• HELP US - Become a Patron - Fat Jockey is a horse racing community focused on all the big races in the UK and Ireland. We don't charge users but if you have found the site useful then any support towards the running costs is appreciated ... a small donation each month would be a huge contribution. Become a Patron!

2024 Novice Hurdlers

Eggs

Eggs

Moderator
Joined
Jan 11, 2019
Messages
13,517
Reaction score
4,570
Points
83
Hope the mods are ok with me taking the Liberty, but by this time last year we’d already opened the Novice Hurdlers thread which we then broke down to individual race threads in February.

From a good housekeeping perspective it seemed to work quite well and the general view is that we do the same for the next Festival.

Stable Tours not far away, let the discussion begin.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Saxon Warrior
It’s so obvious but Ballyburn to me looks a cert to run in the Ballymore even at this stage.

I do wonder what Willie might have for his 2mile novice because off the top of my head i can only think of Redemption Day upon return and Mystical Power at this stage. No doubt he has one or two held back from france from the past year that will come out but we will see.
 
Madmoose said:
It’s so obvious but Ballyburn to me looks a cert to run in the Ballymore even at this stage.

I do wonder what Willie might have for his 2mile novice because off the top of my head i can only think of Redemption Day upon return and Mystical Power at this stage. No doubt he has one or two held back from france from the past year that will come out but we will see.
Click to expand...

Mirazu west and gaucher are 2 that are probably on alot of people's shortlist for Willie's supreme runners. Another potential horse from france is a half brother to state man called soir de garde, I remember him getting a mention in a stable tour last year but he never made it to the track at all throughout the season.
 
Oh yeah Mirazu West i had forgotten about him, Fernys half brother he looked smart in that bumper.
 
My Top 3's as things stand (in depth details of most in my diary). Note: Selections need to be 12/1 and greater.

Supreme
Mirazur West
Gaucher
Willmount (new entry since trainer switch)

Ballymore
Down Memory Lane
Readin Tommy Wrong
Jhentong Enki (still unsure of trip though)

Albert Bartlett
Tullyhill
Stellar Story
He's My Hero / Predators Gold
 
Given his breeding, why is there, relative to the time of year, confidence for Down Memory Lane going to the Ballymore rather thah Supreme? And vice versa with Mirazur.
 
Tiger Bay Queen

Came from last to first in a very hot listed Bumper at Fairyhouse to win going away for Peter Fahey following 6 months off after an overeach in a schooling hurdle which she won by a hurdle . Trainer described her as a Rocket.

Bought by JP after Fairyhouse.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Benjy23
Got a few covered and on my mind, they are.......


SUPREME

A Dream To Share - can't knock what he did last season winning at DRF, Cheltz and Punchy and on various grounds too, can't knock that. If he hurdles well, he'll be the one to beat, but flat pedigree a slight worry and not much of a price atm.

Mirazur West - loved his Bumper win and that looked a decent race, Ferny's full Brother so hope he stays fit, looked a very smart type me, deffo got an engine and can't look past Willie's novices, one to watch on debut, looks a 2m type.

Gaucher - another Willie novice, won his final race in France (Oct - Longchamp), seems a scopey, jumping type and still not the worst price, looking forward to his debut.



BALLYMORE

Ballyburn - I'm with most people on here, think he looks the one for this race, has speed, will deffo stay further, big scopey sort who could be a Gold Cup horse in a few years but for now this race looks made for him and make him my standout ante post fancy right now, lots to like, he looks a weapon.

Barry The Butcher - last ran in P2P in March 2022 beating Croke Park, read he's back in work at Henry's and all is well, he could be very good and this race looks likely to suit, one for the trackers.

Down Memory Lane - P2P winner who won his Bumper at Fairyhouse in Feb, good vibes coming from Gordon and CodFather who rode him at Fairyhouse, a strong travelling type, this look shis race and he could be smart.



ALBERT BARTLETT

Stellar Story - won 2 Bumper's last season toughing it out, sticking his neck out well with 2m looking well short of the trip he wants. Looks like this trip might suit and 33/1 still available (I think).

Fact To File - Willie might send him chasing but if he doesn't I think he might end up here, JP owned and he's got A Dream To Share, Mirazur West and Down Memory Lane so thi srace makes it easy to shuffle JP. Trip is needed and has some smart Bumper form, even when 2m clearly isn't his trip.
 
Atlantic Viking said:
Given his breeding, why is there, relative to the time of year, confidence for Down Memory Lane going to the Ballymore rather thah Supreme? And vice versa with Mirazur.
Click to expand...

