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2015 Champion Chase

Old Vic said:
The second tier horses just keep beating each other so impossible to get a handle on this. Uxizandre very disappointing yesterday. Balder Succes needs further ?

Maybe a little school around Newbury might shake up the market.
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watched it - he looked very good today at newbury (bar a slight mishap) at the 2nd fence where he tried to be too bold and take over a stride too early. bar that is jumping was excellent and strode past tanks for that with easy.
 
So I see that WM is contemplating bringing Champ Fev back for the Queen Mother this festival, as stated in early posts, the expert in Ireland said he see`s this horse as QM material rather than GC
 
I think it's a strange thing for WM to contemplate, coming back to 2 miles, after stating he felt the horse needed 3 miles, and that he is bred to stay. Maybe Champagne Fever has just lost something since his novice days and simply isn't up to championship grade. The reviews about Sprinter certainly seem upbeat but it's hard to tell what's left after the problems he's had, I wouldn't be overly keen to back him at short odds at this stage, and if Sire de Grugy comes back in the same form as last year I'm not entirely sure that an in-form Sprinter would have it all his own way. If they both get to the festival it promises to be a great race, I hope they do get there, and in top form, that would be brilliant to watch, and I think I'd do just that, watch without a financial interest, having said that I already have SDG in a multiple bet with Faugheen and Vautour for small stakes, but Champions are still great to watch, even when they cost you money.
 
I wouldnt be surprised to see both Al ferof and Champagne Fever in the Champion Chase.

Ted Walsh said something about expecting Champagne Fever to be very competitive in the Queen Mother in the RP last Monday.

FWIW the stats for the best placed horse from previous years Arkle running in the race are very good.

BET365 have gone NRNB and are 8s about Al Ferof and 10s for Champagne Fever. Both good ew bets in my opinion.

<br/><A href="http://imstore.bet365affiliates.com/Tracker.aspx?AffiliateId=48096&AffiliateCode=365_087943&CID=199&DID=82&TID=1&PID=149&LNG=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://imstore.bet365affiliates.com/?AffiliateCode=365_087943&CID=199&DID=82&TID=1&PID=149&LNG=1" border="0" ></A>
 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>33 entries for 2015 Champion Chase. <a href="http://t.co/8W9MWzs1tm">http://t.co/8W9MWzs1tm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cheltfest?src=hash">#Cheltfest</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LovetheJumps?src=hash">#LovetheJumps</a> <a href="http://t.co/k7oF6IQcxn">pic.twitter.com/k7oF6IQcxn</a></p>— Fat Jockey (@FatJockeyTips) <a href="https://twitter.com/FatJockeyTips/status/553171864076713985">January 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Mullins in Post said Ryanair most likely race for Champagne Fever.

Cue Card has no other entries.

Al Ferof, Dynaste, Cue Card and CF - best renewal ever :confused:
 
Straight to Champion Chase with Simply Ned.
Runner-up at Grade One level as a novice over fences last season, the eight-year-old made a winning return in a Kelso handicap in early October before chasing home Uxizandre at Cheltenham the following month.
He then travelled to Ireland for his latest start and performed admirably to finish third in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown.
Richards feels Simply Ned can raise his game another notch on a sounder surface at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
"I think we'll go straight to Cheltenham," said the Greystoke handler.
"The Game Spirit (Newbury) is shaping up to be hot, so we may as well go straight for the big one for more money.
"On his breeding, he shouldn't be a two-mile chaser, but the lads in Ireland were saying what a great horse he is as any ground comes alike, really.
"I was looking at the betting and you've got the big two (Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy) who haven't run this season, and then you'll probably have Al Ferof and the rest our lad has beaten.
"I'm not saying he's going to go and win, but he's the one who will appreciate the better ground the most."
 
Is the drift for Clarence chase because of ground or some other reason ? Desperate to see Sprinter back.
 
It's all about the ground - Henderson as on @beyracingnation earlier said they are getting nervous.
 
A few bits from Lydia I missed - Uxizandre straight to Champion Chase !

Gary Moore, trainer of Sire De Grugy, delivered an upbeat report via the Betway blog, admitting that, had he not been so conservative in his initial treatment of the hip injury, the horse might have made it back in time for this Saturday or even for the Tingle Creek.

