2024 Novice Chasers

[The hill]

Looks like Salvador ziggy has been confirmed for the American National

[Guinness Village]

Seems a bit of a left field decision.

[Lobos]

Seems a bit of a left field decision.

Not at all. Big prize money and more experience gained. Can rest up , perhaps have one more run in Feb then onto NHC. Perfect preparation.

[Lobos]

I've finally managed to push Corals over the edge re Mister Policeman. They've cut him from 16's to 12's. Just sit back and enjoy the ride now.

[Madmoose]

Bumped into Mr and Mrs Spectre last night and what a lovely couple ( even if I didn’t recognise him) Spectre explained to me that KH is a stone better going right handed. So why run KH on a left handed track? Wasn’t taken with KH at all.

He will go the Rising Stars at Wincanton next month i’d imagine being RH then onto Kempton

[Carnage at Taunton]

He will go the Rising Stars at Wincanton next month i’d imagine being RH then onto Kempton

Last two seasons he’s started off at Chepstow then gone Wincanton next, so you could well be right

[Captain Chris]

It makes sense and is one of the weakest graded races in the calendar, although the competition is fierce. Nicholls has loads of options for the Kauto Star: KH, Stay away fay and hermes Allen. I haven't got my head around the new calendar at all but I wonder if KH will stick to 2 and a half miles and go to Ascot pre-Christmas for the grade 2 novice chase there instead (if it still exists)

[Spectre]

He will go the Rising Stars at Wincanton next month i’d imagine being RH then onto Kempton

Exactly this. Knappers Hill will be at his best on flat right handed tracks like Wincanton and Kempton. Not that he can't win left handed because clearly he can. But at the top level he'll be better going right handed. Nicholls knows this, and you'll see him campaigned for his wins this season accordingly. He'll probably turn up at Aintree though, and Nicholls will see if he can pinch one hoping he has a fresh horse against horses that had a hard race at Cheltenham.

[Spectre]

If it's a starting point and he thought he had as much in hand as the ratings might of suggested, coupled with the fact he was 3/3 at the course, it would hardly of been a concern as to start him there tbf.

No concern starting him off there are all Outlaw. However, Dan knew he would have a fitness and experience advantage, and was very confident about beating Knappers Hill. Nicholls was just giving KH a prep for the Rising Stars. Essentially there were plenty of reasons to take Knappers Hill on. KH will likely be the higher rated fo the two come season end though.

[AaronLad]

No concern starting him off there are all Outlaw. However, Dan knew he would have a fitness and experience advantage, and was very confident about beating Knappers Hill. Nicholls was just giving KH a prep for the Rising Stars. Essentially there were plenty of reasons to take Knappers Hill on. KH will likely be the higher rated fo the two come season end though.

Any chance Dan might step unexpected party up in trip?
Could be a live NHC contender considering the sire.

[Guinness Village]

I’m increasingly becoming a fan of champ kiely. TWAR and for the BANC. 8 runs in 12 months is a lot and I think that you can probably forgive him his effort at punchestown. The ballymore was probably a much better race than the Bartlett, and he dined at the top table as a novice hurdler and only a whiff behind Gaelic at Cheltenham. Not sure there is a stand out for the BANC and he might turn out to be willies best staying novice chaser

[ComplyOrDie]

I’m increasingly becoming a fan of champ kiely. TWAR and for the BANC. 8 runs in 12 months is a lot and I think that you can probably forgive him his effort at punchestown. The ballymore was probably a much better race than the Bartlett, and he dined at the top table as a novice hurdler and only a whiff behind Gaelic at Cheltenham. Not sure there is a stand out for the BANC and he might turn out to be willies best staying novice chaser

I think he'll end up in the BANC too GV.

I can see him treading a similar path to Gaillard Du Mesnil and if he doesn't lose his novice tag throughout the season he could end up in the NH Chase the following season, but ultimately I think he has plenty more boot about him that GDM has and think he's more likely to lose his novice status during this season.

[Benjy23]

Slight concern of how he hung right at Cheltenham last year? He's an interesting one over a fence though for sure. Although I see him mentioned for Turners, BANC and NHC. Which is probably also why I've not backed him for any...

[Atlantic Viking]

I’m increasingly becoming a fan of champ kiely. TWAR and for the BANC. 8 runs in 12 months is a lot and I think that you can probably forgive him his effort at punchestown. The ballymore was probably a much better race than the Bartlett, and he dined at the top table as a novice hurdler and only a whiff behind Gaelic at Cheltenham. Not sure there is a stand out for the BANC and he might turn out to be willies best staying novice chaser

He was my epic boost victim this week, 24/1 TWAR seemed like a good dart for a useful type that could end up anywhere, mainly races without stacks of depth too. Probably destined to forever finish in the places at festivals but stranger things have happened.

[Spectre]

Any chance Dan might step unexpected party up in trip?
Could be a live NHC contender considering the sire.

Highly unlikely Aaron. Dan sees him as a mid-trip horse rather than a stayer.