General Chat

[darlojim]

Still not quite sure of forum etiquette regarding starting a thread so i'll have a go here. If you had to pick 3 festival bankers at this point (feel free to make it a top 5 if you wish) and rank them in order of preference, how would you go? For me Epatante stormed to the front of the list today. This wont be the most groundbreaking of subjects ever but i'm curious. I have:

1. Epatante
2. Envoi Allen
3. Shiskin

them 3 all win and im on for a very tasty 300 pt return so fingers crossed!

[Istabraq]

Still not quite sure of forum etiquette regarding starting a thread so i'll have a go here. If you had to pick 3 festival bankers at this point (feel free to make it a top 5 if you wish) and rank them in order of preference, how would you go? For me Epatante stormed to the front of the list today. This wont be the most groundbreaking of subjects ever but i'm curious. I have:

1. Epatante
2. Envoi Allen
3. Shiskin

At various stages of the year a new thread appears asking that very question so feel free to set up a new thread so you can track discussion as it will get lost in a ‘general’ thread....

[charlie]

Still not quite sure of forum etiquette regarding starting a thread so i'll have a go here. If you had to pick 3 festival bankers at this point (feel free to make it a top 5 if you wish) and rank them in order of preference, how would you go? For me Epatante stormed to the front of the list today. This wont be the most groundbreaking of subjects ever but i'm curious. I have:

1. Epatante
2. Envoi Allen
3. Shiskin

1. Shishkin (because the Arkle division doesn't look particularly deep, and favourites have an awesome record in the last 10 years in the Arkle)
2. Envoi Allen (because I suspect the Marsh will end up being a lot deeper than the Arkle, and he doesn't do a ton out in front)
3. Epatante (will be the most competitive race of the three IMO, and unlike EA and Shishkin if I am being picky, she has been beaten at Cheltenham - splitting hairs)

ps. I think you picked the right place to put this

[Faugheen_Machine]

1. Shishkin (because the Arkle division doesn't look particularly deep, and favourites have an awesome record in the last 10 years in the Arkle)
2. Envoi Allen (because I suspect the Marsh will end up being a lot deeper than the Arkle, and he doesn't do a ton out in front)
3. Epatante (will be the most competitive race of the three IMO, and unlike EA and Shishkin if I am being picky, she has been beaten at Cheltenham - splitting hairs)

ps. I think you picked the right place to put this

Same order for me and for the same reasons

[charlie]

Same order for me and for the same reasons

Great minds eh FM

[Garrison Savannah]

Mares Hurdle - Honeysuckle
Champion Chase - Altior
Marsh - Envoi Allen

[Jorvik]

them 3 all win and im on for a very tasty 300 pt return so fingers crossed!

I spend a good bit of time in Darlo Mr JIm, if it comes in were all down the Navy Club!

[darlojim]

I spend a good bit of time in Darlo Mr JIm, if it comes in were all down the Navy Club!

[Quevega]

1. Shishkin (because the Arkle division doesn't look particularly deep, and favourites have an awesome record in the last 10 years in the Arkle)
2. Envoi Allen (because I suspect the Marsh will end up being a lot deeper than the Arkle, and he doesn't do a ton out in front)
3. Epatante (will be the most competitive race of the three IMO, and unlike EA and Shishkin if I am being picky, she has been beaten at Cheltenham - splitting hairs)

ps. I think you picked the right place to put this

I'm not going to argue the toss over the 1,2,3.
They all look very strong favourites.

But, how come you don't think the arkle looks particularly deep ?

It will thin out as they take each other on as the season progresses, but almost all the potentially good chasers over this trip have been impressive on debut.

I think Shishkin will have a very easy time of it over here as there is nothing that should trouble him, the closest would be Eldorado Allen & Gumball. But they really ought to be brushed aside. They may be the only ones to really have a go against him also.

But at the moment the arkle picture in Ireland looks very deep IMO. If one of these emerges as clear best then I'd say they'll have proven more than Shishkin will by the time the arkle comes around. They'll certainly have been tested more, unless Henderson does go into open company in his last prep.

You have Klassical Dream & Elixir Dainay to come out. So the jury is waiting on them.

