2022 Novice Hurdle Division

[Lobos]

After winning the race the last 2 years it's pretty certain that Cheveley Park will want to target one of their new recruits at the Champion Bumper. With Classic Getaway now seemingly out of the equation, at least that whittles the candidate's down by one to make things 'easier'. They can't have too many options for the race from their small team can they ? Their other horses will still be available at big prices after bookies have cut Classic Getaway further in the betting. We just need to take advantage now .

[PresentingPercy]

After winning the race the last 2 years it's pretty certain that Cheveley Park will want to target one of their new recruits at the Champion Bumper. With Classic Getaway now seemingly out of the equation, at least that whittles the candidate's down by one to make things 'easier'. They can't have too many options for the race from their small team can they ? Their other horses will still be available at big prices after bookies have cut Classic Getaway further in the betting. We just need to take advantage now .

Glenclare West entered for the bumper in Punchestown on Saturday. They may however be following the same path as Classic Getaway and giving him a day at the track for schooling purposes as he also transferred over from Elliotts yard and probably needed time to settle.

[Spectre]

Also Guily Billy is at De Bromhead's and he's not one for the bumper route. I know they've won the bumper for the last couple of years, but now they're pulling out of the jumps and not buying any more, it's more likely they'll get on with campaigning their horses over hurdles and fences. They want open Grade 1 wins. My guess is that at the end of this season coming there will be a dispersal sale to offload anything they don't think can win the biggest races.

[Lobos]

Not for me based on

Opposition:-
Some of: Kilcruit, Jonbon, Journey With Me, Sir Gerhard, Dark Raven.

Today:
He ground it out well, after a complete hack canter for half the race.
I had Envoi Allen, Bob Olinger and Kilcruit in my head and compared them to the grinding style of CG and the difference struck me.

Bartlett maybe but not Ballymore, he looks a big staying type. Chasing looks his game.

Sire:
The sire has a terrible Cheltenham Festival record, a lot of underperformers from Getaway up that Hill.

Whereas Stowaway's just eat it up.
Telmesomethinggirl, Monkfish (x2), Put The Kettle On (x4), The Shunter (x2).

Kilcruit is by Stowaway, and I see him as a much more likely Ballymore type.

Could be completely wrong of course

With Kilcruit being by Stowaway I can see why Tony Mullins was adamant he'd win the Albert next year now. Both 'Stowaways' Monkfish and Fury Road went down that route in what could turn out to be the best Albert ever. Might just have to top up in him now.

[Lobos]

Also Guily Billy is at De Bromhead's and he's not one for the bumper route. I know they've won the bumper for the last couple of years, but now they're pulling out of the jumps and not buying any more, it's more likely they'll get on with campaigning their horses over hurdles and fences. They want open Grade 1 wins. My guess is that at the end of this season coming there will be a dispersal sale to offload anything they don't think can win the biggest races.

Maybe FJ can pick up one of their rejects...

[Saxon Warrior]

Also Guily Billy is at De Bromhead's and he's not one for the bumper route. I know they've won the bumper for the last couple of years, but now they're pulling out of the jumps and not buying any more, it's more likely they'll get on with campaigning their horses over hurdles and fences. They want open Grade 1 wins. My guess is that at the end of this season coming there will be a dispersal sale to offload anything they don't think can win the biggest races.

Agreed Spectre,

Winning the Champion Bumper for three years was when David Thompson was the key person driving their National Hunt expansion and planning at Cheveley Park.

Now he is sadly no longer there, then CP have advised that they intend to scale back.

There seems no logical reason to hold back on 5yo unraced horses to go on a Bumper route next season now, if they were purchased from National Hunt stock to be to be jumpers.

if they held back those horses Grangeclare West, Classic Getaway etc, for Bumpers next season, then they wouldn't be running in novice hurdles at the spring Festivals until they were 7yo.

Envoi Allen was a 5yo when winning the Champion Bumper.
Ferny Hollow was a 5yo when winning the Champion Bumper.
Sir Gerhard was a 6yo when winning the race this year.

I am sure that I read somewhere that Gordon was going to run Sir Gerhard in a Bumper at the end of the Spring 2020 season but Covid prevented that.

So, like many other horses, his career progression was held back into autumn 2020 and he was a season later coming through the Bumper route.

I don't think its a normal plan for Willie Mullins, Gordon, Henry DB etc to want to run their Bumper horses through to the spring Festivals aged 6yo (though of course some horses do run/win the race at that age).

Then Novice Hurdles as 7yo, and Novice Chases as 8yo.

I wouldn't be expecting to see the Irish Race Planning Diary that starts in October to be highlighting a 5yo (going on 6yo) from Cheveley Park for the Down Royal Bumper route that CP have used the last two years.

The fact that was Gordon's race planning, probably seals the deal on that.

[JackieMoon33]

Just because CPS won the bumper the last three years it doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed to win again this year. Ricci had a great run in the Supreme but now he struggles for quality runners. Everyone blindly went in for Senewalk and Annamix and that did not pan out too well.

