2023 Novice Chasers

[charlie]

Just my gut opinion of course. 1 meaningful race in nearly a year and he failed in that when heavily backed and plenty saying it was a poor Churdle. Clearly difficult to train. Not getting any younger. Chasing very late. Still don't know his distance. Not for me.

How does being 6/9 inc 3 Grade 1's and making 3 consecutive Cheltenham festivals make him difficult to train? You've made some fair points but I think thats rubbish.

[FinalFurlong91]

How does being 6/9 inc 3 Grade 1's and making 3 consecutive Cheltenham festivals make him difficult to train? You've made some fair points but I think thats rubbish.

He has been difficult to train

Was off the track for 622 days before making his bumper debut

And then had to abort his first attempt at novice chasing due to a setback

He's an 8 going on 9 year old novice chaser

Can't be many of those that have been easy to train

[charlie]

He has been difficult to train

Was off the track for 622 days before making his bumper debut

And then had to abort his first attempt at novice chasing due to a setback

He's an 8 going on 9 year old novice chaser

Can't be many of those that have been easy to train

I don't think so, although being habitually injured obviously makes a horse difficult to train!

Raced 4 times on the level, 4 times over hurdles and then ran in a champion hurdle after a minor setback.

I doubt you'll find a trainer that thinks a horse like that is difficult to train, nor do I make much of 600+ day break after competing in PTP's.

When I think difficult to train I think of a poor attitude, or weight problems, or being a head case, or having a flawed jumping technique etc. He's none of those things.

We could just be interpreting the meaning differently which is fine.

[FinalFurlong91]

I don't think so, although being habitually injured obviously makes a horse difficult to train!

Raced 4 times on the level, 4 times over hurdles and then ran in a champion hurdle after a minor setback.

I doubt you'll find a trainer that thinks a horse like that is difficult to train, nor do I make much of 600+ day break after competing in PTP's.

When I think difficult to train I think of a poor attitude, or weight problems, or being a head case, or having a flawed jumping technique etc. He's none of those things.

We could just be interpreting the meaning differently which is fine.

Difficult to keep sound would be better perhaps then

[charlie]

Difficult to keep sound would be better perhaps then

I think thats fair!

[robith]

Appreciate It gets the W, his early jumping looked very novicey to me, but he warmed up well. Bodged the last but Top Bandit bodged it worse.

[ComplyOrDie]

That was OK from Appreciate It, IMO.

Got the job done, jumped a few quite sloppy, and one big, but he stood up and quickened away well. I can't help but feel, as I've said before, that a step up in trip will benefit him and his jumping, for all he could improve for that run.

I wouldn't be getting excited about him based solely on that though.

[Brooksie]

Yeah he got the job done well enough, Top Bandit one to pop in the notebook, sure they'll find a handicap for him somewhere.

[charlie]

Excited about finally seeing Appreciate It today. As I type this he's 6/1 with PP/BF for the Arkle and 14/1 for the Turners. I can envisage him being cut by more that half in both races if he wins, regardless of the manner or substance of the form. Thinking back through conversations we've all had on here re AI, most the concerns appear to be more about his wellbeing than his actual ability. Providing he wins easily I don't think the form of today will matter too much, its just a stepping stone between now and facing decent Grade 1 company. He's a really interesting horse. The favs for both the Arkle and Turners were inferior hurdlers, so hopefully he can translate his old ability over fences and smash Jonbon into next week. Long way to go mind but at least today is a start.

Very happy with AI debut there. For a split second I thought he may be in trouble but he sprinted clear effortlessly. A good start, cant wait to see him in proper Grade 1 company where we will learn a lot more. 4's and 8's for the races named above, which seems fair. I suspect they'll contract further.

[Silverbirch]

The fact Paul didn't even flinch tells me he knows there's a horse in there. Jonbon won't have it easy IMO

[Zachx02]

I've got him backed for both the Arkle and Turners with a higher return on the Arkle for him but I think he's going to get stepped up after we see a couple more of willie's novices come out. Maybe go to the Flogas?

[Faugheen_Machine]

That was OK from Appreciate It, IMO.

Got the job done, jumped a few quite sloppy, and one big, but he stood up and quickened away well. I can't help but feel, as I've said before, that a step up in trip will benefit him and his jumping, for all he could improve for that run.

I wouldn't be getting excited about him based solely on that though.

Agreed. I have no interest in him as an Arkle horse and that run hasn't changed my opinion. He did nothing wrong but can't help feeling he'd be much more impressive over further.

[Zachx02]

Yeah he got the job done well enough, Top Bandit one to pop in the notebook, sure they'll find a handicap for him somewhere.

Grand Annual?

[Kevloaf]

Agreed. I have no interest in him as an Arkle horse and that run hasn't changed my opinion. He did nothing wrong but can't help feeling he'd be much more impressive over further.

No interest?

A Supreme winner?




I'd have him favourite for the Turners though, in terms of where he'll end up and his best chance of winning For me, he's a better horse than Mighty Potter. I've always been a bit OTT on Appreciate It though so was unlikely to feel any different after a solid novice chase debut.

[ComplyOrDie]

I'd have him favourite for the Turners though, in terms of where he'll end up and his best chance of winning For me, he's a better horse than Mighty Potter. I've always been a bit OTT on Appreciate It though so was unlikely to feel any different after a solid novice chase debut.

Still 12/1, which I think is a great price for him.