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**Hoof** · 7 October 2013, 07:34 AM

Rebel Fitz

Mick Winters said: �Barry was delighted with him and he said he won easy enough. He said he switched off today. He's one of the top horses over fences. There's great opportunities and great prize money so we'll tip away.

�He�ll go to Cheltenham on Friday week for a two and a half mile novice chase. Last year we threw him out for three months in the winter, but we won�t do that this year, but he won�t be running on the bad ground.

"The owner Brian Sweetnam is based in England and wants to see him for himself. He'll definitely be getting a break after Cheltenham."

Barry Geraghty added: �His jumping is as good as you get and it�s real poetry. He finds it so easy long or short and he�s really natural. The big thing was to get him switched off. I�d say two and a half miles is perfect for him.

�Some horses are just natural to chasing and he is one of them and time will tell how far he climbs, but he�s as good a novice as you would get.

"The experience of travelling over to Cheltenham and overnight will stand him in good stead. He�s Grade 1 material. He�s better on spring ground than winter ground. I doubt you�d see him running on soft or anything worse.�

**Old Vic** · 13 October 2013, 12:32 PM

More

"Rebel Fitz will travel over at the start of the week and will run at Cheltenham, providing the ground is not too fast," said Winters.

"He has come out of Tipperary in strapping form. He sweated an awful lot during the race but Barry Geraghty came back and said that he could have gone round again, so he really had no race at all.

"He would sometimes be a bit too smart and think a little when going over a hurdle but he has been very clever over fences so far and we have been delighted with him.

"Barry says that two and a half miles is his best trip. Down the road, we will have to wait and see what opposition comes up over the winter in Ireland and Britain but, at the moment, it seems that two and a half is the best for him.

"We will give him a bit of time after Cheltenham and we won't be in a hurry afterwards. We will get home, have a good look at him and freshen him back up. He's not a hard horse to train in a lot of ways because he doesn't take a lot of work to get fit.

"It is exciting for the owner to have a runner at Cheltenham and there is always a bit of rivalry between England and Ireland. If everything goes right this season, we can hopefully bring him back for the Festival in March."

**Old Vic** · 17 October 2013, 12:48 PM

Cracking trial at Cheltenham tomorrow with two top rated novices and Taquin De Seuil in three horse race. Third Intention looks like the winner on weights but doesnt get his head in front ? Will be interesting to see how Rebel Fitz handles travelling over and the track. He has got very sweaty in Ireland before races and although an October Friday is a far cry from the Festival we should get some clue about his March chances. Taquin De Seuil could be a very interesting chaser ...had his own thread last year http://www.fatjockey.com/forum/showt...Novice-Hurdler

**Old Vic** · 19 October 2013, 12:51 PM

Two horse race yesterday but time seemed to be good. Rebel Fitz had jumped like a bunny in his last few races but wasnt as slick yesterday. The Tizzards seemed to think Third Intention may have improved but could be both ran to about their rating with weight the difference.

**Old Vic** · 24 October 2013, 08:03 PM

After win today

When told Pendra had been given a quote of 16-1 for the Jewson Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Longsdon said: "He's not quick enough for an Arkle, he's bred for three miles. The Jewson would probably be right at this stage unless AP tells me something wildly different."

**mayo** · 4 November 2013, 08:36 PM

Interesting looking race at Wincanton on Saturday http://www.attheraces.com/card.aspx?...&nav=racecards

**Sefton** · 5 November 2013, 11:16 AM

Originally posted by mayo View Post

Interesting looking race at Wincanton on Saturday http://www.attheraces.com/card.aspx?...&nav=racecards

Oscar Whisky could make his debut over fences in the Rising Stars Novices' Chase at Wincanton on Saturday.

Nicky Henderson's eight-year-old disappointed in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle last season and having gone on to be a well-held fourth in the Aintree Hurdle, the decision to go chasing has been made and he could head to Wincanton's Grade Two contest on Saturday.

Paul Nicholls has two entered in the race including recent Fontwell scorer Black Thunder, but he has also entered Wonderful Charm.

The five-year-old was eighth in the World Hurdle on only his second start in Britain but landed the odds at Fakenham on his seasonal reappearance by a margin of eight lengths.

Alan King has two entries with Pantxoa attempting to step up from his three wins in handicap company.

The Barbury Castle handler could also give an opportunity for Meister Eckhart to make his debut over fences.

