a chaser and bumpers / hurdles just been waiting until he gets here. His run at punchestown was good to be fair was the strongest novice race of the season imo. Id be pretty sure he will make a better chaser but hes got questions to answer on spring ground over the shorter trip. Sunday is His biggest test to date, stating the obvious.

[Robante]

Death duty has always looked a chaser and bumpers / hurdles just been waiting until he gets here. His run at punchestown was good to be fair was the strongest novice race of the season imo. Id be pretty sure he will make a better chaser but hes got questions to answer on spring ground over the shorter trip. Sunday is His biggest test to date, stating the obvious.

Monalee and Finian's Oscar have always looked chasers too - Monalee was giving him a good beating over a longer trip at Cheltenham before DD came down, Finian's beat him comfortably at Punchestown over the shorter trip. Regardless of whether he wins on Sunday he's one i'm happy to leave alone for the festival

[Robante]

Monalee and Finian's Oscar have always looked chasers too - Monalee was giving him a good beating over a longer trip at Cheltenham before DD came down, Finian's beat him comfortably at Punchestown over the shorter trip. Regardless of whether he wins on Sunday he's one i'm happy to leave alone for the festival

On Spring ground certainly, if it turns soft I may have another look

[Scooby91]

On Spring ground certainly, if it turns soft I may have another look

I respect your decision, not inclined to believe Gordon 100% But he certainly wasn't 100% in the bartlett whether that was him being sick like Gordon Said or the good ground I'm not sure. But he did give monalee a good beating previously.

[ComplyOrDie]

I respect your decision, not inclined to believe Gordon 100% But he certainly wasn't 100% in the bartlett whether that was him being sick like Gordon Said or the good ground I'm not sure. But he did give monalee a good beating previously.

Was just about to point this out, however I do respect all that has been said before. Finian's Oscar is on another level for me, I'm a big fan, like many on here, and as I see FO turning up for this, given how competitive the Arkle is beginning to look, in turn I can see connections of DD rather take on Monalee than FO IMO, knowing they've beat that one before. The horse stays 3m, that I have no question of, but to what level is my only concern. But I do believe in the horse and he's one I like, would prefer soft ground admittedly.

[Robante]

Was just about to point this out, however I do respect all that has been said before. Finian's Oscar is on another level for me, I'm a big fan, like many on here, and as I see FO turning up for this, given how competitive the Arkle is beginning to look, in turn I can see connections of DD rather take on Monalee than FO IMO, knowing they've beat that one before. The horse stays 3m, that I have no question of, but to what level is my only concern. But I do believe in the horse and he's one I like, would prefer soft ground admittedly.

I think on good spring ground I’ll leave him alone full stop. On any ground I’ll leave him alone if Finian’s is in the JLT as I think he’ll have his number. On softish ground in the RSA then I’ll consider a dabble, that race might not be that strong, dependent on Bacardys showing up well if he tries 3 miles before the festival. Bacardys had a lot in hand over DD at Punchestown

[Kevloaf]

Finians wouldn't need to fear anything in either race as he's more talented than anything else. I think he'd be unbeatable in this race though so if I thought he was going here I'd start backing it ... however, as we know, I think he'll still go to the Arkle and won't be scared of Footpad no matter how good he looks ... they took on SS with CC and Footpad isn't SS!

I do like DD but appreciate the ground point and think Willoughby court is going to be a player on the day too perhaps at a bigger price as he might get beat on the way!

[Scooby91]

Alan King is confident*Yanworth*can*hit back at his critics with the top-class hurdler set for his third start over fences at Newbury on Friday.

A two-time Grade 1 winner last season, Yanworth made a successful start to his chase career at Exeter last month, but a return to the venue this month did not go so well as he came down at the seventh fence.

That led to suggestions in some quarters that the seven-year-old should*revert to hurdles, but King hit back at those detractors in his Racing Post Weekender column.

"I’m hoping that Yanworth shows everyone what he can do – and shuts up one or two people – in the Grade 2 novice chase at Newbury on Friday," the trainer said.

"There was never any chance that he would switch back to hurdles after his fall at Exeter last time. What would be the point of that?

"Yet I saw that suggestion being made and it does annoy me when so-called experts, who’ve never sat on a horse in their lives, say that sort of thing."


Assessing the fall, King added: "It’s not as though Yanworth jumped clumsily. He just landed a little steeply and it was a typical novice’s fall.

"He schooled last Thursday, jumping nine fences, and it was clear from what he did that morning that the fall hadn’t worried him."

Yanworth is odds-on to win the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Novices' Chase at Newbury, and it could be a good test, with Modus and Willoughby Court among his potential rivals.

King is not worried about who turns up, as he said: "There are other decent horses entered, but he goes there regardless of what else runs as we’ve got to kick on and get more match practice into him."

Yanworth*has a few options for the Cheltenham Festival and while he is a best-priced 12-1 for the JLT Novices' Chase, he is a 25-1 shot for the Arkle.




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On hurdles form alone he and Sutton place are the ones to beat. Obviously you can't take hurdles form literally over fences.

[Robante]

Alan King is confident*Yanworth*can*hit back at his critics with the top-class hurdler set for his third start over fences at Newbury on Friday.

A two-time Grade 1 winner last season, Yanworth made a successful start to his chase career at Exeter last month, but a return to the venue this month did not go so well as he came down at the seventh fence.

That led to suggestions in some quarters that the seven-year-old should*revert to hurdles, but King hit back at those detractors in his Racing Post Weekender column.

"I’m hoping that Yanworth shows everyone what he can do – and shuts up one or two people – in the Grade 2 novice chase at Newbury on Friday," the trainer said.

"There was never any chance that he would switch back to hurdles after his fall at Exeter last time. What would be the point of that?

"Yet I saw that suggestion being made and it does annoy me when so-called experts, who’ve never sat on a horse in their lives, say that sort of thing."


Assessing the fall, King added: "It’s not as though Yanworth jumped clumsily. He just landed a little steeply and it was a typical novice’s fall.

"He schooled last Thursday, jumping nine fences, and it was clear from what he did that morning that the fall hadn’t worried him."

Yanworth is odds-on to win the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Novices' Chase at Newbury, and it could be a good test, with Modus and Willoughby Court among his potential rivals.

King is not worried about who turns up, as he said: "There are other decent horses entered, but he goes there regardless of what else runs as we’ve got to kick on and get more match practice into him."

Yanworth*has a few options for the Cheltenham Festival and while he is a best-priced 12-1 for the JLT Novices' Chase, he is a 25-1 shot for the Arkle.




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On hurdles form alone he and Sutton place are the ones to beat. Obviously you can't take hurdles form literally over fences.

Really good race this, I like Willoughby Court and am not on Yanworth yet so will be cheering on the former. Yanworth a worthy favourite as you say on hurdles form. Struggle to understand his run in the Champion Hurdle last year, maybe he's been a stayer all along. I'd have to get involved if he is aimed at the RSA

[Kevloaf]

I'm sure Yanworth at 10/1 for ther JLT was my first (or one of my first) ante post bets. Absolutely at a loss as to what I was thinking placing it.