Due to Mirazur west and a dream to share both being owned by JP I suppose
 
Zachx02 said:
Due to Mirazur west and a dream to share both being owned by JP I suppose
Click to expand...

That's what I mean though (although mostly just provoking debate). On breeding I'd have DML at the front of the queue of 3 for the Supreme at this moment in time. Can't knock A Dream To Share but he's had Fact To File in 2nd twice who definitely wants further. FTF arguably unlucky/still green in the Champion Bumper too.
 
Atlantic Viking said:
That's what I mean though (although mostly just provoking debate). On breeding I'd have DML at the front of the queue of 3 for the Supreme at this moment in time. Can't knock A Dream To Share but he's had Fact To File in 2nd twice who definitely wants further. FTF arguably unlucky/still green in the Champion Bumper too.
Click to expand...

With Mirazur West, you've got to factor in that his full brother was a top class 2 miler and he showed similar pace on his bumper debut. Without those two pieces of information, I'd agree that on breeding, he looks better suited to 2 1/2. But they are two big pieces of the puzzle in my opinion. Against that, DML didn't look quite so speedy to my eye in his bumper.
 
Last edited:
Madmoose said:
It’s so obvious but Ballyburn to me looks a cert to run in the Ballymore even at this stage.

I do wonder what Willie might have for his 2mile novice because off the top of my head i can only think of Redemption Day upon return and Mystical Power at this stage. No doubt he has one or two held back from france from the past year that will come out but we will see.
Click to expand...

The only fly in the ballymore ointment could be that he's owned by the sponsor of the bartlett
 
Also I think someone has noted elsewhere Gordon has been sending his nicer ones to Ballymore in recent years. Not looked into it too much really myself just an observation
 
Exar Essay said:
With Mirazur West, you've got to factor in that his full brother was a top class 2 miler and he showed similar pace on his bumper debut. Without those two pieces of information, I'd agree that on breeding, he looks better suited to 2 1/2. But they are two big pieces of the puzzle in my opinion. Against that, DML didn't look quite so speedy to my eye in his bumper.
Click to expand...

Both won impressively without having to do a great deal, Mirazur galops them into submission and DML shows a decent little turn of foot when asked to put his race to bed. Both have interesting early form lines, Mirazurs probably the nicest looking so far, although The Wallpark did a little bit for DML at Listowel the other day.
Indeevar Bleu wins the Supreme anyway :highly_amused::hopelessness:
 
FinalFurlong91 I had a look at that earlier in the year to see how his ownership might affect things. My notes suggest he's had 3 Ballymore runners, 2 AB runners, and 1 Supreme runner. All since he started sponsoring the 2m7f novice hurdle in 2008. So whilst it is an option of course, I don't think he's obsessed with getting runners to the event he sponsors.

Atlantic Viking I agree. And perhaps it's my bias rather than a "thing" but I prefer my Ballymore runners to have toe and Supreme runners to have pace.
 
Last edited:
DTS is all speed so he'll definitely be aimed at the Supreme. The other JP horses will work around him. Not unlike JP to throw a couple at the Supreme though. Don't be scared to have a few of his on board for the opener.

I still think Ballyburn could end up Willie's Supreme horse . Loved the way he quickened away from them in his last race. Have backed him for both races though.
 
FinalFurlong91 said:
The only fly in the ballymore ointment could be that he's owned by the sponsor of the bartlett
Click to expand...

Yeah but no doubt if perfect for the Ballymore style wise he will end up there like Simonsig did for the owner.
 
Ronnie has a nice recruit with Nicky called Nativehill if he goes hurdling this year you assume he’ll be a possible AB horse for him.

Both him and Ballyburn are from McKeevers P2P yard. Along with Tullyhill and another nice recruit Jeriko with Nicky.

Not sure what the POA is with Nativehill, absolutely zero interest playing the Albert Bartlett never mind a Henderson horse but possibly a related double down the line with the two Ronnie Bartlett horses.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Faugheen_Machine
I personally think that a good few Ballymore and Supreme winners could easily have been interchangeable and be very competitive in the other race. Supreme you need to be able to go the frantic pace and jump to maintain a position. Often the Ballymore can be down to a turn of foot as opposed to any significant stamina reserve for the extra 5f.

Mirazur West displayed a high cruising speed and Willie will always target 2 miles with that type of horse in my opinion.
Down Memory Lane on the other hand was happy to sit in behind and then easily dispatch his field with a turn of foot.
With JP needing to split his impressive team and Gordon likely to take a different route to Willie, I can see Down Memory Lane being the one to step up.

Nothing scientific there, just my gut feeling.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Faugheen_Machine and Eggs
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom