2025 Novice Chasers

[Killiney]

Just caught the caldwell potter race

He jumped great but was running keen all the way round. Was very surprised Nicholls ran him so soon and ran him over 2m4f after he showed so much enthusiasm.

He was never going to get up the hill running so freely.

Go back to 2 miles and let him rip.

Would an arkle winner have had the class to win anyway? Probably would be my opinion.

Nichols is a past master at training 2 milers and he has a good record of training Gold Cup winners. The two are very different. In my opinion getting a horse to settle and not jump exuberantly is a prerequisite for the stayer. Getting the horse to jump quickly and attack his fences is needed by the 2 miler. So he gets a horse bought by connections to be a Gold Cup horse. What happens? It looks to me as though he is training him to be a 2 miler! Something feels very strange to me in what is happening.

[FinalFurlong91]

Nichols is a past master at training 2 milers and he has a good record of training Gold Cup winners. The two are very different. In my opinion getting a horse to settle and not jump exuberantly is a prerequisite for the stayer. Getting the horse to jump quickly and attack his fences is needed by the 2 miler. So he gets a horse bought by connections to be a Gold Cup horse. What happens? It looks to me as though he is training him to be a 2 miler! Something feels very strange to me in what is happening.

Yes a headscratcher

Nothing about his first run suggested he wanted stepping up in trip

Fences look to have made him a faster more enthusiastic horse. I loved the way he was attacking his fences.

Hopefully find a race over 2 miles for him in early jan. Then take on leau du sud in the kingmaker at warwick.

If he wins go to the arkle, if he loses to aintree.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Yes a headscratcher

Nothing about his first run suggested he wanted stepping up in trip

Fences look to have made him a faster more enthusiastic horse. I loved the way he was attacking his fences.

Hopefully find a race over 2 miles for him in early jan. Then take on leau du sud in the kingmaker at warwick.

If he wins go to the arkle, if he loses to aintree.

Love to see Jango join the Warwick Party!!

[Birds Nest]

Nice to see rachel blackmore back tomorrow on slade steel ,hopefully she can get a better tune out of him.

[darlojim]

Ile Atlantique will be aimed at a second chasing start next month after a near-flawless debut over fences at Navan last weekend.

The six-year-old, who is trained by Willie Mullins, made a notable start to his hurdling career last season when winning on debut by 19 lengths before finishing just a neck behind the winner in the Grade One Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle.

He then contested a string of further top-level events, but did not hit the same heights when a distant third at the Cheltenham Festival and fifth and seventh respectively at Aintree and Punchestown.

This term he stepped up to the larger obstacles and started out at Navan earlier in the month, lining up for the QuinnBet Beginners Chase amongst a competitive field that included Barry Connell’s Good Land and Waterford Whispers.

Ile Atlantique made all the running under Paul Townend and, barring a single mistake, jumped well to come home a comfortable nine lengths ahead of the latter horse, with Good Land a further length and a half back.

“He attacked his fences, he’s a much bigger, stronger horse this year,” said Sean Graham, racing manager to owner Tony Bloom.

“Christmas will probably come too soon for him so we’re looking at a novice chase in mid-January, maybe mid-to-late January. No decision has been made on it just yet.

“He jumped very well, he did all the hard work himself and that’s a big ask.

“We couldn’t have asked for any more from him, and the right horses chased him home in second and third.

“It was a very hot race, he was the top-rated hurdler so he was probably entitled to win on paper, but when you go chasing you have to prove that you can jump the fences and handle it, so the way he jumped was a huge plus.”





Faugheen Novice could be a race that cuts up

I don't see Ballyburn running in it, sounds like IA won't be either, IEP to 3m Leopards?

Sa Majeste looks the type to relish Limerick so had a go on him @ 8s

[Exar Essay]

Ile Atlantique will be aimed at a second chasing start next month after a near-flawless debut over fences at Navan last weekend.

The six-year-old, who is trained by Willie Mullins, made a notable start to his hurdling career last season when winning on debut by 19 lengths before finishing just a neck behind the winner in the Grade One Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle.

He then contested a string of further top-level events, but did not hit the same heights when a distant third at the Cheltenham Festival and fifth and seventh respectively at Aintree and Punchestown.

