November ‘24 Yankee

[ComplyOrDie]

Dancing City proved time and time again that he was the class staying hurdler of last year. Admittedly he was defeated at Cheltenham, but I'm astonished he's 10-1 given his record last year and who his trainer is. He's not jumped a fence in public yet, which is why you need the 10-1. He's the riskiest selection.

Agree with this.

The one place he failed to win was at Cheltenham. He finished a respectable 3rd, but was still behind The Jukebox Man & Stellar Story (I know he beat him at Punchestown, but reckon the course suited Dancing City more), the latter of which we've seen come out and win on chase debut and is still 20/1.

Now the season has started I don't think Dancing City is a great price @ 10/1 but the bookmakers won't push him out based on others winning around him, unfortunately.

Negatives for him:

No course win - Ballyburn, Majborough, Better Days Ahead & Stellar Story all tick this box

Wrong age - He'll be 8. I done a piece about 8 year olds in the race, it's not very favourable. Ballyburn, Better Days Ahead & The Jukebox Man all tick this box, among some others.


I got early season FOMO, when I started putting together my diary for the season ahead and backed him with free bets. I won't be parting with cash for him though.

[The Giant Bolster]

I still like Dancing City. I'm not too worried about the course form personally. I think Townend would probably want his ride in the Albert Bartlett again and to have pressed The Jukebox Man more. I think Dancing City would've liked a stronger pace (it was a fast finish) and didn't respond quickly enough when the pace lifted at the top of the hill.

Other than that blemish, he was a stand out staying hurdler. Alongside that I'm not sure we've seen many strong contenders in the staying novice chase division so far with Stellar Story and Better Days Ahead looking solid but not spectacular. Obviously it comes with risk at 10-1 and no evidence on his jumping but I'm definitely with him at the price personally.

[Exar Essay]

Agree with this.

The one place he failed to win was at Cheltenham. He finished a respectable 3rd, but was still behind The Jukebox Man & Stellar Story (I know he beat him at Punchestown, but reckon the course suited Dancing City more), the latter of which we've seen come out and win on chase debut and is still 20/1.

Now the season has started I don't think Dancing City is a great price @ 10/1 but the bookmakers won't push him out based on others winning around him, unfortunately.

A win is a win and a loss is a loss. But I thought the AB a very strange race last year. It didn't strike me that DC didn't like Cheltenham. Rather he, and many others, didn't give The Jukebox Man the respect he deserved. I'm prepared to give him a pass on course form. I'm also wondering how important the Cheltenham form stat will be now that there is no Dipper. I presume. though haven't done the research, that many BANC winners ticked that box in the Dipper.

Couldn't knock either SS or TJM either though. I have both in the book. Of the two, I actually prefer TJM. I don't think Stellar Story has the class for the BANC even. He looks a real grinder.

[ComplyOrDie]

A win is a win and a loss is a loss. But I thought the AB a very strange race last year. It didn't strike me that DC didn't like Cheltenham. Rather he, and many others, didn't give The Jukebox Man the respect he deserved. I'm prepared to give him a pass on course form. I'm also wondering how important the Cheltenham form stat will be now that there is no Dipper. I presume. though haven't done the research, that many BANC winners ticked that box in the Dipper.

Couldn't knock either SS or TJM either though. I have both in the book. Of the two, I actually prefer TJM. I don't think Stellar Story has the class for the BANC even. He looks a real grinder.

I'm with you on Stellar Story. Reminds me of Stay Away Fay, in fact they are both by the same sire too!

I really like Better Days Ahead. He won, what I believe to be, a decent enough renewal of the Martin Pipe, and although nothing spectacular on chase debut, he still beat the Supreme Novice Hurdle winner, in the process.

Gordon has never won the BANC though, so might as well chuck the tickets in the bin

Looks like Willie needs to send Ballyburn here instead!!

[JackieMoon33]

In years gone by, class was not always something you needed to win a BANC. This may change with the Turners being removed but since I've been watching racing, more grinders have won the race than classier types.