June ‘23; The Roger ‘Diamond Geezer’ Hunter Yankee

[Eggs]

Eggs I reckon you've missed out an under-the-radar number 19 who is currently the juiciest price of the lot imo.

It's Maskada - just made the case in my diary.

PS: I hadn't considered her either when I posted the 4 shorties last night.

….& now some favourable support to consider inclusion. I did look, however, at the HdB pre-Cheltenham stable tours and from what I saw she was only mentioned in the last one & with not much confidence:

”Not sure she’ll go. The race at Leopardstown was going to guide us & she was a bit disappointing. I think she found the ground a bit ‘good’ for her & she’d need soft ground to run”.

Do we think she’s ground dependent, in the lap of the gods that she’d get soft ground on the Friday?

[Istabraq]

….& now some favourable support to consider inclusion. I did look, however, at the HdB pre-Cheltenham stable tours and from what I saw she was only mentioned in the last one & with not much confidence:

”Not sure she’ll go. The race at Leopardstown was going to guide us & she was a bit disappointing. I think she found the ground a bit ‘good’ for her & she’d need soft ground to run”.

Do we think she’s ground dependent, in the lap of the gods that she’d get soft ground on the Friday?

Friday is the least likely day for deep ground, you are pretty much relying on heavy rain during the week.
That’s not to say she can be dismissed, but if she is ground dependent it’s another consideration…

[Istabraq]

Maybe we should start a weather thread….

[Captain Chris]

I think Saxon Warrior believes she’ll end up in the Mares hurdle, either way whilst your point is valid 3m on good ground at Aintree is a very different proposition to 3m around Cheltenham three weeks earlier…

I asked Dan about his Mare's Hurdle candidates and I'd say that he was more keen on Kateira than West Balboa. Said she had more speed than WB and that he was looking to keep the latter at 3 miles. Appreciate plans in May could look very different by Christmas but it was enough for me to hold off for now

[Lobos]

I asked Dan about his Mare's Hurdle candidates and I'd say that he was more keen on Kateira than West Balboa. Said she had more speed than WB and that he was looking to keep the latter at 3 miles. Appreciate plans in May could look very different by Christmas but it was enough for me to hold off for now

Very good of you to spill the beans re your conversation. That's why we love this Forum. I feel a high priced double coming on !!

[FinalFurlong91]

I asked Dan about his Mare's Hurdle candidates and I'd say that he was more keen on Kateira than West Balboa. Said she had more speed than WB and that he was looking to keep the latter at 3 miles. Appreciate plans in May could look very different by Christmas but it was enough for me to hold off for now

Wonder if he'd try to plot west balboa at the pertemps

she has thrived in big field handicaps

A few inconspicuous runs to get her back into the mid/high 130s then get the money down for the pertemps

[callhimgamblor]

So I don't learn lessons well so I have been digging around and I have had another thought. Dangerous, I know.... Anyway.... Shoot me down or give me a reason but..... Nicky Henderson has Jonbon and Shishkin both listed in the Ryanair. Jonbon is actually shorter in the Ryanair (5/1) than in the Champion Chase (7/1) but I can't think why Nicky would put both superstars in the same Cheltenham race. With Shishkin coming 2nd to Envoi Allen in the Ryanair in March it seems reasonable that he will stay there and have another crack which puts Jonbon in the Champion Chase.... at 7/1.... *ducks for cover*

[Lobos]

They'll try and make Shishkin a Gold Cup horse and Jonbon will be their CC horse unless The Hill blows them away in his opening Novice Chases and demolishes the field Sprinter like in the Game Spirit in which case Jonbon may well go Ryanair.

[Odin]

I asked Dan about his Mare's Hurdle candidates and I'd say that he was more keen on Kateira than West Balboa. Said she had more speed than WB and that he was looking to keep the latter at 3 miles. Appreciate plans in May could look very different by Christmas but it was enough for me to hold off for now

Kateira to the Listed Mares Hurdle on Charlie Hall day at Wetherby would be a statement of intent towards Mares then maybe? Same race he won with Molly Olly's Wishes last year.

[Spectre]

Kateira Mares Hurdle, West Balboa Aintree and/or Stayers depending on how the season works through.

[Lobos]

Both Mares will need 10lb+ improvement to get involved in the money at the festival but every chance one or both can do it.

[nortonscoin200]

….& now some favourable support to consider inclusion. I did look, however, at the HdB pre-Cheltenham stable tours and from what I saw she was only mentioned in the last one & with not much confidence:

”Not sure she’ll go. The race at Leopardstown was going to guide us & she was a bit disappointing. I think she found the ground a bit ‘good’ for her & she’d need soft ground to run”.

Do we think she’s ground dependent, in the lap of the gods that she’d get soft ground on the Friday?

I wouldn't be too worried about the ground on Gold Cup day.

Over the last 10 years the gong on GC day has been:

4 Good to soft
3 Soft
3 Good.

Two of MASKADA'S 6 career wins have been on good to soft ground over the minimum trip.

And she finished ahead of Haut En Couleurs and Saint Sam in a Grade 1 novice chase on good to yielding over 2 miles at the Punchestown Festival last year.

She was also poised to win a handicap chase off top weight on yielding to soft ground over 2m 4f at Fairyhouse last December.

So whatever ground she gets next March could be offset by the fact she'll be travelling over half a mile further than in the Grand Annual.

And the bottom line is there's something like a 70 per cent chance it'll be good to soft or soft which imo would not inconvenience her.

[Eggs]

I wouldn't be too worried about the ground on Gold Cup day.

Over the last 10 years the gong on GC day has been:

4 Good to soft
3 Soft
3 Good.

Two of MASKADA'S 6 career wins have been on good to soft ground over the minimum trip.

And she finished ahead of Haut En Couleurs and Saint Sam in a Grade 1 novice chase over 2 miles at the Punchestown Festival last year.

She was also poised to win a handicap chase off top weight on good to soft ground over 2m 4f at Fairyhouse last December.

So whatever ground she gets next March could be offset by the fact she'll be travelling over half a mile further than in the Grand Annual.

And the bottom line is there's something like a 70 per cent chance it'll be good to soft or soft which imo would not inconvenience her.

…..glad you said that, I could be tempted to include her if MoM isn’t back.

[callhimgamblor]

Can I nominate Lecky Watson in the AB for this? See diary for reasoning but short version is most things above him aren't running here (hopefully) and/or have distance/injury question marks. 25/1.

[Eggs]

Can I nominate Lecky Watson in the AB for this? See diary for reasoning but short version is most things above him aren't running here (hopefully) and/or have distance/injury question marks. 25/1.

….you certainly can, although the steer is that we are concentrating on ‘returning winners’. Saying that, it’s the forum’s Yankee so all nominations will be considered & we can do a hybrid of winners/non-winners.