2025 Novice Hurdlers

[The hill]

….Hills NRNB ‘Road to Cheltenham’ special;

Funiculi Funicula (Sup) 33-1; (Turn) 33-1

25s now. .

[Eggs]

25s now. .

…I highlighted the 33s because I thought it was decent NRNB, especially as PP only go 16-1 ante-post for Supreme.

[AaronLad]

Interesting little novice rated at navan on Saturday.
casheldale lad, ballygunner Castle , cest ta chance and James Gate all declared.

[Exar Essay]

…I highlighted the 33s because I thought it was decent NRNB, especially as PP only go 16-1 ante-post for Supreme.

It's till 33-1 on my app? I've boosted it and taken it, thanks Eggs.

[ComplyOrDie]

Interesting little novice rated at navan on Saturday.
casheldale lad, ballygunner Castle , cest ta chance and James Gate all declared.

James's Gate is very interesting. Not so much for this particular race, but going forward in a handicap. Rated 127 in Ireland. Needs one more run after this race to get into them at Cheltenham.

[ComplyOrDie]

Springt De La Mer winning the first at Fairyhouse giving a form boost to both Workahead & The Big Westerner (over a different trip, admittedly).

[Leman14]

Fairly impressive there from Kiss Will.
Hasn't beaten much BUT did it with ease and the front two pulled well clear of thr remainder.

more impressive than FF yesterday anyway (imo)

Is there time to get another run in (comfortably) before Cheltenham - or one you'd keep for the later festivals...??

[Eggs]

….Kiss Will into 16-1 Sup, 20-1 Turn (PP/SB still offer 40-1 Turn) after that win.

[Craigy14]

I think a lot of the WPM runners this week will likely be social runners, 2nd or 3rd string, if they go to the festivals.

Surely if they are up the pecking order they would have been out at Xmas like the rest of the ‘top novices’ in the yard.

That’s the way I see it, for all we have seen 2 or 3 good performances.

[Can't Catch Me]

I think a lot of the WPM runners this week will likely be social runners, 2nd or 3rd string, if they go to the festivals.

Surely if they are up the pecking order they would have been out at Xmas like the rest of the ‘top novices’ in the yard.

That’s the way I see it, for all we have seen 2 or 3 good performances.

Couldn't agree more mate

[riccirich]

I think a lot of the WPM runners this week will likely be social runners, 2nd or 3rd string, if they go to the festivals.

Surely if they are up the pecking order they would have been out at Xmas like the rest of the ‘top novices’ in the yard.

That’s the way I see it, for all we have seen 2 or 3 good performances.

Both kiss will and funiculi funicula have been balloted out of earlier races, maybe even twice each, while also being due to run at a meeting that was abandoned. So it's not by design that they are out late.

[Exar Essay]

Both kiss will and funiculi funicula have been balloted out of earlier races, maybe even twice each, while also being due to run at a meeting that was abandoned. So it's not by design that they are out late.

Yes, the Cork race was two weeks ago too. So I reckon he'd have been in the DRF entries if he'd run like he did toady but on 3rd Jan as scheduled. Too close now.

[Eggs]

Yes, the Cork race was two weeks ago too. So I reckon he'd have been in the DRF entries if he'd run like he did toady but on 3rd Jan as scheduled. Too close now.

….post-race comments might be of interest.

[Craigy14]

Both kiss will and funiculi funicula have been balloted out of earlier races, maybe even twice each, while also being due to run at a meeting that was abandoned. So it's not by design that they are out late.

I thought they were just not declared.

Either way though, surely they would have been out over Xmas which is the main time, well December anytime (weather delayed this year) for WPM’s main novices? Not saying they can’t win etc but having been balloted out or whatever reason they haven’t run till now, as EE says, they’ll likely not get another race in or not one upped in Grade to test them at the DRF with only being 3 weeks away. Even then are any of them likely to be 1st string which was more my point as well.

[Can't Catch Me]

Guess either or both could go to Punchestown for the race Tullyhill won and maybe get themselves on the boat there? Although not ideal. Neither will make my shortlist.