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2022 National Hunt Novices Chase

Istabraq

Istabraq

Fat Jockey Legend, Mod, Patron & King of the Paten
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Prices at 23/3/21

Stattler 16/1
Vannilier 16/1
Fury Road 25/1
Adrimal 33/1
Bravemansgame 33/1
Dickie Diver 33/1
Fakiera 33/1
The Bosses Oscar 33/1
Ashdale Bob 40/1
 
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Threeunderthroufive declared in the 3 mile novice chase on Friday at Chepstow. To me he wouldn't be good enough for the 'RSA' so if he goes Cheltenham he will come here
 
Winging The Last said:
Threeunderthroufive declared in the 3 mile novice chase on Friday at Chepstow. To me he wouldn't be good enough for the 'RSA' so if he goes Cheltenham he will come here
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Nicholls was at pains to point out his jumping was not great yet...doesn't sound ideal for a NHC horse yet, but practice makes perfect.
 
The Bosses Oscar and Crosshill are my only bets in the race at the moment.

I want to back Dickie Diver but I'm losing faith in Henderson. Seems to find excuses to not campaign horses, or over complicate things. I do like him at 33/1. The RSA was a big ask on only his second chase start and I think he could be a player in this. If Henderson said now this was the plan, I'd park my reservations and back him immediately.

The Gigginstown runners jump off the page, but MOL is way too temperamental. You could back Fury Road now at 25/1 and have him go down to 7/2 fav, only to be pulled in favour of the Irish National.

Oscar Elite is interesting @ 40/1. You could argue he's one of if not the best british-trained staying novice hurdlers. He handled Cheltenham no problem, he's by Oscar so 4 miles should be no problem. I quite like him. The Tizzard's have aimed lots of horses at the RSA in recent years and come up short, so my hope he comes here. I might back him
 
charlie said:
Oscar Elite is interesting @ 40/1. You could argue he's one of if not the best british-trained staying novice hurdlers. He handled Cheltenham no problem, he's by Oscar so 4 miles should be no problem. I quite like him. The Tizzard's have aimed lots of horses at the RSA in recent years and come up short, so my hope he comes here. I might back him
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Do it and join the club haha :smug:

My main concern is the fact Tizzard doesn't really send a half decent chaser to this anymore, not since the jockey got Native River beat in it!

So I'm hoping he decides to send him here, Joe may have more of a say so on that now anyway.
 
charlie said:
The Gigginstown runners jump off the page, but MOL is way too temperamental. You could back Fury Road now at 25/1 and have him go down to 7/2 fav, only to be pulled in favour of the Irish National.
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Is it confirmed that fury road is to go chasing? Exciting if so, don’t know what went wrong really last season but if he is then I’d be hoping he’d be a bit better than this race myself
 
ToniC said:
Is it confirmed that fury road is to go chasing? Exciting if so, don’t know what went wrong really last season but if he is then I’d be hoping he’d be a bit better than this race myself
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I was kinda hoping they'd plot him at the pertemps
 
ToniC said:
Is it confirmed that fury road is to go chasing? Exciting if so, don’t know what went wrong really last season but if he is then I’d be hoping he’d be a bit better than this race myself
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You're certainly not alone but it's a view that's always baffled me Toni.
The race was upgraded to G2 a few years ago, since then the race has produced a Gold Cup winner, Gold Cup runner up, double Grand National winner and a Hennessy winner, I can only assume it's because amateurs take the reigns that people hold the view this is a weak/poor race but of course the very best amateurs are every bit as good as the best pros...
 
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Istabraq said:
You're certainly not alone but it's a view that's always baffled me Toni.
The race was upgraded to G2 a few years ago, since then the race has produced a Gold Cup winner, Gold Cup runner up, double Grand National winner and a Hennessy winner, I can only assume it's because amateurs take the reigns that people hold the view this is a weak/poor race but of course the very best amateurs are every bit as good as the best pros...
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I know what you mean Ista, and have nothing against the race personally, it’s probably one of my top 5 races of the week, however my take on it would be that this is one that horses take in on their way to becoming regarded as top class horses, whereas the RSA for example where the competitors are generally regarded as the best amongst their peers already if that makes sense?

