2022 Novice Chase Division

[Lobos]

I really hope Ferny can make a successful come back from his injury, it would be great to see him line up at next years festival ideally in the Churdle

I feel that would be more likely than Novice Chasing in view of his injury .

[The King Pimm]

I feel that would be more likely than Novice Chasing in view of his injury .

I think Willie needs an overhaul of his Churdle horses, Sharjah will probably be competitive but another year older so he needs a few new darts and a fit Ferny back to his Bumper best would great to have involved.

Id love to know Klassical Dreams target, he was awesome at Punchestown and that come back win was up there with my most memorable performances of last season. I hope KD stays over hurdles and goes for a Stayers campaign

[Faugheen_Machine]

Does anyone know if Aramon is expected back at start of the season? He's not listed in any market so it could be that he's still injured - I can't remember what was wrong with him.

He's of interest to me if the injury wasn't too bad.

[ComplyOrDie]

I think Willie needs an overhaul of his Churdle horses, Sharjah will probably be competitive but another year older so he needs a few new darts and a fit Ferny back to his Bumper best would great to have involved.

Id love to know Klassical Dreams target, he was awesome at Punchestown and that come back win was up there with my most memorable performances of last season. I hope KD stays over hurdles and goes for a Stayers campaign

So do I TKP. Would be a strange move to have one run over hurdles over 3m and absolutely dot up against a seriously competitive field and then revert to chasing. I know he was entered in quite a few chases before taking up that engagement, but he kept pulling out for all sorts of reasons (usually lameness I believe), then suddenly he was sound on his one entry over hurdles throughout the entire season, I don't quite buy it. I think it was the plan all along.

It's also not as if Willie has a plethora of Stayers chances either.

[The King Pimm]

So do I TKP. Would be a strange move to have one run over hurdles over 3m and absolutely dot up against a seriously competitive field and then revert to chasing. I know he was entered in quite a few chases before taking up that engagement, but he kept pulling out for all sorts of reasons (usually lameness I believe), then suddenly he was sound on his one entry over hurdles throughout the entire season, I don't quite buy it. I think it was the plan all along.

It's also not as if Willie has a plethora of Stayers chances either.

I think many of Willies Stayers horses have had their day and have place chances at best but if KD can stay fit and repeat his performance at Punchestown then he could one of the main contenders for next years Stayers. I really hope he’s aimed at it as it could be a really strong renewal next Festival.

[ComplyOrDie]

It's the first time in a long time that I'm quite excited by what Paul Nicholls has, as a collective novice chase group. Monmiral, McFabulous, Bravemansgame, and one I think has gone under the radar is Flash Collonges.

Closely related to Neptune Collonges, Flash Collonges is certainly in the right hands to become a chasing star. His hurdles form, whilst nothing to write home about (although still managed to achieve a rating of 145), it is solid enough, winning 3 of his 5 starts, finishing 2nd by 1/2 a length in another and falling in his one other run over the smaller obstacles. On the whole he hurdled OK, but was a bit disrespectful on a couple of occasions, so I'm hoping the switch to fences will bring about extra improvement, of course, it will have to, to become involved in any novice chase at the festival.

If that improvement does come (which is highly likely) I think he's a big price @ 40/1 for the BANC. I've had some free bets on him for now, but will happily part with cash on the 33's with cash out, once an entry appears. Obviously Paul has Bravemansgame and McFabulous, both of which could end up anywhere, including skipping the festival, as could any other horse for that matter, but I'm happy to take a risk on Flash Collonges for now.

[Spectre]

Does anyone know if Aramon is expected back at start of the season? He's not listed in any market so it could be that he's still injured - I can't remember what was wrong with him.

He's of interest to me if the injury wasn't too bad.

He did a tendon FM. I like him too, and championed him last summer, but he needs to see a racecourse before I could back him now.

[Spectre]

It's the first time in a long time that I'm quite excited by what Paul Nicholls has, as a collective novice chase group. Monmiral, McFabulous, Bravemansgame, and one I think has gone under the radar is Flash Collonges.

Closely related to Neptune Collonges, Flash Collonges is certainly in the right hands to become a chasing star. His hurdles form, whilst nothing to write home about (although still managed to achieve a rating of 145), it is solid enough, winning 3 of his 5 starts, finishing 2nd by 1/2 a length in another and falling in his one other run over the smaller obstacles. On the whole he hurdled OK, but was a bit disrespectful on a couple of occasions, so I'm hoping the switch to fences will bring about extra improvement, of course, it will have to, to become involved in any novice chase at the festival.

