2025 Novice Chasers

[Lobos]

Have done a bit of digging and found this from Willie re Djakadam.....

Willie Mullins has been finalising his running plans for the Cheltenham festival and has decided to run Djakadam in the JLT Novices’ Chase. The five-year-old also holds entries in the Arkle and the RSA Chase but Mullins feels this is the right race for the French-bred gelding at this stage of his career.
He was a progressive hurdler, finishing second in a Grade 3 event at Fairyhouse in April and fourth in the Grade 1 Champion Juvenile Hurdle at Punchestown. He made a successful debut over fences at Leopardstown in December, overcoming a couple of minor errors to beat C’Etait Vrai by a length and a quarter.

He was more accomplished in the Grade 2 Killiney Chase at the same course in January, stretching four lengths clear under Ruby Walsh. Mullins feels that he is too young for a gruelling race like the RSA Chase and the Arkle is now too sharp for him.


Perhaps Majborough could be one for the revamped Turners ???

[Quevega]

Have done a bit of digging and found this from Willie re Djakadam.....

Willie Mullins has been finalising his running plans for the Cheltenham festival and has decided to run Djakadam in the JLT Novices’ Chase. The five-year-old also holds entries in the Arkle and the RSA Chase but Mullins feels this is the right race for the French-bred gelding at this stage of his career.
He was a progressive hurdler, finishing second in a Grade 3 event at Fairyhouse in April and fourth in the Grade 1 Champion Juvenile Hurdle at Punchestown. He made a successful debut over fences at Leopardstown in December, overcoming a couple of minor errors to beat C’Etait Vrai by a length and a quarter.

He was more accomplished in the Grade 2 Killiney Chase at the same course in January, stretching four lengths clear under Ruby Walsh. Mullins feels that he is too young for a gruelling race like the RSA Chase and the Arkle is now too sharp for him.


Perhaps Majborough could be one for the revamped Turners ???

The big difference is that Majborough is clearly a better horse at this stage of his career.
Djakadam was very one paced throughout his career.
Loved him for Coneygree's gold cup though, had heated discussions around his lowly rating not mattering with a mate and how novices don't win Gold Cups.
I was half right but a loser in the end

Not sure Majborough will run many times before March myself, my best guess would be 2 runs, although JP might push Mullins for more as is his wont.

[Exar Essay]

The big difference is that Majborough is clearly a better horse at this stage of his career.
Djakadam was very one paced throughout his career.
Loved him for Coneygree's gold cup though, had heated discussions around his lowly rating not mattering with a mate and how novices don't win Gold Cups.
I was half right but a loser in the end

Not sure Majborough will run many times before March myself, my best guess would be 2 runs, although JP might push Mullins for more as is his wont.

I wonder if they’ll try something similar to Lossie, and look at leaving him off until the New Year. His beginners would probably be easier too at that time of year, as most decent ones will have won their beginners by then. Then maybe look at something away from the DRF in February time.

[darlojim]

Is it this upcoming week Willie gets them all out for a schooling session?

[Lobos]

I wonder if they’ll try something similar to Lossie, and look at leaving him off until the New Year. His beginners would probably be easier too at that time of year, as most decent ones will have won their beginners by then. Then maybe look at something away from the DRF in February time.

May do. Makes sense. Let him grow further into that big frame and see how he looks after a couple of runs before deciding about the Spring festivals. He'd not be top of my list for the BANC by any means but happy to have him on board at a decent price just in case they feel he's up to it. Wouldn't be backing him at 10's though.

[Quevega]

I wonder if they’ll try something similar to Lossie, and look at leaving him off until the New Year. His beginners would probably be easier too at that time of year, as most decent ones will have won their beginners by then. Then maybe look at something away from the DRF in February time.

Yeah, I think if it's left completely to Willie then we might not see him till xmas.

It's possible though that we see him sooner as JP might have other ideas. And the allowance he'll get as a four year old before Jan 1st, means they might want to maximise use of that.
This would seem counter intuitive to a future gold cup horse pathway though. It's not something you'd necessarily do with a top notch prospect.
Not saying it wouldn't work though as I'm all for running horses myself.

Stable tour might shine a light and make all this talk sound nonsense.

[Lobos]

Djakadam ran end of December then end of January before running in the JLT.

As you say, too much talk about him. Let's talk about the winner....Slade Steel.

[YoungHustler]

Does anyone know if Brighterdaysahead has schooled over fences yet? I'm very heavily invested in her for the Mares Chase and thinking of reducing exposure if she hasn't taken to them or staying over hurdles.

[HoldenTheReins]

Does anyone know if Brighterdaysahead has schooled over fences yet? I'm very heavily invested in her for the Mares Chase and thinking of reducing exposure if she hasn't taken to them or staying over hurdles.

I have no idea but Down Royal isn't far away and Gordon says she goes there but isn't sure if she goes hurdling or chasing.

Gordon is normally open about when they will go chasing.

[Craigy14]

I think the fact Gordon has been a little reserved in his most recent post is possibly them thinking of staying over hurdles for another season.

She is only 5 going 6 so still young, novice chases 6 rising 7 and then open chase 7 rising 8, which is the ideal ages imo. Gives time to mature, fill her frame etc, don’t think there’s a need to rush her.

[Run4Home]

Does anyone know if Brighterdaysahead has schooled over fences yet? I'm very heavily invested in her for the Mares Chase and thinking of reducing exposure if she hasn't taken to them or staying over hurdles.

All the schooling/away days for the big trainers here were delayed with the ground not having enough rain. Gordon is taking most his horses away later this week , so no douth plenty will start to come out then. I'd imagine why they haven't commited on her yet...
Willies done nothing yet either with his schooling wise

[Lobos]

Just wait for entries I'd say before cashing anything.

[YoungHustler]

All the schooling/away days for the big trainers here were delayed with the ground not having enough rain. Gordon is taking most his horses away later this week , so no douth plenty will start to come out then. I'd imagine why they haven't commited on her yet...
Willies done nothing yet either with his schooling wise

Cheers R4H. I think I'll sit tight.

[Eggs]

….Nicholls re Caldwell Potter;

’He did brilliantly for Gordon and his team winning a Grade 1 in Ireland and he has shown he has a huge amount of ability. He had a little niggle at the end of the season, and he didn’t manage to run for us, but he managed to sort that. His work is great, and he has schooled a couple of times and jumped brilliantly. Freddie Gingell, who rides him every day, is really really pleased with him. I don’t know where he will start - he could start over two and a half miles in a novice chase somewhere. I am really looking forward to seeing what he could do.’

Captain Teague;

’Captain Teague had a good year last year and won the Persian War first time out and then, frustratingly, got beaten at Cheltenham and then won the Challow Hurdle. He had won a Grade 1, but we could quite get him right after that and he disappointed at the Festival. It was frustrating but feel we could never get him quite right after the Challow. He had a great summer and his work is really great. I can’t wait to see him over fences. I am not sure where he will start and whether it will be over two and a half miles or three, but I can wait to see him as a chaser and I think he is going to be a pretty awesome novice chaser.’

[Yosser]

Might be nothing but i have just watched the Paddy Power preview. With Ruby seemingly letting the cat out of the bag regarding Ballyburn and then Patrick mentioning something along the lines of some surprising horses may skip Cheltenham in favour of the 2m 4f at Fairyhouse, did anyone get the impression he was talking about Impaire Et Passe? Like i say, it might be nothing and am probably reading too much into it but thats what came across to me.