2024 Novice Chasers

[Quevega]

https://www.attheraces.com/news/2023/December/13/marine-nationale-on-target-for-eagerly-awaited-fencing-debut

Leopardstown Beginners chase as many expected.

[Runragged]

https://www.attheraces.com/news/2023...-fencing-debut

Leopardstown Beginners chase as many expected.

Which is the race Inthepocket is also being targeted at? Interesting if ITP with fitness on his side turned him over where MN would then go.

[Eggs]

Trainer Noel George described Ile Est Francais as “the best horse I’ve had anything to do with” ahead of his planned British debut in the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

A Grade One-winning hurdler last year when officially trained by George’s British-based father, Tom, the five-year-old has made a fine start to his career over fences with successive victories at Auteuil.

As Ile Est Francais carries the familiar colours of part-owner Richard Kelvin-Hughes, George and his training partner Amanda Zetterholm are keen to test his powers on UK soil, and he is now being readied for a festive trip across the Channel.

“Because he’s owned by Richard Kelvin-Hughes, who has half of him, we are obviously going to want to compete in the UK at some stage,” said George.

“I thought it would be best for him to run over English-style fences early on his career so he’s learnt before he has too much of a tendency to jump like a real French chaser.

“I think the track at Kempton will suit him very well and he’s obviously still a novice, so hopefully it should be a nice opportunity.”

[Eggs]

Had a look but can't see if anything has been said?

Michael Scudamore, assistant trainer to Russell, told Racing TV: “We’re thrilled to bits, the further she went the better she looked. It’s great to get her chasing career off and going.

“She ran a nice race at Haydock, it probably wasn’t ideal to run her in a graduation chase first time over fences but such is the weather and the options at the moment you just have to go where you can.

“She learned plenty that day, she jumped well, she was careful and then today she was better again.

“She’s proven before what a good mare she is, but you could see her being really intelligent and enjoying it today.

“She’s got plenty of options and being a mare that opens up other options so we’ll have to see what the future holds for her.”

[Frankely My Dear]

Which is the race Inthepocket is also being targeted at? Interesting if ITP with fitness on his side turned him over where MN would then go.

Surely Marine Nationale (presume you mean him) is all over the Arkle based on comments today? Inthepocket could be in no mans land between the Arkle and Turners. Really looking forward to the second runs coming up for many horses.

Indiana Dream is the interesting one imo with such potential after only 3 races. The BANC and Turners both look laden with talent. Think I've inadvertently taken a book approach this year.

[ComplyOrDie]

Apple Away looked decent enough today but unfortunately she had little in the way of opposition.

For some context, the horse in 2nd today, although beat 31 lengths, was beat by a 123 rated horse on his chase debut by 6 lengths and lower rated horses in the race too. The 3rd was hammered 16 lengths on chase debut by a horse who then got hammered over 20 lengths by Broadway Boy who in turn got beat by Flooring Porter on chase debut.

In my opinion it was probably one of the easiest beginners chase races for horses who are potentially going to make up into festival horses.

She done all she could, but she's not on my radar for the BANC. She should have been winning on debut too, for me, she was favourably weighted.

[Runragged]

Surely Marine Nationale (presume you mean him) is all over the Arkle based on comments today? Inthepocket could be in no mans land between the Arkle and Turners. Really looking forward to the second runs coming up for many horses.

Indiana Dream is the interesting one imo with such potential after only 3 races. The BANC and Turners both look laden with talent. Think I've inadvertently taken a book approach this year.

Sorry, meant more that Inthepocket and Marine Nationale are going for the same novice chase. If ITP was to beat MN in that, would next step still be DRF for MN? Or, would they look to get a win into him first in January before DRF then Cheltenham.

[Frankely My Dear]

It could be interesting but I guess with that being Mariner's first time out they may not put too much weight on losing, unless by a way. I reckon Marine would stick to the same planned pathway given the confidence in him

[charlie]

Apple Away looked decent enough today but unfortunately she had little in the way of opposition.

For some context, the horse in 2nd today, although beat 31 lengths, was beat by a 123 rated horse on his chase debut by 6 lengths and lower rated horses in the race too. The 3rd was hammered 16 lengths on chase debut by a horse who then got hammered over 20 lengths by Broadway Boy who in turn got beat by Flooring Porter on chase debut.

In my opinion it was probably one of the easiest beginners chase races for horses who are potentially going to make up into festival horses.

She done all she could, but she's not on my radar for the BANC. She should have been winning on debut too, for me, she was favourably weighted.

Great post COD. Proper red herring performance that one IMO. I said I wouldn't back AA for the BANC at 50/1 over the summer and at no point throughout the season so far has that view changed. Backers will obviously take encouragement from a 30L win which is fair enough but the context you provide wouldn't have it near BANC standard IMO

[Runragged]

Apple Away looked decent enough today but unfortunately she had little in the way of opposition.

