General Chat

[Quevega]

Do they still need to finish in the first four of a race over 3 miles to qualify or has that gone now?

I haven't found anything about the race conditions officially, so if they are being brought out late (in Feb) you'd have to assume it's a No.
So that particular "welfare" element has been fucked off.

[Runragged]

I haven't found anything about the race conditions officially, so if they are being brought out late (in Feb) you'd have to assume it's a No.
So that particular "welfare" element has been fucked off.

Maybe less of a welfare issue if horses are ridden by professionals...

[Quevega]

Maybe less of a welfare issue if horses are ridden by professionals...

Amateurs still allowed though.

[Lobos]

Jeffrey's Cross looks like he's been found a good opportunity today. Any news from the FJ owners ?? Expect a few are at Chepstow so have a fab day !!

[Yosser]

Horses i have done money on but am yet to see :-

Jeroboam Machin
Minella Premier
Salvator Mundi
Gala Marceau
Kargese
Jalon D'oudaries
El Fabiolo
Kom Tu Vodras
Riskabahia
Il Etait Temps
Lulamba
Fou De Toi
Charlus

Ouch. You always start from a minus position doing books but could do with a flurry in the next 4 weeks. On the flip side. I have only lost 2 so far OFTS in Quantum Boy and (probably) Venusienne. It's usually the other way around. I reckon at least 5 of those listed horses won't make Cheltenham, a few maybe's and few waiting to come out. Who has been stung on anything else?

[Lobos]

You are not alone I'm sure Yosser. Plenty in a worse position than that I suspect!!

[Lobos]

Remember there can only be 28 winners so we all will have tons of losing bets.

[darlojim]

Horses i have done money on but am yet to see :-

Jeroboam Machin
Minella Premier
Salvator Mundi
Gala Marceau
Kargese
Jalon D'oudaries
El Fabiolo
Kom Tu Vodras
Riskabahia
Il Etait Temps
Lulamba
Fou De Toi
Charlus

Ouch. You always start from a minus position doing books but could do with a flurry in the next 4 weeks. On the flip side. I have only lost 2 so far OFTS in Quantum Boy and (probably) Venusienne. It's usually the other way around. I reckon at least 5 of those listed horses won't make Cheltenham, a few maybe's and few waiting to come out. Who has been stung on anything else?

On some of these

Gala Marceau - must be a real worry, no word on her from Moloney other day, and was expected to be back in late due to setback
Kargese - Waiting for the right race, so no injury issues with her
Jalon - Expected out in Jan IIRC Gordon said on the Xmas pod
El Fab - Again big worry with him
Kom Tu Voudras - No recent word on her
Riskabahia - Was due out over Xmas, don't believe she got entries? (someone may be able to clarify) so I'd say setback for her
IET - Again not ideal with a setback
Lulamba - Due out middle of the month
FDT - I'd say DRF or nothing for him
Charlus - Probably likewise now with him

Always the case with antepost though, thats why those with cashout are at huge advantages

FWIW - This year I've found 365 so much better for cashing out bad bets than PP.

[Yosser]

On some of these

Gala Marceau - must be a real worry, no word on her from Moloney other day, and was expected to be back in late due to setback
Kargese - Waiting for the right race, so no injury issues with her
Jalon - Expected out in Jan IIRC Gordon said on the Xmas pod
El Fab - Again big worry with him
Kom Tu Voudras - No recent word on her
Riskabahia - Was due out over Xmas, don't believe she got entries? (someone may be able to clarify) so I'd say setback for her
IET - Again not ideal with a setback
Lulamba - Due out middle of the month
FDT - I'd say DRF or nothing for him
Charlus - Probably likewise now with him

Always the case with antepost though, thats why those with cashout are at huge advantages

FWIW - This year I've found 365 so much better for cashing out bad bets than PP.

Riskabahia deffo not had an entry though Gala Marceau was entered in the Relkeel. Ricci was looking forward to seeing Riskabahia. It's still an exciting few weeks though. I love it. Just want to see Mundi and i am happy. The bookies can keep the rest if thats the forfeit

[Yosser]

You are not alone I'm sure Yosser. Plenty in a worse position than that I suspect!!

Probably the smoothest i have had. Missed a few i knew i should have got involved in though. Hello Neighbour will haunt me forever if he wins the Triumph.

[darlojim]

Riskabahia deffo not had an entry though Gala Marceau was entered in the Relkeel. Ricci was looking forward to seeing Riskabahia. It's still an exciting few weeks though. I love it. Just want to see Mundi and i am happy. The bookies can keep the rest if thats the forfeit

Ahhh yeah that entry in the relkeel went over my head! Would have been good to see her against that opposition aswell

[Lobos]

Probably the smoothest i have had. Missed a few i knew i should have got involved in though. Hello Neighbour will haunt me forever if he wins the Triumph.

One horse doesn't make or break a festival. If it does then you are doing things wrong. Everyone will finish the week thinking I should have done that or should have done this but that's par for the course. Just go with the flow , enjoy the week and let it all unfold.

[Yosser]

One horse doesn't make or break a festival. If it does then you are doing things wrong. Everyone will finish the week thinking I should have done that or should have done this but that's par for the course. Just go with the flow , enjoy the week and let it all unfold.

Oh i will, i will have won that much by that point (Friday) anyway i might just stick a ton on him and stick 2 fingers up at the telly

[archie]

The last time the midtrip Novice Hcap Chase was Run at Cheltenham in 2019, it was

* a closed 0-145 Hcap

* to run in the race, a novice was required to have run a minimum of 3 times in Chases, in GB, IRE and/or France, to be permitted to enter the race.

I would suggest that the NHC will be framed similarly.

With little chance of letting trainers enter/declare horses that have never ran in chases, and be allowed to run off their hurdles mark, in a 3M6F Novice Hcap Chase at the biggest NH meeting on the planet.

Far too important a meeting and race to take any risks with a 3M6F Novice Hcap Chase format.

The BHA admin site has this:

Confirmed entries with weights published on March 6th

Rating for qualification published

Declarations to run must be made by March 9th

TO CLOSE BY NOON ON FEBRUARY 18TH

Total prize fund £100000
Distributed in accordance with Stakes and Prize Money Code
£52030 to the winning horse
The second to receive £23920, the third £11960, the fourth £5980,
the fifth £2990 and the sixth £1490


for novice five yrs old and upwards,
Rated 0-145
which prior to February 24th, 2025,
have Started in a minimum of three steeple chases,
at least one of which must be during the current season,
and which have been placed first, second, third or fourth
in a steeple chase with an official distance description of 'two
miles seven and a half furlongs' or more


THREE MILES ABOUT SIX FURLONGS (3m 5f 201yds)


Enter by noon, February 18th and pay £150 stake
Confirm by noon on March 5th and pay £350
Declare by 10.00 a.m. March 9th
Weights published on February 26th


Penalties, after February 23rd, 2025, a winner of a steeple
chase…5lb
No penalty to increase a horse's weight above 12st


Jockeys must have ridden in a minimum of 20 steeple chases under
the Rules
of Racing, including a minimum of 5 wins in steeple chases.
(For the avoidance of doubt wins achieved in Point-to-Points do
not count as wins under the Rules of Racing.)

****

There is also the caution that this is only in the Programme Book so far and race conditions may change. Trainers are advised to check at the Racing Calendar stage before making entries.

[Quevega]

Interesting that the 2m7f may still apply.
Watch your bets in this race I reckon.