2025 Novice Chasers

[Odin]

As an aside, is this Mullins' best opportunity to break his handicap chase duck?

100%.

It could very easily play out like the Punchestown handicap he's won multiple times with top weight:

Mister Policeman was 4/1f off 149 this year
Won in 2023 (Kilcruit, 148), 2022 (El Barra, 140), 2021 (Asterion Forlonge, 152), 2019 (Real Steel, 151), 2018 (Kemboy, 147), 2016 (Avant Tout, 145), 2015 (Blood Cotil, 141).

Some record that...

[Killiney]

Don’t forget to add Skybet to the list of bookies (Bet 365 & PP) honouring bets in the ‘new’ Turners.

[SeanRock]

I touched on Gidleigh Park being good value in the BANC briefly in the General Chat thread a while ago but though I better expand on that a little here.

Looking back on his runs over hurdles last year I think he's going to be a force to be reckoned with in staying chases this season. He was huge as a 6yr old but with another summer behind him it will have only helped him fill his frame further going into his 7yr old campaign. For a big horse he was neat and tidy over the small obstacles last year in the main, showing plenty of scope and intelligence when not meeting them on a good stride which can happen with big lads. He has a turn of foot too which is key in the 3m race on the old course, you need a bit of boot coming round the home bend before the last two fences which come at you quickly.

Connections went relatively easy on him last year, only taking in one grade one which was the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. He underperformed slightly that day in bottomless ground with the race being ran at a relatively sedate pace not helping matters either. 6th of 13 runners wasn't too bad in hindsight given how raw he was. Plenty of good horses kick on to have excellent careers after disappointing in that particular race. He's proven to enjoy the Cheltenham hill when getting briefly headed by Lucky Place on trials day only to kick past him again and win going away at the line. Lucky Place subsequently then went on to run a very solid 4th place in the Coral Cup.

The well worn words of anything he did over hurdles being a bonus definitely applies here. I think the 50/1 available with Paddy Power is cracking value.

[JamieSensible]

What are people's thoughts on Salver for the Arkle? I've requested a price, bit of a left field shout but ran well in the Triumph and Gary Moore does send them chasing when they're young.

[Quevega]

What are people's thoughts on Salver for the Arkle? I've requested a price, bit of a left field shout but ran well in the Triumph and Gary Moore does send them chasing when they're young.

Looks very flat bred IMO.
If he goes chasing he might flatter for a bit but likely to be a way off the better bred (for chasing) types.

[RoadToCheltenham]

What are people's thoughts on Salver for the Arkle? I've requested a price, bit of a left field shout but ran well in the Triumph and Gary Moore does send them chasing when they're young.

Plan is to go to the Gerry Feilden. Not sure chasing is on the cards

[HesTheOne]

Plan is to go to the Gerry Feilden. Not sure chasing is on the cards

Your like the Fabrizio Romano of jumps racing

Fair dues Alex you do super work

[Run4Home]

What are people's thoughts on Salver for the Arkle? I've requested a price, bit of a left field shout but ran well in the Triumph and Gary Moore does send them chasing when they're young.

Staying hurdling this year, plan is to start at Cheltenham next month.
Chasing next season

[UpInTrip]

Im personally shocked that Impaire Et Passe is still available at double figure odds for the Arkle..

Across the forum I have seen people mentioning how different double green horses could potentially dictate where IEP goes. I think this is doing him a massive disservice and forgetting the talent this lad has. I believe you target your proper grade 1 horses first and then fit the others in elsewhere. The idea of stepping him up to 3 miles is something I just can't see happening with the way he races and the turn of foot he posseses. I can't see a world where willie doesn't start him out over 2 miles and if he impresses like I think he might do, he may take top rank at the minimal distance. This may be an un popular opinion but I would fancy him to get the better of ballyburn if they had to meet over 2 miles (Can't ever see Willie allowing this to happen).

[Quevega]

Im personally shocked that Impaire Et Passe is still available at double figure odds for the Arkle..

