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2022 Novice Chase Division

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It's the first time in a long time that I'm quite excited by what Paul Nicholls has, as a collective novice chase group. Monmiral, McFabulous, Bravemansgame, and one I think has gone under the radar is Flash Collonges.

Closely related to Neptune Collonges, Flash Collonges is certainly in the right hands to become a chasing star. His hurdles form, whilst nothing to write home about (although still managed to achieve a rating of 145), it is solid enough, winning 3 of his 5 starts, finishing 2nd by 1/2 a length in another and falling in his one other run over the smaller obstacles. On the whole he hurdled OK, but was a bit disrespectful on a couple of occasions, so I'm hoping the switch to fences will bring about extra improvement, of course, it will have to, to become involved in any novice chase at the festival.

If that improvement does come (which is highly likely) I think he's a big price @ 40/1 for the BANC. I've had some free bets on him for now, but will happily part with cash on the 33's with cash out, once an entry appears. Obviously Paul has Bravemansgame and McFabulous, both of which could end up anywhere, including skipping the festival, as could any other horse for that matter, but I'm happy to take a risk on Flash Collonges for now.
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
Does anyone know if Aramon is expected back at start of the season? He's not listed in any market so it could be that he's still injured - I can't remember what was wrong with him.

He's of interest to me if the injury wasn't too bad.
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He did a tendon FM. I like him too, and championed him last summer, but he needs to see a racecourse before I could back him now.
 
ComplyOrDie said:
It's the first time in a long time that I'm quite excited by what Paul Nicholls has, as a collective novice chase group. Monmiral, McFabulous, Bravemansgame, and one I think has gone under the radar is Flash Collonges.

Closely related to Neptune Collonges, Flash Collonges is certainly in the right hands to become a chasing star. His hurdles form, whilst nothing to write home about (although still managed to achieve a rating of 145), it is solid enough, winning 3 of his 5 starts, finishing 2nd by 1/2 a length in another and falling in his one other run over the smaller obstacles. On the whole he hurdled OK, but was a bit disrespectful on a couple of occasions, so I'm hoping the switch to fences will bring about extra improvement, of course, it will have to, to become involved in any novice chase at the festival.

If that improvement does come (which is highly likely) I think he's a big price @ 40/1 for the BANC. I've had some free bets on him for now, but will happily part with cash on the 33's with cash out, once an entry appears. Obviously Paul has Bravemansgame and McFabulous, both of which could end up anywhere, including skipping the festival, as could any other horse for that matter, but I'm happy to take a risk on Flash Collonges for now.
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Monmiral is the one that Nicholls has the highest hopes for COD. I suspect he was probably the best juvenile last season, and I'd love to know what the intention is this season. As a very lightly raced 3/4 year old last season, this season will be a tricky one whatever they decide to do. He's bought him as a future chaser, but I suspect he'll have a relativley low key season over hurdles, and he won't be necessarily one to follow until the following season.

Does anyone know if the intention is to go chasing or stay hurdling this season?
 
Spectre said:
He did a tendon FM. I like him too, and championed him last summer, but he needs to see a racecourse before I could back him now.
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Presumably that makes a chasing campaign less likely assuming he comes back at all…
 
Spectre said:
Monmiral is the one that Nicholls has the highest hopes for COD. I suspect he was probably the best juvenile last season, and I'd love to know what the intention is this season. As a very lightly raced 3/4 year old last season, this season will be a tricky one whatever they decide to do. He's bought him as a future chaser, but I suspect he'll have a relativley low key season over hurdles, and he won't be necessarily one to follow until the following season.

Does anyone know if the intention is to go chasing or stay hurdling this season?
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Seem to recall Nicholls saying another season over hurdles when he won at aintree, and RP analysis of that race backs that up - Fighting Fifth mentioned as a starting point
 
Monmiral is one I am casting an eye on, as has been mentioned, for the fighting fifth which suggests another season over hurdles. I don't think I'd get on board for the Champion Hurdle, I wouldn't be surprised if Paul Nicholls skipped Cheltenham again until he's sent Monmiral chasing.
 
Spectre said:
Monmiral is the one that Nicholls has the highest hopes for COD. I suspect he was probably the best juvenile last season, and I'd love to know what the intention is this season. As a very lightly raced 3/4 year old last season, this season will be a tricky one whatever they decide to do. He's bought him as a future chaser, but I suspect he'll have a relativley low key season over hurdles, and he won't be necessarily one to follow until the following season.

Does anyone know if the intention is to go chasing or stay hurdling this season?
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The plan that Paul Nicholls mentioned in the aftermath of his Aintree Grade 1 win, was that he would treat him as a Champion Hurdler, and go to the Fighting Fifth.

