Arkle 2020

[Quevega]

Already regretting backing melon for JLT.
Backing a flat bred - especially by medicean.
as an 8 yr old novice chaser.
that runs below cheltenham form all season till march - so is likely to be a bigger price along the way.
Looks a certainty to end up in a hurdle race at the festival.
If only a genius trained him

[jono]

In no rush to back Melon at all over a fence. He hasn't won since November 2017. He's had numerous poor runs since then with just a few (albeit high level) strong runs dotted inbetween. Theres obvious pros in his corner and he would arguably be dropping down a level from top grade 1 open hurdles to a level playing ground of Novice chasing but he just doesnt win anywhere near enough. Who knows...fencing may well be the catalyst to bring it all together but he's disappointed far too often for me not to think he'll do so again. And the extra 2 years over hurdles will always be a niggle for me. No doubt he will win his beginners Chase and will single figures but I'd still bank on him losing at some point leading up to Cheltenham. If he turns up as Mullins sole Arkle / JLT horse I'd have to back certainly in the former such is his record but I'm happy to do so with evidence to go on.

[Quevega]

In no rush to back Melon at all over a fence. He hasn't won since November 2017. He's had numerous poor runs since then with just a few (albeit high level) strong runs dotted inbetween. Theres obvious pros in his corner and he would arguably be dropping down a level from top grade 1 open hurdles to a level playing ground of Novice chasing but he just doesnt win anywhere near enough. Who knows...fencing may well be the catalyst to bring it all together but he's disappointed far too often for me not to think he'll do so again. And the extra 2 years over hurdles will always be a niggle for me. No doubt he will win his beginners Chase and will single figures but I'd still bank on him losing at some point leading up to Cheltenham. If he turns up as Mullins sole Arkle / JLT horse I'd have to back certainly in the former such is his record but I'm happy to do so with evidence to go on.

It's like I temporarily forgot all this. Where were you to remind me about an hour ago ?
The only hope is Mullins and his cheltenham form.
But he's not one of my favourite horses by a long way.

[Kevloaf]

Jesus, you'd think I'd put a free bet on him to win Wimbledon.


Anyone who has placed actual money for him in the Arkle needs to come leaping to his defense or I'll tweet sky asking for a justice refund on my free bets.




Kautostar... I don't want him in my book at 10/1 if he ran in an Arkle at this stage.

I don't want him in my book with real money in the JLT either.


Jono ... if he'd be Mullins only contender in the JLT you wouldn't fancy him?
How many 8 year olds are still excelling at 2m.

Older = further.

Won't be fast enough for an Arkle.
JLT all day.

He's nap material.



Melon and champagne everywhere

[ComplyOrDie]

Anyone heard anything regarding Angels Breath and Al Dancer going forward?

I'm keen to get Angels Breath onside mostly, could easily see him ending up either here or the JLT.

[Native River]

Anyone heard anything regarding Angels Breath and Al Dancer going forward?

I'm keen to get Angels Breath onside mostly, could easily see him ending up either here or the JLT.

There was a quote in the quotes thread from NTD saying probably chasing for Al Dancer, not so sure on Angels Breath, but I would too be interested in Angels Breath over fences, seems to sort Henderson could bring some improvement over fences.

[ComplyOrDie]

No worries, thanks NR.

Angels Breath obviously has the PTP background, so you'd think he'd end up over the further distance, however I remember Nicky saying he was a particularly quick horse, he's also not very big, so I'd hope, if taking to fences, he'd be over them like a bullet.

[Kevloaf]

Angel's Breath must be on the naughty list?

I was happy to forgive the defeat with the prep he had when Southfield Stone beat him getting 5 lbs... but rubbish in the Supreme and looks held by Brewin'upastorm on the Aintree run (with Reserve Tank ahead)

He'll need to improve plenty for a fence (perfectly possible) but he's the kind of horse that I think we'd need to SEE over a fence before knowing if he can step up to winning grade 1's...

[The King Pimm]

NTD did state Al Dancer was going over fences this season and he sounded confident of his chances of progressing. He’s not featuring much in AP markets though from what I’ve seen.

[Quevega]

NTD did state Al Dancer was going over fences this season and he sounded confident of his chances of progressing. He’s not featuring much in AP markets though from what I’ve seen.

They thought it’d win champion hurdle before it ran in supreme

[The King Pimm]

In terms of time how impressive was Fakir D’s time when he won on the Festival trials day?? Was it exceptional or flattering due to limited opposition?? He won by a big margin that day and was very impressive. He can clearly run well at Cheltenham. Does anyone know much about his size & scope for Chasing??

[Kevloaf]

In terms of time how impressive was Fakir D’s time when he won on the Festival trials day?? Was it exceptional or flattering due to limited opposition?? He won by a big margin that day and was very impressive. He can clearly run well at Cheltenham. Does anyone know much about his size & scope for Chasing??

Flattering by how forward he was relative to the opposition in my opinion

[The King Pimm]

I know the form from that race didn’t stack up to much as the horses behind that day went on to do very little from memory but he did smash them that day and I’m curious as to how competitive a time it was for Cheltenham

[Kevloaf]

I know the form from that race didn’t stack up to much as the horses behind that day went on to do very little from memory but he did smash them that day and I’m curious as to how competitive a time it was for Cheltenham

Wouldn't get too carried away by that, they held nothing back and he was exposed enough at the Spring festivals.

He's not grade 1 winning class over hurdles and won't be over fences unless he's absolutely insane over them, which they've given no indication of.


Others to look at?

[The King Pimm]

You maybe right Kev, but he did finish 4th in the SNH and 2nd in his next two Grade 1 races so may be capable of better. I’ve not seen him up and personal so not sure of his size & scope though, does any one know anything about his size & scope? . One thing is for sure JP McManus spends an almighty amount of money on horses that don’t kick on and win the big races, didn’t he pay around £300,000 for Fakir after that Trials win??