Across the forum I have seen people mentioning how different double green horses could potentially dictate where IEP goes. I think this is doing him a massive disservice and forgetting the talent this lad has. I believe you target your proper grade 1 horses first and then fit the others in elsewhere. The idea of stepping him up to 3 miles is something I just can't see happening with the way he races and the turn of foot he posseses. I can't see a world where willie doesn't start him out over 2 miles and if he impresses like I think he might do, he may take top rank at the minimal distance. This may be an un popular opinion but I would fancy him to get the better of ballyburn if they had to meet over 2 miles (Can't ever see Willie allowing this to happen).

Hasn't his best form been when he's been upped in trip though upintrip ?

On a serious note, I think it'll depend on how well and quick he gets over his fences, and also how well his peers within the stable also handle their fencing.

[Runragged]

Im personally shocked that Impaire Et Passe is still available at double figure odds for the Arkle..

Across the forum I have seen people mentioning how different double green horses could potentially dictate where IEP goes. I think this is doing him a massive disservice and forgetting the talent this lad has. I believe you target your proper grade 1 horses first and then fit the others in elsewhere. The idea of stepping him up to 3 miles is something I just can't see happening with the way he races and the turn of foot he posseses. I can't see a world where willie doesn't start him out over 2 miles and if he impresses like I think he might do, he may take top rank at the minimal distance. This may be an un popular opinion but I would fancy him to get the better of ballyburn if they had to meet over 2 miles (Can't ever see Willie allowing this to happen).

I have already stated that I think Ballyburn is a good horse in what was a very weak novice hurdle division last year. The problem is that horses who have a year in open hurdles tend to have a poor record when reverting to fences. There are always exceptions but winners at Cheltenham tend to be few and far between.

[luisgarciaisgod]

I have IEP backed but I've gone fairly cold on him. On his hurdle form, I'm not sure he has the speed to win an Arkle, over the minimum 2m trip he won a rubbish Moscow Flyer and was beaten by State Man twice and Bob Ollinger and has generally looked better over further.

[UpInTrip]

On his hurdle form, I'm not sure he has the speed to win an Arkle, over the minimum 2m trip he won a rubbish Moscow Flyer and was beaten by State Man twice and Bob Ollinger and has generally looked better over further.

I don't understand this narrative that finishing 3 Lengths behind state man over 2 miles is seen as poor form? The day at the DRF can be completely forgotten too, I encourage anyone to re watch this back, they had to try different tactics to try and get state man beat by going from the front which the horse hated every second of and could hardly get over the hurdles. I would also highlight he did beat this years arkle winner by 8 lengths going away...

[Ice]

Im personally shocked that Impaire Et Passe is still available at double figure odds for the Arkle..

Across the forum I have seen people mentioning how different double green horses could potentially dictate where IEP goes. I think this is doing him a massive disservice and forgetting the talent this lad has. I believe you target your proper grade 1 horses first and then fit the others in elsewhere. The idea of stepping him up to 3 miles is something I just can't see happening with the way he races and the turn of foot he posseses. I can't see a world where willie doesn't start him out over 2 miles and if he impresses like I think he might do, he may take top rank at the minimal distance. This may be an un popular opinion but I would fancy him to get the better of ballyburn if they had to meet over 2 miles (Can't ever see Willie allowing this to happen).

I agree with you about IEP and have now backed him for the arkle after the changes to the turners but i did fancy him much more in that race, to be honest but when my bets were refunded i reinvested on the arkle. I'm hoping willie doesn't skip Cheltenham with a few and save them for aintree though.

[UpInTrip]

I agree with you about IEP and have now backed him for the arkle after the changes to the turners but i did fancy him much more in that race, to be honest but when my bets were refunded i reinvested on the arkle. I'm hoping willie doesn't skip Cheltenham with a few and save them for aintree though.

I completely agree. The changes to the race haven't helped him and I could see him potentially going to aintree if disappointing over 2. I actually think this is much more likely than him being targeted at the browns. We may see Willie skipping cheltenham with a few more than usual.