The lightly raced seven-year-old was second in the Coral Cup last season and placed in a Listed race at Aintree having caught the eye in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell.

Colin Tizzard has entered Third Intention. The six-year-old took the scalp of Rebel Fitz in what turned out to be a match race at Cheltenham and is likely to face a numerically stronger opposition on Saturday.

Emma Lavelle has given herself the option of racing Gullinbursti and Fox Appeal, while Dursey Sound and Next Oasis complete the entries.

**mayo** · 20 November 2013, 09:41 AM

Ruby's view on that Race

I thought the Novice Chase on Friday won by Taquin De Seuil was interesting. I know a lot of people were saying afterwards it was a messy race, but that is racing; it is a battle of wits and tactics.I was impressed with Taquin de Seuil, who I tipped on the channel before racing. I think he will improve at the trip. Oscar Whisky did look big and will improve but I would have had my fiver on Oscar Whisky to win a sprint to beat Taquin De Seuil, which is why it was such a taking run.

**Yeehaa** · 2 December 2013, 03:48 PM

Lydia

Wonderful Charm has the Jewson as his nominated target - a helpful pointer in itself - but is yet to convince as a Cheltenham horse. Granted, Friday's four-runner field would not have shown him to best effect - getting cover in a strongly run race would be better, as Nicholls has highlighted his tendency to idle when left in front. However, his jumping looks a tad iffy so far

**Hoof** · 5 January 2014, 08:35 AM

Not ripping up my Rebel Fitz bet yet.

**Yeehaa** · 5 January 2014, 11:29 AM

Originally posted by Hoof View Post

Not ripping up my Rebel Fitz bet yet.

Bad news for you hoof

"He's back in and cantering away, but I think he's more of a home bird than a Cheltenham horse," said the trainer.

"You never know, things can change overnight if some of the big guns drop out, but if he went to Cheltenham, I think it would take him two months to get over it and there is plenty of good money on offer at home.

"I'm not sure where he'll go. The way the weather is at the moment it will be March by the time the ground dries up, so we'll see."

**skippymac6** · 6 January 2014, 06:59 PM

I would like to see Rebel Fitz re-establish his reputation after his poor showing in that farce of a race against Third Intention. Doesnt look like he'll do it though from your post Yeehaa

**Sefton** · 7 January 2014, 07:37 AM

I see the Racing Post are doing a probable entries thing for Cheltenham Festival this year. At the minute they have this lot

Question marks - form ? will they run here ? etc over most of the top rated ones. Oscar Whisky has been disappointing in March in comparison to rest of his form but looks most likely one to me.

**Rhinestone Cowboy** · 14 January 2014, 09:14 PM

Markets suggesting Champagne Fever heading this way tipped the @thespeiler

The obvious bet though is in the novice chasing division, where the market that jumps out as being ripe for exploiting is the JLT, with the form of the 4 British horses at shorter than 16/1 looking ordinary. Wonderful Charm, Oscar Whisky & Taquin Du Seuil have been beating each other and none has produced a performance that shouts out that they’re going to win this race, for all they look good, solid novices. Vukovar is something of an unknown quantity but has no form over fences that puts him in the mix for this and will get only 1lb rather than the huge weight for age allowance he’s had the advantage of so far.

Whilst plans will remain flexible until close to the Festival, (depending on which of the Mullins horses get there), it’s looking more and more likely that the JLT is Champagne Fever’s target. He’s 7/1 for what’s shaping into a pretty ordinary race at the moment. The trip looks ideal for him at this stage of his career and he’s the novice chaser Ruby Walsh has been most excited about – he’s seen as a Gold Cup horse for next season.

I can see him going off 2/1 or shorter on the day so, whilst he still has to get to the Festival and run in this race not the Arkle or RSA, it’s well worth that risk. My guess is he’ll run next in the Moriarty at the start of next month and if he wins easily there, I think he’ll be very short for the JLT.

Many talked him up before Christmas as the outstanding novice chaser of the season. Whilst he hasn’t proved that yet, he’s the one with superstar potential. He’d enjoy going that stride slower in the JLT, than when forced into a mistake when trapping along with specialist 2 miler Defy Logic last time. With his Festival record, anyone backing him will be able to lay it off at much shorter than 7/1 on the day, assuming he lines up.

1pt Champagne Fever to win the JLT (formerly Jewson) Novices Chase @ 7/1

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2014 JLT Novices Chase ( old Jewson)

2014 JLT Novices Chase ( old Jewson)

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