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2026 Novice Hurdlers

The mish mash of irish horses this year summed up by paul being on the 3rd biggest priced mullins horse and jack being on the 2nd biggest gordo horse

With 22 runners its going to be more about being in the right place than being the best horse

Miss the kick slightly your race is likely over

Personally i think should be 16 max field in grade 1s
 
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Not liking how much Sortudo is sweating up, not sure if that's normal for him or not.
 
CJW said:
Yep, I'm playing follow the money here. Fresh eyes today and like him or KRG. Think KRG will travel strongly but doesn't like a battle.

Sortudo ftw
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Backed the wrong one. That start gave loads no chance though.
 
All that nonsense about him running in the Supreme. This was always his race, and he won it well. Shocking efforts from Elliott horses, and another Turners duffer for Nicholls.
 
….whoever had Zeus Power at 100-1 in the Competition did ok ;)
 
DenmanSacre said:
Today showed how much of an advantage being near the pace is on this hurdle course. Apart from Mighty Park, you had the British contingent handy and the Irish sitting in behind. I don’t think it will be like that tomorrow.

I’m not sure whether I’ll Sort That or Ballyfad will lead, and I’d expect AoI, KRG and NDTE to be in behind. It’s a big field but they’re on the turn quickly and it makes it difficult to up the pace and if you’re far back, difficult to make places early on.

Ballyfad being 5 puts me off and I’m not sure he needs a step up, I’ll Sort That is respectable but I’d prefer one with a better jockey, AoI I can see running well but be disappointed if he was good enough to win, Skylight Hustle would have been beat easy enough by TTT at Xmas when TTT didn’t get an optimal route and passed by JK.

I can’t have Nichols horse. He’s just in the long line of his where they prove to be too slow over the final half mile and go on to better things over fences.

KRG is interesting. Galiway’s are better on sounder surface and he hasn’t seen that yet over hurdles. Sire of Vauban, Jimmy du Seuil and Gala Marceau (I don’t think another of his has run at the festival) so 2 winners and a 2nd isn’t bad going. Step up will suit and he has Paul on board. Hopefully he has him handy and not shuffled in the pack.

Sortudo should run well. Danny rides Cheltenham very well, decent effort before being outpaced last year in the bumper and might be an in play bet if he’s near the front coming round the first bend.
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Just back the Galiways blind. Decent enough read of the race.
 
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kinloch brae said:
All that nonsense about him running in the Supreme. This was always his race, and he won it well. Shocking efforts from Elliott horses, and another Turners duffer for Nicholls.
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Ballyfad got kicked.

Gilligan needed to bury Skylight hustle mid pack given how he travels. Ended up in front pulling like a loony bin.

Paul was in front jumping the first couple, smartly pulled back and got a bit of cover.

Great ride

OPS 1st act of innocence 2nd. The owners will be delighted they switched to hendo no doubt.

Fav had no chance from the get go. Didnt break great and slowly slipped backwards.
 
Good old Rasko!

Reckon I'll Sort That was done at the start.
 
Sounds like posh boy lived up to his name today.
Can always tell I reckon
Learnt it all from the Beano
 
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Quevega said:
Sounds like posh boy lived up to his name today.
Can always tell I reckon
Learnt it all from the Beano
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I found it very telling how all of the pundits rounded on him

"Get out, your horse is shit" is pretty rich from auld Stone Hands
 
robith said:
I found it very telling how all of the pundits rounded on him

"Get out, your horse is shit" is pretty rich from auld Stone Hands
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'Telling' in that they've already got their views on him, hence it was comfortable enough for them to steam in?
 
Irish Rugby said:
'Telling' in that they've already got their views on him, hence it was comfortable enough for them to steam in?
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A combination of both that, and that they all concurred that he was in the wrong
 
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