2025 Novice Chasers

[Lobos]

Knowing when to run them is a major part of training

Owners definitely deserve them to run more than 2/3 times a year though. Mine ran 8 times in 13 months, on ground varying from Heavy to Good, at 6 different courses and distances ranging from 2-3m, Bumpers and Hurdles. Finished 3rd three times and had a lot of fun. He had the odd niggle in that time but only like every other human/animal on this earth. That's how it should be for every owner. All about going to the races and seeing your horse run, not hearing excuses from the trainer time and time again and just having the odd stable visit now and again whilst paying the same bills as everyone else.

[Hardy Eustace]

Love it that he's in a Handicap. I wish more would do that. Really looking forward to seeing how he jumps. Hoping he'll be the best of the Brits in the Arkle.

Agreed. Good opportunity and wins, IF he's arkle class. I say IF as there is a bit of cloud over him. Cant wait to see him.
Sandown also a brilliant jumping test, great place to start an aspiring graded class novice chaser.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Agreed. Good opportunity and wins, IF he's arkle class. I say IF as there is a bit of cloud over him. Cant wait to see him.
Sandown also a brilliant jumping test, great place to start an aspiring graded class novice chaser.

Yeah, looking forward to seeing him over fences, he’s an interesting outsider for the Arkle imo

[Hardy Eustace]

Captain Teague has a walkover
Shame, was looking forward to seeing him jump.
Oh well.

one for the stupid questions thread... but... does he now lose his novice status?
Technically he has hasn't won a race!

[Lobos]

one for the stupid questions thread... but... does he now lose his novice status?
Technically he has hasn't won a race!

Fabulous question .......I'm not 100% but I believe not and that he doesn't get a penalty either. Maybe someone else can clarify.

[Istabraq]

one for the stupid questions thread... but... does he now lose his novice status?
Technically he has hasn't won a race!

I can’t comment with any authority (or knowledge) but walkover or otherwise he goes in the books as a winner and connections will collect the winners pot, I can’t see any reason how he retains his novice status….

[Lobos]

I can’t comment with any authority (or knowledge) but walkover or otherwise he goes in the books as a winner and connections will collect the winners pot, I can’t see any reason how he retains his novice status….

The 'Winner' and any other horses entered are classed as a NR I believe by bookies and therefore any AP bets are also void. Imagine if it happened in a festival race.......riots from punters of the winner.

[Istabraq]

The 'Winner' and any other horses entered are classed as a NR I believe by bookies and therefore any AP bets are also void. Imagine if it happened in a festival race.......riots from punters of the winner.

How is the winner a non runner when owners trouser the winners cheque ?

For the winner to be determined the winner they are required to trot/canter/walk past the stands I believe….

[Lobos]

How is the winner a non runner when owners trouser the winners cheque ?

For the winner to be determined the winner they are required to trot/canter/walk past the stands I believe….

Yeah, pretty sure punters are not paid out and just get their money back. Shit isn't it.

Very, very good Question though . One of the hundreds on here must know for sure.

[Odin]

one for the stupid questions thread... but... does he now lose his novice status?
Technically he has hasn't won a race!

Yep, loses his novice status to my knowledge. Also has a winners penalty next time out.

On the flip side, he pockets ALL the prize money for this race, not just the winning prize money so that's a nice 40k for doing nothing today!

[Lobos]

Yep, loses his novice status to my knowledge. Also has a winners penalty next time out.

On the flip side, he pockets ALL the prize money for this race, not just the winning prize money so that's a nice 40k for doing nothing today!

Are you sure ?

Don't think they pocket ALL the prize money either.

[Odin]

Are you sure ?

Don't think they pocket ALL the prize money either.

Over the course of the day, those are the details I've picked up - with the caveat that I was working at the time so may have misheard something. Happy to be told theyre wrong by someone who knows better but I'm comfortable with what I said until then

[Cheltenham Novice Chase]

Fully understand your point but mine is that none of us punters will be factoring in that when making our picks especially as 90% of mine have been made already

Surely, backing horses, especially those going novice chasing, without even having seen them jump a fence is just blind betting. Very little skill involved, just pure luck if they come off. A get the value argument of course (market price versus suspected ability over fences) but fences is very different to hurdles and to take a view without even seeing them jump is the way to the poor house. There are so many horse, some big, some small, some good over hurdles, others where “anything they do over hurdles is a bonus”, but you have to see them jump.

[DenmanSacre]

No penalty for a walkover

https://rules.britishhorseracing.com/#!/book/34/chapter/s3535-weights-and-handicapping-code/content?section=s3549-races-relevant-to-calculation-of-penalties-allowances-and-qualifications

[Lobos]

Surely, backing horses, especially those going novice chasing, without even having seen them jump a fence is just blind betting. Very little skill involved, just pure luck if they come off. A get the value argument of course (market price versus suspected ability over fences) but fences is very different to hurdles and to take a view without even seeing them jump is the way to the poor house. There are so many horse, some big, some small, some good over hurdles, others where “anything they do over hurdles is a bonus”, but you have to see them jump.

Yep, as you say, pretty much blind betting really. Only thing I go on is hurdles form, who trains them and to a certain extent comments from owner/trainer/jockey. The rest is just gut feeling.