2024 Novice Chasers

[Craigy14]

Will suit Marine Nationale more than Facile Vega IMO

Agree with this.

Facile Vega may be best setting his own pace with his high cruising speed, to try and get Marine etc out their comfort zones. As we seen from the supreme Marine Nationale has more pace than him (on the one piece of evidence we have to go on).

Where does Blood destiny go though if he drops to 2m, UK? Surely won’t turn up at Xmas in 12 days. You would expect he would want a run into him prior to the Irish Arkle as well if he does drop to 2m. That being said he’s just won on heavy ground at Naas with its stiff finish with PT keeping him 3 wide the whole way. Do we think a sharp 2m at Cheltenham would be to his benefit?

As COD has said as well he’ll not have the weight allowances come March. And he bombed at Cheltenham on his only visit. Seemed a little more settled today but still took a hold first mile or so.

[FinalFurlong91]

Will suit Marine Nationale more than Facile Vega IMO

They would both like a pace to aim at imo

Be interesting to see how Marine Nationale jumps

First horse sired by French Navy to go chasing

French navy not had many jumpers at all

And be interesting to see if facile jumps better second start

Will be a cracking clash if both get there

[Kevloaf]

The four-year-old Blood Destiny

is the latest impressive recruit to chasing to come from the stable of Willie Mullins this season, as he made short work of his three rivals in the opening beginners' chase.

The French-bred earned a quote of 14-1 from 33-1 for the Turners Novices' Chase and an introductory quote of 16-1 for the Brown Advisory from Paddy Power.

A keen-going sort over hurdles, his method of racing really saw him attack his fences from the off under Paul Townend and he galloped on relentlessly to see off his main market rival Heart Wood by nine lengths.

"He was dynamite everywhere and always looking for the next fence. He’s a real chaser," said Townend, adding: “They tried to push me and get him lit up, but I wasn’t interfering with him and he was getting a length everywhere with his jumping.

"He jumps so fast that he could come back in trip, but he’d have no problem staying at that distance either."

[Brooksie]

Just seen the Blood Destiny race, was alright but didn't blow me away. Echo what COD said. I got burnt last year with Fil Dor in a similar sort of race at Navan. If looking for a Mullins 2nd string I'd rather take Il Etait Temps over Blood Destiny.

[charlie]

StIll think Broadway Boy @ 34's on the machine is a great bet for the BANC. If he wins today and runs better than he did LTO he'll have run to RPR's of 143, 146, 153 and then 153+ with invaluable experience banked around Cheltenham. It's just the wrong price isn't it? I personally don't think the NHC will come into it and think the BANC will suit him down to the ground. For some reason (and I'm guilty of this) we are drawn to the 'classy' types (eg Gerri) in the BANC vs the tough harder types (eg The Real Whacker). Looking through the roll of honour in the BANC there are far more battle hardened less flashy winners than there are Monkfishes for example and I just think 34's is a good bet now before he runs today

[Eggs]

StIll think Broadway Boy @ 34's on the machine is a great bet for the BANC. If he wins today and runs better than he did LTO he'll have run to RPR's of 143, 146, 153 and then 153+ with invaluable experience banked around Cheltenham. It's just the wrong price isn't it? I personally don't think the NHC will come into it and think the BANC will suit him down to the ground. For some reason (and I'm guilty of this) we are drawn to the 'classy' types (eg Gerri) in the BANC vs the tough harder types (eg The Real Whacker). Looking through the roll of honour in the BANC there are far more battle hardened less flashy winners than there are Monkfishes for example and I just think 34's is a good bet now before he runs today

….Mick Fitz just suggested if he wins today then it puts him in the BANC picture.

[charlie]

….Mick Fitz just suggested if he wins today then it puts him in the BANC picture.

Yep agree. Tbf he's already firmly in the picture anyway. Form of 121 over 3m at Cheltenham for a trainer who has won the race before and name checked the race. It's actually really obvious and at 5 turning 6 we could just be dealing with a rapidly improving novice. It's crazy IMO that Nick Rockett (a horse I like and have backed) is shorter than BB for the BANC when he hasn't raced over 3m, has never been to Cheltenham, ran to a debut RPR of 138 and comes from a yard that have 5+ options for the race. What price would BB be if he was one of Willies coming over and doing what he's doing at Cheltenham? Would be sub 10's IMO but because it's Nigel he goes under the radar.

[Benjy23]

How many BANC winners run over 3m 2f prior to the BANC?

NHC all over him imo.

[archie]

On his way to weighing in after the last win, Bellamy said that he thought that Broadway Boy's connections were looking at the BANC but he felt that the NHC was a better target.

[FinalFurlong91]

StIll think Broadway Boy @ 34's on the machine is a great bet for the BANC. If he wins today and runs better than he did LTO he'll have run to RPR's of 143, 146, 153 and then 153+ with invaluable experience banked around Cheltenham. It's just the wrong price isn't it? I personally don't think the NHC will come into it and think the BANC will suit him down to the ground. For some reason (and I'm guilty of this) we are drawn to the 'classy' types (eg Gerri) in the BANC vs the tough harder types (eg The Real Whacker). Looking through the roll of honour in the BANC there are far more battle hardened less flashy winners than there are Monkfishes for example and I just think 34's is a good bet now before he runs today

Think he might struggle today off that mark myself

Only 1 6yo has won the BANC this century as well (1 5yo too)

And only 3 6yo and 1 5yo since 1980

Race been dominated by 7+

[Quevega]

B

How many BANC winners run over 3m 2f prior to the BANC?

NHC all over him imo.

Not sure that matters whatsoever.
Blaklion did, and he was trained by the same man.

The race is actually called Broadway Novices Chase these days also. That doesn't matter either

The four miler would only be considered IMO if he fails today and again in the run up.
I.E he shows he's not good enough.
I don't think they'd want an amateur to ride this horse if they can help it, but if he shows he's not up to grade 1 level then it may happen.

[Carnage at Taunton]

On his way to weighing in after the last win, Bellamy said that he thought that Broadway Boy's connections were looking at the BANC but he felt that the NHC was a better target.

Yeah I’ve backed him for the BANC but I do think it makes sense to try and cover for the NHC if you like him.

[Quevega]

I think it's worth considering, which trainer really has the luxury/option of running a potential grade one level horse in a grade 2 race with an amateur jockey ?
For most the option is there, but it's very rare they'll turn the opportunity/chance of a grade 1 winner at the festival down.
Unless you're Willie Mullins.

[Benjy23]

B

Not sure that matters whatsoever.
Blaklion did, and he was trained by the same man.

The race is actually called Broadway Novices Chase these days also. That doesn't matter either

The four miler would only be considered IMO if he fails today and again in the run up.
I.E he shows he's not good enough.
I don't think they'd want an amateur to ride this horse if they can help it, but if he shows he's not up to grade 1 level then it may happen.

You could say that about any distance trend if you want. But I assume from your response it's not many.

How many BANC winners have never won over shorter than 2m 7f then if you prefer, in any discipline? Again probably not many...

I wouldn't be at all surprised if he ran in the BANC like. But he won't be winning it. NHC he'd have a chance of winning.

It's not 4 miles anymore by the way.

Great point on the naming of the race by the way.

[Benjy23]

On his way to weighing in after the last win, Bellamy said that he thought that Broadway Boy's connections were looking at the BANC but he felt that the NHC was a better target.

This probably says a lot!