2022 Handicaps

[Spectre]

Or the Martin Pipe again.

Up 5lbs for the 2nd, managable!

And beaten by a horse that would have won every renewal since it started.

[Spectre]

He’s one I’m keeping an eye on too. What are his options this year? Another crack at the GA?

I'm hoping he's kept at two miles to manage his mark and he's stepped up in trip (which I'm sure he needs now), to win the Plate.

[Lobos]

He’s one I’m keeping an eye on too. What are his options this year? Another crack at the GA?

He's currently off the same rating so every chance he'll have another crack at it. Lots can happen between now and then though.

[charlie]

As a well tried 5yo that's produced two zeros at Cheltenham it's not the most inspiring choice, but I've added A Wave Of The Sea @ 22/1 TWAR with Hills. I thought he ran really well the other day over 3m, and were it not for a poor jump at the second last he would have been bang there. He screams a horse that will want a trip and I think he'll be a piece of piss to smuggle into Cheltenham with a handy mark of under 145. Wouldn't be remotely surprised if JOB's team didn't have one eye on the Kim Muir already.

[ToniC]

As a well tried 5yo that's produced two zeros at Cheltenham it's not the most inspiring choice, but I've added A Wave Of The Sea @ 22/1 TWAR with Hills. I thought he ran really well the other day over 3m, and were it not for a poor jump at the second last he would have been bang there. He screams a horse that will want a trip and I think he'll be a piece of piss to smuggle into Cheltenham with a handy mark of under 145. Wouldn't be remotely surprised if JOB's team didn't have one eye on the Kim Muir already.

like it mate… promised myself I wouldn’t back anything for the handicaps pre-2022… TWAR doesn’t count though, right?

[charlie]

like it mate… promised myself I wouldn’t back anything for the handicaps pre-2022… TWAR doesn’t count though, right?

You've nailed it in one mate

[ComplyOrDie]

I'd imagine, like myself, many on here have a whole host of horses written down as potentials for handicaps, and just wondered if anyone had any they would like to share that they are keeping tabs on for a handicap at the 2022 festival, what they are and why? Obviously no point me asking this if I'm not going to start, so mine are as follows:

Palmers Hill (Jonjo O'Neill) - Came out of his P2P's with a fairly lofty reputation (possibly cost a fair bit too?) and was fairly consistent over hurdles during his novice campaign with form figures of 1-4-3-1-2, before being sent out in a novice handicap chase having to carry 12st 2lbs, which, IMO, was a ridiculous ask of a horse who hadn't seen a fence in public, and almost jumped like he hadn't schooled a whole heap at home either. I think this was part of a longer term plan though, as running in a handicap he was allocated a handicap chase mark of 132 after that run, 5lbs below his then hurdles mark. He was then switched back to hurdles for the remainder of the season, ending it by finishing a running on 9th of 26 in the Coral Cup, 14 lengths behind Heaven Help Us at the Cheltenham Festival. He has also won at the course already in his first handicap hurdle run which would be a plus. On to the season ahead, and I'm hoping they go chasing with him, I think he was made for chasing, and as the usual saying goes 'anything he done over hurdles was a bonus'. Jonjo O'Neill sure knows how to get one ready for a handicap and especially the Ultima, which I believe could be his main target, having won it previously with Wichita Lineman, Alfie Sherrin & Holywell, two of the three also owned by JP McManus, as is Palmers Hill, and alongside David Pipe is the most successful trainer in the race since the turn of the millennium. I was going to request a 'any race' price but I'll hold out for an entry so that I know fences are the plan for him, as there is a small possibility that he remains over hurdles and something like the Pertemps ends up his target, though I find this less likely. Another likely target could be the Kim Muir, so this is worth bearing in mind.

Floueur (Joseph O'Brien) - A very successful start to life over hurdles in France, winning both of his starts before being purchased by Michael Grech and sent to Gordon Elliott. He won on his first start for Gordon over 2m 2f, then upped markedly in trip to 3m in the G3 at Punchestown where finishing an OK 3rd of 8. The following season he was then sent chasing which was a bit of a disaster, being well beat in his two attempts, and so a return to hurdles it was, where he ran respectably twice over 2m 4f (once for Gordon before moving to Joseph) including in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival, finishing a never nearer 3rd of 22. That day he looked as though a step up in trip would suit, which he was given at the Punchestown festival, but was PU over 3m, which for me I can forgive as he never looked to travel that well, and it was off the back of a very good run at Cheltenham which may have taken its toll. For the future ahead it remains to be seen whether they try fences again, though personally I imagine he'll be primed for handicap hurdle pop at the Cheltenham Festival again, as for the race, possibly the extra furlong of the Coral Cup, or most likely, IMO, the Pertemps, would be my guesses.

