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2026 Novice Hurdlers

As per @billymag in the preview thread, re Talk The Talk, trainer wants Supreme, owner wants Turners.

I'd be with Joseph on this one.

I'm not a big fan of horses who have been campaigned and keep winning over 2m to suddenly end up over 2m5f, unless they are from a p2p background.

It makes little sense to me.

In Talk The Talks case, I don't think it will matter a whole heap as personally don't have him winning either race anyway, but can certainly see why Joseph would want Supreme, given he was going to win a key race over Christmas and also did win the key race from the DRF with a view to a Supreme.
 

LEADER D’ALLIER​

He’s entitled to take his chance in the Supreme Novices’. He’s got a lot of experience racing in France, albeit on the Flat, and he could be a prime contender here.

KING RASKO GREY​

Looking at King Rasko’s recent form where he was third to Talk The Talk and Ballyfad, he’s well entitled to take his chance in a Sky Bet Supreme. He’s by Galiway so he should have the toe for it, but he stays well enough which would give him a chance in the Turners. He could go either way.

MIGHTY PARK​

He’s a horse we’ve talked about more than anyone else, myself and JP. I wanted to keep him for the Champion Bumper but he’s not a bumper fan, JP isn’t, so we decided to go over hurdles. Then he missed his run at Christmas which has left us with this predicament.

He’d done all his schooling and he’s a point-to-pointer, and the one thing I loved at Fairyhouse was what Mark said to me after the race – ‘I looked around and after going an ordinary pace (he thought!) I was 20 lengths ahead without giving him a squeeze or anything.'

That tells me, like what we’ve been seeing at home all season, that he has huge natural ability. The Supreme Novices’ is a tight race, but when you have natural ability luck finds its way to you I think.

I don’t know where he’ll run, it’s far too early – a week before Cheltenham! I don’t look at the odds; I just look at what happens about 300 yards from here on the gallops and that’ll do me. We’ll make the decision when we have to.

SOBER​

Sober has the speed for the Supreme, he probably lacks the experience, but schooled very well in the week.

SORTUDO​

He’s a horse that’s impressed us. There are two camps, two miles or two-and-a-half. I’m easy, I’ll probably go back to the riders and see. Patrick rode him the last day in Naas, got caught in a bit of traffic. Chatting to the owner the other day he doesn’t care, he’s just like the rest of you and wants to know where he is going! On that Naas run I’d be edging towards the Turners but that’s not set in stone.


No mention of Turners for D'allier or Sober, yet mentions it for King Rasko & Sortudo.

Just cashed my Bartlett bets on Sortudo, not even an option by the sounds of it.
 
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I just sense Sortudo is going Supreme, end to end gallop bringing out his stamina will be perfect. He could well be the Al Ferof angle for Mullins In a supreme that is shaping exactly like that year.

The massive clue about Sortudo not going AB was given during a road to cheltenham episode just after the Lawlors. Ruby said 'You wouldn't want to see Sortudo going any further off the back of that' I'm really surprised that wasn't picked up on by more people.
 
Brooksie said:
I just sense Sortudo is going Supreme, end to end gallop bringing out his stamina will be perfect. He could well be the Al Ferof angle for Mullins In a supreme that is shaping exactly like that year.

The massive clue about Sortudo not going AB was given during a road to cheltenham episode just after the Lawlors. Ruby said 'You wouldn't want to see Sortudo going any further off the back of that' I'm really surprised that wasn't picked up on by more people.
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Ah yeah, but I'd rather listen to Willie (just) over Ruby, and especially this close to the festival.

I had nearly cashed him previously, luckily it remained an option after this today!
 
ComplyOrDie said:
Ah yeah, but I'd rather listen to Willie (just) over Ruby, and especially this close to the festival.

I had nearly cashed him previously, luckily it remained an option after this today!
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Yeah nice to beat the bookies to a cash out for once lol
 
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Brooksie said:
I just sense Sortudo is going Supreme, end to end gallop bringing out his stamina will be perfect. He could well be the Al Ferof angle for Mullins In a supreme that is shaping exactly like that year.

