2022 Arkle

[Zachx02]

They may end up giving the ride on Blue Lord to Jacob to give him a nice ride for his first ride back perhaps? Meaning Willie would be sending multiple here

[Middle_Of_March]

Decided Haut En Couleurs @ 7/1 NRNB is the play. No idea where his ceiling might be, but I think he could be top class. His Triumph run was mustard, finishing a close 3rd posting at RPR of 146. It took Edwardstone 6 runs over hurdles to run to that kind of level and HEC achieved this at Cheltenham on debut. The fact he even found himself there under those circumstances tells us they think he is very very good. It's a shame he fell LTO, it was a real blow, but he was well supported, going off at slightly longer odds than Blue Lord. I can understand why. He posted an RPR of 153 on debut (same as Edwardstone) and looked really good. After the race Willie said Mt Leinster set a fair pace and had two good horses in behind. I think Haut En Couleurs looks like Arkle material and maybe Gentleman De Mee as well. I think both will improve for the run, I know Gentleman De Mee had a run but certainly Haut En Couleurs is going to improve. Willie was right about Gentleman De Mee who has improved and won twice easily since, and he looks like a 150's horse IMO. HEC brushed aside Gentleman De Mee with relative ease and I think HEC is easily capable of running to a 160+ level. Ferny would be even money right now were he fit and he ran to an RPR of 147 on hurdles debut and 152 over fences. HEC ran to an RPR of 146 on hurdles debut and 153 over fences. He's on an upward trajectory and I think at the prices he's the play. Edwardstone hasn't done much wrong, I just don't think the form here is worth much and he's way too short and has a tenancy not to post 1's, 2's and 3's when the Irish and/or big festivals are introduced (form 565). Blue Lord is in the book but he could be too keen and his jumping was a bit iffy LTO. RDT looks solid but she'll have less of a weight swing and I think she could very well cut her own throat in a battle up front with For Pleasure. That will set the race up perfectly for a closer and I think that could be HEC.

Sitting on some mighty prices about Blue Lord so have always known I’ll be covering one or two more here but it’s only ended up being the 7s NRNB about Haut En Couleurs for me too.

I’m just not having Alan King winning and Arkle with a horse beaten multiple times last year as a handicap hurdler. Ok he’s clearly improved for a fence but these English 2m races for novices are just poor. That grade 1 at Sandown on horrendous ground is not going to be form good enough to beat the Irish. If Edwardstone wins an Arkle, I’ll be shocked. And almost to a level disappointed that he’s the cream of this years crop.

But as for HEC, I totally agree that he’s worth chancing in a likely sub par renewal. That triumph run was very good and his debut was pretty good this year over fences as well I’d say. It’s potential over form but that’s why he’s 7/1. My gut tells me if anything is good enough to place in a champion chase the year after in this, it’ll have to be from HEC.

[Middle_Of_March]

They may end up giving the ride on Blue Lord to Jacob to give him a nice ride for his first ride back perhaps? Meaning Willie would be sending multiple here

I’d be stunned if Townsend isn’t on board the Mullins fav in an Arkle.

[Middle_Of_March]

What do we reckon the market will be at the SP for this?

I think there’s not a hope in hell BL doesn’t go off fav. The Irish on course will steam into him and I reckon he goes off sub 2/1. And I expect Edwardstone to drift like a barge.

For arguments sake, let’s assume good to soft. At a guess:

15/8 Blue Lord
4/1 Edwardstone
9/2 Haut En Couleurs
13/2 Rivere Detel
9/1 Saint Sam
10/1 Bar

[DenmanSacre]

What do we reckon the market will be at the SP for this?

I think there’s not a hope in hell BL doesn’t go off fav. The Irish on course will steam into him and I reckon he goes off sub 2/1. And I expect Edwardstone to drift like a barge.

For arguments sake, let’s assume good to soft. At a guess:

15/8 Blue Lord
4/1 Edwardstone
9/2 Haut En Couleurs
13/2 Rivere Detel
9/1 Saint Sam
10/1 Bar

Riviere too high and HEC too low. I'd love if the mare did get as high as 13/2 as I'd add a bit more each way.

Saint Sam maybe too high as well.

Will the casuals get on HEC seeing a fall LTO in his form?

[Lobos]

We all know a 33/1 shot wins this. Set up for it.

[FinalFurlong91]

What do we reckon the market will be at the SP for this?

I think there’s not a hope in hell BL doesn’t go off fav. The Irish on course will steam into him and I reckon he goes off sub 2/1. And I expect Edwardstone to drift like a barge.

For arguments sake, let’s assume good to soft. At a guess:

15/8 Blue Lord
4/1 Edwardstone
9/2 Haut En Couleurs
13/2 Rivere Detel
9/1 Saint Sam
10/1 Bar

How much can I have on riviere detel e/w at 13/2 hahaha

[Geegees]

What do we reckon the market will be at the SP for this?

I think there’s not a hope in hell BL doesn’t go off fav. The Irish on course will steam into him and I reckon he goes off sub 2/1. And I expect Edwardstone to drift like a barge.

For arguments sake, let’s assume good to soft. At a guess:

15/8 Blue Lord
4/1 Edwardstone
9/2 Haut En Couleurs
13/2 Rivere Detel
9/1 Saint Sam
10/1 Bar

No chance rivere d’etel goes off 13/2

[robith]

We all know a 33/1 shot wins this. Set up for it.

Increasingly my feeling Lobos.

Youd be a poor man backing on vibes....but its the vibe

[Silverbirch]

This is purely a question.
Do we think all is well with HEC and SS?
Barely a mention in recent tours, the cementing of GDC in the turners aswell whereas naturally one of them would step up.

[Liammet]

This is purely a question.
Do we think all is well with HEC and SS?
Barely a mention in recent tours, the cementing of GDC in the turners aswell whereas naturally one of them would step up.

Does anyone think he is gone chasing with them a year too early ?

Difficult enough for five year old horses over hurdles

Asking an awful lot for novice chasers

[Istabraq]

Does anyone think he is gone chasing with them a year too early ?

Difficult enough for five year old horses over hurdles

Asking an awful lot for novice chasers

French horses are broken earlier, the NH bred horses are jumping brush hurdles at 2 and fences at 3 so whilst 5 is a young age for UK/Ire bred horses the French would be far more mature and experienced…

[Liammet]

French horses are broken earlier, the NH bred horses are jumping brush hurdles at 2 and fences at 3 so whilst 5 is a young age for UK/Ire bred horses the French would be far more mature and experienced…

Yeah fair enough with the French bred ones Ista

I just don’t see either of them as champion chase material next year although they could progress

also, I see it as a big negative going into a novice chase with so little experience in the case of HEC

That could also be said for Bob and Galopin with only 2 runs each

[OverTheLast]

What do we reckon the market will be at the SP for this?

I think there’s not a hope in hell BL doesn’t go off fav. The Irish on course will steam into him and I reckon he goes off sub 2/1. And I expect Edwardstone to drift like a barge.

For arguments sake, let’s assume good to soft. At a guess:

15/8 Blue Lord
4/1 Edwardstone
9/2 Haut En Couleurs
13/2 Rivere Detel
9/1 Saint Sam
10/1 Bar

With such a gap between Blue Lord and the Mare, I’d have to ask did you watch DRF?

[Istabraq]

Magic Daze has been a bit of a steamer in this in recent days and continues to get positive mentions at the previews, could well end up 7s/8s…