2024 Novice Chasers

[charlie]

FV was fine, nothing more, nothing less. Clearly has a huge engine and won well but jumping technique was questionable. Warmed to the task well and can never to be too tough on novices first time up. I still think he wants further but we'll learn more the next day.

[Bollinger]

For anyone ‘crabbing’ Facile Vega here, I suggest they rewind the clock to just before Christmas last year when El Fabiolo made his jumping debut as a novice, and as a 1/5 favourite.

His jumping was sketchy, to say the very least. He won.

He comfortably was the elite of his novice peers at the Festival.

A year later, that same horse sits at evens money for the Champions Chase, having never raced outside of novice status, yet.


So let’s not crab Facile Vega on his jumping debut, if we’re all over El Fabiolo for the Champ Chase exactly a year later.

Just sayin’.

[darlojim]

Most importantly, he was really good when the race got going in the straight, and was electric at the back of the last. Put daylight between himself and a grade 1 winner with the slightest nudge of his hands. They aren't all going to be 'Jonbons' the first day of their chasing career, he ain't a p2p'er also so that counted against him too.

[SeanRock]

Can’t really properly get a gauge on Vega until his next run. That was a muddling race today, he clearly has an enormous engine & did warm to his jumping task as he progressed.

I’m still quite happy to have him as my Arkle no.1 which was the main takeaway today. Happy enough with my Turners position on Inthepocket too, an educational ride if I’ve ever seen one from Rachel which didn’t really help the race but so be it.

[Irish Rugby]

Very much this year, we really need to see horses 2nd runs. Probably was always thus but I can't help think we're seeing a lot of schooling out there, Skelton's and Mullins' particularly needing that 1st run.

Hopefully the Christmas period will make things a lot clearer.

I'll shut up now, probably talking gibberish rubbish.

[Joeski29]

Mister Policeman with entries in the Matheson and Morgiana, hopefully sidesteps them and gets an entry in a beginners chase!

[Carnage at Taunton]

i

I missed all of yesterday's racing live but watched it back last night and this morning, so a delayed view point from me.

I thought that was a seriously good chasing debut by FV. There's obviously loads of improvement to come with his awkward jumping early on, but to win impressively against a field of that quality impressed me loads.

Sky have been biggest right through the summer (7/1) and remain the biggest price this morning at 7/2. That must be very tempting for anyone who hasn't got him onside at the moment. Can't see there being more than 7 runners, unless WPM decides to throw a battalion at it.

Think I would rather leave the race alone than back a novice chaser at 7/2 in November.
Especially one with only 1 run and needs(imo) to improve his jumping.

[jono]

Well pointed out Leman

There'll be loads who dismissed him after his chasing debut too no doubt.

But the most important thing is probably:

- Those who have backed him are very happy

- Those who have backed Marine Nationale OR Inthepiglet won't be worried or too impressed.

I think that’s spot on Jim.

That was as strong a beginners chase as you could expect.
And he outclassed that field considerably.
And at no stage did he look like he wouldn’t win with a bit in hand.
That shows the level of base ability he has. (like the ratings suggested at the end of last season)
Which should be enough to have him be one of the best novice chasers around this season.

Now purely on yesterday's showing, Facile Vega didn’t blow me away as a 2 mile chaser.
He didn’t leave me the impression that I had following the chase debuts of the likes of Shishkin, Altior, Footpad, Un de Sceaux Min, Douvan etc
But that could be a harsh comparison to make (along with hindsight perhaps emphasising things too) and the mention of El Fabiolo also a very good point to bring up at this time of year. Mighty Potter was another last season, whilst his season sadly went the wrong, he stepped up markedly from n indifferent chase debut to look a serious chaser following two subsequent grade 1 wins.

If there’s a crack 2 miler novice chaser out there (Marine and maybe Mister P) they could be gaining lengths on him at each fence and then that may well put him in trouble.
But again, willing (and wouldn’t be surprised) to see if he shows improvement in that regard next time up. His natural ability and acceleration showed in abundance yesterday though.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Each to their own CAT.

Id normally agree with you but there look's a serious lack of opposition in the 2 mile novice chase division.

Absolutely each to their own FM.
And you could well be right re opposition, would not be the first time!!
Think I might look At possible wtaf offers that may arise over next month or so.
It could well be a race I’m not heavily involved in come March.

[Lobos]

Expecting Let's Go Champ to outrun his odds v FTF today.
Good second to Willie's Nick Rockett and then won easy next time. May have won at Punchestown in his final Hurdle race but was hampered badly at a crucial time when making his challenge but still managed to finish a good second. Looked all over a chaser last year (big strong horse with loads of scope) . His entry today tells me that they think highly of him. Cracking race.

[Evesham Road]

Expecting Let's Go Champ to outrun his odds v FTF today.
Good second to Willie's Nick Rockett and then won easy next time. May have won at Punchestown in his final Hurdle race but was hampered badly at a crucial time when making his challenge but still managed to finish a good second. Looked all over a chaser last year (big strong horse with loads of scope) . His entry today tells me that they think highly of him. Cracking race.

Thanks for this. Do you have a view on why Rachel prefers Spirit of Legend (who was thumped 30 lengths by Iroko)?

[Exar Essay]

With a similar question, does anyone know why Rachael gets the ride on ITP and not Mark Walsh?

[Lobos]

Thanks for this. Do you have a view on why Rachel prefers Spirit of Legend (who was thumped 30 lengths by Iroko)?

More forward at this stage perhaps? Won first time up last season at Navan so she may well see him as better winning opportunity today ?
I'm thinking more long term with LGC and specifically with Festival in mind so just a watch today for me. Certainly won't be getting involved in today's race.

[Carnage at Taunton]

I've got more money tied up in the Arkle than any other race at this stage. Marine at 5s, Facile 7s and Mister Policeman 20s (some 33s on exchanges) so my view point is obviously skewed by my bets.

If you haven't got a position on the race at the moment, I can understand sitting back and being selective.

You look in a nice position there, hope that continues for you.

[Rooster Booster]

I've got more money tied up in the Arkle than any other race at this stage. Marine at 5s, Facile 7s and Mister Policeman 20s (some 33s on exchanges) so my view point is obviously skewed by my bets.

If you haven't got a position on the race at the moment, I can understand sitting back and being selective.

Yep historically it’s been one of the most straightforward races to build a book on if that’s your thing and you have it nailed at this point. I’ve felt a little different about it this year. I really wanted MN to stay over hurdles to see the champion novices against the champion hurdler so that really disappointed me and the relatively late start with him will leave little margin for error, Ive felt for ages like FV will be a better mid trip horse than 2 miler particularly on anything quicker than soft and MPs breeding freaks me out a bit combined with the lack of chase entries and so while every ounce of reason has indicated this has been an easy puzzle to solve I’ve never felt compelled to back it up with money particularly as I don’t have access to cash out.

For those of you that have invested I really hope it kick starts your festival.