Stowaway progeny do tend to be stayers but he’s sired 2 mile winners at the Festival too. Kilcruits profile on the dams side does have a touch more pace so he might not be nailed on for the AB either. Don’t forget Willie started out with Appreciate It booked for staying distances and again, look how that one panned out. I think Kilcruit is likely to take top rank over hurdles but he could be a tricky one to nail down right now and the prices are not exactly generous either.

[Lobos]

I do think with Kilcruit we can narrow it down to either the Ballymore or Albert and I've backed him accordingly. The 2/1 TWAR price is pathetic especially as I cant envisage him being a Supreme horse. I did say the same re Appreciate It this year however, Kilcruit looks a different animal altogether to me.

[Ice]

I was thinking sir gerhard in the supreme and Kilcruit for the ballymore.

[Lobos]

Just because CPS won the bumper the last three years it doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed to win again this year. Ricci had a great run in the Supreme but now he struggles for quality runners. Everyone blindly went in for Senewalk and Annamix and that did not pan out too well.

Stowaway progeny do tend to be stayers but he’s sired 2 mile winners at the Festival too. Kilcruits profile on the dams side does have a touch more pace so he might not be nailed on for the AB either. Don’t forget Willie started out with Appreciate It booked for staying distances and again, look how that one panned out. I think Kilcruit is likely to take top rank over hurdles but he could be a tricky one to nail down right now and the prices are not exactly generous either.

Here what you are saying but think they'll still want to go out with a winner in the Bumper for the big man. He targeted the race for the last few years and was successful. I think they'll want to honour him and provide him with another one in his memory.

[Saxon Warrior]

Cheveley Park NH Horses

W.P. MULLINS

• ALLAHO 7 b g No Risk At All - Idaho Falls by Turgeon
• EN BETON 7 b g Network - Nee A Saint Par by Pistolet Bleu
• ONTHEROPES 7 b g Presenting - Dushion by Dushyantor
• DEPLOY THE GETAWAY 6 b g Getaway - Gaelic River by Deploy
• FERNY HOLLOW 6 b g Westerner - Mirazur by Good Thyne
• SIR GERHARD 6 b g Jeremy - Faanan Aldaar by Authorized
• CLASSIC GETAWAY 5 b g Getaway - Classic Magic by Classic Clich?
• GRANGECLARE WEST 5 b g Presenting - Hayabusa by Sir Harry Lewis

C.L. TIZZARD

• ROSE OF ARCADIA 6 b f Arcadio - Rosie Lea by Supreme Leader

H. DE BROMHEAD

• A PLUS TARD 7 b g Kapgarde - Turboka by Kahyasi
• ENVOI ALLEN 7 b g Muhtathir - Reaction by Saints des Saints
• MALONE ROAD 7 b g Kalanisi - Zaffarela by Zaffaran
• BALLYADAM 6 b g Fame And Glory - Grass Tips by Bob Back
• GLOIRE D’ATHON 5 b g Doctor Dino - Aster d’Athon by Turgeon
• GUILY BILLY 5 gr g Coastal Path - Ukie by Dom Alco
• QUILIXIOS 4 b g Maxios - Quilita by Lomitas

RACE ROLL OF HONOUR

• QUILIXIOS JCB Triumph Hurdle Cheltenham Gr. 1 2021
• ALLAHO Ryanair Chase Cheltenham Gr. 1 2021
• SIR GERHARD Weatherbys Champion Bumper Cheltenham Gr. 1 2021
• QUILIXIOS Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle Leopardstown Gr. 1 2021
• ALLAHO Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase Thurles Gr. 2 2021
• ENVOI ALLEN Sky Bet Kiliney Novice Chase Punchestown Gr. 3 2021
• A PLUS TARD Savills Chase Leopardstown Gr. 1 2020
• ENVOI ALLEN Drinmore Novice Chase Fairyhouse Gr. 1 2020
• BALLYADAM Royal Bond Novice Hurdle Fairyhouse Gr. 1 2020
• FERNY HOLLOW Weatherbys Champion Bumper Cheltenham Gr. 1 2020
• ENVOI ALLEN Ballymore Novices' Hurdle Cheltenham Gr. 1 2020
• ENVOI ALLEN Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle Naas Gr. 1 2020
• A PLUS TARD Paddy's Rewards Club Chase Leopardstown Gr. 1 2019
• ENVOI ALLEN Royal Bond Novice Hurdle Fairyhouse Gr. 1 2019
• ENVOI ALLEN Weatherbys Champion Bumper Cheltenham Gr. 1 2019
• ENVOI ALLEN Matheson I.N.H. Flat Race Leopardstown Gr. 2 2019
• ALLAHO Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle Gr. 3 2019

[Lobos]

