2022 Handicaps

[Hurdles or chasing]

I like the entry of Folcano in The Pertemps qualifier on Sunday for the main man.

[Fouroverthrutwo]

I like the entry of Folcano in The Pertemps qualifier on Sunday for the main man.

He's already on my watch list!!

[Eggs]

I like the entry of Folcano in The Pertemps qualifier on Sunday for the main man.

….22-1 (with boost) in Hills a/r market.

[Fouroverthrutwo]

One more for consideration. Buddy Rich. He has been allotted a new handicap mark of 138 in Ireland which, with a bit of UK inflation would probably work out to 142/143. He ran a good race against Third Time Lucki at Cheltenham so has course form. Davy wasn't hard on him that day and he finished 16l clear of the third horse (Any News) who runs tomorrow at Exeter. Buddy Rich then went on to beat Ballyadam on Sunday to earn this new handicap mark. He has an entry in a grade 2 novice chase at Punchestown on Saturday but I suspect he may not take up this engagement. I'm sure I read that Gordon will be giving him a few months off as he doesn't need deep winter ground. Initial thoughts are that he could be a horse for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase but I'd be interested to hear anyone's thoughts on him.

[Halffat1]

I see Coconut Splash was mentioned by a few earlier in this thread and he is declared in a 2m 3f handicap at Exeter tomorrow.

[Odin]

I see Coconut Splash was mentioned by a few earlier in this thread and he is declared in a 2m 3f handicap at Exeter tomorrow.

In Evan Williams stable tour, he says they ran out of time to get a run before the paddy power. Wonder if they will aim at the December equivalent now?

[Native River]

In Evan Williams stable tour, he says they ran out of time to get a run before the paddy power. Wonder if they will aim at the December equivalent now?

You might be right, there's no way they aren't lining him up for a big one when you look at how little effort there was to win today. It surely has to be December at Cheltenham now or wait until the festival and go mental in the PP Plate or Ultima

[JamieSensible]

One more for consideration. Buddy Rich. He has been allotted a new handicap mark of 138 in Ireland which, with a bit of UK inflation would probably work out to 142/143. He ran a good race against Third Time Lucki at Cheltenham so has course form. Davy wasn't hard on him that day and he finished 16l clear of the third horse (Any News) who runs tomorrow at Exeter. Buddy Rich then went on to beat Ballyadam on Sunday to earn this new handicap mark. He has an entry in a grade 2 novice chase at Punchestown on Saturday but I suspect he may not take up this engagement. I'm sure I read that Gordon will be giving him a few months off as he doesn't need deep winter ground. Initial thoughts are that he could be a horse for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase but I'd be interested to hear anyone's thoughts on him.

I'm with you on this one, as soon as handicaps come out ill be having a punt. Definitely a handicapper, Ballyadam has completely lost his way so he isn't graded horse by any stretch

[Heap]

One more for consideration. Buddy Rich. He has been allotted a new handicap mark of 138 in Ireland which, with a bit of UK inflation would probably work out to 142/143. He ran a good race against Third Time Lucki at Cheltenham so has course form. Davy wasn't hard on him that day and he finished 16l clear of the third horse (Any News) who runs tomorrow at Exeter. Buddy Rich then went on to beat Ballyadam on Sunday to earn this new handicap mark. He has an entry in a grade 2 novice chase at Punchestown on Saturday but I suspect he may not take up this engagement. I'm sure I read that Gordon will be giving him a few months off as he doesn't need deep winter ground. Initial thoughts are that he could be a horse for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase but I'd be interested to hear anyone's thoughts on him.

Like the idea of this, enjoyed watching his run against Ballyadam who albeit didn't appear too comfortable - can't imagine Buddy Rich will be turning up for this weekend entry as you say. So fingers crossed!

[jack1092]

One more for consideration. Buddy Rich. He has been allotted a new handicap mark of 138 in Ireland which, with a bit of UK inflation would probably work out to 142/143. He ran a good race against Third Time Lucki at Cheltenham so has course form. Davy wasn't hard on him that day and he finished 16l clear of the third horse (Any News) who runs tomorrow at Exeter. Buddy Rich then went on to beat Ballyadam on Sunday to earn this new handicap mark. He has an entry in a grade 2 novice chase at Punchestown on Saturday but I suspect he may not take up this engagement. I'm sure I read that Gordon will be giving him a few months off as he doesn't need deep winter ground. Initial thoughts are that he could be a horse for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase but I'd be interested to hear anyone's thoughts on him.

Lukewarm on this one.

Ballyadam is 148 over hurdles in Britain, and we know how they like to basically rate their chasers as hurdlers. Along with Third Time Lucki winning this weekend potentially + receiving a 150+ mark i could see him being hit more than 142/143 in time.
Don't think he was winning that chase either without the Wide Receiver fall- basically i don't rate him lol.

[ComplyOrDie]

I think Gordo entering Fancy Foundations for tomorrow, although now not running, should be noted. Given a rating of 137 by the BHA h'capper, he'll be able to work from that.

Where he ends up at the festival is anyones guess, but I wouldn't rule out a step up in trip at some point. I've backed him 'any race' already, and would be inclined to go in again as we get closer to the festival.

[OscarWhisky]

Indeed CoD, particularly given he may have got close to horses rated far higher than him? Playing the longer game I reckon as there was definite prize money to pick up….

[Odin]

but I wouldn't rule out a step up in trip at some point.

If he makes it to the festival, given his mark, I'd suggest this is an almost certainty - he's massively on my radar given how well he was travelling last time when he came down.

[ComplyOrDie]

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.

Operation Ultima/Kim Muir starts on Saturday for this one. Not sure what to expect over a trip too short.

I won't back him on Saturday or for the festival prior to the run so I'm definitely hoping he doesn't win, and it's more of an educational run. He'll definitely need stepping up in distance as the season progresses but I'm expecting a fairly busy campaign for him prior to the festival from this point onwards, at least 3 or 4 runs over fences before March.

[Winging The Last]

Commander of Fleet & Dallas Des Pictos declared in the Pertemps qualifier on Sunday. Elliott has declared another 5