Thats better for the Festival than his plan for the horse this season, skipping the Triumph, which I think he could have won, I think he was the best Juvenile hurdler this year.

Maybe Paul Nicholls listened to all the speed rating chatter about Zanahiyr and thought it was an aeroplane.

He should have trusted his own horse, and he could have had two Grade 1's instead of one.
 
Saxon Warrior said:

Maybe Paul Nicholls listened to all the speed rating chatter about Zanahiyr and thought it was an aeroplane.

He should have trusted his own horse, and he could have had two Grade 1's instead of one.
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I'm glad he didn't:welcoming:
 
Spectre said:
Monmiral is the one that Nicholls has the highest hopes for COD. I suspect he was probably the best juvenile last season, and I'd love to know what the intention is this season. As a very lightly raced 3/4 year old last season, this season will be a tricky one whatever they decide to do. He's bought him as a future chaser, but I suspect he'll have a relativley low key season over hurdles, and he won't be necessarily one to follow until the following season.

Does anyone know if the intention is to go chasing or stay hurdling this season?
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Yeah, I have no doubt, and have Monmiral covered at 40/1 for the Arkle. I was more thinking outside the box, given Monmiral & Bravemansgame are both short enough now anyway.

We usually end up with one or two surprise packages and it wouldn't surprise me if Flash Collonges was one of them TBH. Nicholls has a strong enough looking novice chase team this season for sure.
 
Bravemansgame, Threeunderthrufive, McFabulous, Barbados Bucks, Southfield Harvest, Flash Collonges and Danny Kirwan are all Nicholls novice chasers who look like they'll all want to be going over 3m. He'll have some fun trying to manage them.
 
Bonjers said:
Bravemansgame, Threeunderthrufive, McFabulous, Barbados Bucks, Southfield Harvest, Flash Collonges and Danny Kirwan are all Nicholls novice chasers who look like they'll all want to be going over 3m. He'll have some fun trying to manage them.
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Yes Bonjers , Barbados Bucks the only one i've had a stab at for the N.h.chs so far , But C.o.d made a good case for Flash Collonges , so might have to add .
Paul Nicholls doesn't seem to see Cheltenham as the be all and end all , so a bit cautious backing his for cheltenham .
 
Anyone have any info/thoughts on where Jason The Millitant is likely to go ?
 
think they swerved Cheltenham because they don't think an undulating track suits , which is why they went to Aintree , and genuine ease in the ground , maybe not the suspicious good to soft at Cheltenham , compared to the overwatered Aintree track which will always be genuinely on the soft side at least
 
Lobos said:
Anyone have any info/thoughts on where Jason The Millitant is likely to go ?
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Henry usually sends his chasing, not keeping many over hurdles, unless they are very good.

I would think he could go novice chasing.
Unless they think he wouldn't take to it.

He is a 7yo, its now or never.
 
Saxon Warrior said:
Henry usually sends his chasing, not keeping many over hurdles, unless they are very good.

I would think he could go novice chasing.
Unless they think he wouldn't take to it.

He is a 7yo, its now or never.
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Yes, I assumed the same. He's one to keep an eye out for the first part of the season as he looks like the type that De Bromhead improves for a fence.

People assume Aspire Tower is his Arkle horse, but I expect him to have another crack at the Champion Hurdle as back up to Honeysuckle, with JTM as his Arkle horse.
 
Cheers guys. Just look out for his entries then. Re Aspire Tower, Henry did say that Aspire Tower would probably stay over Hurdles. That was though before the Honeysuckle decision was made so perhaps they'll have a rethink.

What about Quilixios??
 
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Gordon talked about Quilixios being a chaser all last season, but novice chasers out of their juvenile season tend to struggle, as do juveniles in general. I have him for the Arkle (as I do Monmiral), with cashout, and it's a bet I expect to ditch or lay off at some point, and I'm keeping my ear as close to the ground as possible as they both very possibly stay over hurdles.

FWIW I suspect both will start off with a Champion Hurdle campaign in mind, and if they fall short they'll be looked after for the following season where they'll feature prominantly in the Arkle betting at some point.

I haven't backed either for the Champion Hurdle, but would reconsider if either proved to be exceptional against their elders.
 
That was my thinking. Quixilos to go Churdle leaving Aspire to go Arkle. Interesting how it pans out.
 
Zanahiyr is the fly in the ointment with Quilixios I think. He looks unlikley to want a fence anytime soon, so they either take each other on agan over hurdles, one moves up in trip, or one goes over fences. I think they'll probably see how it plays out over two miles in open company hurdles before deciding, with Quilixios the more likely to want a step up in trip of the two. The problem then of course is there's only handicaps if they step up to two and half.

I suppose it's feasible that one of them could have a workable mark still, and Gordon may play around all season and then unleash at a big pot.
 
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