Cheveley Park NH Horses

W.P. MULLINS

• ALLAHO 7 b g No Risk At All - Idaho Falls by Turgeon
• EN BETON 7 b g Network - Nee A Saint Par by Pistolet Bleu
• ONTHEROPES 7 b g Presenting - Dushion by Dushyantor
• DEPLOY THE GETAWAY 6 b g Getaway - Gaelic River by Deploy
• FERNY HOLLOW 6 b g Westerner - Mirazur by Good Thyne
• SIR GERHARD 6 b g Jeremy - Faanan Aldaar by Authorized
• CLASSIC GETAWAY 5 b g Getaway - Classic Magic by Classic Clich?
• GRANGECLARE WEST 5 b g Presenting - Hayabusa by Sir Harry Lewis

C.L. TIZZARD

• ROSE OF ARCADIA 6 b f Arcadio - Rosie Lea by Supreme Leader

H. DE BROMHEAD

• A PLUS TARD 7 b g Kapgarde - Turboka by Kahyasi
• ENVOI ALLEN 7 b g Muhtathir - Reaction by Saints des Saints
• MALONE ROAD 7 b g Kalanisi - Zaffarela by Zaffaran
• BALLYADAM 6 b g Fame And Glory - Grass Tips by Bob Back
• GLOIRE D’ATHON 5 b g Doctor Dino - Aster d’Athon by Turgeon
• GUILY BILLY 5 gr g Coastal Path - Ukie by Dom Alco
• QUILIXIOS 4 b g Maxios - Quilita by Lomitas

RACE ROLL OF HONOUR

• QUILIXIOS JCB Triumph Hurdle Cheltenham Gr. 1 2021
• ALLAHO Ryanair Chase Cheltenham Gr. 1 2021
• SIR GERHARD Weatherbys Champion Bumper Cheltenham Gr. 1 2021
• QUILIXIOS Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle Leopardstown Gr. 1 2021
• ALLAHO Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase Thurles Gr. 2 2021
• ENVOI ALLEN Sky Bet Kiliney Novice Chase Punchestown Gr. 3 2021
• A PLUS TARD Savills Chase Leopardstown Gr. 1 2020
• ENVOI ALLEN Drinmore Novice Chase Fairyhouse Gr. 1 2020
• BALLYADAM Royal Bond Novice Hurdle Fairyhouse Gr. 1 2020
• FERNY HOLLOW Weatherbys Champion Bumper Cheltenham Gr. 1 2020
• ENVOI ALLEN Ballymore Novices' Hurdle Cheltenham Gr. 1 2020
• ENVOI ALLEN Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle Naas Gr. 1 2020
• A PLUS TARD Paddy's Rewards Club Chase Leopardstown Gr. 1 2019
• ENVOI ALLEN Royal Bond Novice Hurdle Fairyhouse Gr. 1 2019
• ENVOI ALLEN Weatherbys Champion Bumper Cheltenham Gr. 1 2019
• ENVOI ALLEN Matheson I.N.H. Flat Race Leopardstown Gr. 2 2019
• ALLAHO Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle Gr. 3 2019

An incredible roll of honour from a very small select few.

[Saxon Warrior]

Unbelievable strike rate.

Their horses have largely stayed sound (exception: Malone Road) and the first generation of them are still only 7yo, having started as 4yo’s. (Allaho, A Plus Tard, Envoi Allen).

[JackieMoon33]

Here what you are saying but think they'll still want to go out with a winner in the Bumper for the big man. He targeted the race for the last few years and was successful. I think they'll want to honour him and provide him with another one in his memory.

There is a chance they will have a runner for sure, I’m just not going to back this years options as I don’t feel they have the same profile as previous winners. Long term they could still be high quality but I’m going to go against them in the bumper.

[Spectre]

I do think with Kilcruit we can narrow it down to either the Ballymore or Albert and I've backed him accordingly. The 2/1 TWAR price is pathetic especially as I cant envisage him being a Supreme horse. I did say the same re Appreciate It this year however, Kilcruit looks a different animal altogether to me.

I'm not completely convinced Lobos. You'd think it's likely that Willie will split Kilcruit and Sir Gerhard up next season. And whilst it's not a given, Sir Gerhard was the one who looked as though he might benefit for going further. Going by what my eyes tell me, at this stage Kilcruit is top class, has a high cruising speed and a turn of foot, and he can tough it out. Just the attributes you want for a Supreme. Whereas Sir Gerhard looks as though he's going to want to go further sooner. He just didn't have the pace to lay up to Kilcruit at Punchestown, and Kilcruit cruised to victory, when Sir Gerhard looked a bit paceless.

Admittedly, breeding would suggest that Kilcruit would be the one to step up in trip, but Willie will go by what they do on the gallops and the racecourse, rather than how they're bred. I know Tony Mullins said Kilcruit will will the Bartlett next March, but I'd say he'll have revised that opinion now, and I see that race as the least likely option o the three. I'd be very surprised if either ended up anywhere near the race.

At the moment I've got Kilcruit backed for the Supreme and the Ballymore, and Sir Gerhard backed for the Supreme, but I need to back the latter for the Ballymore too at some point to get both bases covered. At the moment though I just see Kilcruit as the better horse of the two, and given it looks like we may have a very strong novice hurdle division I will probably scale back my position on Sir Gerhard and increase my position on Kilcruit for the Supreme when I see first entries, or on any news of season intentions.