2024 Novice Chasers

[Kevloaf]

Arkle - In The Pocket (Supplemented)
Turners - Iroko
Browns - Fact To File
NH Chase - Corbetts Cross

We thinking this is the most likely outcome? In a normal year I'd say ITP & Iroko wouldn't be going to the festival and would have very little hope after one run, but this season I think it's a 'Why not' thought, and I'm on board with it. Iroko is still a big player in the turners IMO, especially if FTF does go Browns. I know he didn't beat much on his chasing debut but he hacked up, jumped well, and you know he goes well fresh, very much an each way player and wouldn't suprise me he if he scooped the win!

Ignoring Inthepocket, looks an interesting 240/1 treble boosted with Ladbrokes

[Liammet]

Apologies is this has been discussed elsewhere

Would anyone know what the qualifications are for an amateur to ride in the NHC ?

Amount of rides outside p2p in a chase ? Amount of winners ?

Was wondering if Harry Swan qualified to ride in it

[DenmanSacre]

Apologies is this has been discussed elsewhere

Would anyone know what the qualifications are for an amateur to ride in the NHC ?

Amount of rides outside p2p in a chase ? Amount of winners ?

Was wondering if Harry Swan qualified to ride in it

All jockeys riding in the National Hunt Chase must have ridden a minimum of 20 times and achieved at least five winners over fences. All qualifying rides must have come in races staged under Rules (i.e. excluding point-to-point races).

I don't think he qualifies.

[Liammet]

All jockeys riding in the National Hunt Chase must have ridden a minimum of 20 times and achieved at least five winners over fences. All qualifying rides must have come in races staged under Rules (i.e. excluding point-to-point races).

I don't think he qualifies.

Ok thanks DS

[Liammet]

All jockeys riding in the National Hunt Chase must have ridden a minimum of 20 times and achieved at least five winners over fences. All qualifying rides must have come in races staged under Rules (i.e. excluding point-to-point races).

I don't think he qualifies.

Trying to second quess who goes where

Obviously Patrick on Willies number 1 and Rob James on Gordons,Derek on Corbetts

I would imagine Barry O’Neills phone will be busy

Charlie Mullins Can’t ride in it

After that it’s the likes of Tom Hamilton,Johnny Barry,Noel Mcparlan ???

[Block 205]

Arkle - In The Pocket (Supplemented)
Turners - Iroko
Browns - Fact To File
NH Chase - Corbetts Cross

We thinking this is the most likely outcome?

Having backed Fact To File at big prices for the Turners (and no other race) and the same for Stay Away Fay in the BANC, I can tell you now what the 1-2 order will be in the Browns (with the winning distance no doubt a neck or less) - best to accept my fate now and get an alternative ready for the Turners than to be outraged when Fact To File is inevitably declared for the BANC on the Monday

[charlie]

The CC NHC info was right

The owner's racing manager Frank Berry said: "Corbetts Cross will go for the National Hunt Chase and Derek O'Connor will be riding him. We think the race might suit him. He basically got knocked down last week and he's come out of it fine and is in good form. He'll go straight there."

[Runragged]

I'm not convinced Fact To File will go BANC over Turners purely on the basis that the owner has Iroko for the race. In my my mind Iroko is going for the experience following his badly interrupted season. If he can hack round and finish 3rd or 4th then it is a great result for the horse considering and potentially opens up things later in the spring. I don't expect him to be 100% at Cheltenham but even that is still better than having to sit all the season out in the stables/field.

A little similar to Inthepocket if he was to make it back and be supplemented for Cheltenham. He's yet to win so hacking round in a grade 1 at Cheltenham is fantastic experience for later in year or with ITP then the strong potential of being a second season novice with valuable top race experience next year.