For some context, the horse in 2nd today, although beat 31 lengths, was beat by a 123 rated horse on his chase debut by 6 lengths and lower rated horses in the race too. The 3rd was hammered 16 lengths on chase debut by a horse who then got hammered over 20 lengths by Broadway Boy who in turn got beat by Flooring Porter on chase debut.

In my opinion it was probably one of the easiest beginners chase races for horses who are potentially going to make up into festival horses.

She done all she could, but she's not on my radar for the BANC. She should have been winning on debut too, for me, she was favourably weighted.

That race was a handicap running off 133, so beat just over 6 lengths gives it running to around 128. The handicapper dropped him by 1lb for it. If he has run to around the 128 again then Apple Away has ran to at least her 141 hurdles mark if not a little higher. Obviously small field races are hard to assess as it just takes a couple not to run to form for the result to flatter the winner. However, it's not as though Apple Away was 1/10 and the runner up was with a small yard. It was Evens-6/4 the pair and a Paul Nicholls runner making his second start over fences having been progressive in 6 hurdle starts. Her debut run was 3rd behind Galliard Du Mesnil, the NH Winner and Grey Dawning who had fitness on his side and was very impressive. Connections have also said that the graduation chase wasn't ideal, especially over a trip too short, but they wanted to get a run into her after two previous attempts were aborted due to the weather. Grade 1 hurdles winner but like all of them, they still have something to prove over fences. Her 7lb allowance though could be valuable considering I don't think there will be much between several of them.

[FinalFurlong91]

It was a similar standard of race to Klassical Dreams

Won very well but beat absolutely nothing

Learn more next time

Chucking her in on debut against grey dawning and GDM wasn't exactly great race planning

Much like running Giovinco in the kauto star shortly after his very hard race against stay away fay will likely end up being.

And running Ahoy senor a horse with jumping problems in a race like the coral gold cup.

They know much more about horses/racing than me but I could definitely map out better races for those horses than they have this season.

[Brooksie]

Great post COD. Proper red herring performance that one IMO. I said I wouldn't back AA for the BANC at 50/1 over the summer and at no point throughout the season so far has that view changed. Backers will obviously take encouragement from a 30L win which is fair enough but the context you provide wouldn't have it near BANC standard IMO

I don't think anyone would be making a case she'll win a Bancs on the back of today's race tbh. Lucinda was just getting her out again for some fencing experience.

I think it would be unwise to completely dismiss her. She won well enough at Aintree last year. SAF had a clean passage throughout the race, there wasn't any hard luck stories in running for him. The only thing you could say is maybe he bounced, but I'd not be sure that was the case, Maximilian beat him twice last term similar distances and there was some decent horses in behind that have franked that form this term. He's 5/1 at the moment the mare can be backed at four times the price.

I'd also add Lucinda's horses tend to come on as the season progresses I don't think they'd have been overly disappointed with her first time out despite the fact she was well beat.

[jack1092]

25Nov23 Haydock (21.5Sft, RPR 120)



For a first run over fences Apple Away has performed brilliantly. She's been clever in front of a fence, she's got plenty of scope, she needs an extra half mile at least, if not a mile. She's just been outpaced - Lucinda Russell, trainer.

Says it all about Apple's Away really.

[Kevloaf]

I don't think anyone would be making a case she'll win a Bancs on the back of today's race tbh. Lucinda was just getting her out again for some fencing experience.

I think it would be unwise to completely dismiss her. She won well enough at Aintree last year. SAF had a clean passage throughout the race, there wasn't any hard luck stories in running for him. The only thing you could say is maybe he bounced, but I'd not be sure that was the case, Maximilian beat him twice last term similar distances and there was some decent horses in behind that have franked that form this term. He's 5/1 at the moment the mare can be backed at four times the price.

I'd also add Lucinda's horses tend to come on as the season progresses I don't think they'd have been overly disappointed with her first time out despite the fact she was well beat.

I must be unwise, but she's so easy to dismiss ............ I mean come on, really, Apples Away




Absolutely no chance. She's not even in the conversation. She hasn't beaten a horse that'd be shorter than 100/1 in a BANC has she?

Only horse she's met that would is Grey Dawning, who walloped her 14L


Absolutely pie in the sky to fancy her for a BANC ..... No one that didn't back her before she ran would fancy her, it's confirmation bias and she's just not good enough. Move on.

[Eggs]

….i’ll be keeping an eye on this fella today;

Spanish Harlem
5g Spanish Moon - Souverainete
Dr SP Fitzgerald
1322P-
RPR 130h OR 131h

‘When we bought him chasing was always what we were looking forward to, so he'll go novice chasing. He looks a stayer to me. He's shaping up nicely, jumps well, so is probably going to be a Brown Advisory sort. I think he's a real nice type. He got a full summer out at grass with us, which did him the world of good, and I think we might see him fulfilling his potential this season.‘

I remember in last years Stable Tour Mullins saying he was all about chasing, Even then I got the impression they liked him.