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2025 Champion Chase

Nick luck saying owners didn’t seem too confident in El Fab making the DRF, spoke to them today prior to RTC with Lydia.
 
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Craigy14 said:
Nick luck saying owners didn’t seem too confident in El Fab making the DRF, spoke to them today prior to RTC with Lydia.
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Well if he isn't ready to race in the next 4 weeks anyone backing him for March is hoping he'll win on the biggest stage on seasonal debut after an injury,time to put a line through him I'd say.
 
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The more I think about it the more I believe IEF will take his chance in the Champion Chase. He could quite easily take that race apart the way he runs and the way he jumps. The race already looks like cutting up a fair bit and there are Q marks over all the other runners.
 
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Lobos said:
The more I think about it the more I believe IEF will take his chance in the Champion Chase. He could quite easily take that race apart the way he runs and the way he jumps. The race already looks like cutting up a fair bit and there are Q marks over all the other runners.
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The only ? with Jonbon is his performances at Cheltenham compared to elsewhere.
Having seen Jonbon put up his best jumping performance there this season with Nico riding I am confident he will produce a proper performance.
Hes ridden him twice at Cheltenham and been good both times.
I think he’s improved the horses performance there.
 
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EnvoiAlien said:
Well if he isn't ready to race in the next 4 weeks anyone backing him for March is hoping he'll win on the biggest stage on seasonal debut after an injury,time to put a line through him I'd say.
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I’d agree, I should have also put a note in this thread about a step up in trip being mooted. So even with Gaelic Warrior beat over 2m it doesn’t seem to have changed plans.
 
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I'd be worried about IEF going to Cheltenham, particularly to this race, as the owners seem to love him on flat tracks (they previously blamed auteuil for his wind issues - possibly even directly blaming the undulations but I might have misremembered that).

Anyway, the reason I'm not convinced he's the right horse for this race is because they're considering the racing post trophy off top weight in February and they have history in the race as a family as well...

Zetterholm said: “The Ladbrokes Trophy is an option for him back at Kempton but there’s lots to discuss with his owners. There are plenty of options for him and we might consider Cheltenham. I don’t think we’ll return to France too soon, at least not on soft ground.
“You don’t know how he will handle the track and undulations at Cheltenham but one day we will have to try. We’ll speak to his owners and give him entries for the festival, with the Champion Chase, Ryanair and Gold Cup all worth considering.”

If undulations are an issue for him, I actually think that's understandable race planning to some extent, they could then consider the Melling at aintree if they wanted to :encouragement:
 
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Odin said:
I'd be worried about IEF going to Cheltenham, particularly to this race, as the owners seem to love him on flat tracks (they previously blamed auteuil for his wind issues - possibly even directly blaming the undulations but I might have misremembered that).

Anyway, the reason I'm not convinced he's the right horse for this race is because they're considering the racing post trophy off top weight in February and they have history in the race as a family as well...

Zetterholm said: “The Ladbrokes Trophy is an option for him back at Kempton but there’s lots to discuss with his owners. There are plenty of options for him and we might consider Cheltenham. I don’t think we’ll return to France too soon, at least not on soft ground.
“You don’t know how he will handle the track and undulations at Cheltenham but one day we will have to try. We’ll speak to his owners and give him entries for the festival, with the Champion Chase, Ryanair and Gold Cup all worth considering.”

If undulations are an issue for him, I actually think that's understandable race planning to some extent, they could then consider the Melling at aintree if they wanted to :encouragement:
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Auteuil is not totally flat but any hills are very gentle compared to cheltenham.
It's the rhythm he may suffer with at Cheltenham, but they ought to try first before worrying about it really.
 
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Putting a 3 miler over 2m on a undulating course,with that horse being known to burst, recipe for disaster imo.
 
I'm a big fan of his but find it a strange shout,I suspect by the water jump he would start getting left behind by proper 2 milers.
 
EnvoiAlien said:
I'm a big fan of his but find it a strange shout,I suspect by the water jump he would start getting left behind by proper 2 milers.
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I'd disagree envoi.
The main reason is that there are no proper 2 milers in the race anyhow.
They would all be better over further. So his cruising speed would be absolutely fine IMO.
The doubt I'd have is how well he could jump at Cheltenham compared to Kempton where he has shown how he gets into a really good rhythm.
 
It seems like if they are going for the racing post handicap, which off that mark (166?) seems even more stupid IMO. The CC would be second choice anyway and they'll probably see how each race shapes up and then decide to skip the festival altogether :highly_amused:
 
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Straight to Cheltenham for the CC would be ideal. Keep him mean and fresh. No need to run him before at all. They'll see sense.
 
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Quevega said:
I'd disagree envoi.
The main reason is that there are no proper 2 milers in the race anyhow.
They would all be better over further. So his cruising speed would be absolutely fine IMO.
The doubt I'd have is how well he could jump at Cheltenham compared to Kempton where he has shown how he gets into a really good rhythm.
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No proper 2 milers?
Really!!??
Two time CC winner against a horse that’s one countless grade 1 2 m chases??
 
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Agree with Quevega, against this opposition the trip would be no problem for IEF.
 
Carnage at Taunton said:
No proper 2 milers?
Really!!??
Two time CC winner against a horse that’s one countless grade 1 2 m chases??
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Do you think IEF at 7 years old can run as fast as the 9yr old Jonbon and the 11 yr old energumene ? -
Both of whom have been talked about as likely better over further by their trainers but circumstances and a weak division have left them at 2 miles.
 
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