If that improvement does come (which is highly likely) I think he's a big price @ 40/1 for the BANC. I've had some free bets on him for now, but will happily part with cash on the 33's with cash out, once an entry appears. Obviously Paul has Bravemansgame and McFabulous, both of which could end up anywhere, including skipping the festival, as could any other horse for that matter, but I'm happy to take a risk on Flash Collonges for now.

Monmiral is the one that Nicholls has the highest hopes for COD. I suspect he was probably the best juvenile last season, and I'd love to know what the intention is this season. As a very lightly raced 3/4 year old last season, this season will be a tricky one whatever they decide to do. He's bought him as a future chaser, but I suspect he'll have a relativley low key season over hurdles, and he won't be necessarily one to follow until the following season.

Does anyone know if the intention is to go chasing or stay hurdling this season?

[Istabraq]

He did a tendon FM. I like him too, and championed him last summer, but he needs to see a racecourse before I could back him now.

Presumably that makes a chasing campaign less likely assuming he comes back at all…

[That Horse]

Monmiral is the one that Nicholls has the highest hopes for COD. I suspect he was probably the best juvenile last season, and I'd love to know what the intention is this season. As a very lightly raced 3/4 year old last season, this season will be a tricky one whatever they decide to do. He's bought him as a future chaser, but I suspect he'll have a relativley low key season over hurdles, and he won't be necessarily one to follow until the following season.

Does anyone know if the intention is to go chasing or stay hurdling this season?

Seem to recall Nicholls saying another season over hurdles when he won at aintree, and RP analysis of that race backs that up - Fighting Fifth mentioned as a starting point

[Lbur4288]

Monmiral is one I am casting an eye on, as has been mentioned, for the fighting fifth which suggests another season over hurdles. I don't think I'd get on board for the Champion Hurdle, I wouldn't be surprised if Paul Nicholls skipped Cheltenham again until he's sent Monmiral chasing.

[Saxon Warrior]

Monmiral is the one that Nicholls has the highest hopes for COD. I suspect he was probably the best juvenile last season, and I'd love to know what the intention is this season. As a very lightly raced 3/4 year old last season, this season will be a tricky one whatever they decide to do. He's bought him as a future chaser, but I suspect he'll have a relativley low key season over hurdles, and he won't be necessarily one to follow until the following season.

Does anyone know if the intention is to go chasing or stay hurdling this season?

The plan that Paul Nicholls mentioned in the aftermath of his Aintree Grade 1 win, was that he would treat him as a Champion Hurdler, and go to the Fighting Fifth.

Thats better for the Festival than his plan for the horse this season, skipping the Triumph, which I think he could have won, I think he was the best Juvenile hurdler this year.

Maybe Paul Nicholls listened to all the speed rating chatter about Zanahiyr and thought it was an aeroplane.

He should have trusted his own horse, and he could have had two Grade 1's instead of one.

[Faugheen_Machine]

Maybe Paul Nicholls listened to all the speed rating chatter about Zanahiyr and thought it was an aeroplane.

He should have trusted his own horse, and he could have had two Grade 1's instead of one.

I'm glad he didn't

[Saxon Warrior]

I'm glad he didn't

Me too, but it looked a weak decision at the time, and it looks worse now.

Now he reckons he could be a Champion Hurdle horse.

[ComplyOrDie]

Monmiral is the one that Nicholls has the highest hopes for COD. I suspect he was probably the best juvenile last season, and I'd love to know what the intention is this season. As a very lightly raced 3/4 year old last season, this season will be a tricky one whatever they decide to do. He's bought him as a future chaser, but I suspect he'll have a relativley low key season over hurdles, and he won't be necessarily one to follow until the following season.

Does anyone know if the intention is to go chasing or stay hurdling this season?

Yeah, I have no doubt, and have Monmiral covered at 40/1 for the Arkle. I was more thinking outside the box, given Monmiral & Bravemansgame are both short enough now anyway.

We usually end up with one or two surprise packages and it wouldn't surprise me if Flash Collonges was one of them TBH. Nicholls has a strong enough looking novice chase team this season for sure.