Cheltenham 2023 - Early fancies

[DenmanSacre]

Yea, last few champion bumper winners before FV were ex pointers. And America Mike in 2nd this year also was. Certainly common practice for PTP horses to start over hurdles.

With Henry though isn't he who isn't that known for his bumper horses, and he'll he 6 by next Cheltenham. At a complete guess I wouldn't be surprised if they went for a bumper introduction towards the end of this season and then a novice hurdling campaign next? I know nothing of the horse though tbh

I'd hope we will see him in a bumper in the next couple of months. I think An Tobar will be aimed at the Ballymore and based on his PTP win, I'd be surprised if he wasn't right up there with the best of them.

Half brother to Elle Est Belle. Sired by Gentlewave (sire of Easysland and Gentlemansgame). Plenty of stamina in his pedigree but he pulverised his opposition in his PTP and showed so much speed once taking the lead to grow a large gap between the 3rd and 2nd fence.

The second has won since and also finished 4 lengths behind An Mhi (4th in the million pound PTP that Gordon Elliott reportedly thinks quite a lot of). 4th also won next time out.

Henry does have some good novices for next year however and if they all improve from their PTPs he will have a job trying to split them. Arctic Bresil could also be a 2 and a half miler, Hiddenvalley Lake a 3 miler based on pedigree and Top Speed I don't really have an opinion on yet.

[Always a Claimer]

I am happy to give Dinoblue another chance. The confidence was there before the race (she was smashed!) which suggests to me that she is a very good horse that just didn’t perform. Epatante came 9th in the mares novice hurdle before developing into a champion hurdle winner and Mullins not only has plenty of bullets at the Champion Hurdle, but loves the Mares Hurdle - 20/1 is a decent price I think.

[BigChaang]

ffs was waiting till tomorrow to use my boost

33-1. for the supreme - paddy's. if your confident that will be the target..... An Tobar.

[BigChaang]

James's Gate continues to be shortened according to oddschecker today . 16-1 a week ago , and now 11-1 stand out best price .
Generally 8-1 to 10-1 ..... sorry Dandrew , i'm poaching your work here !!!. .

[ComplyOrDie]

Hiddenvalley Lake a 3 miler based on pedigree

Closely related to Shishkin though, same sire and same grand sire on the dams side. Wouldn't put complete emphasis on the dam previous progeny, however, I could see him being tried at the intermediate trip, as opposed to just 2m, unlike Shishkin (Shishkin did win over 2m3f before winning a Supreme, tbf).

[Stormez]

33-1. for the supreme - paddy's. if your confident that will be the target..... An Tobar.

Think I’ve learned my lesson now about deciding where horses are going this early!

[BigChaang]

Indeed Stormez !! .

[Nwfb89]

James's Gate continues to be shortened according to oddschecker today . 16-1 a week ago , and now 11-1 stand out best price .
Generally 8-1 to 10-1 ..... sorry Dandrew , i'm poaching your work here !!!. .

That's a horrendous price , these early prices for some of these novice hurdlers is shocking the last couple of years, I remember 2 years ago Ferny hollow after winning the bumper was widely available at 10s for both ballymore and supreme, the year before envoi allen had won the bumper he was 20s supreme 14s ballymore was even 8s in the any race market all summer long before the season started the Bookmakers these days really don't want to lay anything antrpost and then when they do it only takes about 2 bets and the price gets dropped

[Star De Mohaison]

Jet Powered has an entry this weekend at Newbury. It's the same race that Jonbon won last year. Will be interesting to see if he gets declared. One for the notebook hopefully.

[darlojim]

Jet Powered has an entry this weekend at Newbury. It's the same race that Jonbon won last year. Will be interesting to see if he gets declared. One for the notebook hopefully.

Annoying that these twitter "tipsters" highlight these things knowing that their blind followers just follow in, no doubt the odds will be shortened soon too. Very frustrating.

[ComplyOrDie]

For me, personally, I don't get the fascination with James's Gate and he's certainly one I'm happy to leave alone for now. Appreciate he's lightly race, and in the 'right colours' (not that that should be a deciding factor) for the Ballymore, but I can see him being more a Bartlett type, if anything, myself.

It gets said every year about the horses in behind the 1-2 of the Champion Bumper, and are generally under priced, but not many in recent seasons have actually gone on to anything of real note.

[Big Bucks]

For me, personally, I don't get the fascination with James's Gate and he's certainly one I'm happy to leave alone for now. Appreciate he's lightly race, and in the 'right colours' (not that that should be a deciding factor) for the Ballymore, but I can see him being more a Bartlett type, if anything, myself.

It gets said every year about the horses in behind the 1-2 of the Champion Bumper, and are generally under priced, but not many in recent seasons have actually gone on to anything of real note.

I think alot of us thought the same about Whatdeawant and AB, but colours dictated. Would you personally feel strongly about the trip being factored in? I'm not gunna lie I jumped on the bandwagon with ballymore just for the owners and race. But no real angle on horses ability over either trip (pretty poor and lazy on my part but it is what it is) happy enough to hear from yourself or others though if feel strongly for any race, goes for anybody or any horse.

[Stormez]

For me, personally, I don't get the fascination with James's Gate and he's certainly one I'm happy to leave alone for now. Appreciate he's lightly race, and in the 'right colours' (not that that should be a deciding factor) for the Ballymore, but I can see him being more a Bartlett type, if anything, myself.

It gets said every year about the horses in behind the 1-2 of the Champion Bumper, and are generally under priced, but not many in recent seasons have actually gone on to anything of real note.

Yeah the main appeal of James’s Gate for the Ballymore seems to be mainly linked to his owners liking a runner in the race as sponsors.

If you think that’s a good reason to back a horse then there’s not much hope for you!

That’s not to say his run in the bumper wasn’t a good one, it was & I can see him taking high order next year. But I’d want to see it first rather than take a chance now when the price has already gone.

[Lobos]

James Gate is definitely one for the TWAR box for those that want to take a risk on him . No more Bingo games please.

I'll be giving all the Novices a wide berth for next year. Only Sir Gerhard won of the fancied ones this year and he went to the 'wrong' race for us punters.

[Exar Essay]

I don't think the price about James's Gate is great. But I thought 20s and even down to 14s was fair enough. I was taken with how he quickened is his first bumper at Punchestown. Certainly seemed to have more gears than Whatdeawant who is for same connections and still went down the Ballymore route. He backed that up with a good staying 3rd in the Champion Bumper too.

There's no guarantee, of course, but I'd say JG is the only Mullins horse who's destination I am relatively certain of.