The massive clue about Sortudo not going AB was given during a road to cheltenham episode just after the Lawlors. Ruby said 'You wouldn't want to see Sortudo going any further off the back of that' I'm really surprised that wasn't picked up on by more people.
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If you fancy him for Supreme then you can have £40+ at 180 on the exchange.
 
With Leader and Sober looking definitely Supreme, if Sortudo goes there as well then surely Mighty and King RG both go Turners. That's my thoughts anyway.
 
Lobos said:
With Leader and Sober looking definitely Supreme, if Sortudo goes there as well then surely Mighty and King RG both go Turners. That's my thoughts anyway.
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Also got The Reverend in the Supreme as well, although he wasn't mentioned in the stable tour.
 
A tilt at the Skybet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle remains the “most likely” Cheltenham Festival target for Talk The Talk.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained five-year-old would almost certainly be four from four over obstacles but for a final-flight exit at Leopardstown over Christmas, since when he has struck Grade One gold at the Dublin Racing Festival.

While connections have been keen to leave all options open, the Supreme was identified as the preferred option some time ago, although Talk The Talk has been challenging for favouritism for the longer Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle after market support over the weekend, suggesting a step up in trip could be in the offing.

However, speaking to the Press Association on Monday morning, O’Brien said: “There’s been no change or update on the situation. I think the Supreme is the most likely race for him, we’re going to keep our options open up until the last minute as we have said we would.

“His preparation has gone well and we’re looking forward to Cheltenham with him.”
 
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Eggs said:
A tilt at the Skybet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle remains the “most likely” Cheltenham Festival target for Talk The Talk.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained five-year-old would almost certainly be four from four over obstacles but for a final-flight exit at Leopardstown over Christmas, since when he has struck Grade One gold at the Dublin Racing Festival.

While connections have been keen to leave all options open, the Supreme was identified as the preferred option some time ago, although Talk The Talk has been challenging for favouritism for the longer Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle after market support over the weekend, suggesting a step up in trip could be in the offing.

However, speaking to the Press Association on Monday morning, O’Brien said: “There’s been no change or update on the situation. I think the Supreme is the most likely race for him, we’re going to keep our options open up until the last minute as we have said we would.

“His preparation has gone well and we’re looking forward to Cheltenham with him.”
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In the context of what Billymag posted, the nuances to Joseph's statement are important. "I think the Supreme is the most likely race..."
 
Lobos said:
With Leader and Sober looking definitely Supreme, if Sortudo goes there as well then surely Mighty and King RG both go Turners. That's my thoughts anyway.
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The way I have things in my head is that Willie will want to split his grade 1 proven horses first and foremost evenly across all 3 races.

The only 3 proven at grade 1 level so far this season are Doctor Steinberg, Sortudo and King Rasko.

At this point DS looks about the most confirmed out of the lot going AB. Therefore in my mind Sortudo and Rasko are a coinflip for the Supreme and Turners. Split them how you like.

The next category would then be his unproven hype job horses, the maiden and grade 2 winners. You've got Mighty Park, Sober, Lead Dallier, The Reverend. Slot these in as 2nd and 3rd strings... before you say it... I get it they probably see Mighty Park as a 1st string lol.

Then the rest that have been tried and failed slot in as 4th 5th strings. The likes of Le Divin Enfant, Saint Baco Doctor Du mesnil etc that have been found out.
 
Lobos said:
With Leader and Sober looking definitely Supreme, if Sortudo goes there as well then surely Mighty and King RG both go Turners. That's my thoughts anyway.
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Why would other Mullins horses plans have any effect whatsoever on where JP wants to send MP? Willie could send all of his to the Supreme and won't affect where JP / FB think is best for their horse.
 
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Run 4 Home told us a few years ago that, in essence, Paul pick what he wants to ride in each race at the Curragh the Tuesday before i.e. tomorrow.

So as I understand it, JP will do what he pleases with Mighty Park. Paul will then pick who he wants to ride in each race. It's been telegraphed that hi Supreme ride might be Leader D'Allier, and Willie's succinct but confident comments today don't diverge from that. So you'd think he'll then choose whether he prefers King Rasko, Sober, or Sortudo in the Turners.
 
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