2024 Novice Chasers

[Ray]

Paul Nolan says SANDOR CLEGANE will have a wind operation and "plans are on hold" for the time being, per
@RacingTV: "We are going to get his wind tweaked a bit. During the race we couldn’t say that we were happy but we still think there is more to come from him. "He was beaten a long way and Flooring Porter hung so badly that you could say he would have been a good second and we’d have been third. I’m hoping that we’ll get things right and that there is more to come from him."

surely hes starting to be expensive to follow now

get him in that NH chase! Soon pay for himself

[Frankely My Dear]

I've cashed my Sandor bets in, can't see him being competitive in any race come March even the NHC. This wind op would have to be a miracle imo.

[ComplyOrDie]

surely hes starting to be expensive to follow now

get him in that NH chase! Soon pay for himself

Yeah, not one I've got onside anymore.

More likely end up in a handicap if anything, IMO.

[Kevloaf]

Yeah, not one I've got onside anymore.

More likely end up in a handicap if anything, IMO.

He's the exact kind of horse I'll get on the radar for the handicaps, keep backing him as he continues to disappoint, then he'll pop up and win one at 25/1+ when he's forgotten about and I go searching through the forum to find this message

[FinalFurlong91]

Yeah, not one I've got onside anymore.

More likely end up in a handicap if anything, IMO.

Irish national would be my guess

That's also what's stopped me from backing either three card brag or favori de champdou for the NHC

The meetings are very close this year

And big gordo is currently 600k ahead of Willie in the trainers title

Gordon has a good Christmas he might be going all guns blazing to win the irish national if hes half a sniff at the trainers title

[Brooksie]

I've been trying to figure out how they split Harmonya Maker and Halka Du Tabert down at Cullentra.

I've originally backed Halka Du Tabert for the turners at decent odds and although its probably more likely she goes for the mares chase, I've still not completely given up on the bet. If found a fifty won well at the weekend I'd have probably conceded, but the only realistic one now in the turners would be American Mike, and I'm still not convinced his win against fact to file now means he's going to be beating the best once upped in grade. If American Mike gets put in his place at Christmas options will start to look limited. We know Gordon isn't afraid to run his best mares against the geldings. Riviere Detel and Shattered Love spring to mind.

Harmonya Maker runs on Sunday, it was an impressive start beating Brandy Love and Eabh Grace, She was a bit of a weird one last season, she looked super impressive on a couple of occasions but could never back it up. It will be interesting to see if she can back up her debut performance. Winning well would see her price contract for the Mares but with HDT already running over further it might be more logical to split them by sending HM to the Arkle, another race Gordon looks a bit thin on.

Any thoughts?

[AaronLad]

I've been trying to figure out how they split Harmonya Maker and Halka Du Tabert down at Cullentra.

I've originally backed Halka Du Tabert for the turners at decent odds and although its probably more likely she goes for the mares chase, I've still not completely given up on the bet. If found a fifty won well at the weekend I'd have probably conceded, but the only realistic one now in the turners would be American Mike, and I'm still not convinced his win against fact to file now means he's going to be beating the best once upped in grade. If American Mike gets put in his place at Christmas options will start to look limited. We know Gordon isn't afraid to run his best mares against the geldings. Riviere Detel and Shattered Love spring to mind.

Harmonya Maker runs on Sunday, it was an impressive start beating Brandy Love and Eabh Grace, She was a bit of a weird one last season, she looked super impressive on a couple of occasions but could never back it up. It will be interesting to see if she can back up her debut performance. Winning well would see her price contract for the Mares but with HDT already running over further it might be more logical to split them by sending HM to the Arkle, another race Gordon looks a bit thin on.

Any thoughts?

Harmonya maker likes the ground deep. And the way she won over 2 miles the last day, a soft ground arkle mght not be out of the question IMO. But cheltenham might not be on her agenda.
Halka du tabert is much less ground dependent.
i'd be surprised if they were to go back in trip with her.
The mares chase over 2m5f on the new course this season will be ideal, if she wins i'd expect a gold cup campaign next season.

