2025 Novice Chasers

[Eggs]

….Henderson re Peaky Boy;


“I’ve always had a bit of a rule in my head that this is a brave place to come first time out over fences. It was quite a brave shout.

“We’re very lucky at the moment, I think we’ve a very strong team of novice chasers, but we haven’t got a very good programme for novice chasers. (So) I’d got to get on.

“His jumping was perfect, I think there’s more to come in racing knowledge. I don’t think it will be long before he goes three miles, although I don’t think we’re in a desperate rush to get there.”

[Craigy14]

It's funny how we can all have different opinions as I thought Slade Steel jumped fine for his first start over fences. BDA caught the last in his stride whereas SS didn't and had to slow down so it was all over after that.

Suppose he was fine over the first few but from 5 out he was very slow and lost lengths at every fence imo.

Obviously better days ahead may have put him off a bit the last couple running down them.

Edit - wouldn’t rule him out completely as HDB primes them for march and he’s arguably the best around with chasers. Just didn’t seem a 2m performance that’s for sure in terms of fencing.

[That Horse]

Had to go out straight after the race - did anyone happen to see a head on replay down the straight at Navan, and if so, did Better Days Ahead shift much left? On the side on view, it looked like he was almost lunging out that way and I presume there won't be a replay of the head on anywhere.

He did shift left over the last few. Katie Walsh asked JK about it in the post race interview but he passed it off as something like the horse was straightening himself up.

Not sure I buy that but that's a summary of what was said. Didn't see the replay in full as was switching back over to ITV

[darlojim]

He did shift left over the last few. Katie Walsh asked JK about it in the post race interview but he passed it off as something like the horse was straightening himself up.

Not sure I buy that but that's a summary of what was said. Didn't see the replay in full as was switching back over to ITV

Ok cheers mate

[Killiney]

….Henderson re Peaky Boy;


“I’ve always had a bit of a rule in my head that this is a brave place to come first time out over fences. It was quite a brave shout.

“We’re very lucky at the moment, I think we’ve a very strong team of novice chasers, but we haven’t got a very good programme for novice chasers. (So) I’d got to get on.

“His jumping was perfect, I think there’s more to come in racing knowledge. I don’t think it will be long before he goes three miles, although I don’t think we’re in a desperate rush to get there.”

met someone who lives in Lambourn he says word around the locality is that Peaky Boy is his Henderson’s best novice chaser. He took the brave route up the inside and I felt he was doing his best work the further they went.

[YoungHustler]

I was really impressed with Down Memory Lane over the weekend but as a non book builder, i still haven't pulled the trigger as the Arkle is looking a very open race, even if Ballyburn turns up imo. I've also liked Firefox and Inthepocket. L'Eau Du Sud was very impressive but that may already have been his Arkle and a number of top Irish contenders could have done the same imo. With Ballyburn, Sir Gino and Impaire Et Passe being very likely strong contenders and also some outsiders like Iberico Lord, It's For Me, Tulleyhill, Mirazur West, the Arkle is a difficult one to have a very strong opinion on at this stage of the season.

[Yosser]

I was really impressed with Down Memory Lane over the weekend but as a non book builder, i still haven't pulled the trigger as the Arkle is looking a very open race, even if Ballyburn turns up imo. I've also liked Firefox and Inthepocket. L'Eau Du Sud was very impressive but that may already have been his Arkle and a number of top Irish contenders could have done the same imo. With Ballyburn, Sir Gino and Impaire Et Passe being very likely strong contenders and also some outsiders like Iberico Lord, It's For Me, Tulleyhill, Mirazur West, the Arkle is a difficult one to have a very strong opinion on at this stage of the season.

I would hate to be trying to pick one horse out of that lot. It's solid at this stage. Why don't you try a book for that one race Hustler and see how you get on. Get some decent priced ones onside and try and roll up a couple? When i started, i did about 3 races. The year after it was the whole card

[Carnage at Taunton]

Very impressed with BDA, aside from one error his jumping was very good and he’s a strong stayer. I would say current prices for the BANC are quite generous.
Slade Steel needs to improve his jumping if he’s to reach the level required.
No way is he a 2 miler on that evidence, and don’t look a strong enough stayer for 3m on that evidence.

[Lobos]

I do have my doubts re the DML form. JP had 5 in the race and it looked to me like it was set up for DML to win it. His other 4 weren't either put in the race or didn't give everything. I suspect when he runs in a stronger race at Xmas when everything is trying, he'll be found out.

[Lobos]

Very impressed with BDA, aside from one error his jumping was very good and he’s a strong stayer. I would say current prices for the BANC are quite generous.
Slade Steel needs to improve his jumping if he’s to reach the level required.
No way is he a 2 miler on that evidence, and don’t look a strong enough stayer for 3m on that evidence.

