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2025 Novice Chasers

Exar Essay said:
I wonder if they’ll try something similar to Lossie, and look at leaving him off until the New Year. His beginners would probably be easier too at that time of year, as most decent ones will have won their beginners by then. Then maybe look at something away from the DRF in February time.
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Yeah, I think if it's left completely to Willie then we might not see him till xmas.

It's possible though that we see him sooner as JP might have other ideas. And the allowance he'll get as a four year old before Jan 1st, means they might want to maximise use of that.
This would seem counter intuitive to a future gold cup horse pathway though. It's not something you'd necessarily do with a top notch prospect.
Not saying it wouldn't work though as I'm all for running horses myself.

Stable tour might shine a light and make all this talk sound nonsense. :highly_amused:
 
Djakadam ran end of December then end of January before running in the JLT.

As you say, too much talk about him. Let's talk about the winner....Slade Steel.
 
Does anyone know if Brighterdaysahead has schooled over fences yet? I'm very heavily invested in her for the Mares Chase and thinking of reducing exposure if she hasn't taken to them or staying over hurdles.
 
YoungHustler said:
Does anyone know if Brighterdaysahead has schooled over fences yet? I'm very heavily invested in her for the Mares Chase and thinking of reducing exposure if she hasn't taken to them or staying over hurdles.
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I have no idea but Down Royal isn't far away and Gordon says she goes there but isn't sure if she goes hurdling or chasing.

Gordon is normally open about when they will go chasing.
 
I think the fact Gordon has been a little reserved in his most recent post is possibly them thinking of staying over hurdles for another season.

She is only 5 going 6 so still young, novice chases 6 rising 7 and then open chase 7 rising 8, which is the ideal ages imo. Gives time to mature, fill her frame etc, don’t think there’s a need to rush her.
 
YoungHustler said:
Does anyone know if Brighterdaysahead has schooled over fences yet? I'm very heavily invested in her for the Mares Chase and thinking of reducing exposure if she hasn't taken to them or staying over hurdles.
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All the schooling/away days for the big trainers here were delayed with the ground not having enough rain. Gordon is taking most his horses away later this week , so no douth plenty will start to come out then. I'd imagine why they haven't commited on her yet...
Willies done nothing yet either with his schooling wise
 
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Just wait for entries I'd say before cashing anything.
 
Run4Home said:
All the schooling/away days for the big trainers here were delayed with the ground not having enough rain. Gordon is taking most his horses away later this week , so no douth plenty will start to come out then. I'd imagine why they haven't commited on her yet...
Willies done nothing yet either with his schooling wise
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Cheers R4H. I think I'll sit tight.
 
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….Nicholls re Caldwell Potter;

’He did brilliantly for Gordon and his team winning a Grade 1 in Ireland and he has shown he has a huge amount of ability. He had a little niggle at the end of the season, and he didn’t manage to run for us, but he managed to sort that. His work is great, and he has schooled a couple of times and jumped brilliantly. Freddie Gingell, who rides him every day, is really really pleased with him. I don’t know where he will start - he could start over two and a half miles in a novice chase somewhere. I am really looking forward to seeing what he could do.​’

Captain Teague;

’Captain Teague had a good year last year and won the Persian War first time out and then, frustratingly, got beaten at Cheltenham and then won the Challow Hurdle. He had won a Grade 1, but we could quite get him right after that and he disappointed at the Festival. It was frustrating but feel we could never get him quite right after the Challow. He had a great summer and his work is really great. I can’t wait to see him over fences. I am not sure where he will start and whether it will be over two and a half miles or three, but I can wait to see him as a chaser and I think he is going to be a pretty awesome novice chaser.​’
 
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Might be nothing but i have just watched the Paddy Power preview. With Ruby seemingly letting the cat out of the bag regarding Ballyburn and then Patrick mentioning something along the lines of some surprising horses may skip Cheltenham in favour of the 2m 4f at Fairyhouse, did anyone get the impression he was talking about Impaire Et Passe? Like i say, it might be nothing and am probably reading too much into it but thats what came across to me.
 
Yosser said:
Might be nothing but i have just watched the Paddy Power preview. With Ruby seemingly letting the cat out of the bag regarding Ballyburn and then Patrick mentioning something along the lines of some surprising horses may skip Cheltenham in favour of the 2m 4f at Fairyhouse, did anyone get the impression he was talking about Impaire Et Passe? Like i say, it might be nothing and am probably reading too much into it but thats what came across to me.
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If Ballyburn sticks to the 2m route then it’s possible IEP goes for an intermediate trip somewhere else. I can’t have IEP for the BANC myself so unless he proves better than Ballyburn over 2m then he could be diverted.
 
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Yosser said:
Might be nothing but i have just watched the Paddy Power preview. With Ruby seemingly letting the cat out of the bag regarding Ballyburn and then Patrick mentioning something along the lines of some surprising horses may skip Cheltenham in favour of the 2m 4f at Fairyhouse, did anyone get the impression he was talking about Impaire Et Passe? Like i say, it might be nothing and am probably reading too much into it but thats what came across to me.
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For me it was a worry that when they talked about the stayers hurdle, that was when he got his first mention from the 2 of em ..
 
darlojim said:
For me it was a worry that when they talked about the stayers hurdle, that was when he got his first mention from the 2 of em ..
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He also said he assumed It's For Me would stay hurdling but Ruby and Patrick kept schtum. I don't see him staying hurdling, what would he go for? It's For Me that is. It's feasible that IEP could go stayers but even then i wouldn't have thought so unless they totally scrap his chasing career and stay at the Stayers division for the rest of his career.
 
Arkle or nothing for IEP imo. Couldn't fancy him for a BANC at all and they'll surely not be wasting another season over hurdles??
 
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Yosser said:
He also said he assumed It's For Me would stay hurdling but Ruby and Patrick kept schtum. I don't see him staying hurdling, what would he go for? It's For Me that is. It's feasible that IEP could go stayers but even then i wouldn't have thought so unless they totally scrap his chasing career and stay at the Stayers division for the rest of his career.
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Tom’s a really convivial presenter, but my word it’s frustrating when he doesn’t ask questions. Frank made a great point re Its For Me and Tom moves straight on. Ruby and Patrick even looked surprised they didn’t have to field the question.
 
JDR cut to 20's from 33's today for Arkle by PP/Betfair
 
….HdB re Slade Steel;

‘Slade Steel is going novice chasing and will start off in a maiden chase in the next few weeks. We’re obviously very excited about him, given how much he did over hurdles last season, and we’ve always had fences in mind for him. He is versatile enough that we were able to keep our options open with him regards trip last season, and we’ll play it by ear with him as we go. He’s very exciting.​‘
 
Eggs said:
….HdB re Slade Steel;

‘Slade Steel is going novice chasing and will start off in a maiden chase in the next few weeks. We’re obviously very excited about him, given how much he did over hurdles last season, and we’ve always had fences in mind for him. He is versatile enough that we were able to keep our options open with him regards trip last season, and we’ll play it by ear with him as we go. He’s very exciting.​‘
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That just screams go where ballyburn doesn’t haha
 
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Eggs said:
….HdB re Slade Steel;

‘Slade Steel is going novice chasing and will start off in a maiden chase in the next few weeks. We’re obviously very excited about him, given how much he did over hurdles last season, and we’ve always had fences in mind for him. He is versatile enough that we were able to keep our options open with him regards trip last season, and we’ll play it by ear with him as we go. He’s very exciting.​‘
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Looks to me like we will have both the top novice hurdle winners in the Arkle if all goes to plan.
That is exciting!!
Dont see either going 3m next March.
 
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