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2017 Arkle Trophy Chase

GJT - you should be hoping for the least amount of runners as possible as you'll still get 3 places.

Just watched Altior and thought he did it nicely enough. Heading to Sandown next on Tingle Creek day.
 
Altior couldnt have done much more today.
 
Probably won't run against more than 8 for the rest of the season, including the Arkle... having survived the hustle and bustle of a Supreme, it wouldn't be a problem either way.

Cut to 2/1 after winning at 1/6 .... the way the prices get shortened I have to remember it isn't the horses fault! I almost feel guilty that I was really impressed, because at 2/1 compared to IT or Min, you can't say its a GREAT bet can you...

Still, roll on Tingle Creek day...
 
Definitely hoping for a massive run from min when he's out...! I'm hoping for yorkhill in the JLT too but still concerned by willies comments on the potential to stay hurdling, you can't not be impressed by altior but you could pick at it if you wanted too, black corton was massively rated lower over hurdles than altior and was a poor match race, altior wasn't exactly fluent and had to correct his stride quite a few times and would be concerned if he was at race pace with horses upsides him would he still be able to put himself right, suppose he should only improve for the experience ( I mean schooling session )
 
There have been four odds on winners from the last five runnings of the Arkle. Sprinter Sacre, Simonsig, USD and Douvan. Altior was every bit as impressive as those over hurdles and showed today that he makes a decent shape at his fences.

I wouldn't want to be laying him at bigger than 2/1. What price will he be if he wins impressively at Sandown? The 2/1 will no longer be on the table, that's for sure.
 
Nice introduction today for Altior.

The bigger obstacles didn't seem a hindrance.

Hopefully good times ahead.
 
Very pleasing from Altior there. I was listening to Ken Peterson (william hill) before the race. He's an excellent paddock judge and he couldn't believe how much bigger Altior looks - "like he has grown a hand". From the pictures it really does look that way. I've seen a few quotes about Min improving over the summer and filling out but he'll need to have done so based on how Altior looked today. He's going to be a monster this one. Personally I think Henderson thinks so too but knows the comparisons of Sprinter Sacre will be on Altiors head so is trying to downplay just how good this horse is.

It was billed as a match but that lasted all of 2 fences until it turned into a public schooling session. Good to see he'll be out at the Tingle Creek meeting. Hopefully that throws up a decent rival or 2.

I see a lot of people are moaning about cutting his price in a 2 runner field. Surely people have learnt now that this is the way bookies operate. At the end of the day he was 3/1 - 7/2 before anyone had ever seen him jump a fence - he shows a good round of jumping and wins by 63 lengths of course he'll be cut. Sadly that's the way it goes now.
 
Must admit a really good round of jumping today, you can't put the race in the form book for me though, the other horse never had any intention of making a race of it. I mean if you finish within 15 lengths of altior you've pretty much blown your handicap mark for the foreseeable future. I am not saying he can't or won't win the Arkle infact he is the most probable winner, but the chances are he won't face a decent rival before the big day in March and he will just get shorter. An each way play on identity thief or MIN at 8/1 is sure to be value. Your getting 2/1 a place and in Theory having a free punt on the win bet
 
You're only getting 6/4 to place with a 'free bet' on the win.

Id rather have double on Altior than min each way at this stage ... especially now altior has jumped a fence.

Min is in to 7s without doing anything. On hurdle form he had to find and physically out looks like altior improved?
 
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Yeah i'd want to be very keen on the changes of either Min or Identity Thief being able to win the Arkle as 8/1 isn't appealing (imo) on a horse if I think it's likely they'll only place as there's a more likely winner.

Now I no longer have to worry about Altior going down the Champion Hurdle route i'm very happy with my position in this race. I'm still not that taken with IT over fences so now it's over to Min to show us what he can do (I do think he'll be a credible challenger) - he's (Min) entered up in a beginners chase at Navan on Sunday over 2m1 so hopefully we get to see him then.
 
IT's debut was pretty foot perfect wasn't it? Didn't see enough of the jumps second time out though haha... still doesn't change my opinion, though. Having taken the gamble on Altior before he was declared as going chasing I'm already excited to be standing there in March!
 
Oh it's hard to find fault in IT's first run for sure. And sadly yes, the fog in the last race meant it's hard to make any judgement really (though the proximity to Ordinary World wasn't great purely looking at it on distance (which is all we can do!!)

I'm just not too sure, i'm always keen on a hurdler going chasing under the guidance of Henry de Bromhead - but for me he reminds me of Sizing John a bit last season. Looked a great jumper and a natural early on but then got found out in the better races come the Spring, a bit like his hurdles form for me.
 
Min and Bellshill have an entry in the beginners chase at Navan on Sunday,

I will be there, hopefully i will have something to report on next week.
 
Vanilla said:
Min and Bellshill have an entry in the beginners chase at Navan on Sunday,

I will be there, hopefully i will have something to report on next week.
Click to expand...

Excellent. Need some Irish eyes.

What do people feel Bellshills best trip is?
 
Kevloaf said:
Excellent. Need some Irish eyes.

What do people feel Bellshills best trip is?
Click to expand...

Bellshill put up his best two performances of the season over 3 miles so I'd be surprised if he's mentioned on the Arkle thread too often.
 
I see Belshill as an ideal RSA type myself and I think the yard finally got his trip right by the end of the season. Interesting that Patrick Mullins thought the horse got very tired at the end of both his 3 mile races though and he thinks he's better suited to the JLT trip
 
“Altior is blessed with so much speed and is a two-miler, full stop. I’m sure he would get two and a half miles - much like Sprinter Sacre would - but what on earth would be the point?"

Just stolen that quote from mayo on another thread...but Nicky isn't scared of making the comparison ... music to my eyes/ears.
 
MIN - The trainer's son and assistant, Patrick Mullins, said: " We've schooled him over fences at home and we've been happy with his jumping."

"Altior was very good in Cheltenham and I don't think our horse had any real excuses," Mullins added.

Worrying for the battalion claiming Min got injured during the Supreme race....? I keep hearing it from pundits but it hasn't been confirmed or even suggested by anyone in the yard.

He goes on to say....

"Min does look more of a chaser than a hurdler - he's a very tall horse - so hopefully that will help, but Altior does look a bit special."
 
I get the distinct impression that it wasnt an injury but something else that stopped him getting up the hill.......
 
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