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2026 Champion Chase

opatcho said:
Nice little race that in the 15:02

Inthepocket
Champ Kiely
Ile Atlantique
Only By Night

I think Inthepocket wasnt 100% right last season and feel that weight advantage will come into play here
I thought Champ Kiely was more of a 3 miler tbh, and could be using this as a opener. Want to see more from Only By Night before I back her this season.

I think Ile Atlantique is Willie 2 miler in this race, the DRF coming too soon after his win. Think he's the one to back in this race
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Creditable run from Champ Kiely giving 11lb to Only By Night. See only WillHill have priced him up for the QM at a not so generous 25/1. Really looks a no mans land horse with a rating of 158. Could plunder lower graded races over any trip and prove a nice money spinner.

Inthepocket jumped well in the main. I would be amazed if connections don't look to capitalise on that juicy handicap mark of 149 though somewhere along the line.
 
Grand Annual??
 
Lobos said:
Grand Annual??
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Possibly. Being HDB trained then you would think 2m, though not sure he is slick enough for such a race. Think there are a few valuable 2m handicaps he could be aimed at in Ireland before then.
 
Runragged said:
Creditable run from Champ Kiely giving 11lb to Only By Night. See only WillHill have priced him up for the QM at a not so generous 25/1. Really looks a no mans land horse with a rating of 158. Could plunder lower graded races over any trip and prove a nice money spinner.

Inthepocket jumped well in the main. I would be amazed if connections don't look to capitalise on that juicy handicap mark of 149 though somewhere along the line.
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Yeah, I thought he ran well considering it was over 2 mile aswell, plus the weight

I have a feeling they will step Champ Kiely back up to 3 miles, similar to Bandbridge after his first run.
Currently in the King George, but wouldn’t surprise me if they had a go at the Cotswolds chase. Just think he’s a grade below the top horses in Ireland and there could be some nice prize money to win over here - similar to what they did with Gaelic Warrior with wins at aintree and Sandown

He’s in my tracker
 
Barry Connell is well aware that conditions will not be perfect for Marine Nationale if he makes his seasonal reappearance in the Bar One Racing Fortria Chase at Navan on Saturday, but he is keen to get his champion started.

The eight-year-old landed his second win at the Cheltenham Festival when strolling away with the Queen Mother Champion Chase in March and followed that up with an easy victory at Punchestown.

That left no doubt that he was leader of the division and Connell has had the Fortria picked out as his starting point for some time, but heavy rain in Ireland early in the week has now turned the ground testing.

“I was on the Curragh this morning and it was hammering down but the worst of it is due to go through today and the going at Navan is soft to heavy,” said Connell on Tuesday.

“The one good thing is that it is the first chase of the whole season at Navan so it will be completely fresh ground, it would be a different matter in January or February.

“We’re very keen to run, we’re all systems go really, and the forecast is suggesting it will dry out by the end of the week.

“It’s not ideal but I think he’ll go on any ground. He’s such a light-actioned horse that heavy ground isn’t ideal. But he’s in great form.

“He’s a speed horse and no real speed horse is at their best in heavy ground. He did win the Royal Bond on soft ground when it rained on the morning of the race and he got through it. What he wouldn’t like is tacky ground but with it being fresh it shouldn’t be.

“If the forecast is right and it’s not as wet towards the end of the week I’d say we’re almost certain to run.”
 
Jonbon opened at 4/11 for the Shloer Chase.........now Evens
 
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Lobos said:
Jonbon opened at 4/11 for the Shloer Chase.........now Evens
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What are your thoughts on this ? Has his leg fallen off ? The opposition aren't in the same league as him....something must be amiss ?
 
BigL said:
What are your thoughts on this ? Has his leg fallen off ? The opposition aren't in the same league as him....something must be amiss ?
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Its the Cheltenham factor, plus he's a year older , testing ground, has to take on one that loves the course/ground, has more scope for improvement, whose best form was this time last season and whose trainer/jockey are in sensational form.
 
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BigL said:
What are your thoughts on this ? Has his leg fallen off ? The opposition aren't in the same league as him....something must be amiss ?
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I think that it's a combination of things.

Jobon's record at Cheltenham isn't great, he's generally improves for his 1st run and at 4/11, everyone will be looking to take him on and tip "value". (and I don't think that Henderson is on amazing form at the moment)

As such, he's drifted.

4/11 was too short.
At Evens he becomes more plausible, but still one I'm happy to watch...
 
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Lobos said:
Its the Cheltenham factor, plus he's a year older , testing ground, has to take on one that loves the course/ground, has more scope for improvement, whose best form was this time last season and whose trainer/jockey are in sensational form.
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jinx...... 😆
 
Leman14 said:
jinx...... 😆
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Not saying I'd back either at the current prices. Just giving the reasons why Bon Jovi has drifted. I too thought Henderson was in poor form but after looking, it ain't bad at all for this time of year.
 
….don’t laugh but Solness is one I’ll be watching as he can throw in the odd decent performance amidst the bleak.

Twice last Spring he beat Marine National and had some useful ones behind only for MN to firmly put him in his place in CC (he went off at 12-1) and Punchestown. No idea of plans but he’s declared to run in the Fortria on Saturday.
 
Dinoblue always seems to run well first time up and she'll not mind the ground over 2 miles as she does stay further. She'll be more forward than Marine I reckon and gets the weight.
 
Eggs said:
….don’t laugh but Solness is one I’ll be watching as he can throw in the odd decent performance amidst the bleak.

Twice last Spring he beat Marine National and had some useful ones behind only for MN to firmly put him in his place in CC (he went off at 12-1) and Punchestown. No idea of plans but he’s declared to run in the Fortria on Saturday.
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I looked at Solness for weekend as well. Marine capable of a shocker as well, and will have bigger targets. Solness won't get his ground though will he. So I'm not bothering
 
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Likely to be a big over reaction to that from Jonbon today, but I'd almost guarantee Skeltons horses (on the whole) are ahead of where Nicky's are at the moment.

Not just that, there's not a chance, in my mind, that LDS is a 15 length better horse than Jonbon, exaggerated winning distance, whether purely down to race fitness or conditions, I don't know.
 
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Ladbrokes are big outliers at 16/1 (18/1 with boost) if anyone else needs to correct their assessment of LDS …
 
Over reaction, but what to do with Jonbon?
There was already noise around Jonbon stepping up
Ohhh Nicky just mentioned he's horses are a tad behind. Sounds like Tingle Creek is the aim, and could still be a decent price to back as he does improve on
 
Leman14 said:
I think that it's a combination of things.

Jobon's record at Cheltenham isn't great, he's generally improves for his 1st run and at 4/11, everyone will be looking to take him on and tip "value". (and I don't think that Henderson is on amazing form at the moment)

As such, he's drifted.

4/11 was too short.
At Evens he becomes more plausible, but still one I'm happy to watch...
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Good call that
 
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ComplyOrDie said:
Likely to be a big over reaction to that from Jonbon today, but I'd almost guarantee Skeltons horses (on the whole) are ahead of where Nicky's are at the moment.

Not just that, there's not a chance, in my mind, that LDS is a 15 length better horse than Jonbon, exaggerated winning distance, whether purely down to race fitness or conditions, I don't know.
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leau is a better jumper and took lengths out on the back straight. suspect conditions helped leau but jonbon has won that race last few years beating the same horses in the UK. looks to me like a changing of guard and whether 15 lengths flatter or not I worry jonbon will continue to lose ground to better jumpers and thats a problem at 2m
 
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