2025 Novice Hurdlers

[Kevloaf]

We're all already on that treble

Still a fair NRNB for anyone that isn't

If it's all smoke and mirrors, you just end up with Salvator Mundi EW in the Supreme

[Zachx02]

Final demand 70:30 to go the turners over the Bartlett according to Bryan drew due to the weather, probably be a non event as they'll just water and that'll be it. On the off chance he doesn't go, I've had a punt on kiss will at 60s on the machine as surely he'd be Paul's ride?

[Can't Catch Me]

Bet they are wishing they'd entered Salvator Mundi in the Turners now as he looks like he could deal with a step up in trip no problem and if FD is to move, that would have given them three great chances in each.

[darlojim]

Bet they are wishing they'd entered Salvator Mundi in the Turners now as he looks like he could deal with a step up in trip no problem and if FD is to move, that would have given them three great chances in each.

If they thought that, they'd just supplement no?

[Can't Catch Me]

If they thought that, they'd just supplement no?

Well yes they definitely could. Just seems odd that they block enter most of the novices yet didn't with this fella.

[Speedy17]

Final Demand now shorter for the AB than Turners. He's going AB imo. Time to dig out the 18/1 slip!!

[Irish Rugby]

OK, that's what the owner thinks. Wonder what is Willie's opinion given that he was so adamant when Nick Luck asked him at the DRF, the AB is not for top class potential horses such as Final Demand. Never heard Mullins so certain over anything. They'll be watering after racing each day now, looking at this forecast.

[Can't Catch Me]

OK, that's what the owner thinks. Wonder what is Willie's opinion given that he was so adamant when Nick Luck asked him at the DRF, the AB is not for top class potential horses such as Final Demand. Never heard Mullins so certain over anything. They'll be watering after racing each day now, looking at this forecast.

Totally agree with this. I was actually surprised at just how scornful WPM seemed about the idea of running him in the AB, rather than the usual keep all options open chat.

[AnFiieLD.]

I personally think the Bartlett is the right race for Final Demand - Especially on the forecast ground. As has already been mentioned, theres a few stayers in the Turners who will be wanting to make it a true test, and it'll set it up for the likes of The New Lion who want to pounce late

[robith]

Would KDB defecting late to the Turners be great for me financially? Potentially, yes

Would I enjoy it more because it would be very, very funny? Also yes

[ComplyOrDie]

I personally think the Bartlett is the right race for Final Demand - Especially on the forecast ground. As has already been mentioned, theres a few stayers in the Turners who will be wanting to make it a true test, and it'll set it up for the likes of The New Lion who want to pounce late

I agree.

I'm also not convinced Willie will move one of the other two over to the Turners regardless of where Final Demand runs now though.

[Eggs]

…ATR reporting that Sixmilebridge has failed a dope test.

[riccirich]

Anyone know what the cost of supplementing for the novice hurdles is? I saw it's 4,800 for the mares. If it's similar for the turners then I could see salvator being supplemented if final demand does switch.

It would seem a riskier move to switch kopek. He looks the best of them so far, so switching him and risking him being too keen, and leaving salvator as the main one in the supreme wouldn't look to me as his best chance of winning both.

They could choose to keep kopek in the supreme where they strongly fancy him to win, and move salvator. He could also be too keen in the turners, but they could argue they dont think he'll beat kopek, so its worth a go trying to settle him in the turners. If he wins then great, if he loses theyd just say he probably wouldn't have won the supreme then anyway.

That being said, i dont think any of them will switch. I think people see what they want to see from these interviews. Its almost as if we're ignoring that he still said final demand is 70-30 in favour of turners, and also that willie has more of a say. And last we heard from willie it was turners all the way. Obviously anything can happen but if your convinced he's going to the albert bartlett off the back of the owners comments then I would suggest reading it another few times while not gasping for air and looking at the exchanges.

[ComplyOrDie]

…ATR reporting that Sixmilebridge has failed a dope test.

This was for the Grade 2 he won, beating Potters Charm, but may still be able to compete in the Turners at the festival.

[Eggs]

….David Cottin re Jet Blue;


Jet Blue had a little break after his win in December and then we’ve slowly got him ready for the festival. When he last ran for me, I didn’t know him very well, as he had just arrived in my yard, but over the winter we got to know him really well and his prep went exactly as we had planned.”

The six-year-old Jet Blue, who won a National Hunt Flat race in France in March last year, made his first appearance at Cheltenham in December. It was a first attempt over three miles - a trip he appeared to really enjoy. Coming up the hill with plenty left in the tank, he won the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle easily and is now ready for another step up in class.

“He is a proper stayer.” Cottin’s eyes gleam when he talks about the son of Martaline and Blue Beryl, who was bought for €220,000 at the Arqana Deauville Autumn Sale in November last year by Hubert Barbe for British owner Caroline Tisdall.

“He doesn’t pull, he jumps really well, and he listens to his jockey. He is very easy to ride, which I believe is an advantage in these kind of contests. And then he has that bit of class on the Flat, which gives him that little extra for the finish. Last time when James (Reveley) asked him to quicken, he really accelerated. He is in tune with James and does what he wants him to do.”

James Reveley will be back on board Jet Blue, who is a soft-ground horse, or a “real swimmer” as Cottin fondly says. A general 10/1 chance with bookmakers at the moment, his handler thinks he is more than capable of producing another good performance.

“He showed us last time that he is competitive and that he can adapt to Cheltenham, which is not easy. He won his prep, and I believe that he has come on from that race. During the winter he has become stronger, he has a great coat on him and, as I said, he is currently in peak form. I think he is better than he was in December. But I believe his biggest strength is his mentality - he is just so cool. He loves to follow in a race and then he just switches gears. He is a really lovely horse to train, who just happens to be very good.”