2025 Novice Hurdlers

[Lobos]

….Diva Luna given a MNH haircut, maybe a bit of 20-1 available. Sounds Victorious into 25-1 AB.

Listening to Ben Pauling he was very happy with Diva Luna and says that 'her speed is deadly'. So from that I'd say she's a certainty to run in the MNH . She did well to win over 2 1/2 in Soft conditions leading all the way. Jumped and travelled well and saw it out up the hill. She's a player all right.

[Comedy of errors]

Ben Pauling "I think she's going to be better over two miles, she's deadly with her speed. She'll end up getting three miles in time but at the moment she wants to get on with life, so we'll probably drop her back to two miles and go from there., he’s covered all the bases regarding trip in one quote, if she’s deadly with her speed why on her second start step her up in trip especially as you have said she wants to get on with life, was that because she got beat first time out over 2miles and you were disappointed and now she has won and the only novice for her at Cheltenham is over two miles that will be her trip, Ben Pauling confuses me when it comes to trying to predict races as this quote seems very similar to the jukebox man

[Carnage at Taunton]

Listening to Ben Pauling he was very happy with Diva Luna and says that 'her speed is deadly'. So from that I'd say she's a certainty to run in the MNH . She did well to win over 2 1/2 in Soft conditions leading all the way. Jumped and travelled well and saw it out up the hill. She's a player all right.

It’s the obvious race for her I suppose.
She looks to me though that she would be a real contender in the Turners after watching yesterday .
She weren’t stopping in the conditions.

[Craigy14]

It’s the obvious race for her I suppose.
She looks to me though that she would be a real contender in the Turners after watching yesterday .
She weren’t stopping in the conditions.

Agree about the mares novice being the right race (whether she’s good enough to win it time will tell) but couldn’t have her at all for the Turners.

Let’s put some context in, she’s beat a horse a length and a half who himself was having his third start and was still a maiden, best rpr of 111. She’s way behind Potters Charm and The New Lion in the UK imo with the best Irish trials yet to come. She was also beat on debut by another mare who had recorded a best 103 rpr in defeat before beating Diva Luna. I’d say she’s still got a bit of improving to do to even feature in the finish of a mares novice but the standard at present is looking a little low.

Edit - the horse who beat Metkayina, It’s Hard To Know is with Pauling and was just beat 49 lengths in the Challow.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Agree about the mares novice being the right race (whether she’s good enough to win it time will tell) but couldn’t have her at all for the Turners.

Let’s put some context in, she’s beat a horse a length and a half who himself was having his third start and was still a maiden, best rpr of 111. She’s way behind Potters Charm and The New Lion in the UK imo with the best Irish trials yet to come. She was also beat on debut by another mare who had recorded a best 103 rpr in defeat before beating Diva Luna. I’d say she’s still got a bit of improving to do to even feature in the finish of a mares novice but the standard at present is looking a little low.

Edit - the horse who beat Metkayina, It’s Hard To Know is with Pauling and was just beat 49 lengths in the Challow.

Yeah thinking about it a bit more you are probably right.
Just looked like that sort of distance would suit.
Shes 16 nrmb with WH for MNH. In the specials section.
Taken a bit of that.

[Lobos]

Agree 2m is her trip this season. She was nursed home yesterday in the soft ground over that trip and did well to hold on like she did. She has had a few issues which has kept her back so there's more to come in the Spring. BP clearly really rates her so I'm expecting a big improvement on what we've seen so far. We are still to see what Mullins has to offer and still waiting to see the current fav who , the last we heard, was disappointing Willie in her work and that we wouldn't see her until the New Year. No news since. The race is certainly up for grabs.

[DenmanSacre]

Kel Histoire, Ballygunner Castle and JDV entered in a 2m non novice hurdle at Colonel next Thursday. Casheldale Lad, Bunting, Beckett Rock, Cest Ta Chance, Supersundae, You Oughta Know and some others also entered.

[Exar Essay]

Kel Histoire, Ballygunner Castle and JDV entered in a 2m non novice hurdle at Colonel next Thursday. Casheldale Lad, Bunting, Beckett Rock, Cest Ta Chance, Supersundae, You Oughta Know and some others also entered.

Munster Hurdle previously won by Gaelic Warrior and Quai De Bourbon. Looks like Willie will continue using it as prep for his 2 1/2 milers.

[Lobos]

Kel Histoire, Ballygunner Castle and JDV entered in a 2m non novice hurdle at Colonel next Thursday. Casheldale Lad, Bunting, Beckett Rock, Cest Ta Chance, Supersundae, You Oughta Know and some others also entered.

If Mundi doesn't show then maybe JDV will be Paul's ride in the Supreme?

[ComplyOrDie]

If Mundi doesn't show then maybe JDV will be Paul's ride in the Supreme?

It will be Kopek, if Mundi doesn't turn up!

JDV will end up in the Turners.


Sorry, IMO!

[DenmanSacre]

If Mundi doesn't show then maybe JDV will be Paul's ride in the Supreme?

JDV will go to Naas on Sunday you'd think and not to Clonmel.

[Quevega]

It will be Kopek, if Mundi doesn't turn up!

JDV will end up in the Turners.


Sorry, IMO!

His maiden looks strong for a 2 mile horse though.
I agree, but the only caveat being if he jumps a lot better in the lawlors and willies other supreme contenders fall away.

He could even jump like a twat again and willie might then mention the bartlett !!
But Turners looks the most likely for sure.

[ComplyOrDie]

His maiden looks strong for a 2 mile horse though.
I agree, but the only caveat being if he jumps a lot better in the lawlors and willies other supreme contenders fall away.

He could even jump like a twat again and willie might then mention the bartlett !!
But Turners looks the most likely for sure.

If Mundi & Kopek don't go well, then yeah, that certainly is an option, but I feel like this happens every year, where we talk about, then it never actually happens

All options will be open, as is the case with Willie, but sometimes I wonder how open they actually are. Maybe once or twice we get a surprise from him, but rarely is it the novice hurdlers.

Galopin from BANC to Marsh chase was one of the ones for me, that I can recall.

On another note, The New Lions price is absolute stink!!

[Exar Essay]

Kaid D’Authie will face off against Kopek at the DRF over 2 miles. Kopek will need to jump better to get the better of him in my opinion. If Kopek doesn’t win, surely he’s not going to be Paul’s pick in the Supreme.

[Quevega]

If Mundi & Kopek don't go well, then yeah, that certainly is an option, but I feel like this happens every year, where we talk about, then it never actually happens

All options will be open, as is the case with Willie, but sometimes I wonder how open they actually are. Maybe once or twice we get a surprise from him, but rarely is it the novice hurdlers.

Galopin from BANC to Marsh chase was one of the ones for me, that I can recall.

On another note, The New Lions price is absolute stink!!

A lot of the right people have talked well of the New Lion, but his price is indeed wank.
I think willie is more flexible than you think, and things change and are fluid much more than you suggest, last years novice chasers were a very good example.
There are plenty of others over the years where one absentee has changed the plans of others.

However, I think anything that has that strong a maiden form and is declared for the lawlors is much more likely Turners bound than either of the others. at this point.