June ‘24 Yankee

[Saxon Warrior]

….any views on Il Etait Temps for Ryanair available at 14-1? Case put up in the diary section after he beat Gaelic over 2m at Punchestown.

I wouldn't put you of those thoughts at all Eggs

Three Grade 1 Novice Chase wins in a season when you move from a 5yo into a 6yo, is probably among the top two or three Grade 1 hauls on any Novice Chaser last season.

Particularly if you throw in the Grade 1, 2nd and 3rd, to complete the 5x he ran in that class.

Gaelic Warrior Won 2 Grade 1's (RPR best 172)
Grey Dawning Won 1 Grade 1 NovCH (RPR 165)
Ginnys Destiny Won 0 (RPR 162)

Il Etait Temps
Put up 167 and 165 in his 2 Grade 1 wins after Cheltenham over 2M4F and 2M respectively.

Willie said after his Aintree win.....

"That was nice. I loved the manner in whichIl Etait Temps did it. I was really taken with how he walked round the parade ring before the race - I haven't seen him as loose for a while, and I thought if he could run like he walked, he'd run a big race. And then when he jumped off at the start, I think for the first three-quarters of a circuit, I was very worried. He just seemed very behind himself, and I don't think he'll need his hood in future. But he warmed to his task, jumped well later in the race and he just kept galloping. Jukebox Jury is a right sire and we'll be using more of him. I think probably trip is more important than track to him. He did win over two miles, but this performance today over two and a half is fantastic. At this end of the season horses are tired and he took a bit of time to warm into it, but I'm happy that he's going to improve for further a trip as he gets older. He's a fine horse, probably only 16.1hh if that - the normal sort for today is a big 16.3hh chaser - and the important thing about him is that he turns up for everything. He's made of iron. There's never an issue with him, and that counts for a great deal" - Willie Mullins, trainer.

I've backed him for the Ryanair, after his Aintree win, and would have him in any of these Summer Yankees, at the price he is.

On ratings he's right on track for a 6yo Novice chaser, going into open company, for a Ryanair, and not far off a QMCC either.

Particularly given his best performance was over the midtrip, from only 2 goes at it (the other being on Heavy ground at Limerick when a Grade 1 second to Gaelic Warrior).

[Eggs]

….terrific summary, Saxon Warrior I took the 14s and used Hills double odds on him.

At the moment, I’m thinking;

Kopek des Bordes (25s/33s decision to be made on Sup/Gall or possibly half stakes on each option with cash-out)
Il Etait Temps (14-1 Ry)
Maughreen (3-1 MNH) R4H a decent steer as per target, lots of hype and might be worth getting her in one of these.

[Saxon Warrior]

….terrific summary, Saxon Warrior I took the 14s and used Hills double odds on him.

At the moment, I’m thinking;

Kopek des Bordes (25s/33s decision to be made on Sup/Gall or possibly half stakes on each option with cash-out)
Il Etait Temps (14-1 Ry)
Maughreen (3-1 MNH) R4H a decent steer as per target, lots of hype and might be worth getting her in one of these.

If one of the longshots won, you'd be happy to have a shortie in there

I'm comfortable, even in a Yankee focused on longer priced horses, this far out, to have one 'anchor' short price one, to help the chances of registering a payout.

[Quevega]

….terrific summary, Saxon Warrior I took the 14s and used Hills double odds on him.

At the moment, I’m thinking;

Kopek des Bordes (25s/33s decision to be made on Sup/Gall or possibly half stakes on each option with cash-out)
Il Etait Temps (14-1 Ry)
Maughreen (3-1 MNH) R4H a decent steer as per target, lots of hype and might be worth getting her in one of these.

Maughreen @ 3-1 (with the greatest respect to members/backers and connections) is fucking dogshit (as an antepost bet right now)

More wanker than anchor IMO.
Especially given horses like Teahupoo are still available at 3-1.

Just thought I'd pop in and give my ten penneth.
Carry on

[Ice]

Maughreen @ 3-1 (with the greatest respect to members/backers and connections) is fucking dogshit (as an antepost bet right now)

More wanker than anchor IMO.
Especially given horses like Teahupoo are still available at 3-1.

Just thought I'd pop in and give my ten penneth.
Carry on

Reading between the lines i get the impression you're not in favour of backing maughreen @ 3/1 q !? must agree that teauphoo at the same price is far more appealing.

[Spectre]

Given the relative weakness (Ballyburn aside), of the novice hurdle division last season, and with Sir Gino and Mystical Power both already said to be highly likely hurdling again next season, I'd say The Arkle is worth including in one of these. Given Slade Steel won the Supreme, and HdB has such a good record with Novice Chasers, I'd probably side with him. 12/1 is fair enough imo.

