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2014 RSA Chase

mayo

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Pont Alexandre (12), Champagne Fever (14), The New One (14), Un Atout (16), African Gold (20), Annie Power (20), Bright New Dawn (20), Chatterbox (20), OFaolains Boy (20), Shutthefrontdoor (20), Coneygree (25), Don Cossack (25), Inish Island (25), Just A Par (25), Moscow Mannon (25), Pique Sous (25), Taquin Du Seuil (25), Meister Eckhart (33), Morning Assembly (33), Red Devil Boys (33)

Figure out best of Mullins & Gigginstowns and the puzzle is solved ?
 
Wouldn't have a clue where to start. I'd want the above prices to run in the race let alone win it.
 
Candidates in one jump ahead include

African gold
Close touch ?
Cloudy copper
Don Cossack
Eduard
Just a par
Ofaolains boy - but thinks he may end up in 4 miler
Port melon
Two rockers
Un atout - very sweet on him and could be persuaded ...niggle is that sir des champs ran in Jewson in his novice year e en though it was a grade 2 at the time
 
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Candidates in one jump ahead include

African gold
Close touch ?
Cloudy copper
Don Cossack
Eduard
Just a par
Ofaolains boy - but thinks he may end up in 4 miler
Port melon
Two rockers
Un atout - very sweet on him and could be persuaded ...niggle is that sir des champs ran in Jewson in his novice year e en though it was a grade 2 at the time

Un Atout is out -

Un Atout will "probably" miss this season, according to trainer Willie Mullins.
The five-year-old ended last term with victory in the Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown but Mullins is not satisfied with his charge at present and admits he may not make it to the track.

"One that is probably out is Un Atout. I'm not happy with him now and that's a fair blow unfortunately, but at the moment that's the way it is," the County Carlow handler told At The Races.
 
One from Mullins tour ...

Ballycasey 6g Presenting - Pink Mist Mrs S Ricci 21/113- RPR 144h, OR 143h We’re looking forward to him going over fences and he could make into a top-notch staying novice. He had a very easy season over hurdles but we’ll work him a bit harder this season. Being by Presenting, you’d imagine he’ll like goodish ground but he has oodles of stamina and should handle more testing conditions.
 
Wonderful Charm kinda tipped on oddschecker

The most exciting of his 3 novice chase winners this week was Wonderful Charm who’d looked a useful prospect when winning a Grade 2 novice hurdle a year ago but was only seen out once after that, when never competitive in the World Hurdle. Sent straight over fences this season, Paul Nicholls’ 5 year old jumped well at Fakenham and had too much class for Bear’s Affair, sauntering clear to win by 8l, (extended 2m5f, good.) He was good off a long stride and quick and clever when on a short stride, which should stand him in good stead as he takes on the better novices. He looks a candidate for top novice honours and 16/1 for the RSA looks generous.
 
and another one :)

Morning Assembly

"He only had one racecourse school and that was when he hacked around at Tipperary, so there should be plenty of improvement there.

"He's always been a natural leaper and he's a horse that'll never let you down.

"Ruby said to me to make sure that we give him plenty of experience and he'll definitely run somewhere before Christmas.

"I'll sit down with the owner (Steve Parkin) and we'll make a plan.

"Davy (Condon) schooled him at Tipperary so I'm sorry that he missed this but he'll be back (broke his leg at Cork recently). Myself and Ruby do go back a long way anyway.

"I have to thank Joe Foley (Ballyhane Stud) for introducing me to Steve (Parkin) and he's a great man to train for."

Bookmaker reaction went as follows - Ladbrokes 25/1 Morning Assembly for the RSA Chase.

Paddy Powers also go 25/1 Morning Assembly for the RSA Chase.

The same firm go 20/1 Morning Assembly for the Jewson.
 
Morning assembly should mop up a few prizes in Ireland but wonder about Ground at Cheltenham ?
 
Lydia

Likeable with a lot to learn is the verdict on Just A Par. He had to make his own running and may be better with some cover or perhaps just more experience. He needed some taps to take the left-handed bend out towards the back straight but jumped soundly and stayed on strongly. He had a tendency to adjust right at his fences and even lug right on the flat at Newbury, which would not be ideal if repeated at Cheltenham where he has yet to race. However, his second to At Fishers Cross over hurdles at Aintree in April suggested he is more than capable both of racing left-handed and on a sound surface. He looks sure to progress and is a credible RSA Chase candidate. 16/1 is a fair price, although I currently prefer the Le Bec/Shutthefrontdoor form and both are available at identical odds or even longer.
 
Morning Assembly if he keeps progressing could be a player too. Beat Don Cossack LTO and if he runs at Leopardstown at Christmas and does well the Fahy year will really consider sending him over there
 
Morning Assembly if he keeps progressing could be a player too. Beat Don Cossack LTO and if he runs at Leopardstown at Christmas and does well the Fahy year will really consider sending him over there

Looks open at the minute but not sure about MA. Might be a bit of small trainer prejudice but not totally convinced Fahy could lay one out for March. Know he has had a good season and has done well with likes of Mariah Rollins in past but not for me. Cant have Don Cossack either to be fair.
 
