2023 Novice Chasers

[FinalFurlong91]

Hendo on Jonbin.....

"He would get two and a half miles comfortably I'm sure. I'm thinking he is an Arkle horse at the moment, but we'll see."

Most arkle winners do have the stamina for 2m4f

You need a high cruising speed and a bit of stamina in the arkle

Will fit jonbon nicely, he'll only end up in the turner's if he loses before Cheltenham

And if he loses to a British horse will be very hard believing he could beat the Irish in the turners

[RoadToCheltenham]

Most arkle winners do have the stamina for 2m4f

You need a high cruising speed and a bit of stamina in the arkle

Will fit jonbon nicely, he'll only end up in the turner's if he loses before Cheltenham

And if he loses to a British horse will be very hard believing he could beat the Irish in the turners

Nicky also mentions that he thinks Balco Coastal will improve for fences and could be his 2m4 horse. He even mentions that as a way of splitting him and Jonbon up, which is a great sign for Arkle backers

[Outlaw]

Race comments about Ash Tree meadow tomorrow, "He'll likely head for a break until the spring after this weekend as we're going to bring him back for a nice handicap chase in the new year. He's taken really well to fences"

[RoadToCheltenham]

Noel Meade confirmed in ATR tour that Thedevilscoachman will go back over fences this season.

I was banging the drum for him to go for the Stayers but can see why they're giving novice chasing another go. 6L behind Ferny Hollow doesn't look half bad...

Bound to be campaigned over longer trips, I'd imagine something like the Brown Advisory would be his ambitious target. Assuming of course he can emulate the Boyne Hurdle level of form over fences.

[Winging The Last]

Nicky Henderson on his Novice Chasers

https://youtu.be/wU4k8u3wVpA

One thing that annoys me is how he moans there are no 2m novice chases before the Henry VIII Novice Chase at Sandown to start 2 milers off in but there is one at Cheltenham today!!

[Winging The Last]

(Copied over from Saxons Diary)

What do people think to the ranking order of Robcour novice Chasers?

Gentlemansgame - Hurdle OR - 156 beaten bu Klassical Dream last time out by 3 3/4 lengths in the Punchestown Stayers G1.
PtP rating of 93 - Beating Balco Costal (Henderson) by 5l giving him 5lbs. Therefore on handicap terms 11lb's better. Balco Costal is now a 133 OR hurdler.

Journey With Me - Hurdle RPR - 142 - beaten 41l by the Nice Guy last time in the Punchestown 3m novice.
PtP rating - 95 - Beating Gentleman De Mai who is a 105 rated hurdler (won his only start though did it very workmanlike) by 12l but receiving 5lbs so in handicap terms 7lbs better off over PTP (now you can take into account being eased down etc).

Gerri Colombe - Hurdle RPR 139 - Unbeaten under rules and points though hasn't beaten much. Highest rated horse he has beaten over hurdles is Idas Boy (RPR of 137) by 1 1/4 lengths.
PTP rating 90 - Beat Lakota Warrior by a head of level weights. Lakota Warrior is now rated 110 over hurdles and 128 over fences for Skelton running in the summer and has some poor form.

Grand Jury - Hurdle RPR 140 - Fell in the MP when last seen. Not done that great over hurdle other than second to Ginto in the Lawlors of Naas by 4 1/4 lengths.
PTP rating - 94 - Beat Minella Cocooner by 5 lengths (really good form that now).


To me I think Gentlemansgame is being hugely overlooked of the 4 and that's probably because he is trained by Mouse Morris. Got the best form over hurdle and best rating (yes he has run more and come up against better opposition by he has proven it). Following him JWM has decent novice hurdle form but was well and truly put in his place last season. Grand Jury has the best PTP form by was disappointing last season. And then there's GC who has the worst hurdle form, worst point form, worst rating and is injury prone and is talked about as being the best of the lot because he has a number of ones by his name against significantly inferior opposition

Thoughts?

[ComplyOrDie]

(Copied over from Saxons Diary)

What do people think to the ranking order of Robcour novice Chasers?

I think Robcour in general could have a good festival tbh. They've got an abundance of novice hurdlers as well as novice chasers.

Your post is a reminder that I need to get Gentlemansgame onside though I see he's not priced up with loads, which is annoying!

I'm also waiting for the stable tour to see what they decide to do with Grand Jury. I really like him.

[Winging The Last]

I think Robcour in general could have a good festival tbh. They've got an abundance of novice hurdlers as well as novice chasers.