The view amongst trainers certainly seems to be that their best novice chasers will go to the RSA (it was a bit different last year, most of it I put down to no amateurs and as much as it would be a shame to lose them im convinced it would be a positive for the race itself to allow pros to ride) and the lesser ones would generally come here unless they’re clearly already a marathon-trip type horse even at such an early stage of their career. Last season aside, I can’t think of many runners in this that would have broken into the top 3 of the betting in that years RSA, and I suppose that’s what I meant in my comment, I’d hope fury road could be up there with the very best staying novices.
 
jack1092 said:
Nicholls was at pains to point out his jumping was not great yet...doesn't sound ideal for a NHC horse yet, but practice makes perfect.
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Yeah my point was that if he was to come to the festival then he is most likely to come here rather than the 'RSA' because of his form and jumping ability
 
ToniC said:
however my take on it would be that this is one that horses take in on their way to becoming regarded as top class horses, whereas the RSA for example where the competitors are generally regarded as the best amongst their peers already if that makes sense?
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Yeah I think that’s a very fair point, perhaps it’s the extreme distance that puts trainers off and the 3m option less likely to leave its’ mark, the reality is that the introduction of extra races has reduced the fields in these races so they are less brutal.
Like you it’s a race I love, oldest race of the festival I think and the recent calls to get rid of it disappointed me if I’m honest…
 
ToniC said:
Is it confirmed that fury road is to go chasing? Exciting if so, don’t know what went wrong really last season but if he is then I’d be hoping he’d be a bit better than this race myself
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I'd say they didn't know what went wrong given the way the money sluiced in for him the night before for the Stayers
 
Threeunderthrufive is making his seasonal debut at Chepstow tomorrow. His trainer Paul Nicholls is getting more and festival averse by the year but his owners, The McNeils, do like runners at Cheltenham and had Escaia Ten last year that flirted with the Ultima and BAN but ended up in the NHC. He’s currently 20/1 for the NHC but also 22/1 (with a boost) in the TWAR market. He was very progressive over staying hurdles last season and ran well in the AB. Nicholls keeps referencing his strong stamina and his good schooling over fences so whilst I reckon he will be a NHC candidate the TWAR option is better value
 
The King Pimm said:
Threeunderthrufive is making his seasonal debut at Chepstow tomorrow. His trainer Paul Nicholls is getting more and festival averse by the year but his owners, The McNeils, do like runners at Cheltenham and had Escaia Ten last year that flirted with the Ultima and BAN but ended up in the NHC. He’s currently 20/1 for the NHC but also 22/1 (with a boost) in the TWAR market. He was very progressive over staying hurdles last season and ran well in the AB. Nicholls keeps referencing his strong stamina and his good schooling over fences so whilst I reckon he will be a NHC candidate the TWAR option is better value
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I'm sure he pretty much said he was sketchy at his fences?

Apologies if I've mistaken this horse for another btw :lemo:
 
darlojim said:
I'm sure he pretty much said he was sketchy at his fences?

Apologies if I've mistaken this horse for another btw :lemo:
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This was Nicholls quote on ATR about him….
‘He has been jumping well at home over our schooling fences, and I’m looking forward to this race because I’ve always felt he would make a chaser.’

We’ll out tomorrow as he taking on 3 other credible hurdlers who are making their chase debut
 
The King Pimm said:
This was Nicholls quote on ATR about him….
‘He has been jumping well at home over our schooling fences, and I’m looking forward to this race because I’ve always felt he would make a chaser.’

We’ll out tomorrow as he taking on 3 other credible hurdlers who are making their chase debut
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I was convinced he said something totally different on the betfair preview :/ I was thinking about backing him but held off because of this.. i'll see if it can find it
 
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