This term he stepped up to the larger obstacles and started out at Navan earlier in the month, lining up for the QuinnBet Beginners Chase amongst a competitive field that included Barry Connell’s Good Land and Waterford Whispers.

Ile Atlantique made all the running under Paul Townend and, barring a single mistake, jumped well to come home a comfortable nine lengths ahead of the latter horse, with Good Land a further length and a half back.

“He attacked his fences, he’s a much bigger, stronger horse this year,” said Sean Graham, racing manager to owner Tony Bloom.

“Christmas will probably come too soon for him so we’re looking at a novice chase in mid-January, maybe mid-to-late January. No decision has been made on it just yet.

“He jumped very well, he did all the hard work himself and that’s a big ask.

“We couldn’t have asked for any more from him, and the right horses chased him home in second and third.

“It was a very hot race, he was the top-rated hurdler so he was probably entitled to win on paper, but when you go chasing you have to prove that you can jump the fences and handle it, so the way he jumped was a huge plus.”





Faugheen Novice could be a race that cuts up

I don't see Ballyburn running in it, sounds like IA won't be either, IEP to 3m Leopards?

Sa Majeste looks the type to relish Limerick so had a go on him @ 8s

Interesting. So no DRF either on that basis. Probably looking at the Killiney at Punchestown in mid Jan I’d say.

[Odin]

IEP to 3m Leopards?

I'm so conflicted with this one. Feels like IEP is more of a 2.5 miler than any other horse Willie has so the Faugheen and then the Flogas seem so obvious but equally I'd want to be seeing if he stays 3m to know my RSA options.

I'm erring on the side of IEP going Faugheen but I can't bring myself to believe that 3/1ish is a good enough price for it given the uncertainty...

[Lobos]

Slade Steel opens up 8/15 with Bet365. 10/11 can be had elsewhere

[Carnage at Taunton]

Slade Steel opens up 8/15 with Bet365. 10/11 can be had elsewhere

Way he jumped last time, against this opposition
Need better prices than that imo

[Lobos]

Way he jumped last time, against this opposition
Need better prices than that imo

Yep, hot little race. As it's Rachel's first ride back I think we can safely say he's been jumping a lot better at home. He's fit so no excuse tomorrow. He simply has to win and win well imo to throw his hat into the BANC reckoning. I don't believe we'll be disappointed. Personally reckon anything Evens or better is a proper price.

[Lobos]

Rach.....

"I'm obviously delighted to be back racing in Naas on Monday, especially for Slade Steel, who runs in the beginners' chase. He was brilliant in winning the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, and I'm really looking forward to riding him again now.
I watched him when he made his chasing debut at Navan last month, and I thought that he ran well, but I know that there is more to come from him. I schooled him on Saturday and he jumped really well. The experience of that run the last day should hopefully stand to him now. Getting back to ride a horse like him is really exciting."

Gwan SS!!

[FinalFurlong91]

Can always forgive a horse a poor reappearance

He will need to jump a lot better though, from memory he was very hesitant at his fences

[Craigy14]

Yep, hot little race. As it's Rachel's first ride back I think we can safely say he's been jumping a lot better at home. He's fit so no excuse tomorrow. He simply has to win and win well imo to throw his hat into the BANC reckoning. I don't believe we'll be disappointed. Personally reckon anything Evens or better is a proper price.

I love your confidence mate and positivity

In defence of Darragh I think he’s rode really well for HDB and stepped up for HDB, a lot of his have ran really well.

I don’t think Slade Steel is a 2m and I think you’re right about him having stamina and think that’s the reason he won the supreme. If he doesn’t win too well he could be turners handicap horse if not wanting to tackle 3m in the BANC

[ComplyOrDie]

Jango Baie with a big chase debut RPR of 153.

Dancing City with a fairly low RPR of 136.

For some context, Ballyburn recorded a 150, The Jukebox Man 148, Impaire Et Passe 147 & Better Days Ahead a 140.

[darlojim]

Dancing City with a fairly low RPR of 136.

For some context, Ballyburn recorded a 150, The Jukebox Man 148, Impaire Et Passe 147 & Better Days Ahead a 140.

Another reason why RPRs are nonsense, it's just somones opinion on a race.