[Rooster Booster]

Irish national would be my guess

That's also what's stopped me from backing either three card brag or favori de champdou for the NHC

The meetings are very close this year

And big gordo is currently 600k ahead of Willie in the trainers title

Gordon has a good Christmas he might be going all guns blazing to win the irish national if hes half a sniff at the trainers title

I understand your perspective but hes had about 700 runners in it and won it once. Significantly less runners in the NHC and he’s won it 4 times. Stick to what works I’d say. It may be worth more than the nhc but it’s also exponentially harder to win. Im not unduly worried.

[Rooster Booster]

I've been trying to figure out how they split Harmonya Maker and Halka Du Tabert down at Cullentra.

I've originally backed Halka Du Tabert for the turners at decent odds and although its probably more likely she goes for the mares chase, I've still not completely given up on the bet. If found a fifty won well at the weekend I'd have probably conceded, but the only realistic one now in the turners would be American Mike, and I'm still not convinced his win against fact to file now means he's going to be beating the best once upped in grade. If American Mike gets put in his place at Christmas options will start to look limited. We know Gordon isn't afraid to run his best mares against the geldings. Riviere Detel and Shattered Love spring to mind.

Harmonya Maker runs on Sunday, it was an impressive start beating Brandy Love and Eabh Grace, She was a bit of a weird one last season, she looked super impressive on a couple of occasions but could never back it up. It will be interesting to see if she can back up her debut performance. Winning well would see her price contract for the Mares but with HDT already running over further it might be more logical to split them by sending HM to the Arkle, another race Gordon looks a bit thin on.

Any thoughts?

Yes I’d be very confident they have HDT a level or two above HM. I also believe he thinks he has the best chase mare in training and he will want to prove it in March. They are my thoughts right or wrong

[Brooksie]

Yes I’d be very confident they have HDT a level or two above HM. I also believe he thinks he has the best chase mare in training and he will want to prove it in March. They are my thoughts right or wrong

fwiw, I think she's way ahead too. Just interesting to see how he splits them if Harmonya Maker makes the necessary improvement.

AaronLad Hadn't thought about the ground with Harmonya Maker. Now you mention it, her below par performances have all come on yielding. With you with the gold cup.

[ComplyOrDie]

Hiddenvalley Lake, Saint Felicien, Indiana Dream & Shanbally Kid all declared for the Beginners Chase over 2m4f at Navan on Saturday.

[Runragged]

Paul Nolan says SANDOR CLEGANE will have a wind operation and "plans are on hold" for the time being, per
@RacingTV: "We are going to get his wind tweaked a bit. During the race we couldn’t say that we were happy but we still think there is more to come from him. "He was beaten a long way and Flooring Porter hung so badly that you could say he would have been a good second and we’d have been third. I’m hoping that we’ll get things right and that there is more to come from him."

Interesting. I didn't think it was that bad a run. He jumped left handed, not as extravagant as Flooring Porter but still headed that way at each fence. Travelled pretty well before not finding as much as expected though the yard was in very poor form at the time (1 winner from 34 runners in November). He also peaked at Cheltenham last year. However, two runs and no wins so thoughts tend to drift towards the handicaps or as a 6yo still then be thrown in the deep end with one eye as a potential second season novice.

[Guinness Village]

Am I a complete fruitcake, but did JD on upping the ante mention Gaelic going to the kauto star?

[Guinness Village]

I probably misheard.

[Fouroverthrutwo]

Golden Sun for Paul Nicholls / Johnny De La Hey is declared at Aintree on Saturday. He was off for 556 days (due to heat in a leg) but made a creditable UK debut a month ago finishing a decent second to Iroko who is unfortunately out for the season. Golden Sun had some decent juvenile hurdle form in France (won a grade 2 hurdle and 2nd in a grade 1) before running in a chase prior to being sold to Nicholls.
Given he is still a novice over fences, he might be one to keep an eye on for The Turners for which he's currently priced at 66/1.
Nicholls was keen on him and put him up as a horse to follow last season but decided to give him the year off to recover.