Morning Assembly has best form in the book so far this season. Irish horses have a cracking record lately - Bobs Worth only non Irish trained winner since Albertas Run in 2008. Ballycasey is one who could be anything IMO. Don't see much coming through in UK. Wouldn't surprise me if African Gold ends up handicapping the way his chasing career is going.
 
Lydia On last weeks Cheltenham trials

The Ryman Stationery Novices' Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday was a fascinating re-run of the November clash on the Old course between the 1-2-3 Le Bec, Shutthefrontdoor and Sam Winner.

That day's third came out on top this time by four lengths, with the runner-up Le Bec on 3lb worse terms for his previous success. Shutthefrontdoor ran badly. This form-line is destined to perpetual under-estimation, meaning there is no rush to get involved for the RSA Chase ante-post just yet.

Paul Nicholls has long deemed Sam Winner a candidate for the four-mile National Hunt Chase, for which he ranges between 8/1 and 12/1. This projected campaign may partly account for why Sam Winner trades at upwards of 16/1 on some books for the RSA Chase and 20/1 is still available about Le Bec.

However, the times clocked by Le Bec in November and Sam Winner on Saturday strongly suggest that this is realistic RSA Chase form. Nicholls' talk of targets implies that Just A Par, for example, is deemed the superior horse but pecking orders are fluid at this stage.

Sam Winner himself proved that he can hold his form after a promising debut - something he struggled with, returning from injury, last season - and that he is going to make the grade as a chaser - something that looked unlikely after he hit the deck on both his first attempts.

Le Bec was conceding a total of 8lb to Sam Winner and did not jump as well early on as he did in November. However, he did once again show that his jumping was, encouragingly, more assured when under pressure and he is likely to get the soundish surface he likes at the Festival. He remains a realistic RSA candidate.

Shutthefrontdoor was the major disappointment, not jumping as well as on either of his previous starts and very quickly beaten. He may not have enjoyed the New course as much as the Old (the RSA chase venue), probably found the ground too quick and/or a problem may come to light. Pushing him out to 33/1 for the first bad run of his life may in time prove to have been an over-reaction.

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African Gold, fourth to Le Bec at Cheltenham in November and fancied at the start of the season for the RSA Chase, was probably taking command of the race when falling three out at Uttoxeter on Tuesday. He was in the process of running better than last time but connections have a lot of work yet to do.
 
This is a wide open race and if Willie sends Champagne Fever up this far in trip he will be interesting. He also has the lightly raced Ballycasey that was fav for the Albert Bartlett last year but disappointed at the Punchestown festival.

I like Wonderful Charm Old Vic, he put up a good performance against Oscar Whiskey giving him weight LTO and could be a player. I've a sneaky feeling that Elliot will send Don Cossack for the Jewson as he won the Drinmore over that trip. Carlingford Lough certainly has a chance after beating Morning Assembly last time at Leopardstown but he has a lot more experience over fences being a second season novice and I'd still take Morning Assembly out of the race ahead of CL.
 
Think CF will end up over 3 miles but not yet unless something amiss with Ballycasey.

As Vic said on Carlingford Lough thread a 150 rating would be good enough to win most RSA's and he has loads of experience.

Wonderful Charm rated 152 and 50 on Betfair :confused:.
 
Preview by @CVByrne

Morning Assembly – I’m amazed this horse is still available at 16/1 for the RSA as he looks every inch an RSA horse. His sire Shantou has sired many strong stayers like De Valira, Super Duty, Our Father, Sword of Destiny and likely Albert Bartlett horse Briar Hill. The horse handles any ground and it’s more the stamina sapping nature of testing ground which suites him rather than a need to dig his toe in.

He’ll get a stamina test in the RSA and looks one who will relish the climb up the hill. He was 2nd in the Topaz Nov Chase at Leopardstown to a seasoned horse in Carlingford Lough. But as Weapons Amnesty showed a few years back coming 2nd in the race is no barrier to victory in the RSA. He’s an improving horse and only had 9 starts under rules and is the perfect age for this race at 7yo with the last 7 winners of the race being that age. All 7 of those were also Irish Bred chasers, a group which dominate this race.

​There is no real standout opposition that I can see. I can easily see Morning Assembly reversing form with Carlingford Lough on better ground and I’m not 100% sure that horse will line up in the RSA. Smad Place’s market position is beyond baffling, he’s managed to fall and then win at 4/11 yet is 2nd fav!!? Champagne Fever is very unlikely to run. Don Cossack was defeated by Morning Assembly when they met and his trainer has questioned if 3 miles is the right trip for him. I’d expect Wonderful Charm to go for the Jewson as Nicholls said he’ll go straight to Cheltenham now. Le Bec is admirable and a good stayer and not without his chances.

The only rival I do fear is Ballycasey, on breeding he is a 3 miler who will enjoy good ground and I was impressed with how he won over a shorter trip on his debut. But he was a non runner at Christmas in the Topaz and missed Cheltenham last year. So I’d wait until he’s declared to run in another race before I’d take the 10/1 on offer for him. I can see him taking in a race this month before going for the Dr PJ at Leopardstown next month on the way to Cheltenham. In which case he’d command lots of respect.But as it stands now, there is no more solid bet for this, and no horse fits the mould better than Morning Assembly.