To me the question is whether Mullins will run an inexperienced horse over a trip he has yet to race at (Excluding P2P) against horses who have proven more and look better class (Stay Away Fay and Grey Dawning both 169 RPR) (Ginnys Destiny 168, Gaelic Warrior?? 167 Facile Vega?? 162). I know which way I am leaning in this decision... (Obviously if he doesn't go that way then Willie is wrong and I am right still) That also doesn't factor in the potential of Grey Dawning being scared into the Turners instead (Which would also be Skelton wrong and me right as GD doesn't jump anywhere near good enough over 2 1/2m but improved at the slower speed of 3m).

Just my thoughts on it anyway...

[Lobos]

The CC NHC info was right

The owner's racing manager Frank Berry said: "Corbetts Cross will go for the National Hunt Chase and Derek O'Connor will be riding him. We think the race might suit him. He basically got knocked down last week and he's come out of it fine and is in good form. He'll go straight there."

Spot on Charlie

[Lobos]

The comments the other day from Irokos trainer indicted to me anyway that both he and F2F could go Turners . JP is never afraid to run his against each other and Iroko may just be playing for places anyway regardless of the opposition with it being his first run back after injury. No doubt whatsoever that the BANC will be the tougher race whatever way you look at it .

[Lobos]

A Question for Run4Home. Having nabbed Hunters Yarn at a huge price, I'm bemused by Willie's comments saying he may stay at home to pick up domestic prizes. On what he's shown in his two races I'd say he deserves his place in Avery open Arkle . Have you any insight into why he'd not travel ?

[Runragged]

A Question for Run4Home. Having nabbed Hunters Yarn at a huge price, I'm bemused by Willie's comments saying he may stay at home to pick up domestic prizes. On what he's shown in his two races I'd say he deserves his place in Avery open Arkle . Have you any insight into why he'd not travel ?

Sorry to butt in on this. Was looking through the Irish novice graded chase card and there are just no realistic races for him since the DRF. Not sure why he missed the DRF, whether there was a niggle or something which has set him back? Certainly would have much less confidence with no graded chase experience. Don't think there are many to have won this without having raced in a graded chase (Aside from the Pipe once raced pair)?

There is the Flyingbolt at the beginning of March which they won with Gentleman De Mee a couple of years ago before going on to Aintree and winning there. Maybe that is the route they are considering instead?

[Madmoose]

Also why didn’t Willie mentioned Blood Destiny in his tour? I thought he might mention for Arkle to drop back in trip after the last day.

[That Horse]

Having backed Fact To File at big prices for the Turners (and no other race) and the same for Stay Away Fay in the BANC, I can tell you now what the 1-2 order will be in the Browns (with the winning distance no doubt a neck or less) - best to accept my fate now and get an alternative ready for the Turners than to be outraged when Fact To File is inevitably declared for the BANC on the Monday

I haven't backed F2F for anything yet as I missed the better prices. I'm more heavily invested in SAF for the BANC so that is perhaps colouring my judgement but it would seem the Turners would be a logical race for F2F given the (lack of) strength in opposition he'd have to face in the Turners vs there being one or two more threats in the BANC.

Maybe Willie fears none of them though, he put Galopin in against Bob O when it looked easier on paper to go to the BANC.

[Lobos]

Sorry to butt in on this. Was looking through the Irish novice graded chase card and there are just no realistic races for him since the DRF. Not sure why he missed the DRF, whether there was a niggle or something which has set him back? Certainly would have much less confidence with no graded chase experience. Don't think there are many to have won this without having raced in a graded chase (Aside from the Pipe once raced pair)?

There is the Flyingbolt at the beginning of March which they won with Gentleman De Mee a couple of years ago before going on to Aintree and winning there. Maybe that is the route they are considering instead?

No mention of an injury. On a line through Firm Footings he's in front of the current fav and the horse that finished a distant 2nd behind him last time ran a big race off a big weight in a listed handicap next time. Add that to the fact the Double Green have history in the race winning last year with El Fabiolo and a few years before with Footpad and it's hard to fathom why he'll be left at home. Odd. He did run really poorly in the County last year so maybe he doesn't travel well or dislikes the course? Don't know.