Just been through the majority of this thread, and as expected, WPM potential runners do take up a fair amount of talk time (no bad thing).
I'm looking at continuing the theme, and hopefully go through the potential runners in a little more depth, and first up, the Supreme Novice Hurdle winner, Appreciate It.
Appreciate It - The obvious Arkle contender, based on his scintillating performance in the Supreme. Looks every inch a chaser, and although WPM believed he'd be better over further (I think like the majority on here did too), the fact remains, he is a quick horse. They could have a potential clash with Bob Olinger in the Marsh, but what would be the point, when the Arkle is there for the taking (on all known novice hurdle form). Unfortunately from a betting perspective 10/3 is skinny, but for those building a book, he is a must have, even at such an early stage. He's definitely one for the multiples too, IMO.
Blue Lord - I think he'd be an admirable stand in for Appreciate It in the Arkle, should anything happen to him throughout the season. He was putting in a real good performance (albeit, still being held) in the Supreme before coming down. His run at Punchestown since then can be ignored, IMO. They changed tactics from Cheltenham and his previous run at DRF, where he was held up, instead going from the front and setting the race up for stablemate, Echoes In Rain. In doing so though it has meant his price is looking good value at 33/1 currently. Willie has said previously that he is looking forward to getting him over a fence.
James Du Berlais - I think he'll be WPM's number 1 Marsh contender. I know the break before the Champion Hurdle can be used as an excuse for the lacklustre performance in the race, but I just think he was taken off his feet and it all happened too quickly for him. His performance at his first try over 3m at Punchestown was very good, but I do think, based on performances in France that his optimum trip is the intermediate one, and the Marsh is the obvious play. He was 33/1, which I can see many on here seem to have snaffled, but even at his current price of 20/1, I think that is great value, based on his overall French form, we know of to date.
Galopin Des Champs - From putting in some average performances over 2m to then looking like a serious, serious horse at both Cheltenham and Punchestown when upped in trip, he really had turned his season around. He could be absolutely anything still, and he deserves his place at the head of the betting for the BANC, IMO. Thanks to some alert, wise heads on the forum, I believe many landed the 40/1 SKyBet special for him to win any race at the festival and to win at Punchestown, meaning his target is almost irrelevant, and whilst they could drop him back in trip, I think, given the nature of his performance at Punchestown over 3m, he will be seen to best effect over 3m at Cheltenham also. Now an 8/1 shot for the BANC, which comes under the 'probably short enough' at this stage.
Gaillard Du Mesnil - Before Galopin Des Champs performances at Cheltenham and then more so at Punchestown, Gaillard Du Mesnil was my idea of WPM's number 1 for the BANC, and whilst I do still think he could turn in to a very good chaser himself, I do wonder whether he's going to be the level of Galopin Des Champs now. As with all of the above, it does remain to be seen whether he stays over hurdles or goes chasing, but it wouldn't surprise me if he had another season hurdling, potentially something like the Stayers Hurdle, before taking up chasing the following season. Despite being a G1 winner (it was a pretty weak race) over 2m 4f, I do think the further he goes the better, so he's not one I'm looking to back at anything less than 2m 5f+ next season.
Jungle Boogie - A very interesting horse. He's going to be 8 by the time the festival comes around next year, and he's had 2 lifetime runs in public. I'm not sure on any potential issues he has had, but he's certainly been impressive enough (although a little disrespectful of the hurdles at times) to date on what we have seen on the track. From his hurdle win, of some 30 lengths, he looks a big gangly type of horse, probably with a bit of filling out to do still, but almost certianly looks a chaser in the making. I really like his sire, who I believe produces more staying types (sire of Galvin/Holywell/Emitom etc...), and although I can see he's been added to 3 of the 4 novice chase races, I have recently managed to get a friend to get him added for the NH Chase, which I think could be the play. One to keep note of throughout the season, either way.
Saint Roi - The early forum Champion Hurdle horse, that unfortunately never materialised. I struggle to see where he currently fits in. I was reluctant to include him in this list, not because of his potential ability, but because of his sire, who seems to have a knack of producing head case chasers, namely Astertion Forlonge, and Barcardys, who ended up looking like one of the most unnatural chasers I think I've ever seen. I'll reserve full judgement on Saint Roi, until we see him again, but for me, at this stage, he's not for me. FWIW I do realise Coastal Path has produced some normal, fairly good chasers, but the better class horses seem to be have issues with a fence or two.
Klassical Dream - Could potentially go over a fence, but his resurgence at Punchestown now leads me to believe he heads for the Stayers Hurdle. That was a mightily impressive performance, for a first time try over 3m, and his RPR for that run would have had him winning the last 5 renewals of the Stayers. I don't see a real reason why WPM, who already has an army for novice chases, would send a potential G1 hurdle winner, in a race he has little in the way of challengers, over a fence now. There's probably more to come from Klassical Dream over 3m now, and this could be the start of a proper revival of his career, after an abysmal 2019 campaign.
Ferny Hollow - Unfinished business springs to mind, when I think of Ferny Hollow. One hurdle run, beating a serious horse, in Bob Olinger, who franked the form multiple times throughout the season. I expect Ferny Hollow to stay over hurdles, and end up a real Champion Hurdle contender, myself. Not one for fences just yet, IMO.
