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Arkle 2018

Welshman

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It seems that potentially this could be a hot race if all the classy hurdlers head this way.Has anyone heard of any definate plans yet?
 
No definite plans but I'd assume Finians Oscar is heading over fences and he's one who should thrive I've the larger obstacles.

Just had a quick look at the betting and disappointed to see that Betfair still have Neon Wolf in their market.
 
Welcome to the site Welshman. :very_drunk:
 
Welcome Welshman. :)

I actually think the Arkle could be the weaker of the 3 novice chases at the festival this season with the vast majority of the (potentially) most exciting horses wanting 2m4 - 3m. Long way to go though...

I think the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown last season with:

1st Bacardys
shd - Finians Oscar
7 - Death Duty
nk - Lets Dance

Will end up being an incredibly strong piece of form of novice chasers.

I thought Pingshou could have had a decent chance in this (thinking FO goes further) but seems he stays hurdling this year.

The 20's for Finians Oscar is HUGE though and although my opinion is he goes further than 2miles, i'm extremely tempted to get at a point on at such a price just incase.
 
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We are too late Jono.

Tizzard had an open day today and he has confirmed the FO goes over fences. Best priced 16/1 with Stan James and Skybet.

Pingshou being aimed at the Champion Hurdle.
 
We are too late Jono.

Tizzard had an open day today and he has confirmed the FO goes over fences. Best priced 16/1 with Stan James and Skybet.

Pingshou being aimed at the Champion Hurdle.

Sorry Jono - just seen your post on the ante post thread.
 
Hi Welshman great to have a new face on board
A quick browse through the market, Defi looks worthy fav based on hurdles form but one for me at a bigger price is William Henry for Nicky Henderson, good hurdles form, looks every inch a chaser and looks like 2miles could be perfect for him over fences
 
Can't see an Altior or Douvan this season. It's a huge step in the dark to back any horse that hasn't jumped a Rules fence in public for the most demanding 2 mile novice chase of the season.

Best of luck, of course, to anyone chancing their arm.
 
Was Defi not already confirmed for a hurdle campaign for this season?

I haven't seen anything definitive yet. Has anyone bought Paul Ferguson's Jumpers to Follow book? There might be some info on DDS in there. Mark Howard's book is delayed until the end of September due to his ill health.
 
Hobbs stated he'd be staying over hurdles on July 10th.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Staying over Hurdles is the plan.</p>— Philip Hobbs Racing (@PJHobbs1) <a href="https://twitter.com/PJHobbs1/status/884377130653675520">July 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

JP can of course decide otherwise (as they did with the world hurdle being Yanworths target according to King only to then go for the champion hurdle and avoid UNWIMH) but I got my copy of Jumpers to Follow today and Paul states:

Though he has the scope for fences. DDS is set to remain over hurdles and the 2m division doesn't look the deepest

So you'd assume that's still the plan for now
 
Cheers Jono. I'm going to order mine tonight.
 
JP likes the old 1-2 in Champion Hurdle ...
 
Hi Welshman great to have a new face on board
A quick browse through the market, Defi looks worthy fav based on hurdles form but one for me at a bigger price is William Henry for Nicky Henderson, good hurdles form, looks every inch a chaser and looks like 2miles could be perfect for him over fences

I like this shout paz. 33/1 with bet365. Has always been highly thought of since his bumper days. Would have Davy onboard which is always a plus too...
 
In respect of finding likely runners - Has anything been said on what the plan is with Ballyandy going forward?

Didn't quite live up to expectations last year after winning the Champion Bumper in 2016 but still managed to win a Betfair Hurdle and come 4th in the Supreme, a race where I had completely forgotten he went off joint 3/1 fav! Watching the race back again he looked to get outpaced and was losing ground at almost every hurdle BUT despite all that and being hampered several times early on he did well to finish 4th.

He does look like he has the scope for fences so it might be what he needs. I can't see him making ANY impression in open company over hurdles and with the likes of Buveur D'Air and Defi de Seuil ready to mop up most of the English trial races it's not like NTD can do a 'New One' and mop of the grade 2/3 CH trials through the season.

If he does go chasing then I can only see the Arkle or the JLT as options.
 
Cheers billy. He's by no means a fancy at this stage but i'm interested to see how he gets on
 
These are the ones i know about from our Million in Mind Stable visit at the start of August Alan King

DUSKY LEGEND going Nov Chasing
YANWORTH Chasing 2m4 - 3m hadn’t schooled yet
MIDNIGHT TOUR hurdling but will have to step up into graded
Dark horse POTTERMAN who won a Hunt bumper end of May


Paul Nicholls
FRODON ( could be one for Down Royal)
VICENTE will run through the winter on ground he hates then hopefully gets good ground for the Scottish National

These are all going nov chasing, DREAM CATCHING, MOVEWITHTHETIMES, MODUS

Dark horses DENSFIRTH 4 year old unrated + GRAND SANCY (i can’t find him on RP database so could of spelt wrong or misheard the name)


Nigel
BLACKLION - National again, traditional route probably Beechers first
BALLYANDY - Novice Chasing
WHOLESTONE + BALLYOPTIC may go chasing but a little concerned about thier jumping so may stay over hurdles

He hopes THE NEW ONE can get to £1 million in prize money and will try and win races with him, he accepts the horse isn’t quite what he used to be.



Warren
THE NIPPER + LE BAGUE AU ROI nov chasing
WESTERN RYDER he felt was very unlucky at Aintree and is going Nov hurd and he expects him to be contesting the best Nov races come the end of the season
PETICOTE TAILS nov hurdling
Dark horse THE BUTCHER SAID bumper then, nov hurdling, he was excited by him.


Oliver
PUFFIN BILLY will try him again over fences needs to go RH on Soft
THE ORGANIST hopes she is back in October back over hurdles but needs to talk to connections before a decision can be made. With a full season over hurdles I would be tempted to back her for the mares race if i could get 50/1 when she’s priced up.
Dark horse JERSEY BEAN


NICKY
All the big three done great over the summer, he reports that MIGHT BITE may go for the £1m bonus
ALTIOR all roads will hopefully lead to The Champ Chase, he thinks he is quick enough to win at listed class on the flat. He is hoping that he doesn’t meet Douvan till Chelt, interestingly he said he has a feeling that they might step Douvan up, which grabbed my attention.
BUVEUR D will stay hurdling as will MTOY who he thinks should take on THE NEW ONE in a special veterans race!
LAMI SERGE needs to go left handed and will go down the 3 mile hurdling route. 20/1 for the stayers hurdle isn’t too far off a backable price for me, in fact I’ve taken a small bit of 23/1 that was available on the exchanges, but i accept the risks that go with backing this horse!
TOP NOTCH might be campaigned more in France this season.
Nicky mentioned all these for Novice Chasing RIVER WYLDE, LOUGH DERG SPIRIT, LOUGH DERG FARMER, CONSTANTINE BAY and FIX LE KAP.
When asked about JERKINS he spoke about the horse not enjoying jumping and his disappointment of how last year went coz he was one of the best bumper horses he has trained. He said they had tinkered with his wind and “a few other things” but needs to come back to form.
CLAIMANTAKINFORGAN and he goes nov hurdling.
The one thing i took out of Nickys info was out of all his Novice Chasers for next year he seemed most keen on FIX LE KAP, better on soft ground but he was the one that he gave a special mention to and will be aimed 2m 4f - 3m