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2026 Novice Chasers

You can't say it's all hype and then he's the rightful fav....... doesn't make sense
As was said above by quevega, just about rightful fave, but wrong price. Based on theyre two runs over fences, I'd have final demand slight fave over kitzbuhel. The only reason for the evens vs 8/1 disparity, is one has been hyped a lot more than the other. The hype may prove to be true in time, but on what we've actually seen on the track so far, I think the prices should be closer.
 
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I
Any one fancy kitzbuhel to give final demand a run for his money in this ?

Donneleys Yankee

Lulamba
Gino
Anzadam - county
Kitzbuhel
I loved his performance at Kempton, and have him covered for this, however always cautious as to how Kempton form translates to Cheltenham, and the pretty poor record of French breds in this race.
 
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Regents Stroll needs a trip. If they drop him 1lb he'll get in NH Chase, that would be my first Novice Chase Festival bet.
 
At the prices I’d be backing JDS over Kitz. Sure Kitz looked great at Kempton, but a) it’s Kempton, b) he beat Thomas Mor 2 3/4 lengths - what is that form actually worth? c) JDS has the all important Cheltenham form, d) JDS is 3 times the price

(Yes I’m well aware you can poke plenty of holes in JDS but 25/1 is an overreaction to a run there’s reasons you can put a line through)
 
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At the prices I’d be backing JDS over Kitz. Sure Kitz looked great at Kempton, but a) it’s Kempton, b) he beat Thomas Mor 2 3/4 lengths - what is that form actually worth? c) JDS has the all important Cheltenham form, d) JDS is 3 times the price

(Yes I’m well aware you can poke plenty of holes in JDS but 25/1 is an overreaction to a run there’s reasons you can put a line through)
They are all novices at the end of the day and will have their doubters, but from what I’ve seen with Kitz is a darn good jumper and a horse that stays well.
His form has been franked well by Kaid and The Enabler both winning well since he beat them.
Hes the right sort of price imo.

JDS could well be overpriced and has handled Cheltenham fine, but does need to prove himself after his last
I can see the temptation of the price.

The Cheltenham/Kempton factor could be an issue with Kitz, and I do have a bit of a concern with him left handed,having jumped a little right at Aintree last season.

He would not be the first horse to win at Chelt without previously running there though and I’m hopeful he would be ok.
 
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….Wendigo;

Snowden said: “He ran a big race in the Kauto Star but things weren’t in his favour, he’s better left-handed.

“Obviously the track was pretty sharp as we know Kempton is pretty sharp but the ground was pretty good as well, so the sharpness of the track, the better ground and right-handed probably didn’t play to his favour yet he still ran well.

“To only be beaten three lengths, you’d like to hope when things are more in his favour he’d certainly be a Grade One horse.

“He ran into a good one of course and he’ll go to the Brown Advisory.”
 
….Irish Panther;

It was a promising run in defeat and sets in motion a plan to aim Irish Panther at further Grade One contests, with the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival the overarching goal.

“He ran a fantastic race, I think if it had been two miles dead-on he probably would have won,” said Eddie Harty.

“I think he just got outstayed on the line. Romeo Coolio is a hell of a horse and he can move up or down in distance.

“He’s clearly very good but we were delighted with our horse, he jumped and travelled and looked to have the race won except for the last 100 yards.

“He’s in good form and has been very well since. The ultimate aim is now Cheltenham, whether he goes to Leopardstown between then and now will be a discussion between, myself, Patrick and the horse.

“We’ve no worries about going straight to Cheltenham, but if the horse is very fresh and looks like he needs a run to keep him on the level then that’s what we’ll do – but the ultimate target is the Arkle.”
 
….Wendigo;

Snowden said: “He ran a big race in the Kauto Star but things weren’t in his favour, he’s better left-handed.

“Obviously the track was pretty sharp as we know Kempton is pretty sharp but the ground was pretty good as well, so the sharpness of the track, the better ground and right-handed probably didn’t play to his favour yet he still ran well.

“To only be beaten three lengths, you’d like to hope when things are more in his favour he’d certainly be a Grade One horse.

“He ran into a good one of course and he’ll go to the Brown Advisory.”
Wendigo/Wade Out Related Double Eggs???
 
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What are peoples thoughts on Irish Panther? As a book builder he is one of the few I dont have at the moment but finding it hard to pull the trigger on a 9 year old novice chaser. But he does look to have found massive improvement this season especially for chasing, running Romeo so close and being so far ahead of July Flower so at the same time im finding it hard to ignore him and wondering if I should just get him added.
 
