2025 Novice Chasers

[Istabraq]

I'd be fairly sure there are plenty of occasions where Willie is not certain which of his is the likely winner, he may have a good idea, and at Cheltenham it has worked out fairly regularly that his stable jockey is usually on the best option. But this is definitely not the case all year round, and his weaponry for Cheltenham is increasing every year.

But as we're talking about Majborough we only have to go back to last years Triumph for a perfect example, and with JP looking to have more horses with Willie in contention this year then we may see it happen more often.

I’d say that’s true of the bumper but rarely of other races, last years Triumph aside…

[Quevega]

I’d say that’s true of the bumper but rarely of other races, last years Triumph aside…

But surely you understand that the more JP horses Mullins has, which is definitely on the rise.
The more chance of this happening going forward.
And no one's going to be pulling horses.

If JP's looks the best then the second best is getting Townend.
If Townends on the best on form/paper and JP wants to run his, then he'll run his.
It's that simple.

He's got Majborough and Fact to File this year at least, that are very likely to run at Cheltenham having already won at the festival. And both are likely to have a serious rival with Townend on board.

And he has bought juveniles and plenty of other novice hurdlers this year also, so highly likely that one or two of those prove to be big players vs the Townend ride come March also.

[Istabraq]

Yeah I get that, but JP is all about winners, he isn’t sending horses to a festival race for place money, he’s either sending them there to win or running them down the field to get dropped a pound or two.
I agree it could happen more often but I doubt we’ll see Walsh and Townend battling out a festival finish any time soon…

[Yosser]

I'd say there is a fair chance

Supreme - Kaid D'authie/Kel Histoire v Salvator Mundi (Irancy/Kainsbourg & Kawaboomga could all yet play a hand)
Arkle - Majborough v Ballyburn
Turners - Kel Histoire v Jasmin De Vaux/Kopek Des Bordes
MNH - Karoline Banbou/Kom Tu Vodras/Venusienne v Maughreen/Riskabahia
Ryanair - Fact To File/Corbetts/Spillanes v El Fabiolo/Gaelic Warrior/Il Etait Temps
MC - Dinoblue/Impervious v Fun Fun Fun
Gold Cup - Fact To File v Galopin

[Lobos]

So according to Johnny Dineen, Inthepocket is definitely going to run in the New G2 2m Novice chase on January 5th at Naas next . He also reckons both Ballyburn and Majborough could join him. Wowsers. Going to be fireworks.

[Quevega]

I'd say there is a fair chance

Supreme - Kaid D'authie/Kel Histoire v Salvator Mundi (Irancy/Kainsbourg & Kawaboomga could all yet play a hand)
Arkle - Majborough v Ballyburn
Turners - Kel Histoire v Jasmin De Vaux/Kopek Des Bordes
MNH - Karoline Banbou/Kom Tu Vodras/Venusienne v Maughreen/Riskabahia
Ryanair - Fact To File/Corbetts/Spillanes v El Fabiolo/Gaelic Warrior/Il Etait Temps
MC - Dinoblue/Impervious v Fun Fun Fun
Gold Cup - Fact To File v Galopin

Thanks Yosser, it's happened hundreds if not thousands of times where a JP horse has been beaten by a Mullins horse or even another horse from the same trainer.

But I'd given up.

I think Ista's got a new pair of heels for the Christmas party this year, and he's dug them right in.

[Istabraq]

I'd say there is a fair chance

Supreme - Kaid D'authie/Kel Histoire v Salvator Mundi (Irancy/Kainsbourg & Kawaboomga could all yet play a hand)
Arkle - Majborough v Ballyburn
Turners - Kel Histoire v Jasmin De Vaux/Kopek Des Bordes
MNH - Karoline Banbou/Kom Tu Vodras/Venusienne v Maughreen/Riskabahia
Ryanair - Fact To File/Corbetts/Spillanes v El Fabiolo/Gaelic Warrior/Il Etait Temps
MC - Dinoblue/Impervious v Fun Fun Fun
Gold Cup - Fact To File v Galopin

Well worth bookmarking this and seeing how many of those clashes play out, not so much for proof of who's right/wrong but for future planning, if there's a trend in there it might help (me at least) with future festivals...

[Lobos]

Well worth bookmarking this and seeing how many of those clashes play out, not so much for proof of who's right/wrong but for future planning, if there's a trend in there it might help (me at least) with future festivals...

Well JD says Inthepocket, Maj and Ballyburn all likely for Naas so we could get that matchup very early Indeed (5th January). That'll blow the Arkle market out of the water. Wonder who MW would ride ?

[Lobos]

JD got the nod that all is well with ITP.

[OffTheBridle]

So according to Johnny Dineen, Inthepocket is definitely going to run in the New G2 2m Novice chase on January 5th at Naas next . He also reckons both Ballyburn and Majborough could join him. Wowsers. Going to be fireworks.

I'd have Majborough down for next race at DRF. Reasons
only a 4 year old at the minute and they see him as a gold cup horse so take their time.
inthepocket will go to Naas for JP and that's a great dart for the race why run 2 top novices and potentially break each other for a nothing race.
willie has plenty of others for the race.
it's too much to run him 3 weeks after his season debut and then again at DRF. Run at naas and it's too long of a break to Cheltenham if they bypass DRF

[darlojim]

Well JD says Inthepocket, Maj and Ballyburn all likely for Naas so we could get that matchup very early Indeed (5th January). That'll blow the Arkle market out of the water. Wonder who MW would ride ?

If Majborough and ITP met, Mark would be on Majborough and Rachael on ITP

ITP is Rachaels ride.

[OffTheBridle]

Well JD says Inthepocket, Maj and Ballyburn all likely for Naas so we could get that matchup very early Indeed (5th January). That'll blow the Arkle market out of the water. Wonder who MW would ride ?

Ideal scenario would be Mark on Maj, then Paul on Ballyburn and Rachel on Inthepocket?
If Mark picked inthepocket, who does Paul pick? And who picks up the other horse then ?

[Yosser]

Could be wrong but I think Rachel has first dibs on Henry's on account of winning the grand national. Think JP awarded her that. Thought I had read that somewhere a while ago. Could be wrong though, it has been known

And Inthepocket will put ballyburn and majborough to the sword

[Quevega]

Inthepocket is one I've not backed.
Thinks he's over rated on here.
His forms Meh and he's getting on a bit.

[Imperial Commander]

Back to ratings again but isn't meh a bit harsh when ITP has the highest debut RPR of all the Arkle contenders?