2025 Novice Chasers

[Lobos]

100% - I've had to cover off the back of it.

Lobos nipples must be feeling very cherry-like atm...

:excitement::excitement::excitement:

Yes, he'll avoid Ballyburn again. Once that one is confirmed Arkle and Majborough confirmed staying Hurdling he'll be fav for the BANC.

 

[Carnage at Taunton]

:excitement::excitement::excitement:

Yes, he'll avoid Ballyburn again. Once that one is confirmed Arkle and Majborough confirmed staying Hurdling he'll be fav for the BANC.

Well anything is possible, including taking on a horse that beat you over hurdles , in a chase the following season.

 

[BookieBasher]

:excitement::excitement::excitement:

Yes, he'll avoid Ballyburn again. Once that one is confirmed Arkle and Majborough confirmed staying Hurdling he'll be fav for the BANC.

I wouldn’t be 100% convinced that they’ll avoid Ballyburn in the Arkle. It was an easy decision to make novice hurdling to go either Supreme or Gallaghers depending on where Ballyburn went. And I think that decision would have been equally as easy this season had the Turners been an option. If HDB sees Slade Steel as an Arkle horse then pushing him up to 3m is quite a step just to avoid one horse. He could be a BANC horse and early entries or a Rob Cour YouTube video will most likely tell us very early. I’d have him down as of today as being an Arkle horse with every chance of winning

 

[Lobos]

Well anything is possible, including taking on a horse that beat you over hurdles , in a chase the following season.

Possible but you'd say unlikely as they avoided him at all cost last season. All depends on how Ballyburn looks I'd say. As HDB says, Slade Steel is very adaptable re trip so he can go anywhere.

 

[Carnage at Taunton]

I wouldn’t be 100% convinced that they’ll avoid Ballyburn in the Arkle. It was an easy decision to make novice hurdling to go either Supreme or Gallaghers depending on where Ballyburn went. And I think that decision would have been equally as easy this season had the Turners been an option. If HDB sees Slade Steel as an Arkle horse then pushing him up to 3m is quite a step just to avoid one horse. He could be a BANC horse and early entries or a Rob Cour YouTube video will most likely tell us very early. I’d have him down as of today as being an Arkle horse with every chance of winning

Absolutely
Nice to read a reasoned thought out post.

 

[Carnage at Taunton]

Possible but you'd say unlikely as they avoided him at all cost last season. All depends on how Ballyburn looks I'd say. As HDB says, Slade Steel is very adaptable re trip so he can go anywhere.

Both horses are adaptable and could go anywhere.
I would say right now both of the horse’s connections would prefer the Arkle.
Thats how I’m looking at it right now
The progression of both horses this season may change that of course.

 

[Lobos]

Both horses are adaptable and could go anywhere.
I would say right now both of the horse’s connections would prefer the Arkle.
Thats how I’m looking at it right now
The progression of both horses this season may change that of course.

In the pocket will be aimed at the Arkle for HDB.

 

[Craigy14]

In the pocket will be aimed at the Arkle for HDB.

Or the Turners. He is owned by Jp and has had a run.

 

[Eggs]

In the pocket will be aimed at the Arkle for HDB.

‘It was frustrating for him not to get back to the track last season after he made such a promising chasing debut, but he starts this season as a maiden over fences and is still young, so it will be great to get him back on the track. He seems in great order and is working well. We’ll look to start him back in a maiden chase, potentially as soon as next week.​’

 

[Carnage at Taunton]

In the pocket will be aimed at the Arkle for HDB.

Maybe, maybe not.
A lot can and will happen this season.
And entirely possible that the Arkle or indeed the BANC could include more that one entrant from same connections.
Fair difference between 2 and 3m for a novice chaser.

 

[BookieBasher]

Maybe, maybe not.
A lot can and will happen this season.
And entirely possible that the Arkle or indeed the BANC could include more that one entrant from same connections.
Fair difference between 2 and 3m for a novice chaser.

And the BANC could be a much harder race with Willie and Gordon having a battalion of potential 3m chasers. The Arkle could very easily end up the better race to target. Can’t let one horse who may or may not take to fences force your hand this early

 

[Lobos]

Or the Turners. He is owned by Jp and has had a run.

Yep,, possibly. He was being aimed the Arkle last season though so maybe they'll follow that through.

 

[Guinness Village]

I’m backing everything against ballyburn if going novice chasing. I’d fancy the fella for the champion hurdle, but I really don’t think he’s a chaser.

 

[Guinness Village]

Here we go, stand up and get knocked down. I fancy Firefox and IEP for arkle. Better days ahead and stellar story for BANC.

 

[DenmanSacre]

Henry will know not to run from one horse. He's been on the bad end of the stick with Envoi Allen falling in the Turners, and on the opposite side with GDC falling in the same race leaving him to win it. Anything can happen in those novice chases at Cheltenham, especially over the shorter distance. Only takes one bad jump to put them out of rhythm and out the race.

 

[SeanRock]

Here we go, stand up and get knocked down. I fancy Firefox and IEP for arkle. Better days ahead and stellar story for BANC.

I benefited from SS needing every yard of the AB on the new course last year. Think himself & Better Days Ahead might lack a gear or two turning for home in the BANC when a bit of class is required.

They’re dour stayers in my book!

 

[Craigy14]

Henry will know not to run from one horse. He's been on the bad end of the stick with Envoi Allen falling in the Turners, and on the opposite side with GDC falling in the same race leaving him to win it. Anything can happen in those novice chases at Cheltenham, especially over the shorter distance. Only takes one bad jump to put them out of rhythm and out the race.

Completely agree, add to that, not just novices, he won the Champion Chase against all odds, 1/5 El Fabiolo beat!

 

[Exar Essay]

Henry will know not to run from one horse. He's been on the bad end of the stick with Envoi Allen falling in the Turners, and on the opposite side with GDC falling in the same race leaving him to win it. Anything can happen in those novice chases at Cheltenham, especially over the shorter distance. Only takes one bad jump to put them out of rhythm and out the race.

It’s not just Henry though. The owners will have a large say too. And last year, with the same two horses involved, they did exactly that; chose the race for their horse only on the basis of where Ballyburn was declared.

Their horse was rated 17lb inferior to BB last year too. And Ballyburn’s breeding would suggest the greater scope for improvement over fences.

I’d say this year, with less graded races / routes, they may make a decision earlier in the season to avoid finishing up the rear end of Ballyburn time and time again. They could also take in a beginners over the midtrip and then decide which way to go nearer Xmas.

 

[Cheltenham Novice Chase]

In the pocket will be aimed at the Arkle for HDB.

Any quotes to substantiate that statement or was it just an opinion?

 

[Lobos]

Any quotes to substantiate that statement or was it just an opinion?

Just my opinion as that was where he was heading last season. Can't see why they'd change unless of course he's not up to standard.