2024 Novice Chasers

[Carnage at Taunton]

What on earth is going on with these races??
5 runner nov chases!!
At the Cheltenham festival??

[Quevega]

Sandor clegane only entry at the festival so presumably a runner unless they saving for Irish national ?

Yeah, you're right, I forgot they didn;t enter for Ultima.

[Lobos]

Agree that with FTF scaring most other trainers off, Willie will surely run 1/2 others to potentially pick up the places/prize money . Paul is still looking for a ride and surely he'll be on something? Perhaps Rockett will turn up after all.

[BigChaang]

My best guess ..... Fact to File ., Stay away Fay ., Grey Dawning ? ., Monty's star ., Giovinco ., Broadway Boy ., .
Sandor Clegane ., Jamaico ., Minella Cocooner ? .,
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9 runners max , Grey dawning , Minella Cocooner the two that might defect ??. - ( tnrs, n.h.chs. ?? ) . .

[Odin]

What on earth is going on with these races??
5 runner nov chases!!
At the Cheltenham festival??

The new normal. Hopefully antepost odds allow us to capitalise on it for the next couple of years as it's a struggle to find value anywhere else! (For me anyway)

[opatcho]

Yeah, sadly this is the new norm
Was just about to say "who can forget the 2 runner race in the Turners, GDC and Bob O'linger", then remembered the two 'rags' that had a day out

[Carnage at Taunton]

I can understand the likes of Con Hill scaring off competition, but I do struggle with understanding novices doing it.
FTF does look good but we are talking about inexperienced horses who are yet to reach potential, more should be taking these sorts on imo.

[Mighty]

Yeah, sadly this is the new norm
Was just about to say "who can forget the 2 runner race in the Turners, GDC and Bob O'linger", then remembered the two 'rags' that had a day out

Don’t knock those two rags. I had them at 125/1 and 250/1 EW antepost - a nice bonus that. Just trying to work out what might be the EW rags at big prices this year…

[Lobos]

I can understand the likes of Con Hill scaring off competition, but I do struggle with understanding novices doing it.
FTF does look good but we are talking about inexperienced horses who are yet to reach potential, more should be taking these sorts on imo.

Agree. Especially with FTF never having run over the BANC distance. He could be vulnerable in a very strong run race maybe.

[Istabraq]

I can understand the likes of Con Hill scaring off competition, but I do struggle with understanding novices doing it.
FTF does look good but we are talking about inexperienced horses who are yet to reach potential, more should be taking these sorts on imo.

Absolutely agree.
Part of the problem is that novices are allowed to run in handicaps, I've said it for years but first season novices should be prevented from festival handicaps, the presence of State Man and Saint Roi in the County was farcical in my opinion....

[Lobos]

Don’t knock those two rags. I had them at 125/1 and 250/1 EW antepost - a nice bonus that. Just trying to work out what might be the EW rags at big prices this year…

I still think Sharjah will run in the Turners and he's no Rag with his Festival form. Comes to life at Cheltenham in March. Patrick always rides him as well so Willie will oblige. 50/1.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Absolutely agree.
Part of the problem is that novices are allowed to run in handicaps, I've said it for years but first season novices should be prevented from festival handicaps, the presence of State Man and Saint Roi in the County was farcical in my opinion....

Yep, that would most certainly make a difference

[Odin]

Absolutely agree.
Part of the problem is that novices are allowed to run in handicaps, I've said it for years but first season novices should be prevented from festival handicaps, the presence of State Man and Saint Roi in the County was farcical in my opinion....

Whilst I agree with the sentiment from a hurdling perspective, the problem with is that it's novice chases that are generally struggling from a field size perspective and I'm not sure it's as easy to say you can't run in handicaps for them as some will have run 8 times across hurdles and chases by the time they get to the festival and been exposed as just not good enough for graded races. I know that's not the case for the novice winners, just think it's more nuanced on a chase level where the problems are

[Quevega]

Whilst I agree with the sentiment from a hurdling perspective, the problem with is that it's novice chases that are generally struggling from a field size perspective and I'm not sure it's as easy to say you can't run in handicaps for them as some will have run 8 times across hurdles and chases by the time they get to the festival and been exposed as just not good enough for graded races. I know that's not the case for the novice winners, just think it's more nuanced on a chase level where the problems are

Just get shut of the amateur race, been said a million times but it's an obvious move. Let the amateurs ride on the veterans.

The top 6 in that would make the BANC a better race, and then 2 or 3 would shuffle down to the turners which should really be a novice handicap chase anyway.

[Benjy23]

I still think Sharjah will run in the Turners and he's no Rag with his Festival form. Comes to life at Cheltenham in March. Patrick always rides him as well so Willie will oblige. 50/1.

Aye, Sharjah and Grey Dawning are two I'd quite like to see a place price for in the Turners. But aren't offered as far as I can see.