2025 Novice Chasers

[DenmanSacre]

Majborough could be caught between distances this year. Probably not quick enough if facing Ballyburn or Impaire et Passe over 2m but also not wanting him to go over 3m yet. I wouldn't see a problem with him going over 3m though. You see those French bred 5 year olds winning the French Gold Cup over 3m6 so 3m round Cheltenham might be within his capacity this year.

They could aim him for the 2m4 Fairyhouse grade 1 if they aren't bothered with Cheltenham for him this year.

[Quevega]

Disagree with that strongly

He certainly weren't taken off his feet in a strongly run Triumph, he was right up there prominent swinging away throughout, just wanting to go faster. Looks every inch the type to excel over fences.

Exactly this, he just needed gathering and winding up. Perfect blend of class and travelling power with an engine for the dirty bit at the end.

I'm not saying he wouldn't be good over 3 miles though, I just think if he goes chasing that they'll not want to extend him too much as a novice.
Rightly or wrongly, it's just what they normally do.

[darlojim]

Exactly this, he just needed gathering and winding up. Perfect blend of class and travelling power with an engine for the dirty bit at the end.

I'm not saying he wouldn't be good over 3 miles though, I just think if he goes chasing that they'll not want to extend him too much as a novice.
Rightly or wrongly, it's just what they normally do.

Yupp, and for those thinking 'ohh but he looked outpaced in the triumph in the straight'

Go look back at the race, Mark is literally just kidding him along, and he's still green as grass hanging to his left and Mark is just holding him together. You could see he was well in control of the race and hadn't gone for everything on Majborough a good 200yds before the final flight.

[Quevega]

Yupp, and for those thinking 'ohh but he looked outpaced in the triumph in the straight'

Go look back at the race, Mark is literally just kidding him along, and he's still green as grass hanging to his left and Mark is just holding him together. You could see he was well in control of the race and hadn't gone for everything on Majborough a good 200yds before the final flight.

My take entirely.
He might not have the size and scope to be as nippy as a mare like Kargese so he'll often look outpaced (like shishkin and altior and some of the great 2 milers), and in the triumph Danny probably felt he had to kick on with Kargese as he was travelling so well. But you could tell Walsh knew he had enough.

You don't often get an arkle ran slowly and won by a nippy horse. It's almost always won with power and strength.

[Lobos]

Funny old game how punters see things differently. That's what makes it so special.

[Saxon Warrior]

I think your right.

Open = no ceiling
Limited = limited weight range (10lb or 14lb, maybe)

I don't think there's a better way of dropping a Grade 1 for a Handicap, than leaving the weight range open at the top end.

Looking at the latest BHA Jumps Pattern Book (2023/24) the Limited Handicap Chases in that have a

20lb weight range from

11st 12lbs
to
10st 6lbs

So maybe they start with that.

Though it’s likely that there’ll be more than enough horses entered/declared to not use that full weight range,

[archie]

When A Plus Tard won the old novice 0-145 handicap there was just a 7lb weight range for 20 horses. They have to avoid that farce this time so it will be interesting to see how many 150+ horses are entered.

[Studfarm254]

Majborough could be caught between distances this year. Probably not quick enough if facing Ballyburn or Impaire et Passe over 2m but also not wanting him to go over 3m yet. I wouldn't see a problem with him going over 3m though. You see those French bred 5 year olds winning the French Gold Cup over 3m6 so 3m round Cheltenham might be within his capacity this year.

They could aim him for the 2m4 Fairyhouse grade 1 if they aren't bothered with Cheltenham for him this year.

