2024 Novice Chasers

[Bollinger]

Honestly think Barry is waiting to see what happens with Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth before committing Marine Nationale to Fences this season. Any flaw in Constitution and he'll be straight back down the Champion Hurdle path with Marine.

What flaw do you think Barry will find???????!?????????

[Lobos]

What flaw do you think Barry will find???????!?????????

None hopefully but as we all know anything can happen in racing.

[Lobos]

I can't see how he reverses form with facile

Yes he was tenderly ridden but facile won on the snaff

And beat him easily in the Supreme despite blowing up on the run in

Certainly didn't win on the staff and Inthepocket definitely given the more educated introduction should we say. IMO ITP is being aimed at the Arkle at this point and will not be afraid to take on Vega again by any means. HDB is a maestro with his 2m chasers and he may have another good one.

[Lobos]

“It was messy, we went very slow, he missed the second-last and Danny got away on me,” said Townend.
“I liked that when I gave him a flick at the back of the last that I was back on top and it was snug by the time I got to the line.

“His jumping can sharpen up and I’d say a faster pace will help his jumping.”

He added: “He probably rides a bit bigger than he looks. I thought going along we were only in schooling mode for the majority of the race. He’d be better at a faster pace when let jump.

“The runner-up ran to a good level in Punchestown and he’s unexposed. He’s improving away the whole time and I’d say he’s growing into himself. He’s a nice yardstick, but you’d be hoping to beat him at the same time.”

[Bollinger]

I still believe it’s extremely dangerous to be stating Arkle winners/ horses that ‘won’t’ win the Arkle this far out.

We’ve seen now a fairly decent ride from Facile Vega, and no run at all from Marine N to ascertain his likeness as an Arkle winner, and yet it seems it’s Facile’s to lose now, based on the fact he’s ran and Marine hasn’t yet??

It’s bonkers.

3 weeks before Christmas last year, Jonbon set one of the best performances of the last 2 decades in the Henry V novices Chase according to Simon Rowlands who does all the sectionals for SS Racing.

2 weeks later, El Fabiolo nearly hit every fence in his beginners chase on his debut.

Without looking back 11- 12 months at the comments made after those two specific races, particularly El Fab’s very average debut, I think there’s enough evidence of these two ‘runs’ nearly a year ago to suggest trying to ascertain an Arkle winner (especially novices, likely to learn progressively over the next few months) is not quite as straight forward as early season form might suggest.

[Istabraq]

“It was messy, we went very slow, he missed the second-last and Danny got away on me,” said Townend.
“I liked that when I gave him a flick at the back of the last that I was back on top and it was snug by the time I got to the line.

“His jumping can sharpen up and I’d say a faster pace will help his jumping.”

He added: “He probably rides a bit bigger than he looks. I thought going along we were only in schooling mode for the majority of the race. He’d be better at a faster pace when let jump.

“The runner-up ran to a good level in Punchestown and he’s unexposed. He’s improving away the whole time and I’d say he’s growing into himself. He’s a nice yardstick, but you’d be hoping to beat him at the same time.”

I say this so often.
Sometimes I watch a 'race' and I'd be convinced the horse has tougher solo gallops each morning.
So many novices throughout history have hit fences because they're not 'racing', or certainly not going racing speed.
The analogies with El Fabiolo last year may well be fair, but in the absence of graded hurdle form Mister Policeman has more questions to ask than that one did.
His next run will be crucial to any Cheltenham chances...

[DenmanSacre]

The Florida Pearl tomorrow actually looks a decent renewal for the first time in a while.

Flooring Porter opened up 3rd fav, with Affordable Fury and Sandor Clegane joint favs with some firms (888 currently 11/2 with Sandor though if anyone wants that). Quilixios up in trip as well.

Flooring Porter fans expecting a win tomorrow?

[AaronLad]

The Florida Pearl tomorrow actually looks a decent renewal for the first time in a while.

Flooring Porter opened up 3rd fav, with Affordable Fury and Sandor Clegane joint favs with some firms (888 currently 11/2 with Sandor though if anyone wants that). Quilixios up in trip as well.

