2025 Novice Hurdlers

[AaronLad]

Battle born lad did what I thought he might there.
shame he hasn't got an ab entry.
and them derryhsssen bets live on for now

[JackieMoon33]

Three were withdrawn due to the Going. Does that improve our reduce our chance of him running in the AB ? I am marginally with improve. But. He might need the run.

I’d have to say a double negative for me. He’s now a potential non-runner on the day due to the ground and he’s missed some beneficial experience there too.

[BuckingThe Trend]

I’d have to say a double negative for me. He’s now a potential non-runner on the day due to the ground and he’s missed some beneficial experience there too.

The experience bit I get and totally agree with. But. Devil's advocate. Maybe he is fine in the Good-Soft going but they didn't want to lose the AB today by running 3 miles in Good-Soft only 4 weeks before the AB. That's the hope/prayer I am holding on to. And you can't make me move ! LOL.

[JackieMoon33]

The experience bit I get and totally agree with. But. Devil's advocate. Maybe he is fine in the Good-Soft going but they didn't want to lose the AB today by running 3 miles in Good-Soft only 4 weeks before the AB. That's the hope/prayer I am holding on to. And you can't make me move ! LOL.

Avoiding bottomless ground would make more sense in regards to impacting his chances in the AB due to a tough race. Not running on Good to Soft today means they’re not wanting to run him on that ground due to the fact his a great big whopper.

[BuckingThe Trend]

They're saving him for the big day.....................have a great Saturday night and let me live in hope. LOL.

[EnvoiAlien]

Lose the chance to gain valuable experience today vs possibly leave your festival race behind in todays conditions, tough call as you're damned eitherway unless you win in March.

As for the ground on the day in March, unless its extreme going you run your horse, you spend all season trying to get them there, running on ground they're not at their best on then is a risk you're willing to take,running them on unsuitable ground prior to the big day is too much of a risk as you can end your season before you get to your target race.

[EnvoiAlien]

For you BuckingThe Trend

DERRYHASSEN PADDY (Irish Pointers – Lucinda Russell): Unbeaten in four career starts, including twice over hurdles this term, he is a big strong individual and a relentless galloper. The Arctic Cosmos gelding won cosily on his reappearance at Uttoxeter (2m 4f) in November beating Farland and Lud’or by upwards of a length. Absent for 54 days, the former pointer took his form to another level when stepped up to three miles for the first time at Windsor’s Winter Millions Festival last month. Showing a tendency to jump to his right, Lucinda Russell’s runner showed a terrific attitude to edge out Dan Skelton’s mare Honky Tonk Highway in the closing stages to prevail by a nose, with in excess of eight lengths back to the third. Better ground is an unknown – all four of his races have been on soft and heavy – and he is likely to be seen next in the Grade 2 novice hurdle over three miles at Haydock (15^th February). Ill-fated former stablemate Brindisi Breeze won the same contest before following up in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2012. Available at 33/1 (Bet Victor & Ladbrokes) for the Grade 1 contest at the Festival, he an interesting contender and won’t disgrace himself in March.

[JackieMoon33]

They're saving him for the big day.....................have a great Saturday night and let me live in hope. LOL.

Definitely saving him and they’ll likely run on that ground when it matters anyway. Fingers crossed it’s Cheltenham and not Aintree.

[BuckingThe Trend]

For you BuckingThe Trend

DERRYHASSEN PADDY (Irish Pointers – Lucinda Russell): Unbeaten in four career starts, including twice over hurdles this term, he is a big strong individual and a relentless galloper. The Arctic Cosmos gelding won cosily on his reappearance at Uttoxeter (2m 4f) in November beating Farland and Lud’or by upwards of a length. Absent for 54 days, the former pointer took his form to another level when stepped up to three miles for the first time at Windsor’s Winter Millions Festival last month. Showing a tendency to jump to his right, Lucinda Russell’s runner showed a terrific attitude to edge out Dan Skelton’s mare Honky Tonk Highway in the closing stages to prevail by a nose, with in excess of eight lengths back to the third. Better ground is an unknown – all four of his races have been on soft and heavy – and he is likely to be seen next in the Grade 2 novice hurdle over three miles at Haydock (15^th February). Ill-fated former stablemate Brindisi Breeze won the same contest before following up in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2012. Available at 33/1 (Bet Victor & Ladbrokes) for the Grade 1 contest at the Festival, he an interesting contender and won’t disgrace himself in March.

"all four of his races have been on soft and heavy"...................Thanks for that. Great information. I am going to bed full of hope.

[Eggs]

….Mullins;

’Argento Boy was good in Punchestown and is going the right way. With that in mind the Albert Barlett might look the target for him, jumping and stamina won’t be any problem. He booked his ticket there with that run.’

[Benjy23]

What's the view on Jet Blue's French form from those that follow their racing closely? Albeit all over a very different trip.

Seems to have a ridiculous amount of bumper runs.

The C&D Grade 2 win is starting to standout in this potential field. The form can be questioned of course but Yellow Car has gone on to win his own G2 since.

The AB looks so desperate I'm getting renewed hopes for my Wingmen bets

[Istabraq]

What's the view on Jet Blue's French form from those that follow their racing closely? Albeit all over a very different trip.

Seems to have a ridiculous amount of bumper runs.

The C&D Grade 2 win is starting to standout in this potential field. The form can be questioned of course but Yellow Car has gone on to win his own G2 since.

The AB looks so desperate I'm getting renewed hopes for my Wingmen bets

I know very little about French form but his A Bartlett trial win at HQ reads incredibly well now, having given Yellow Car a 10l beating giving him 5lb with that one going to Donny and winning the G2 to earn an OR of 134.
In a minefield of a race I'd say Jet Blue is about a solid as anything...

[Benjy23]

I know very little about French form but his A Bartlett trial win at HQ reads incredibly well now, having given Yellow Car a 10l beating giving him 5lb with that one going to Donny and winning the G2 to earn an OR of 134.
In a minefield of a race I'd say Jet Blue is about a solid as anything...

Yea, Yellow Car certainly boosted the form on paper. The fourth was a bit disappointing behind Derryhassen Paddy, who's another of the more interesting ones here but I'd have liked to see him run at the weekend.

Agreed. 16s still antepost feels big in this race at this point. Not having run since December probably a slight negative, any recent updates? But he's got plenty of race experience anyway (5 hurdle starts and 10 bumpers) compared to what most will have here.

[BigChaang]

….Mullins;

’Argento Boy was good in Punchestown and is going the right way. With that in mind the Albert Barlett might look the target for him, jumping and stamina won’t be any problem. He booked his ticket there with that run.’

... Double Thumb's up from Me ... Hope Willie is right ...

[Istabraq]

Yea, Yellow Car certainly boosted the form on paper. The fourth was a bit disappointing behind Derryhassen Paddy, who's another of the more interesting ones here but I'd have liked to see him run at the weekend.

Agreed. 16s still antepost feels big in this race at this point. Not having run since December probably a slight negative, any recent updates? But he's got plenty of race experience anyway (5 hurdle starts and 10 bumpers) compared to what most will have here.

The French calendar means they're trained differently but he won a bumper in March 24 after a four month break so can run well fresh, I'm not concerned he hasn't been seen since Dec, in fact I seem to remember hearing at the time he was going straight to the A Bartlett after the race, though I may have dreamt that.
I tend not to spend much time on this race ante post and I'm a bit annoyed with myself I already have three in the race albeit two of them for small stakes.
Ultimately my week won't be decided by the race but I'd say Jet Blue is just about the most solid dart you can throw at the race right now...