Going Chasing / Staying Hurdling.

[Lobos]

Great news and makes perfect sense to me, wouldn't normally be overly keen on taking 3/1 a year out but i can't see what beats her !

Just to be clear, he said this directly after her winning the Champion Hurdle. It's not a more recent quote. It's one that needs to be out there though.

[Spectre]

Yep. He said he's going straight over fences.

When and where was this Lobos? I can't find anything out there.

[isitmarchyet]

When and where was this Lobos? I can't find anything out there.

Found this:

https://www.racingtv.com/cheltenham-...pe-bear-ghylls

Though the Festival is the imminent target, Martin has a graduation to novice chasing pencilled in for the gelding when he returns from a summer break next season.

“We’ve always said that next year he’ll go chasing because he is a chaser in the making, he’s a big horse,” she explained.

“A good summer on his back and he’ll fill out again, I think he’ll respect fences a lot more than hurdles.

“That’s always been the plan, to go chasing with him next year, without a doubt.”

[Spectre]

Thanks Isitmarchyet. I've scoured everywhere, but the quote was before the Festival which is why I couldn't find it. I'll scratch him off my list.

It's a shame because I'd fancy him to have a very good second season over hurdles. I think the best novice chasers will be too good for him. That said they couild plot him very carefully for a novice handicap at the Festival.

[Fouroverthrutwo]

As somebody who didn't see any fluke in the Aintree win by Ahoy Senor I am looking forward to seeing him next year (or maybe Punchestown). As a ptp winner I see him as a strong contender for the RSA next year. Still 40/1 with B365

Ahoy Senor definitely goes novice chasing next year according to Lucinda Russell. Looking at some photos of the horse after his P2P win he looks massive so he could be even better over fences. I really don't know what to make of his Aintree win..... On one hand he beat the next Denman, the Albert Bartlett 2nd and 3rd but all three of those horses will have had tough races at Cheltenham. As someone else has pointed out on here, the Aintree form can be flattering on occasions so should be viewed with caution. I also have reservations about his breeding with his sire not really being a prolific NH chase stallion IMO but again I might be trying to look for negatives when there maybe aren't any?! I wonder whether they might step him up in trip again next year and go National Hunt Chase or maybe avoid Cheltenham all together next year? He still holds an entry at Punchestown so if he does go it should be enlightening.

[Lobos]

Question ...simple Yes or No please.

Does Bob Ollinger stay hurdling next season???

[Attaglance]

No. Short and sweet.

[Atlantic Viking]

Question ...simple Yes or No please.

Does Bob Ollinger stay hurdling next season???

It seems a straightforward no to me, but what do I know?! If Honeysuckle goes back for the CH as seems likely, where's left for BO over hurdles? Stayers would be a fair old surprise.

This was straight after his Ballymore win: “We’ll get through his novice season this year before we think too much about the future. He’s built like a chaser and jumps like one, so we’d normally love going that way, but we’ll speak to Brian and Robcour and see what they think, but we’ll enjoy today."

Robcour are a top outfit but on paper, they've got nothing like Bob O to go chasing with (few do!). I can't see why they wouldn't want to. Horse could be anything, why waste time finding out?!

[Spectre]

Question ...simple Yes or No please.

Does Bob Ollinger stay hurdling next season???

Next to no chance I'd say. Assuming he schools well, there's no way they'll delay a chase campaign. They won't regard a Stayers Hurdle as higher on their priority list than a Gold Cup.

[Fouroverthrutwo]

Question ...simple Yes or No please.

Does Bob Ollinger stay hurdling next season???

IMO he goes novice chasing and will start off with the RSA in mind with a long-term view to him becoming a Gold Cup horse. If stamina becomes an issue they revert to the Marsh.

[Saxon Warrior]

I think with the very top novice hurdlers, you either aim at the Champion Hurdle, or you go Novice Chasing.

The only othe races to stay hurdling for, are the staying hurdles, but I’m not sure there is much of a history of the very top novice hurdlers, staying over hurdles to go for the 3M Grade 1’s outside of a few Albert Bartlett horses (Penhill, Thyme Hill etc).

Certainly would be odd for a Ballymore winner to target a stayers hurdle campaign.

[Lobos]

Thanks guys. That's a big 'yes' to novice chasing for Bollinger which is what I wanted to hear. I'm using him as a big cog for next year so pleased with that. IMO he goes Marsh or RSA and that's the way I've played it. If he goes Arkle then I'm stuffed but that's the fun of the game. I don't envisage him dropping back to the only distance hes ever got beat at though so happy with my choice.

[hardheld]

Hope BO will go chasing as I have only backed him for the Marsh. 2 1/2 miles is his trip at the moment, although HDB thought he was a supreme horse, and the owners persuaded to step up in trip. Should be Marsh bound, although 20/1 for Novice chase is tempting as he would also have the ability to him that.

[nortonscoin200]

Question ...simple Yes or No please.

Does Bob Ollinger stay hurdling next season???

Yes.......

But over the last 25 years Ballymore winners do have a better record than Supreme winners in progressing to win the Champion Hurdle.

Istrabraq, Hardy Eustace and Faugheen all landed the CH after winning the two-and-a-half miler.

Hors La Loi (3 years later)and Brave Inca (2 years later) are the only Supreme winners to do the double in that time.

Shows once again - as did Honeysuckle - that you really do need to get the trip well to win the CH.

The stats also tend to strengthen the case for Appreciate It going chasing instead of staying over hurdles for a crack at the CH.

[Lobos]

From Mullins pre Punchestown interview it looks like it will be Colreevy's last race before going to breeding duties. Don't back her for Fez !!