Easywork, who I'd like to see over 2 miles again, probably won't end up in the arkle. But Elliot may be tempted to have a go, and let Envoi win his Marsh chase. This would depend on how Elliot's stayers progress of course. But, for example if Monkfish slams Easywork at some point then Gordon may just think about the arkle.

Then you have Energumene, Unexcepted, Janidil, Blackbow, Felix Desjy, who have all looked very sharp novice chasers. So there is depth in Ireland and most have things in there favour, whether that be hurdles form or them simply just being deigned for chasing.

It would be better if most were not with the same trainers, as we may continue to see the 'after you' 'no sir, after you' declarations from Gordon & Willie until it really matters.

[Garrison Savannah]

Great post. To declare Shiskin the winner after one run against poor opposition, and when others have yet to show their hand is premature.

I’m not suggesting anyone has by the way, just explaining why Shiskin isn’t currently in my top 3.

[charlie]

Great post. To declare Shiskin the winner after one run against poor opposition, and when others have yet to show their hand is premature.

I’m not suggesting anyone has by the way, just explaining why Shiskin isn’t currently in my top 3.

Haha. It's the 28th November and the OP has listed 3 'bankers' and asked for order of preference - where have I declared Shishkin the winner?? I haven't.

Shishkin hasn't been properly tested yet, nor has Envoi Allen, and Epatante won today the way an odds on shot should. Think your reading too much into it pal, it's just a question

I like the word's 'premature' and 'Shishkin' used in the same sentence - gives me another opportunity to shamelessly reference how I was the one 'prematurely' hoovering up the 40's and 36's about Shishkin this time last year, fun times eh

PS. Read the Arkle thread, I'm one of the few people not on Shishkin.

[Garrison Savannah]

Think you should re-read my post Charlie !

[Nortons who]

At this stage I would be going for :
# Ferny Hollow (Supreme) - For me, visually his last two runs (the Bumper) and recent hurdles debut have been as impressive as you could reasonably expect and both against some quality opposition (Bob Ollinger is no mug).
# Thyme Hill (Stayers Hurdle) - strange race yesterday but Richard Johnson always had Thyme Hill in the right place. I still think he should have won the AB in March and the form of that race seems to be working out pretty well so far.
# Sir Gerhard (Bumper) - I think something exceptional is going to have to come along to trouble SG.

As commented by others, although Envoi Allen, Shiskin and Epatante have looked extremely good, what have they actually beaten so far this season. Of the 3, Epatante as reigning CH winner probably has the strongest credentials but she might also have the most robust challengers. Don't get me wrong, I have backed all 3 as long ago as March and in numerous doubles ( so I hope they all romp home leaving everything else far behind) but to date none of them have convinced me yet that thay are rock solid bankers.

[charlie]

Think you should re-read my post Charlie !

Fair enough, I may have missed your second sentence

Any excuse to after-time Shishkin

[Kevloaf]

Still not quite sure of forum etiquette regarding starting a thread so i'll have a go here. If you had to pick 3 festival bankers at this point (feel free to make it a top 5 if you wish) and rank them in order of preference, how would you go? For me Epatante stormed to the front of the list today. This wont be the most groundbreaking of subjects ever but i'm curious. I have:

1. Epatante
2. Envoi Allen
3. Shiskin

You could start a thread for this boss, I think it'd be popular enough to warrant....


However,

The 3 bankers are


1. Benie Des Certainty - Mares CHASE - inaugural running will be won by Willie, he's got numerous horses to take on the Mares Hurdle, including Concerista who won easily today. BDD is gonna turn up in the race she has the best chance in, and thats the Mares Chase, at odds on! All in. With zero competition.

2. Envoi Allen - unlucky not to be first, head and shoulders above anything as a novice chaser. He's the closest thing we have to a new Kauto Star, with genuine potential to usurp him. The only reason he's second in my list, is that he's a novice so might make a mistake.

3. Easysland - Whilst I watched and was impressed by Epatante, her task is still more unknown than Easyslands. His main (and only) rival flopped massively in Tiger Roll. Easysland absolutely fucking walloped the rest of the field last year, and off of level weights he can't be beaten bar a fall.







Shishkin will lose to the Irish,
Epatante will lose to the Irish.