Fakiera (Gordon Elliott) - Been a model of consistency for connections over hurdles so far with form figures of 2-2-2-1-1-2-4-0, but with the exception of his Albert Bartlett run, the obviously blot on that form, at this years festival. There have been horses that have come back from a poor run in the Albert Bartlett to run well at the following seasons festival, so this I am forgiving him. I don't think it was the course that done him, given how well he ran at Leopardstown which also has a stiff finish, I just think it was an off day, maybe by design He's not a massive horse, similar frame to another of Gordons in The Bosses Oscar, and following his route is what I am expecting him to take. I do believe Fakiera will be campaigned as one of Gordons main Pertemps Handicap Hurdle hopes for the season ahead. That said, the possibility he could also come back in trip given his performances around the intermediate trip also. Not priced up in the TWAR market yet, but may see if someone can request this.


Well they are 3 of a big list that I am looking at currently for handicaps, will look forward to see what others have to share, don't be shy

[ToniC]

I'd imagine, like myself, many on here have a whole host of horses written down as potentials for handicaps, and just wondered if anyone had any they would like to share that they are keeping tabs on for a handicap at the 2022 festival, what they are and why? Obviously no point me asking this if I'm not going to start, so mine are as follows:

Well they are 3 of a big list that I am looking at currently for handicaps, will look forward to see what others have to share, don't be shy

Nice write up COD. Very much agree with you on Floeueur in particular (can never master tha spelling of that one ). I’ve a few in mind myself, which I will post below:

Two I’ll group together are 2 Mullins juveniles from last season, coincidentally both in the same ownership, French Aseel & Haut En Colours. French Aseel is a bit of an enigma having only had the one run, which itself has been subject of a lot of debate around just how good it actually was, whilst haut en colours was undeniably very impressive in the triumph hurdle, even more so considering it was his first start for the yard, so the decent Cheltenham form is already there as a + for him. Both of these will be hard to place next season as 5 year olds, probably not ready for the championship hurdle divisions at this stage and I could see them lining up in a handicap, maybe the coral cup but I’d say more likely the county hurdle, where Mullins sends a lot of second season hurdlers and has achieved 2 wins and 4 places with 5 year olds in that race since 2010. It will be interesting to see how they are campaigned but both could potentially be well off with the handicapper come March.

One id like to see line up in a handicap chase in March is conflated, missed the festival last year before underperforming at fairyhouse where he looked like he hated the track, he just look to me like a horse that’s got a performance in him a good 10lbs + better than his rating sooner or later, although that may not come at Cheltenham given they swerved the festival with him last season and he was a well backed fav for the Kerry national before unseating last week.

[Hardy Eustace]

Nice work gents.

I am sure he is on many people's radar but I am confident there is a big handicap chase in third time lucki next year he travelled beautifully into the county and battled on well. Fences should bring out more improvement and he would look perfect for the Grand Annual.

He's not the only one from that race on my watch list. I think both Milkwood and Edwardstone will make nice chasers and think there is a big pot in both of them at some point - even if it is not at the festival.

Gentleman de mee is another I think has a big handicap in him, he has to be better than he showed in the pipe where he was just way too keen, I am looking forward to seeing which route he takes this year.

[JackieMoon33]

Gordon recently purchased Forged In Fire from the Gigginstown dispersal. I’m not entirely confident that he’ll do anything but he’s one I’ll keep an eye on. His only real performance was in a bumper when he beat some nice types but he did nothing over hurdles before winning a poor novice chase over the summer. He’s not a sexy type and is off the bridle early but he does find a bit. He has a nice jumping pedigree and related to some decent types so fences could be the making of him. I think he’ll need to go up in distance so it’s 3m+ that would interest me I think. There is a strong possibility he’s just a monkey and will never amount to much, but he had a big rep early in his career and Gordon can often turn horses around.

[Craigy14]

Duffle Coat is the one I’m keeping an eye on, sure a few will be the same. Will all depend if they want to aim higher than Graded level but juveniles tend to struggle going into open company.

Picked up an injury but was 4/4 before that, hammering the Triumph second by 5 lengths at Cheltenham no less. Has had 2 runs on the flat this summer, the second much improved from the first. He’s currently rated 143 which will be UK I’m sure, so likely some room in that mark too. He could definitely be Graded class in a handicap imo.

[Faugheen_Machine]

Duffle Coat is the one I’m keeping an eye on, sure a few will be the same. Will all depend if they want to aim higher than Graded level but juveniles tend to struggle going into open company.

Picked up an injury but was 4/4 before that, hammering the Triumph second by 5 lengths at Cheltenham no less. Has had 2 runs on the flat this summer, the second much improved from the first. He’s currently rated 143 which will be UK I’m sure, so likely some room in that mark too. He could definitely be Graded class in a handicap imo.

Pertemps would be nice. Gordon has won it before with a 5yr old.

[Craigy14]

Pertemps would be nice. Gordon has won it before with a 5yr old.

Exactly what I was thinking FM , with TBB looking like chasing, no Cooper on board to blow the mark of his main Pertemps runner this year please

[Faugheen_Machine]

Exactly what I was thinking FM , with TBB looking like chasing, no Cooper on board to blow the mark of his main Pertemps runner this year please

I really like this, probably more than I should in September

[Lobos]

Pertemps would be nice. Gordon has won it before with a 5yr old.

Love that horse. Proper Cheltenham battler. Eats the hill for breakfast. Good shout.