2023 Novice Chasers

[charlie]

Glad to see Minella Cocooner pulled from all races over Xmas barring the Grade 1 over 3m. Sights firmly set on the BANC.

[opatcho]

Looking forward to watching El Fab tomorrow
Lets see whether Mullins has a top Arkle challenger

[Quevega]

Glad to see Minella Cocooner pulled from all races over Xmas barring the Grade 1 over 3m. Sights firmly set on the BANC.

I'd watch out for the maidens/beginners that haven't had entries yet.
Willie likes them to earn their place, especially if he has ones that already have. Like GDM & CG

[Lobos]

Glad to see Minella Cocooner pulled from all races over Xmas barring the Grade 1 over 3m. Sights firmly set on the BANC.

Be careful as he's probably looking for the better ground for him. Limerick is always like a pudding. Leopardstown will be right up his street.

[Madmoose]

Glad to see Minella Cocooner pulled from all races over Xmas barring the Grade 1 over 3m. Sights firmly set on the BANC.

Prob run in the race Galopin won last year over xmas, even more so now Sir G is supposed to miss Xmas.

[charlie]

I'd watch out for the maidens/beginners that haven't had entries yet.
Willie likes them to earn their place, especially if he has ones that already have. Like GDM & CG

He has earn't his place hasn't he?
That beginners chase is typically contested by the better ones and produces lots of BANC horses.
MC would have beaten a race fit JWM fair and square (which now looks reasonable after yesterday)
He's ran to a better RPR on chase debut than most of Willie's BANC horses in the last 10 years (inc Monkfish, Allaho, GDM, Al Boum etc)
The debut can arguably be marked up as it was a first run heavy ground over too short a trip.
Willie might have patience with him and as you say, go to beginners chase somewhere over 2m5f and dodge the Grade 1, but I'd love to see them have a go.

[Quevega]

He has earn't his place hasn't he?
That beginners chase is typically contested by the better ones and produces lots of BANC horses.
MC would have beaten a race fit JWM fair and square (which now looks reasonable after yesterday)
He's ran to a better RPR on chase debut than most of Willie's BANC horses in the last 10 years (inc Monkfish, Allaho, GDM, Al Boum etc)
The debut can arguably be marked up as it was a first run heavy ground over too short a trip.
Willie might have patience with him and as you say, go to beginners chase somewhere over 2m5f and dodge the Grade 1, but I'd love to see them have a go.


It’s not me that needs convincing
He might run in the grade 1 yet.
But it’s Willies call.
And more often than not he’ll go the beginners route.

It was a note of caution in case anyone took it for granted and placed more money on him for the Banc.

See above lol

[Saxon Warrior]

I'd think MINELLA COCOONER would take in a second BeginCh, as he can, following his debut.

One at Christmas would be good timing.

2 runs is the max Willie usually has into his winter team by the turn of the year.

Then it still gives him 9 weeks to step into Graded company, before then end of February, and stake a claim for his place in a Festival Grade 1 (over 3M or a midtrip).

[ComplyOrDie]

El Fab really well backed for today, opened 8/11 with 365 now a 2/7 shot.

[Benjy23]

He's a serious horse but not particularly impressed with some of the jumping...

[BagOfHammers]

El Fabiolo won well but will need to jump better than that to win an Arkle IMO

[Liammet]

El Fabiolo won well but will need to jump better than that to win an Arkle IMO

Agree,not a natural or a bit novicey at a couple

Don’t see how that puts him ahead of AI in the betting

[Brooksie]

Weird race, nothing else put in the race including his main market rival. Jumped the first 3 nice then after the mistake at the 4th his jumping got very sketchy, wouldn't be that confident his jumping holds up if something was upsides him. Still... it was only his first run and can improve in that department. Maybe Paul might want to keep the ride for the turners instead.

[ComplyOrDie]

Plenty of improvement to come from both El Fabiolo and Appreciate It, I'm sure, but Jonbon still top of the jumping tree for me.

[FinalFurlong91]

Jonbon is by some distance the best jumper of the main candidates on what we've seen so far

El Fabiolo was good enough at least to think his jumping will improve, wasnt slow and put in some good leaps but also 1 or 2 iffy ones

Looked more of an arkle type than appreciate it did

Be interesting to read trainer quotes post race