October ‘23 Yankee

[Quevega]

Stage Star seems decent value given todays news.
16-1 B365.
Festival winner and named target.
Good age, decent trainer.

Only just backed him myself as the Paddy Power Gold cup is on his agenda and not sure he'd win that even though he may go off close to favourite off near the top of the weights.
Was going to wait for a win today bet as a saver, for my main selection in the Paddy Power.
But backed him today.
If he did win the Paddy Power off his current mark though, he'd be a worthy favourite for the Ryanair, as those in front of him are very unlikely to run in the race.

[JamieSensible]

Known Targets:

• Stage Star - Ryanair
• Kateria - Mares Hurdle
• Maskada - Mares Chase
• Sir Gino - Triumph

theme is known targets, can't say better than that at this time of the year.

I don't particularly like the 'themed' ones we normally do, but this seems as good as anything at this stage.

[Eggs]

Stage Star seems decent value given todays news.
16-1 B365.
Festival winner and named target.
Good age, decent trainer.

Only just backed him myself as the Paddy Power Gold cup is on his agenda and not sure he'd win that even though he may go off close to favourite off near the top of the weights.
Was going to wait for a win today bet as a saver, for my main selection in the Paddy Power.
But backed him today.
If he did win the Paddy Power off his current mark though, he'd be a worthy favourite for the Ryanair, as those in front of him are very unlikely to run in the race.

…PP/BFSB & Sky offer 66-1 Stage Star to win PPGC & Ryanair.

[Quevega]

…PP/BFSB & Sky offer 66-1 Stage Star to win PPGC & Ryanair.

Cheers eggs, I'll be waiting until decs I reckon, but that sort of price wouldn;t put me off, if he;s around 5-1 or shorter for the PP (I know he's priced at 8's already).

[Ice]

Cheers eggs, I'll be waiting until decs I reckon, but that sort of price wouldn;t put me off, if he;s around 5-1 or shorter for the PP (I know he's priced at 8's already).

I can see him shortening for the paddy power, surely be favourite on the day, i would have thought.

[Quevega]

I can see him shortening for the paddy power, surely be favourite on the day, i would have thought.

That would be my guess too

[Eggs]

…PP/BFSB & Sky offer 66-1 Stage Star to win PPGC & Ryanair.

….50-1 now with Sky.

[Middle_Of_March]

I wouldn’t be keen on a UK only yankee to be honest lads. With Ireland winning such a huge amount of races every year, to find the races the UK would win would be a hard enough task let alone finding specific horses too. It’s not for me but I’m happy to hear others thoughts on it.


Stage Star as a selection itself though I’d be keener on. Haven’t backed him for anything at this stage but he’s a likely target and it’s a fair enough price.

[Eggs]

I wouldn’t be keen on a UK only yankee to be honest lads. With Ireland winning such a huge amount of races every year, to find the races the UK would win would be a hard enough task let alone finding specific horses too. It’s not for me but I’m happy to hear others thoughts on it.


Stage Star as a selection itself though I’d be keener on. Haven’t backed him for anything at this stage but he’s a likely target and it’s a fair enough price.

….agree, I’m not keen on a UK only Yankee. I do think the stable tours should inform 4 selections, with the likes of the Stayers Hurdle being tipped on its head and horses like Stage Star namechecked for specific races.

[Odin]

Copied and pasted from July's yankee thread. Surprised at how well this has aged given most of my thoughts have gone to shit. Even a mention for West Balboa and I had no recollection of it when watching Spectre's videos!

Marie's Rock Stayers Hurdle.

Her Relkeel run definitely made her look like a Stayer. I didn't think it was the right race for her last year as she wasn't campaigned as a stayer through the season - in the end, the Mares was arguably worse because it turned into a sprint that didn't suit her so counts as a write off race in my eyes. She beat Flooring Porter 6.5 lengths at Aintree when coming second to Sire Du Berlais who surely can't win another Grade 1 at the age of 329 next year?! She lost a hind shoe in that race after travelling like the best horse - did it affect her? We'll probably never know. Did she stay? Definitely better than Flooring so I'm not worried on that front. She's a multiple Grade 1 winning mare who's won 4 of her last 5 wins "readily" according to RP comments but needs to learn to settle slightly in my eyes (I know Rooster Booster just thinks that's her way of travelling). Hopefully a full season campaigned at the Stayers will help with that and this target/campaign was confirmed post-Aintree.

There will be horses that come out of the woodwork for this race - there always are. However, doubts about Gaelic target, ability to go left handed and also Klassical Dream pisses up at Punchestown every year but does nothing at Cheltenham. Teahupoo an obvious chance but maybe needs softish ground (the reverse of MR who needs good ground probably). Impaire Et Passe and Vauban don't go. You Wear It Well is surely chasing or Mares Hurdle, hopefully the former. Klassical Dream doesn't perform best at the track, Sire Du Berlais maybe too old. Flooring Porter might not be the same horse or might be a big threat with an uninterrupted preparation. Corbett's Cross and Stay Away Fay go chasing? The Nice Guy definitely would have a chance if the same horse and staying hurdling seems an obvious option for him now, particularly if GW goes chasing. Blazing Khal probably didn't stay this time, not sure what the plans are for Irish Point. I know Shoot First has been mentioned, but surely he goes for Pertemps to finish the plot? Good Time Jonny also been mentioned, similar angle to Sire Du Berlais, stepping up from Pertemps, but I'd prefer a Grade 1 winning unexposed at the trip mare at this point. West Balboa another mare with a possible chance, but I was burned by Langer Dan last year so wary of getting involved with her too quickly.

[Lobos]

Very good Odin. As you say, aged very well.

[Istabraq]

Yep, strong case for Maries Rock to be included.
Hendo got it wrong last year running in the Mares hurdle and that race won't be any easier to win this season, she is fine over 3m and finding credible contenders in the staying hurdle division is an impossible task.
She'd be a solid pick for me...

[Quevega]

I think the recent news and OFTS stuff brings home how fragile some of the positions in the markets are.
I think the thin looking markets look to be in three of the biggest Chase races at the festival.
Stage Star has already been mentioned.

Jonbon, champion chase, and Bravemansgame Gold cup both look very solid each way selections, and could easily go off short price fav's if the current favourites missed out, and neither would be without a chance on the day anyway. The most attractive side of these 2 selections IMO is the likelihood of them getting beat pre-festival is relatively small, as the competition in the races they'll likely turn up in is unlikely to be too hot, unless Mullins sends any over, which seems unlikely this season as he has not got shit loads in the 2 mile division and tends to ignore the betfair chase and king george with his better horses anyhow.

[Quevega]

Fact to File also looks solid enough at a good price 14-1 for the turners, there is a risk that he goes RSA I suppose, but with him not having a hurdle campaign, then the mid trip would appear more likely. And Mullins throwing him over fences should be taken as a positive, and a negative for his other novice chasers at staying trips.

[Lobos]

Hinted that El Fabiolo could run in Tingle Creek so an early season match up with Bon Jovi could potentially be on the cards. Also the King George may be where Allaho goes if his comeback race at Clonmel goes to plan.