Cheltenham Festival 2021 - Horses Targets/Trainer Quotes

[Saxon Warrior]

Farouk D'alene also .. S.W.

Both entered for Down Royal this Friday.

[Jorvik]

Not news I don't think but Jason The Militant owner says on twitter that he'll be staying over hurdles this year, fences "possibly next year".

[Jorvik]

Cedarwood Road due out at Naas in the 2m 3f beginners chase on Nov 21st.

https://www.irishracing.com/news?prid=213013

O’Loughlin said: “He’s coming along fine and I’m hoping to start him off in a two-mile-three beginners (chase) in Naas on November 21.

“He’s a soft ground horse. Up to a few weeks ago we would have been thinking about starting him off over two miles, but the more we go on with him, we feel he’ll get a trip no problem.

“He’s doing everything right and is schooling over fences very well. The only thing is I’ve a small yard and he might come on for the run as we’ve no schooling races here at the moment and we can’t get into any of the racecourses after racing.

“We’re all a bit stuck for a racecourse gallop at the moment, but we’re trying our best.”

[nortonscoin200]

Cedarwood Road due out at Naas in the 2m 3f beginners chase on Nov 21st.

https://www.irishracing.com/news?prid=213013

O’Loughlin said: “He’s coming along fine and I’m hoping to start him off in a two-mile-three beginners (chase) in Naas on November 21.

“He’s a soft ground horse. Up to a few weeks ago we would have been thinking about starting him off over two miles, but the more we go on with him, we feel he’ll get a trip no problem.

“He’s doing everything right and is schooling over fences very well. The only thing is I’ve a small yard and he might come on for the run as we’ve no schooling races here at the moment and we can’t get into any of the racecourses after racing.

“We’re all a bit stuck for a racecourse gallop at the moment, but we’re trying our best.”

Love to see him have 3 prep runs and then turn up in the Brown Advisory off a mark of around 140.

[Birds Nest]

Noel Meado on wednesday, he said: "Diol Ker is ok. (Jockey) Sean (Flanagan) felt he was just too fresh.

"He'd been jumping very well at home. He's a nice horse - he beat Willie's who won the three-miler at Cheltenham (Monkfish) on his only run last season and then had a small setback.

"I've always thought jumping fences would suit him better, but that was a bad way to start. Because of covid, you can't take them to a track to school - which is a shame.

"He wants a trip. I'd be hoping he'll be running in the three-miler at Cheltenham by the end of the season."

[Kevloaf]

Noel Meado on wednesday, he said: "Diol Ker is ok. (Jockey) Sean (Flanagan) felt he was just too fresh.

"He'd been jumping very well at home. He's a nice horse - he beat Willie's who won the three-miler at Cheltenham (Monkfish) on his only run last season and then had a small setback.

"I've always thought jumping fences would suit him better, but that was a bad way to start. Because of covid, you can't take them to a track to school - which is a shame.

"He wants a trip. I'd be hoping he'll be running in the three-miler at Cheltenham by the end of the season."

Good to hear that the RSA is the aim .... but always been a horse priced up for the RSA with no juice. Assuming he's still better than Monkfish is dangerous and whilst double the price, it's not as appealing as it could be.

[JackieMoon33]

Good to hear that the RSA is the aim .... but always been a horse priced up for the RSA with no juice. Assuming he's still better than Monkfish is dangerous and whilst double the price, it's not as appealing as it could be.

The horse could be better than Monkfish but the trainer isn’t better than Willie Mullins

[Outlaw]

Skelton post race on Roksana just worth bearing in mind.
"Roksana is magic and I'm delighted with her. She had the mares' allowance and Lisnagar Oscar gave us a lot. We're under no illusions how much those are going to improve as the season progresses and we'll let them scrap it out in the Long Distance Hurdle and perhaps go to the Long Walk. We got drawn down the mares' route last year and she ran well when defending her Mares' Hurdle crown, but there's every possibility that she could miss Cheltenham and go to Aintree in the spring" - Dan Skelton, trainer.

[Saxon Warrior]

I think that suggests he wishes he had gone 3M and not the Mares last year.

I think it sounds like 3M this season, the Long Walk next, and depending how that goes, then a definitive decision on the Stayers Hurdle.

[kinloch brae]

Cedarwood Road due out at Naas in the 2m 3f beginners chase on Nov 21st.

https://www.irishracing.com/news?prid=213013

O’Loughlin said: “He’s coming along fine and I’m hoping to start him off in a two-mile-three beginners (chase) in Naas on November 21.

“He’s a soft ground horse. Up to a few weeks ago we would have been thinking about starting him off over two miles, but the more we go on with him, we feel he’ll get a trip no problem.

“He’s doing everything right and is schooling over fences very well. The only thing is I’ve a small yard and he might come on for the run as we’ve no schooling races here at the moment and we can’t get into any of the racecourses after racing.

“We’re all a bit stuck for a racecourse gallop at the moment, but we’re trying our best.”

That's a shame as I see him as an Arkle horse, and a lot better than a handicapper. He has already won the equivalent of a Grade 3.

The minimum trip was no issue last year and they rode him for pace. What has changed?

If he goes up in trip does he play the game of avoiding Envoi Allen? If the step up in trip doesn't work then obviously they could drop back but not good news doing that off a negative. A stiff two miles would have been an ideal starting point. If that didn't work then you have an excuse to step up in trip.

If he is going to need the run all the more reason not to start over the longer trip.

[charlie]

That's a shame as I see him as an Arkle horse, and a lot better than a handicapper. He has already won the equivalent of a Grade 3.

The minimum trip was no issue last year and they rode him for pace. What has changed?

If he goes up in trip does he play the game of avoiding Envoi Allen? If the step up in trip doesn't work then obviously they could drop back but not good news doing that off a negative. A stiff two miles would have been an ideal starting point. If that didn't work then you have an excuse to step up in trip.

I wouldn't give up all hope for an Arkle. Seeing out 2m3f strongly can be a massive asset in the Arkle up that hill

[kinloch brae]

I wouldn't give up all hope for an Arkle. Seeing out 2m3f strongly can be a massive asset in the Arkle up that hill

I haven't and as we all know it is perfectly possible that trainers make mistakes. My main concern from this would be the idea that he has somehow got slower over the last few months. Last year he was an outsider for the Supreme, there was no discussion of the longer distance. My bets are so small I don't need to be rushing to cash out.

[Lobos]

Honest Vic likely to run in Long Distance Hurdle next so the Stayers could be his ultimate aim.

[ComplyOrDie]

Honest Vic likely to run in Long Distance Hurdle next so the Stayers could be his ultimate aim.

Big price at 50/1, and wouldn't be too dissimilar to how Paisley Park & Lisnagar Oscar both started their respective seasons, as handicappers.

[kinloch brae]

I haven't and as we all know it is perfectly possible that trainers make mistakes. My main concern from this would be the idea that he has somehow got slower over the last few months. Last year he was an outsider for the Supreme, there was no discussion of the longer distance. My bets are so small I don't need to be rushing to cash out.

Couple of other reasons why this doesn't add up. There is a pretty good chance they could secure Davy Russell for the Arkle and then there is the owner's own history with Klairon Davis.