For the same reasons I think the Browns is worth looking at. Genuine contenders are thin on the ground and it wouldn't take much narrowing down. Willie has Dancing City, and we may already have him in one of these, but Quai de Bourbon and Reading Tommy Wrong are both worth a look. The latter was ahead of Dancing City in the Closutton pecking order pre-Festival and if like me, others are happy to put a line through the Bartlett run I think 25/1 is quite big. Plus the owners have Impaire Et Passe for the Turners, so I don't think there's much risk of him going back in trip.

Overall though antepost opportunities are slim pickings this year, and bigger prices are all going to come with risks. So at current best prices this would be my choice:

Kopek Des Bordes (Supreme for me) 25/1 (or split stake Supreme/Gallaghers as has been suggested)
Slade Steel (Arkle) 12/1
Reading Tommy Wrong (Brown Advisory) 25/1
Il Etait Temps (Ryanair) 14/1 - (Although I still very much like Found A Fifty at 40/1 for it. He surely goes up in trip rather than following horses into the Champion Chase, and I'm convinced he'll improve for the trip)

I'm also in the camp that Maughreen at 3/1 is much too short to consider for this, but would obviously defer to the consensus.

[Saxon Warrior]

Given the relative weakness (Ballyburn aside), of the novice hurdle division last season, and with Sir Gino and Mystical Power both already said to be highly likely hurdling again next season, I'd say The Arkle is worth including in one of these. Given Slade Steel won the Supreme, and HdB has such a good record with Novice Chasers, I'd probably side with him. 12/1 is fair enough imo.

For the same reasons I think the Browns is worth looking at. Genuine contenders are thin on the ground and it wouldn't take much narrowing down. Willie has Dancing City, and we may already have him in one of these, but Quai de Bourbon and Reading Tommy Wrong are both worth a look. The latter was ahead of Dancing City in the Closutton pecking order pre-Festival and if like me, others are happy to put a line through the Bartlett run I think 25/1 is quite big. Plus the owners have Impaire Et Passe for the Turners, so I don't think there's much risk of him going back in trip.

Overall though antepost opportunities are slim pickings this year, and bigger prices are all going to come with risks. So at current best prices this would be my choice:

Kopek Des Bordes (Supreme for me) 25/1 (or split stake Supreme/Gallaghers as has been suggested)
Slade Steel (Arkle) 12/1
Reading Tommy Wrong (Brown Advisory) 25/1
Il Etait Temps (Ryanair) 14/1 - (Although I still very much like Found A Fifty at 40/1 for it. He surely goes up in trip rather than following horses into the Champion Chase, and I'm convinced he'll improve for the trip)

I'm also in the camp that Maughreen at 3/1 is much too short to consider for this, but would obviously defer to the consensus.

Spectre

Im broadly in line with you

Ive backed, in those races

Gallagher/Supreme (bigger on Gallaghers)
Kopek Des Bordes

Gallagher only
Romeo Coolio

Arkle
Slade Steel

Brown Advisory
Dancing City
Ballyburn & Caldwell Potter - but at bigger prices than they are currently

Ryanair Chase
Found A Fifty - got at big prices, and hes still far too big in my opinion (but is also a big priced QMCC horse - backed for that too)
Il Etait Temps

So any of those, at big prices, with an appropriate shortie (if we go that way) to add to them

I have been surprised how unsung Found A Fifty and Il Etait Temps appear to be particularly FAF at 40s Ryanair and 50s QMCC, they remain higher than I expect to see.

Theres probably only El Fab and Jonbon from the experienced chasers to clearly stand in their way in the QMCC and Ryanair, and Gaelic Warrior from the group of Novices

Energumene and Allaho I am less certain of how good they will be, and when they will return..

[Spectre]

Spectre

Im broadly in line with you

Ive backed, in those races

Gallagher/Supreme (bigger on Gallaghers)
Kopek Des Bordes

Gallagher only
Romeo Coolio

Arkle
Slade Steel

Brown Advisory
Dancing City
Ballyburn & Caldwell Potter - but at bigger prices than they are currently

Ryanair Chase
Found A Fifty - got at big prices, and hes still far too big in my opinion (but is also a big priced QMCC horse - backed for that too)
Il Etait Temps

So any of those, at big prices, with an appropriate shortie (if we go that way) to add to them

I have been surprised how unsung Found A Fifty and Il Etait Temps appear to be particularly FAF at 40s Ryanair and 50s QMCC, they remain higher than I expect to see.

