RSA Chase 2020

[Quevega]

I really like champ but have never found his price tempting. So Far.
But him missing a prep is obviously an issue as Jack has pointed out, so to not have him entered up in as many eligible races as possible was strange.
If they all got abandoned then fair enough.

But, I'll tell you one thing for certain. If he don't win in March, they'll definitely blame it on missing a prep for sure.
It's knowing that, that makes it more annoying.

[Liverpoolchamp]

I really like champ but have never found his price tempting. So Far.
But him missing a prep is obviously an issue as Jack has pointed out, so to not have him entered up in as many eligible races as possible was strange.
If they all got abandoned then fair enough.

But, I'll tell you one thing for certain. If he don't win in March, they'll definitely blame it on missing a prep for sure.
It's knowing that, that makes it more annoying.

Mate horse racing has got be the worst sport for excuses
of why a horse has run badly,there is a million excuses and I think I’ve heard them all,so if they do blame the no prep run then I’m fully prepared,as regards price I am on at 8/1 so I’m more than happy with that.

[Humble Pie]

I really like champ but have never found his price tempting. So Far.
But him missing a prep is obviously an issue as Jack has pointed out, so to not have him entered up in as many eligible races as possible was strange.
If they all got abandoned then fair enough.

But, I'll tell you one thing for certain. If he don't win in March, they'll definitely blame it on missing a prep for sure.
It's knowing that, that makes it more annoying.

I’ve never been in the Champ camp

Seen a window with the Indo

If Champ wins then congrats to all backers , I’m on at 10’s , Bazza needs to be more positive ( I know I’m repeating myself ) but having undoubtedly the best engine isn’t what it’s all about .

Nicky can talk all he likes about alternative plans but nothing beats an actual race as prep IM HUMBLE Opinion

[Morley Street]

I get the impression that Hendo was almost pleased that Kelso got abandoned... don’t think he wanted any opportunity for it to go tits up before the big day. If (and it’s probably a big if) he puts in a good round, I personally can’t see him beat. I also think he’ll be punted into a silly price on the day if the vibes are right.

[jack1092]

Champ's impressive on the eye when winning + the race where he had the incident late on and still managed to win shows he's classy. However, really, what literal formline tells you he has the best engine in the race? That's what i miss. Yes he looks flashy etc.

[Liverpoolchamp]

Champ's impressive on the eye when winning + the race where he had the incident late on and still managed to win shows he's classy. However, really, what literal formline tells you he has the best engine in the race? That's what i miss. Yes he looks flashy etc.

I wondered all season why he kept champ to less than 3 miles until the festival? Is it to unlock further improvement maybe? He banged on at the end of last season how he got it wrong by not putting him over 3 miles until he did at Aintree.

[Morley Street]

Champ's impressive on the eye when winning + the race where he had the incident late on and still managed to win shows he's classy. However, really, what literal formline tells you he has the best engine in the race? That's what i miss. Yes he looks flashy etc.

For me it’s the way that throughout his career, he has done many things wrong in a race but still (more often than not) managed to win comfortably, that shows he has a massive engine. This was evident in his novice hurdle days when he pulled his way to a neck defeat by Vindication through to when he destroyed a good field of handicappers at Newbury, despite running far to free. His graded runs last year, particularly in the Challow and at Aintree shows that he can travel at a high cruising speed through a race yet still quicken off the strong tempo at the back-end. His Chase starts this year have shown similar tendencies to be less than straightforward, highlighted by a couple of novicey jumping errors but still in the main, he has managed to win and win well against a strong opposition IMO. IF everything drops right at Cheltenham, I can see him running away with it.

[jack1092]

For me it’s the way that throughout his career, he has done many things wrong in a race but still (more often than not) managed to win comfortably, that shows he has a massive engine. This was evident in his novice hurdle days when he pulled his way to a neck defeat by Vindication through to when he destroyed a good field of handicappers at Newbury, despite running far to free. His graded runs last year, particularly in the Challow and at Aintree shows that he can travel at a high cruising speed through a race yet still quicken off the strong tempo at the back-end. His Chase starts this year have shown similar tendencies to be less than straightforward, highlighted by a couple of novicey jumping errors but still in the main, he has managed to win and win well against a strong opposition IMO. IF everything drops right at Cheltenham, I can see him running away with it.

Over hurdles + fences who is the best horse IYO he has beaten?

[ComplyOrDie]

I wondered all season why he kept champ to less than 3 miles until the festival? Is it to unlock further improvement maybe? He banged on at the end of last season how he got it wrong by not putting him over 3 miles until he did at Aintree.

My own take on him taking on less than 3 miles over fences is to get him used to jumping round at pace, as the RSA is usually run at a fair clip, whereas the earlier season races over 3m, usually in softer ground, are run slower, therefore he could get round in his own time, and then hit every fence come the RSA as could potentially get taken off his feet.

They don't need to test him over 3m, they done that the back end of last season, he stays, and stays well. He should have been in the Bartlett, as I argued, and Nicky rightly pointed out he got that wrong, but he won't get it wrong this season I don't think.

It's my theory, and I also don't think the fall would have harmed him mentally, and hopefully he will have learnt from that.

[mayo]

Over hurdles + fences who is the best horse IYO he has beaten?

Very fair question imo.

[Morley Street]

Over hurdles + fences who is the best horse IYO he has beaten?

In terms of ratings, giving 5Ib and what I would have thought would have been a comfortable beating to Midnight Shadow IF he’d have stood up last time, sets the standard in this IMO.

Over hurdles, you can take your pick from Emitom, Bright Forecast & Brewin. Again IMO this compares favourably to what his main market rival did over hurdles.

[billymag]

Over fences hes beaten everything that he has been asked to so in the context of the RSA getting round might be a bigger issue. Without going over old ground its the manner which he has finished the two completed starts that Ive been most impressed with. There has been so much chat on here about this so its difficult to come up with a new argument. But I honestly think he will go close in next years Gold Cup FWIW.

[jack1092]

In terms of ratings, giving 5Ib and what I would have thought would have been a comfortable beating to Midnight Shadow IF he’d have stood up last time, sets the standard in this IMO.

Over hurdles, you can take your pick from Emitom, Bright Forecast & Brewin. Again IMO this compares favourably to what his main market rival did over hurdles.

Emitom, BF and Brewin compare favourably to say, Allaho, CS, COF? I wouldn't be so sure. In fact, bar Bright Forecast who hasn't been seen this season and i liked a lot, i'd disagree strongly.

[Morley Street]

Emitom, BF and Brewin compare favourably to say, Allaho, CS, COF? I wouldn't be so sure. In fact, bar Bright Forecast who hasn't been seen this season and i liked a lot, i'd disagree strongly.

Similar ratings Jack but hey, it’s a game of opinions... can’t wait to see Champ take on Indo... let’s hope one of us is right!

[Humble Pie]

Similar ratings Jack but hey, it’s a game of opinions... can’t wait to see Champ take on Indo... let’s hope one of us is right!

I just love the way Indo jumps and is IMO a far more natural and fluent jumper .

Champ to me is methodical and needs to jump at a pace and develop a rhythm ( still v novice to my eye)
When Geraghty drove him in to a fence he looked impressive

All subjective and there are more than 2 runners in the race

Q , how was that for a psycho pant pant pant Voice of Reason?