St James’s Palace Hunters Chase

[Istabraq]

Did a bit of work on this race tonight after the Bob&Co discussion and the Porlock Bay counter argument by someone.
I went through the likely runners and kept coming back to Fumet D’Oudaries.
Looks to be a 7yo with a big future in this sphere and shown good versatility with distance and ground, surely more improvement to come for such a young hunter, 16/1 looks a more than fair price…

[Moby123]

Got a fair bit down, but they just don't stand prices for long these days. Frustrating. To be fair 10s is still ok.

[DenmanSacre]

Did a bit of work on this race tonight after the Bob&Co discussion and the Porlock Bay counter argument by someone.
I went through the likely runners and kept coming back to Fumet D’Oudaries.
Looks to be a 7yo with a big future in this sphere and shown good versatility with distance and ground, surely more improvement to come for such a young hunter, 16/1 looks a more than fair price…

20s with Coral and Ladbrokes if you can get on with them.

[Istabraq]

20s with Coral and Ladbrokes if you can get on with them.

Thanks DS, but I can’t.
Happy enough with 16s though he would be unfashionable with the general betting public I think his price could hold so perhaps I needn’t have rushed…

[nortonscoin200]

Watch the replay of last year's race and see if you still want to back anything other than Porlock Bay.

He jumped and travelled like a dream all the way round and looks a class act over this trip which he was trying for the first time.

But he's currently available at 12-1 - 3 times the price of Billaway who he beat.

It just doesn't make sense. Ok there was only a short-head in it but watch the replay and decide who you'd rather be on this time. I'd be surprised if its Billaway.

Festival form is king - specially in this race.

Salsify, On The Fringe and Pacha Du Polder chalked up back-to-back wins in the last decade. That's some stat.

On The Fringe and Pacha both won it when they were 10 and 11.

Porlock Bay was 10 when he won last year.

In fact the last 7 winners have been aged ten or 11.

Here's a link to the 2021 Foxhunters replay (starts at 49 minutes). Porlock Bay's in the red silks and cap towards the back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVLfRMfa7rU

[Istabraq]

Watch the replay of last year's race and see if you still want to back anything other than Porlock Bay.

It was your earlier message re Porlock Bay that got me interested in doing some work on the race NC, and yes you’re right there is value in his price, he is one I’ll likely get onside in the near future.

I’ve taken a leap of faith on Fumet Doudaries on the basis a 7yo hunter will only improve, and he’s shown plenty of ability to date in this sphere on varying grounds and distances, he looks to have the profile of a progressive young horse to me.
Looks like my 2pts ew was enough for Sport Nation to clip him a couple of points…

[Middle_Of_March]

Bob and Co far too big at 14s. Having that.

I did the same.

I was all over him last year and could’ve thrown up when he came down travelling as well as he was. I’m convinced he’d have won by 10 lengths at least, especially when you factor in his two wins afterwards at Hexham and Punchestown.

This is a race i unashamedly go well over the top on as the early months of the year tick by but im still trying to get over Burning Ambition a few years back. Im sure some will remember my love for him pretty much all year for the Foxhunters and for him to go off fav and travel like he did but simply not stay up the hill… that was tough. I was convinced he had the perfect profile for the race and even he got beat so I will always be wary for this antepost.

There’s one not yet in the market I liked last year too who never ran. I’ll be backing him too when he’s eventually in the market.

[Benjy23]

Watch the replay of last year's race and see if you still want to back anything other than Porlock Bay.

He jumped and travelled like a dream all the way round and looks a class act over this trip which he was trying for the first time.

But he's currently available at 12-1 - 3 times the price of Billaway who he beat.

It just doesn't make sense. Ok there was only a short-head in it but watch the replay and decide who you'd rather be on this time. I'd be surprised if its Billaway.

Festival form is king - specially in this race.

Salsify, On The Fringe and Pacha Du Polder chalked up back-to-back wins in the last decade. That's some stat.

On The Fringe and Pacha both won it when they were 10 and 11.

Porlock Bay was 10 when he won last year.

In fact the last 7 winners have been aged ten or 11.

Here's a link to the 2021 Foxhunters replay (starts at 49 minutes). Porlock Bay's in the red silks and cap towards the back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVLfRMfa7rU

I like this one. Bidick likely to ride himself this year I assume? Another positive as he'll be better than 90% of the other jockeys imo.

Watched it back as well and Bob and Co makes quite a lot of mistakes before falling. Don't think he was beating Porlock Bay even without the fall either.

It's officially a UR not a fall I know.

[DenmanSacre]

Thanks DS, but I can’t.
Happy enough with 16s though he would be unfashionable with the general betting public I think his price could hold so perhaps I needn’t have rushed…

His profile looks interesting and I'll give his races last season a watch at the weekend, especially the 2m win at Cheltenham and the 2nd in the Stratford race, which form looks strong.

[Lbur4288]

I'm just going to drag Highway Jewel back up again, as I was informed - she's running in a point to point today and I came across this article. The owner/trainer/jockey is hoping to qualify for the April meeting at Cheltenham so needs to finish first 4 in a qualifier such as the one tomorrow.

Interestingly, it is mentioned that if she runs well tomorrow (and I'm assuming no worse than a top 4 finish will be classed as running well) then she could go for a Hunters chase in a few weeks or possibly straight to Cheltenham festival (Festival being the key word).

I know Scooby has mentioned the jumping right but I am sticking to my original post and have backed accordingly.

The article for anyone interested: https://www.pointtopoint.co.uk/news_...ot-mixed-opens

[Eggs]

….Winged Leader is a best price 20-1 for this, but Hills offer 50-1 (without boost) for it to win tomorrow & a/r.

[Eggs]

….Billaway 11/2 to win tomorrow & a/r with Hills.

[Lobos]

Fav Billaway runs today. Mullins says he's had a few setbacks and that race conditions won't suit him today but wants to get runs into him so running today rather than waiting a couple of weeks.

Sounds like he's not expected today so he could drift out in price for anyone who's thinking of backing him for March.

[Fouroverthrutwo]

I'm just going to drag Highway Jewel back up again, as I was informed - she's running in a point to point today and I came across this article. The owner/trainer/jockey is hoping to qualify for the April meeting at Cheltenham so needs to finish first 4 in a qualifier such as the one tomorrow.

Interestingly, it is mentioned that if she runs well tomorrow (and I'm assuming no worse than a top 4 finish will be classed as running well) then she could go for a Hunters chase in a few weeks or possibly straight to Cheltenham festival (Festival being the key word).

I know Scooby has mentioned the jumping right but I am sticking to my original post and have backed accordingly.

The article for anyone interested: https://www.pointtopoint.co.uk/news_...ot-mixed-opens

Won by 7l today at Chipley Park today so on the right track to Cheltenham Could be an interesting runner with course form and good back form to previous winner Hazel Hill.

[Eggs]

Won by 7l today at Chipley Park today so on the right track to Cheltenham Could be an interesting runner with course form and good back form to previous winner Hazel Hill.

….into a general 20-1, seems like that win hasn’t gone unnoticed.