Theres probably only El Fab and Jonbon from the experienced chasers to clearly stand in their way in the QMCC and Ryanair, and Gaelic Warrior from the group of Novices

Energumene and Allaho I am less certain of how good they will be, and when they will return..

Unless the Champion Chase cuts up Found A Fifty surely goes up in trip Sax. There's no point in chasing last seasons best novice 2 milers around again, plus then taking on the best current open 2 mile chasers. He's bred for a trip, and I think he improves again for two and half miles. There's already racing evidence for the fact that he get's just slightly outpaced and then runs hard through the line. I've taken a good position on him at 50's and 40's, and he appears in some nice looking multis for the Ryanair. He's the kind of haymaker I'd really like to see in one of these. 40/1 connecting to something else would be very nice.

Jalon D'oudairies is one I like for The Gallaghers. I think comments last season suggest he's more likely to go to two and a half than Romeo Coolio, who I think is the pacier of the two. The fact that Jack Kennedy chose him over Romeo Coolio suggests that they thought he was the better of the two. His run in the Champion Bumper suggested up in trip is what he wants. He was essentially passed by two quicker horses before closing up the hill.

One left field one I like at a price is Gaboriot for the Hunter Chase. At 14/1 I think he's a very good price for the best young hunter chaser this season. He's in good hands, and I'm still far from convinced that Cheltenham shows Its On The Line in the best light. He was beaten this year, and was definitely better over the shorter trip at Aintree. Punchestown was over further but was an easier race to win. The problem with including Gaboriot is that he's only quoted with Unibet.

[Saxon Warrior]

Found A Fifty is one of the best 2M Novice Chasers along with Il Etait Temps and Gaelic Warrior.

I think they could all be involved next March.

I'd be hoping Gaelic Warrior will pitch into the QMCC.

El Fab may be there too - so if he is then that could mean Il Etait Temps to the Ryanair.

Found Fifty could go either, and I'm not fussed which way (he is big prices either way)

Form over Fences

121221

2M3.5F BeginCH Win - RPR 144

2M4F Grade 1 NovCH 2nd - RPR 155
Btn 2.5L to 2nd Season Chaser, and Itish National winner - I Am Maximus

2M1F - Grade 1 NovCH 1st - RPR 152

2M1F - Grade 1 Irish Arkle 2nd - RPR 155
2nd btn Neck by Il Etait Temps

2M - Grade 1 Arkle NovCH 2nd - RPR 161
2nd btn 8.5L by Gaelic Warrior

2M - Grade 1 Aintree NovCH 1st - RPR 162

Gaelic Warrior, Found A Fifty and Il Etait Temps, the 1st three in the Arkle this year, will offer fierce competition in Open Company, in those 2 open divisions that look light

Im happy enough, to suggest Found A Fifty at big prices for both races.

Mostly because
Whilst it's fun to surmise their best trips (if theyre unknown), in June - often enough, reality bites between now and March and one key injury (or two) and plans could become fluid and changeable

[Eggs]

…..good stuff, especially IET v FAF for a Ryanair selection. Slade Steel Arkle for anybody?

Still no sign of MoM, a bit of ammunition if somebody wants to be on stand-by as volunteer captain this month.

[JackieMoon33]

Maughreen @ 3-1 (with the greatest respect to members/backers and connections) is fucking dogshit (as an antepost bet right now)

More wanker than anchor IMO.
Especially given horses like Teahupoo are still available at 3-1.

Just thought I'd pop in and give my ten penneth.
Carry on

Could not agree more! 3/1 for any novice hurdler in June is vile. Jade De Grugy went off at 2/1 last year and had two victories to her name (including a Grade 3) and only managed 4th. 3/1 for Maughreen right now is lunacy.

[Eggs]

….I get the impression Maughreen isn’t popular, so I can’t see her being included

I’m still on holiday for another week and full of dark rum, still hoping MOM pops in but it would be good to have somebody volunteer as stand-by Captain in case we need to make selections next Monday.

[Spectre]

Happy to do so if needed Eggs.

[HoldenTheReins]

Happy to do so if needed Eggs.

Hey Paul, it's a longshot but surely Langer Dan is done with handicaps and I believe they said he's too small to go chasing. So any idea if he will go to the stayers?

[Istabraq]

Hey Paul, it's a longshot but surely Langer Dan is done with handicaps and I believe they said he's too small to go chasing. So any idea if he will go to the stayers?

That's pretty much the only route for him now I'd say.
If they want to get clever there are a few big French pots available in the Spring, those may well be in reach, I'm not convinced he's capable of winning a Stayers Hurdle...