January ‘25 Yankee

[Quevega]

One horse I’ve been chipping away at (albeit small stakes) is Busselton at 50/1 for the XC. Ran in both handicap XC chases in November and December finishing 6th and never really being put in either race. If the XC was again off level weights he wouldn’t be on my radar, but hopefully he gets a nice weight in March and we know how good Jonjoe is a targeting certain races. Think he could target a top 4 finish at a tasty each way price

Is Jonjoe ? a nickname for Joseph O'Brien.
I like Fakir for similar reasons.

[Irish Rugby]

….pop this in here from Irish Rugby;

Two Henry horses for me. The Big Westerner who has now impressed and in differently run races, at Punchestown and now Limerick. Still fancy odds for the AB.

Workahead had a lot to like in the manner of his win in the novice hurdle at Leopardstown on Friday following his 3rd behind Jasmin de Vaux and The Enabler (that won today) early in the month at Navan. Could be similar to Slade Steel and be a bit under the radar for the Supreme.

Both still at lively prices.

Now she's been confirmed for the AB, don't forget to think about The Big Westerner.

[Ice]

Now she's been confirmed for the AB, don't forget to think about The Big Westerner.

She's on my list.

[Killiney]

Has Maughreen got any upcoming entries? I really liked her last season and was looking forward to her running again but nowhere to be seen.

Think she is injured and unlikely to run for a while

[Brooker17]

Think she is injured and unlikely to run for a while

Thanks. Best avoid for the festival then

[Faugheen_Machine]

Think she is injured and unlikely to run for a while

I don't believe that's the case.....

[Faugheen_Machine]

What about including Sweet David or Stumpstown in the Cross County? The target is guaranteed and both have shown a liking for the course recently.

It might be a bit early for a handicap, but I really like Monmiral at a big price in the Pertemps.

[Ice]

What about including Sweet David or Stumpstown in the Cross County? The target is guaranteed and both have shown a liking for the course recently.

It might be a bit early for a handicap, but I really like Monmiral at a big price in the Pertemps.

They would be the two in the cross country that interest me most, mainly because they've won the last two cross country races at the course and not because I've studied the race !

[Istabraq]

What about including Sweet David or Stumpstown in the Cross County? The target is guaranteed and both have shown a liking for the course recently.

It might be a bit early for a handicap, but I really like Monmiral at a big price in the Pertemps.

I’m all over Galvin for this.
Stumptown put up 8lb for last win, Gordon clearly looking after Galvin’s mark, think he goes very close and represents serious value at 10s….

[Faugheen_Machine]

I’m all over Galvin for this.
Stumptown put up 8lb for last win, Gordon clearly looking after Galvin’s mark, think he goes very close and represents serious value at 10s….

Is his British mark still 155?

[Istabraq]

Is his British mark still 155?

It wasn't changed after the National so I assume it to be 155, I think they've kept him in his box to protect that...

[Quevega]

Problem with Stumptown IMO is he got a BHA performance rating of 157 for the last day. ran off 149
And Sweet David got 147. was out of the handicap and ran off 140.
Neither official, but likely thereabouts as new marks come March.

I'd much prefer Fakir Doudairies, ran off 154, but now 148 in Ireland, his performance rating was very low so will not be close to the real mark.
It is the X country though so not always about the weights, and more about the handling the turns and finishing well.

[Captain Chris]

One horse I’ve been chipping away at (albeit small stakes) is Busselton at 50/1 for the XC. Ran in both handicap XC chases in November and December finishing 6th and never really being put in either race. If the XC was again off level weights he wouldn’t be on my radar, but hopefully he gets a nice weight in March and we know how good Jonjoe is a targeting certain races. Think he could target a top 4 finish at a tasty each way price

I am all aboard this train and have been doing likewise. Expect the blinkers back on in March and a bit more effort to be applied!

[Garrison Savannah]

For anyone whose not read through this whole thread for a while it's comic genius. Legendary forum content.
The forum in a microcosm.

I’ve been on here a long time, and somehow had never read this piece of genius before, so thanks for the resurrection.

[Istabraq]

Sticking handicappers in these so far out is riddled with risk but I've been chipping away at Valgrand for a while now, he was run out the back of the TV last week (again) and been dropped 3lb to 134, that pretty much guarantees him a run and he'll have somewhere around 10:6 or thereabouts which puts him in a perfect spot.
That October G2 won't have been the strongest of graded race but he could hardly have been more impressive, he then bumped into a serious horse in Potters Charm and for me has been running for a mark since.
The fact he had a couple of runs in quick succession after that defeat tells me they were looking to get a few pound off him and it's worked, now 6lb lower than his high of 140.
Of course there'll be others but Dan is the master at getting a horse handicapped for a County, worth considering ?