These are obviously just my opinions, I expect many will have differing ones, which I'll look forward to reading/hearing about over the course of the season
Just been through the majority of this thread, and as expected, WPM potential runners do take up a fair amount of talk time (no bad thing).
I'm looking at continuing the theme, and hopefully go through the potential runners in a little more depth, and first up, the Supreme Novice Hurdle winner, Appreciate It.
Appreciate It - The obvious Arkle contender, based on his scintillating performance in the Supreme. Looks every inch a chaser, and although WPM believed he'd be better over further (I think like the majority on here did too), the fact remains, he is a quick horse. They could have a potential clash with Bob Olinger in the Marsh, but what would be the point, when the Arkle is there for the taking (on all known novice hurdle form). Unfortunately from a betting perspective 10/3 is skinny, but for those building a book, he is a must have, even at such an early stage. He's definitely one for the multiples too, IMO.
Blue Lord - I think he'd be an admirable stand in for Appreciate It in the Arkle, should anything happen to him throughout the season. He was putting in a real good performance (albeit, still being held) in the Supreme before coming down. His run at Punchestown since then can be ignored, IMO. They changed tactics from Cheltenham and his previous run at DRF, where he was held up, instead going from the front and setting the race up for stablemate, Echoes In Rain. In doing so though it has meant his price is looking good value at 33/1 currently. Willie has said previously that he is looking forward to getting him over a fence.
James Du Berlais - I think he'll be WPM's number 1 Marsh contender. I know the break before the Champion Hurdle can be used as an excuse for the lacklustre performance in the race, but I just think he was taken off his feet and it all happened too quickly for him. His performance at his first try over 3m at Punchestown was very good, but I do think, based on performances in France that his optimum trip is the intermediate one, and the Marsh is the obvious play. He was 33/1, which I can see many on here seem to have snaffled, but even at his current price of 20/1, I think that is great value, based on his overall French form, we know of to date.
Galopin Des Champs - From putting in some average performances over 2m to then looking like a serious, serious horse at both Cheltenham and Punchestown when upped in trip, he really had turned his season around. He could be absolutely anything still, and he deserves his place at the head of the betting for the BANC, IMO. Thanks to some alert, wise heads on the forum, I believe many landed the 40/1 SKyBet special for him to win any race at the festival and to win at Punchestown, meaning his target is almost irrelevant, and whilst they could drop him back in trip, I think, given the nature of his performance at Punchestown over 3m, he will be seen to best effect over 3m at Cheltenham also. Now an 8/1 shot for the BANC, which comes under the 'probably short enough' at this stage.
Gaillard Du Mesnil - Before Galopin Des Champs performances at Cheltenham and then more so at Punchestown, Gaillard Du Mesnil was my idea of WPM's number 1 for the BANC, and whilst I do still think he could turn in to a very good chaser himself, I do wonder whether he's going to be the level of Galopin Des Champs now. As with all of the above, it does remain to be seen whether he stays over hurdles or goes chasing, but it wouldn't surprise me if he had another season hurdling, potentially something like the Stayers Hurdle, before taking up chasing the following season. Despite being a G1 winner (it was a pretty weak race) over 2m 4f, I do think the further he goes the better, so he's not one I'm looking to back at anything less than 2m 5f+ next season.
Jungle Boogie - A very interesting horse. He's going to be 8 by the time the festival comes around next year, and he's had 2 lifetime runs in public. I'm not sure on any potential issues he has had, but he's certainly been impressive enough (although a little disrespectful of the hurdles at times) to date on what we have seen on the track. From his hurdle win, of some 30 lengths, he looks a big gangly type of horse, probably with a bit of filling out to do still, but almost certianly looks a chaser in the making. I really like his sire, who I believe produces more staying types (sire of Galvin/Holywell/Emitom etc...), and although I can see he's been added to 3 of the 4 novice chase races, I have recently managed to get a friend to get him added for the NH Chase, which I think could be the play. One to keep note of throughout the season, either way.
Saint Roi - The early forum Champion Hurdle horse, that unfortunately never materialised. I struggle to see where he currently fits in. I was reluctant to include him in this list, not because of his potential ability, but because of his sire, who seems to have a knack of producing head case chasers, namely Astertion Forlonge, and Barcardys, who ended up looking like one of the most unnatural chasers I think I've ever seen. I'll reserve full judgement on Saint Roi, until we see him again, but for me, at this stage, he's not for me. FWIW I do realise Coastal Path has produced some normal, fairly good chasers, but the better class horses seem to be have issues with a fence or two.
Klassical Dream - Could potentially go over a fence, but his resurgence at Punchestown now leads me to believe he heads for the Stayers Hurdle. That was a mightily impressive performance, for a first time try over 3m, and his RPR for that run would have had him winning the last 5 renewals of the Stayers. I don't see a real reason why WPM, who already has an army for novice chases, would send a potential G1 hurdle winner, in a race he has little in the way of challengers, over a fence now. There's probably more to come from Klassical Dream over 3m now, and this could be the start of a proper revival of his career, after an abysmal 2019 campaign.
Ferny Hollow - Unfinished business springs to mind, when I think of Ferny Hollow. One hurdle run, beating a serious horse, in Bob Olinger, who franked the form multiple times throughout the season. I expect Ferny Hollow to stay over hurdles, and end up a real Champion Hurdle contender, myself. Not one for fences just yet, IMO.
These are obviously just my opinions, I expect many will have differing ones, which I'll look forward to reading/hearing about over the course of the season