Your post is a reminder that I need to get Gentlemansgame onside though I see he's not priced up with loads, which is annoying!

I'm also waiting for the stable tour to see what they decide to do with Grand Jury. I really like him.

Yeah I agree they are definitely ramping up their operation in the game with the number of novice hurdlers they should have this season. Seems the same with the big talking PTP starts are with them in past seasons. Bob, JWM, An Tobar.

They also like their mares with previously Gin On Lime, Magic Daze and Foxy Girl this season.

Main names from there team this season that I know of:

Novice Hurdlers
An Tobar (Point winner)
Foxy Girl (Second in France)
Absolute Notions (bought after punchstown bumper win)
Slade Steel (Point winner)
Look to the West (Point winner)
Hiddenvalley Lake (was leadign before being carried out in point, sold for ?200k after)
Shannon Royale (Second in Point)
Irish Point (Winner in France)

??? Did they buy Kudasheva aswell??

Novice Chasers:
JWM
Gentlemansgame
Gerri Colombe
Grand Jury
Saint Felician

Staying Hurdling
Bob Olinger
Teahupoo

[Odin]

GMG could easily be underrated, looked at the trainer quote after his conditions win last year - suggested he didn't go chasing last year because he had a six week hold up. Problem with the others is that they are all reputation based so could be anything at this point. JWM didn't achieve anything of note at the 'wrong' trip last year, GC wasn't able to show his ability with the injury, GJ possibly had best form of the novices but blatantly didn't stay at DRF and the fell early in Pipe. SF probably best form of all of them?

Suspect GMG, GC and JWM will be the higher class stayers (no idea what order though)
SF most likely Turners, GJ handicapper.

I'll probably get none of those 'targets' right though!

[ComplyOrDie]

Yeah I agree they are definitely ramping up their operation in the game with the number of novice hurdlers they should have this season. Seems the same with the big talking PTP starts are with them in past seasons. Bob, JWM, An Tobar.

They also like their mares with previously Gin On Lime, Magic Daze and Foxy Girl this season.

Main names from there team this season that I know of:

Novice Hurdlers
An Tobar (Point winner)
Foxy Girl (Second in France)
Absolute Notions (bought after punchstown bumper win)
Slade Steel (Point winner)
Look to the West (Point winner)
Hiddenvalley Lake (was leadign before being carried out in point, sold for ?200k after)
Shannon Royale (Second in Point)
Irish Point (Winner in France)

??? Did they buy Kudasheva aswell??

Novice Chasers:
JWM
Gentlemansgame
Gerri Colombe
Grand Jury
Saint Felician

Staying Hurdling
Bob Olinger
Teahupoo

Serious team, that. Hopefully they get a lot of them there safe and well.

I thought Kudasheva was Kenny Alexander, but I may be wrong

Hiddenvalley Lake is my novice to follow. I was hoping Supreme, but they also have Irish Point so that may not be the case.

Seeing as this is the novice chasers thread I'll go back to them.

I wonder what their plans are with Grand Jury, he only got a rating of 141 in the Martin Pipe before falling in the race itself, so they could exploit his mark by 'masking' his early potential over fences, though I do think he is a fair bit better than 141. It's a shame the Novices Handicap over 2m4f is no longer around on day 1, I liked that race and think he would have been a prime candidate for it.

I think Journey With Me is and always looked a 3m chaser in the making, he's bred for it too, despite his poor performance at Punchestown over the trip. There seems to have been some noises from social media that he has taken to fences really well, I'm not sure whether to make much of this or not, but he's one I have covered anyway.

Saint Felicien is interesting as well. Bred (on the sires side) to be a chaser, I can forgive the Coral Cup run, the ground was abysmal, and I think it most definitely did not play to his strengths, although I don't see the trip being an issue. One certainly to keep note of, IMO.

[JackieMoon33]

Of the chasers I think Gerri could really be top notch and if I knew he doesn’t have fragility issues, he’d be one of the best ante post prices going. Saint Felicien is the only other of their squad I’d back and it would be the Turners. The rest I don’t think will be in the winners enclosure.

[Lobos]

Looking at that list I haven't backed a single one of theirs !

[Zachx02]

Kudasheva is with the person who owns the likes of eklat de rire

[ComplyOrDie]

Kudasheva is with the person who owns the likes of eklat de rire

Ahh yes, Peter Davies, I think it is.

[Fouroverthrutwo]

I backed Gentleman's Game antepost for the last two festivals and he was a no-show on both occasions. I would have to wait until the week of the festival before I considered backing him.