Sire De Grugy was back cantering last week and will now face an increasing workload to prepare for his comeback. If the weather were to claim Newbury’s meeting, Moore also stressed he would seek a prep race – even over hurdles – rather than return in the Champion Chase itself.

Captain Conan hasn’t raced since fracturing his pelvis in two places in last year’s renewal. Henderson told the Racing Post: “It was a nasty injury but he's in very good order and we're definitely getting there. Captain Conan is showing us in his work he has lost none of his ability."

He was among the modern-day record of 33 entries received for this race, but also holds an engagement in the Ryanair. Uxizandre, who lost his jumping mojo early on at Leopardstown last time, also holds that dual entry but trainer King says he is likely to contest this race and without a prep.

Mullins hopes Twinlight will develop into a Champion Chase contender but conceded in his Racing Post column that he has “a bit to prove yet”. But Mallowney, the ten-length winner of a Fairyhouse handicap last Sunday, is not entered at Cheltenham and has the Punchestown Festival as his aim.
 
Dodging Bullets has the best form in he book this season. Can't see him beat on Saturday even if Sprinter turns up.
 
spat my tea out ...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The Sporting Life Preview says Sprinter Sacre will have to be somewhere near his best to beat Dodging Bullets! <a href="http://t.co/S9Te6Fv1KS">pic.twitter.com/S9Te6Fv1KS</a></p>— Cheltenham Zone (@CheltenhamZone) <a href="https://twitter.com/CheltenhamZone/status/556094659358126080">January 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
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and the offensive preview

Former champion Sprinter Sacre makes his long-awaited return but Nicky Henderson will be taking it one race at a time and he'll have to be somewhere near his best to get the better of DODGING BULLETS. Paul Nicholls' youngster showed improved form to beat Somersby in the Tingle Creek last month and may have more to offer now he's proved himself at the highest level. Twinlight sprang a surprise in the Dial-A-Bet at Leopardstown over Christmas and won't be far away with a similar effort but this looks a big ask for Grey Gold meeting these off level weights.

Timeform on the other hand

SPRINTER SACRE produced the highest Timeform rating over jumps in the modern era when winning the 2013 Champion Chase, and he should have little trouble despatching these rivals provided all is well with him after his much-publicised absence. Twinlight may prove better placed than the Tingle Creek 1-2 Dodging Bullets and Somersby should the ex-Champion fluff his lines.

Its hard to get the staff :D

 
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johnno said:
Dodging Bullets has the best form in he book this season. Can't see him beat on Saturday even if Sprinter turns up.
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Interesting stat about Dodging Bullets, apparently he's never won after the turn of the year in 8 attempts, doesn't mean he can't of course but just something to bear in mind.
 
Ruby seems to think Dodging Bullets will struggle - Tongue Tie ?

I can never get Twinlight right either.

Looking forward to it though.
 
Why does it always have to be about you Paul ?

15:00 Ascot - Dodging Bullets

A lot of people are saying this race is all about one horse. And they would probably be right if this race was two years ago, because if Sprinter Sacre returns to anywhere approaching the form that he showed when winning at Cheltenham and Aintree in 2013 then he should win this. Remember, he was rated 188 at his best and Dodging Bullets is currently only rated 165.

But it is nearly two years since those performances now and Nicky's horse has it to prove after his heart problem - though I've had a few that have come back fine from similar problems, not least Denman - and he probably won't find the testing ground ideal first time up.

But he has to start somewhere. And I can tell you it will be a great training performance from Nicky if he does win here, and an awesome performance from his horse. So we go into this race with plenty of hope and Dodging Bullets comes here after a career-best win in the Tingle Creek, is on an upward curve, and he won't mind the ground. His form has tailed off after Christmas in the past, and that is in the back of our minds, but he comes here in great form, I reckon the track will suit, and we have done a few things differently with him this season.

For example, we have kept him fresh after the Tingle Creek - and win, lose or draw this will be his last race before Cheltenham - and we treated him for ulcers in the summer and we put a tongue tie on him for the first time since Aintree 2012 at Sandown last time. I'd have liked to have done that sooner but he has only just calmed down enough to let us put it on. I'm confident of a big run, and I'd like to think that he will be the one to find any chinks in Sprinter Sacre's armour these days.
 
Well played Johnno.

mega interesting champion chase now.
 
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