Flooring Porter fans expecting a win tomorrow?

Difficult question to answer, but ultimately yes.
He's well above these on hurdles ratings, yeah novices didn't get the chance blah blah blah but he is.
I see it as a test for an end of season tilt at open company.
if he loses tomorrow will i be gutted, yes. but many have lost on their way to winning the banc(rsa).

[DenmanSacre]

Difficult question to answer, but ultimately yes.
He's well above these on hurdles ratings, yeah novices didn't get the chance blah blah blah but he is.
I see it as a test for an end of season tilt at open company.
if he loses tomorrow will i be gutted, yes. but many have lost on their way to winning the banc(rsa).

Should be allowed to boss it from the front unless Jack tries to go with him. Could end up being one of the best 3m novice chases pre Cheltenham as there aren't too many of them. Could easily see the front 3 re opposing in the BANC depending on the performances tomorrow.

Ideally one sticks their hand up for the BANC and wins well tomorrow.

[Benjy23]

I think there's a risk of Flooring going the wrong way tomorrow. That means even if he's beat there could be excuses. Although they tell us he's matured...

Almost a backable price tomorrow to be fair.

[Ballyfitz]

Where do we think Quilixios ends up? I spent half the train ride to Ascot this morning thinking he might end up in the almost-four miler… expect him to come good after the difficult 5 year old season, and Tiger Roll did the Triumph to NHC (with a season to mature) with Gordon

I tweeted hills this morning asking them to add him to their any race market and was ignored

[Guinness Village]

Cmon the hound .
Sandor clegane tomorrow to stamp his authority in the novice staying division.

[SeanRock]

Cmon the hound .
Sandor clegane tomorrow to stamp his authority in the novice staying division.

Oh yes, I’m firmly in his camp tomorrow too GV & have a small but fairly substantial position re: the BANC too.

Think Nolan & his old Joncol owners will have a good day tomorrow, Sandor had a lovely racecourse prep last time out think that will have him spot on & Jhentong Enki form hasn’t worked out as badly as it first looked in hindsight. He’ll appreciate the step up in trip.

Im heading for Punchestown tomorrow, can’t bloody wait. Both my BANC darts on display.

[darlojim]

Oh yes, I’m firmly in his camp tomorrow too GV & have a small but fairly substantial position re: the BANC too.

Think Nolan & his old Joncol owners will have a good day tomorrow, Sandor had a lovely racecourse prep last time out think that will have him spot on & Jhentong Enki form hasn’t worked out as badly as it first looked in hindsight. He’ll appreciate the step up in trip.

Im heading for Punchestown tomorrow, can’t bloody wait. Both my BANC darts on display.

ABW also said Jhentong had a potential reason for under par run last time too (mucus i think he said)

He travelled very nicely into the race so hopefully the combination of having a run, clear nose and a step up will see him to good effect. I'm on also fingers crossed!

[Brooksie]

Il Etait Temps has the entry next week I see over 2m2f. Think he could be a player in something like the Turners come March. Looking back at his hurdle form, his best effort came when winning over Christmas. He was probably deemed a lucky winner because of how the race shaped. What with the gallop set by FV and HD it basically turned into a staying affair which played to his strengths. Going into the Supreme I thought he might have pulled off an Al Ferof but unfortunately his jumping gave him no chance, he actually did pretty well to finish 3 lengths behind Inthepocket imo.

Probably the main issue this term is going to be teaching him to settle, he's very keen even with a fast pace to aim at, Mullins did mention in a stable tour that jumping fences might help with that, but that might just be wishful thinking on his part. It will also be interesting to see how he takes to the bigger obstacles, his jumping of a hurdle left a fair bit to be desired, that's probably putting it politely.

33/1 sort of interests me though, especially when you consider horses like found a fifty and Inthepocket are a fair bit shorter. Might be one to try and get on side in running after he's jumped a few fences. Although if he jumps them like he does his hurdles he might already be on the deck by that point