2025 Champion Chase

[riccirich]

Jonbon was all out to beat boothill by a length and a half on both of their seasonal debuts, before taking a big step forward with his win on Saturday.

So I think I'd be happy enough with energumene there after over a year and a half off the track. Banbridge was giving him a race, but had a run on the board already, and energumene still looked to have something in reserve, while there was a string of good horses back behind them.

If jonbon can take a big step forward from seasonal debut, then youd think energumene can do it too after way longer off the track.

[Craigy14]

I'd suggest the opposite.

With el fabs jumping looking questionable and energumene looking brilliant there, surely Paul will want to ride energumene and Gaelic at festival? You'd assume energumene will go Clarence house now - if he beats jonbon there, surely Gaelic as the more flexible trip wise goes to the ryanair? If jonbon beats him, Gaelic goes champion chase. El fabs fits in as second string in champion chase now for me to either energumene or Gaelic.

Possibly but he’s already said El Fab will go up in trip, I’m pretty sure PT would keep the ride anyway imo, might be wrong there of course. He’s also mapped out gaelics season for 2m, otherwise he would have kept him in at Kempton surely? No reason not to if they thought they were going to up him in trip.

On another note, missed the race live, watched it back, that jump 4 out is what loving 2m chaser is all about! Put him 3 lengths ahead

Think Banbridge look to jump quite wildly right at the last to my eye? Hence the jockey being thrown out the opposite side door. He does come out with credit at the weights but he was a race fit rival against a 10 year old for year and a half, think we can’t give too much credit imo. Or maybe we undervalue how good Energumene as per my previous post.

[Lobos]

I'd suggest the opposite.

With el fabs jumping looking questionable and energumene looking brilliant there, surely Paul will want to ride energumene and Gaelic at festival? You'd assume energumene will go Clarence house now - if he beats jonbon there, surely Gaelic as the more flexible trip wise goes to the ryanair? If jonbon beats him, Gaelic goes champion chase. El fabs fits in as second string in champion chase now for me to either energumene or Gaelic.

Odin still trying your hardest to get GW in the Ryanair

[Carnage at Taunton]

Jonbon was all out to beat boothill by a length and a half on both of their seasonal debuts, before taking a big step forward with his win on Saturday.

So I think I'd be happy enough with energumene there after over a year and a half off the track. Banbridge was giving him a race, but had a run on the board already, and energumene still looked to have something in reserve, while there was a string of good horses back behind them.

If jonbon can take a big step forward from seasonal debut, then youd think energumene can do it too after way longer off the track.

I would think anyone backing Energ would be happy with that.
His next race will be interesting for sure re improving for a run as
Banbridge to me is a long way from winning a CC,

[EnvoiAlien]

Think Banbridge look to jump quite wildly right at the last to my eye? Hence the jockey being thrown out the opposite side door. .

Did you also notice Energumene jumping across Banbridge at the 3rd,2nd & final fence also,the final fence one caused Banbridge to unseat imo.

[Odin]

Odin still trying your hardest to get GW in the Ryanair

I actually win more if he wins the Champion Chase now so kind of screwing myself over

[Craigy14]

Did you also notice Energumene jumping across Banbridge at the 3rd,2nd & final fence also,the final fence one caused Banbridge to unseat imo.

I didn’t actually, if that’s the case, jockey should have switched schoolboy error.

[Odin]

Possibly but he’s already said El Fab will go up in trip, I’m pretty sure PT would keep the ride anyway imo, might be wrong there of course. He’s also mapped out gaelics season for 2m, otherwise he would have kept him in at Kempton surely? No reason not to if they thought they were going to up him in trip.

I read it as they would consider the King George for Gaelic if he'd gone to the John Durkan, but he missed that so he'd start over 2m at home rather than 3m abroad, which is fair enough - particularly with El Fabiolo missing Xmas (has that been confirmed or is it still a rumour?). There's then no other suitable Grade 1 race over more than 2m except the Ascot Chase, which is too close to Cheltenham for him to go to surely.

I'll accept I was fully expecting Gaelic to go for King George, but I also fully expected (and still do) him to go to the DRF 2 miler with El Fabiolo after Xmas. Energumene surely goes Clarence House now which will have a big bearing on who the Champion Chase horse is imo. If Jonbon beats Energumene, I'd have Gaelic as the Champion Chase horse (assuming he wins at Xmas and DRF). FWIW I think all 3 beat Jonbon over 2m at Cheltenham, I think Gaelic is the only one of the three that could win a Ryanair.

[Exar Essay]

It’s a fine start given the lay off. But that can’t be much more than a 165 performance. His jumping was a real mixed bag too. Jonbon still sets the standard for me.

[EnvoiAlien]

I didn’t actually, if that’s the case, jockey should have switched schoolboy error.

I agree he should've switched,but the final fence error wasn't on Banbridge,Egernumene took his ground before he landed hence the unseat as he was carried right before landing fully.
I'd be looking at why Energumene was jumping to his right too if I was Willie,unless he's always done it,I can't say I'd noticed before myself.

[Lobos]

I'd agree with some that, after that, it looks straight forward now. GW and Energumene to the Champion Chase and El Fab to the Ryanair.

[riccirich]

I agree he should've switched,but the final fence error wasn't on Banbridge,Egernumene took his ground before he landed hence the unseat as he was carried right before landing fully.
I'd be looking at why Energumene was jumping to his right too if I was Willie,unless he's always done it,I can't say I'd noticed before myself.

He's always done it occasionally. If you look back at some of his novice runs at leopardstown he used to go to the right, but at Cheltenham he doesn't seem to for some reason.

[Craigy14]

I'd agree with some that, after that, it looks straight forward now. GW and Energumene to the Champion Chase and El Fab to the Ryanair.

As much as I love energumene, he’s not going to send him and El Fab to the champion chase imo, he’ll be 11 and el fab will be 9 with jumping issues.

He’s found the secret, or so it would seem, with Gaelic Warrior so he’ll surely go with Energumene as he’ll be 7 and was a very good Arkle winner this season.

[Lobos]

As much as I love energumene, he’s not going to send him and El Fab to the champion chase imo, he’ll be 11 and el fab will be 9 with jumping issues.

He’s found the secret, or so it would seem, with Gaelic Warrior so he’ll surely go with Energumene as he’ll be 7 and was a very good Arkle winner this season.

Yep, completely agree.

[Craigy14]

I read it as they would consider the King George for Gaelic if he'd gone to the John Durkan, but he missed that so he'd start over 2m at home rather than 3m abroad, which is fair enough - particularly with El Fabiolo missing Xmas (has that been confirmed or is it still a rumour?). There's then no other suitable Grade 1 race over more than 2m except the Ascot Chase, which is too close to Cheltenham for him to go to surely.

I'll accept I was fully expecting Gaelic to go for King George, but I also fully expected (and still do) him to go to the DRF 2 miler with El Fabiolo after Xmas. Energumene surely goes Clarence House now which will have a big bearing on who the Champion Chase horse is imo. If Jonbon beats Energumene, I'd have Gaelic as the Champion Chase horse (assuming he wins at Xmas and DRF). FWIW I think all 3 beat Jonbon over 2m at Cheltenham, I think Gaelic is the only one of the three that could win a Ryanair.

You might be right with that mate, I honestly couldn’t agree or disagree as I can’t remember.

If he was behind his work etc it makes sense but we’ve heard from connections that they are planning back from the champion chase. I know things can change but that seems to be the thinking at present.