BDA did it very smoothly didn't he . Jumped great and stayed on powerfully through the line when it looked like SS could be a danger from two out. Disappointing from SS. Thought he'd have the speed to go by him. Looked like they went pretty easy on him . With March being the target they probably left plenty to work on and maybe the ground was a worry. His three runs on ground worse than Soft have all been underwhelming. Hoping we'll see a much better run next time. He could be dropped back in trip so long as there is plenty of proper ease in the ground so Arkle backers shouldn't give up. As for BDA the mid trip did look to suit very well and in relatively quick ground. Not sure he needs to step up in trip especially when the going eases significantly.

[Exar Essay]

I do have my doubts re the DML form. JP had 5 in the race and it looked to me like it was set up for DML to win it. His other 4 weren't either put in the race or didn't give everything. I suspect when he runs in a stronger race at Xmas when everything is trying, he'll be found out.

Cor, that's a brave shout. I get the point about the JP runners, but KOK jumped very nicely (bar the last) for his debut and seemed to a good yardstick. Nurburgring looked to put in a decent run too. I'm not saying it's Arkle winning form, but I do think it was an impressive debut.

Someone said tongue in cheek, "not even Mark Walsh could stop him" and I tend to agree with the sentiment. He wasn't necessarily there to win (think ITP last year), the market told you that, but ran so impressively that he was in a position to.

[Carnage at Taunton]

BDA did it very smoothly didn't he . Jumped great and stayed on powerfully through the line when it looked like SS could be a danger from two out. Disappointing from SS. Thought he'd have the speed to go by him. Looked like they went pretty easy on him . With March being the target they probably left plenty to work on and maybe the ground was a worry. His three runs on ground worse than Soft have all been underwhelming. Hoping we'll see a much better run next time. He could be dropped back in trip so long as there is plenty of proper ease in the ground so Arkle backers shouldn't give up. As for BDA the mid trip did look to suit very well and in relatively quick ground. Not sure he needs to step up in trip especially when the going eases significantly.

SS would be left behind in an Arkle jumping like that whatever the ground imo.
Be interested to see how he jumps next time.
BDA will have to step up at some point if he’s a BANC horse, which for me he is. He just looks a proper stayer that jumps well. Just what you need.

[ComplyOrDie]

I do have my doubts re the DML form. JP had 5 in the race and it looked to me like it was set up for DML to win it. His other 4 weren't either put in the race or didn't give everything. I suspect when he runs in a stronger race at Xmas when everything is trying, he'll be found out.

I think he was very good, but a bit like most beginners chases (not all, admittedly) I think the field was full of handicappers, and probably didn't take a whole heap of winning.

KOK struggles to get his head in front, just in general, really. The only reason he went off as short as he did was his form lines, nothing to do with his actual ability. It looks good on paper with placed form behind Brighterdaysahead, Ballyburn, Mystical Power, Slade Steel etc... same thing happened with him in the County Hurdle, was vying for favouritism, but finished well down the field (albeit ground went against him). He's been hyped up ever since Josh from Let's Talk Racing put him up for the Bumper a couple of seasons back, and it seems to have stuck. Maybe he's just a better work horse than a race horse.

It very much reminded me of Down Memory Lanes maiden hurdle win, so I'm now intrigued to see how he gets on stepping into graded company.

[DenmanSacre]

Cor, that's a brave shout. I get the point about the JP runners, but KOK jumped very nicely (bar the last) for his debut and seemed to a good yardstick. Nurburgring looked to put in a decent run too. I'm not saying it's Arkle winning form, but I do think it was an impressive debut.

Someone said tongue in cheek, "not even Mark Walsh could stop him" and I tend to agree with the sentiment. He wasn't necessarily there to win (think ITP last year), the market told you that, but ran so impressively that he was in a position to.

I was coming on to say that. He drifted a lot in the betting and I don't think they were there to win with him. The Irish calendar is much better for you if you lose the first beginners chase in November, win the next one and then go graded afterwards. Winning in November reduced your options significantly going forwards and doesn't let you test your jumping in calmer waters twice before going up in grade.

[Lobos]

SS would be left behind in an Arkle jumping like that whatever the ground imo.
Be interested to see how he jumps next time.
BDA will have to step up at some point if he’s a BANC horse, which for me he is. He just looks a proper stayer that jumps well. Just what you need.

We have to remember it was a beginners Chase and so different to just schooling them at home. It can frighten the life out of them first time. Henry is one of the best in the business with chasers and so I'd be expecting him to improve in the jumping technique enormously next time. I don't think we'll see him on that ground again though. I'll be interested to see the comments if any from Henry re yesterday's race. Are there any ??