At the prices I’d be backing JDS over Kitz. Sure Kitz looked great at Kempton, but a) it’s Kempton, b) he beat Thomas Mor 2 3/4 lengths - what is that form actually worth? c) JDS has the all important Cheltenham form, d) JDS is 3 times the price

(Yes I’m well aware you can poke plenty of holes in JDS but 25/1 is an overreaction to a run there’s reasons you can put a line through)
Wouldn’t disagree with this, if you can forgive one terrible run where it looked like he couldn’t get out of the ground.
 
What are peoples thoughts on Irish Panther? As a book builder he is one of the few I dont have at the moment but finding it hard to pull the trigger on a 9 year old novice chaser. But he does look to have found massive improvement this season especially for chasing, running Romeo so close and being so far ahead of July Flower so at the same time im finding it hard to ignore him and wondering if I should just get him added.
Worth adding if you’re making a book as he’s an intended runner. Probably will only be 6/7 runners on the day so at around 20/1 he’s worth a bit of cover even if he’s not my idea of the winner.
 
What are peoples thoughts on Irish Panther? As a book builder he is one of the few I dont have at the moment but finding it hard to pull the trigger on a 9 year old novice chaser. But he does look to have found massive improvement this season especially for chasing, running Romeo so close and being so far ahead of July Flower so at the same time im finding it hard to ignore him and wondering if I should just get him added.
Ignore him and move on with your day imo. He isn't good enough to win an arkle even if the front 2 in the market didn't show up
 
Wouldn’t disagree with this, if you can forgive one terrible run where it looked like he couldn’t get out of the ground.
Kitz jumped lovely at Kempton but he beat horses who (with the exception of Wendigo who hated the track in my opinion) are at least 10lb below winning grade ones, even in novice company. I also can't shake his two spring runs last season out my mind - I wasn't that taken with him.
 
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Ignore him and move on with your day imo. He isn't good enough to win an arkle even if the front 2 in the market didn't show up
If the front two don’t turn up Romeo coolio will be fav who was all out to beat Irish panther 1/2L. Naive comment imo
 
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If the front two don’t turn up Romeo coolio will be fav who was all out to beat Irish panther 1/2L. Naive comment imo
He was running off the 120s as a hurdler. He's improved for a fence but not by that much. I'd just say Romeo ran well below form - ground was plenty lively too, I can't see any way that form stacks up at Chelt no matter what Romeo does. It's not naive to discount 9 year olds with that much to find at the level when they're plenty exposed.

He's 20/1, for a 5/2 winner for a place when the front 2 set a hefty standard, I'd be happy to swerve. He was a huge drifter on the day at Leop too, you'll probably get 20/1 on the day anyway.
 
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What are peoples thoughts on Irish Panther? As a book builder he is one of the few I dont have at the moment but finding it hard to pull the trigger on a 9 year old novice chaser. But he does look to have found massive improvement this season especially for chasing, running Romeo so close and being so far ahead of July Flower so at the same time im finding it hard to ignore him and wondering if I should just get him added.
I’d take him at 25/1 each way first 3. Cracking run last time. Likely to be only 2 places on the day and possibly Romeo and kopek don’t make it.
I’ve had similar thought with Kargese.
 
Kitz jumped lovely at Kempton but he beat horses who (with the exception of Wendigo who hated the track in my opinion) are at least 10lb below winning grade ones, even in novice company. I also can't shake his two spring runs last season out my mind - I wasn't that taken with him.
Did you not like his performance at Punch? Where he beat two subsequent winners well.
 
He was running off the 120s as a hurdler. He's improved for a fence but not by that much. I'd just say Romeo ran well below form - ground was plenty lively too, I can't see any way that form stacks up at Chelt no matter what Romeo does. It's not naive to discount 9 year olds with that much to find at the level when they're plenty exposed.

He's 20/1, for a 5/2 winner for a place when the front 2 set a hefty standard, I'd be happy to swerve. He was a huge drifter on the day at Leop too, you'll probably get 20/1 on the day anyway.
I’d say he’s improved greatly for a fence! If you’re making a book and discount a horse that was beaten 1/2L by the third fav pulling well clear of the field. In a race that will cut up you’re asking for trouble. I don’t think Irish panther will win but I’d want him onside nevertheless
 
Irish panther is a bit of a mongrel in a finish, always has been

Only way i could see him winning is if something fell and left him free and clear
 
What are peoples thoughts on Irish Panther? As a book builder he is one of the few I dont have at the moment but finding it hard to pull the trigger on a 9 year old novice chaser. But he does look to have found massive improvement this season especially for chasing, running Romeo so close and being so far ahead of July Flower so at the same time im finding it hard to ignore him and wondering if I should just get him added.
Would I back him to win this seasons Arkle based on his form & on what I've seen, no.
Would I cover him at 20/1 if I was book building based on his form, yes.
If having him onside still leaves you with a profit you're happy with, then he has to be covered.
GL.