My thoughts exactly. Triumph was heavy ground this year, it’s also a furlong longer than the Arkle and on the stiffer new course than the Arkle. All this will have been in Majboroughs favour given he’s clearly a stayer. If he hadn’t of beaten Kargese who took out the 1st hurdle and pulled like a maniac for the next mile, it would have been very disappointing. Taking on older horses of that calibre in Arkle surely wouldn’t be the right call at this stage. I think it’ll be banc or else they skip Cheltenham completely this year. Denman you’re clearly a very smart fella and I sense a bright future ahead of you

[Lobos]

Backed him early on but I can definitely see the argument for him staying Hurdling for another season. That said, they may just go softly, softly like they did with F2F last season. He wasn't given a hard time on chasing debut when beaten. They then found him an easy opportunity to win his maiden chase before winning that extraordinary 2 horse race versus Gaelic Warrior all over distances short of 3m. He was then fresh and ready to be upped in trip at Cheltenham. I could see them taking the same prep route with Majborough on route to the BANC. There's been steady money for him during this week and he now sits alongside Dancing City in the betting behind only Ballyburn. Clearly plenty like him for the race.

[Craigy14]

Can’t remember what interview it was with WPM but he called Majborough a Gold Cup horse. Now I know a lot of trainers talk that sort of bollocks but to say that before he’d even ran for the yard (may have been after DRF can’t quite remember) is pretty high praise indeed if you ask me. The fact he’s 4 going 5 I think they are stuck between a rock and a hard place, no rush to crack on chasing but at the same time he’s a big lad so why not

[JackieMoon33]

Can’t remember what interview it was with WPM but he called Majborough a Gold Cup horse. Now I know a lot of trainers talk that sort of bollocks but to say that before he’d even ran for the yard (may have been after DRF can’t quite remember) is pretty high praise indeed if you ask me. The fact he’s 4 going 5 I think they are stuck between a rock and a hard place, no rush to crack on chasing but at the same time he’s a big lad so why not

I think the original comment was from a preseason open day. It was in reference to him ‘looking like a Gold Cup horse’ as opposed to a juvenile when he arrived in the yard. So it was more to do with his size at them time, rather than ability.

Disclaimer: the above is from memory so could be complete horse shit.

[Exar Essay]

I think the original comment was from a preseason open day. It was in reference to him ‘looking like a Gold Cup horse’ as opposed to a juvenile when he arrived in the yard. So it was more to do with his size at them time, rather than ability.

Disclaimer: the above is from memory so could be complete horse shit.

No, you are correct. Willie did that mock surprise thing he does so well when recalling seeing him for the first time and being told he was his Triumph horse. That being said, I did get the impression Willie felt he would be a Gold Cup horse.

[Craigy14]

I think the original comment was from a preseason open day. It was in reference to him ‘looking like a Gold Cup horse’ as opposed to a juvenile when he arrived in the yard. So it was more to do with his size at them time, rather than ability.

Disclaimer: the above is from memory so could be complete horse shit.

Nah you’re correct JM that’s what it was.

As EE says I think he has high hopes for him going chasing down the line.

[Quevega]

He's said it a few times including at Dublin and after winning the triumph.
Irrelevant to what he ends up doing as a novice chaser though IMO.

He could go both ways as a novice, especially now we are back to the 2 grade 1's like the old days.
For anyone betting him, for either race. JP's mob have to decide to go chasing first and then it'll be them that make the decision in the Spring after consulting with Willie.
But I'd be very very confident that Willie would prefer a lighter campaign, which would probably mean keeping him over shorter trips in Spring.

Obviously depends how he jumps and travels, as he might be a giraffe.
But he looks like one that would make ground at fences and that's much more in line with an arkle type, as it can take too much out of them (big bold jumps) when over the longer distances. Willie would prefer a more economical/efficient A-B type jumper for a staying novice.

Above all though he looks full of potential and whichever way he ends up going I think he'd be a danger.
Not sure he'd do much as a hurdler at 5yrs old though.

I'd only consider backing him for an arkle now though (at the right price) personally. I'd re-visit that opinion later in the year if necessary.

[Lobos]

I found it interesting how Patrick likened him to Djakadam the other day. He too was a beast that went chasing as a baby and ended up running in the Turners as a 5yo and of course was placed in 3 Gold Cups so they do have history. Looking forward to what they do with him.