2025 Novice Chasers

[Eggs]

With the Turners being revamped, I expect concentration of discussion will be Arkle and BANC. If targets become clear I suppose we can consider breaking this down into specific race threads.

Ballyburn might get a few mentions.

Latest betting;

Arkle; Ballyburn 3, Firefox 8-1, JDG 10-1, IEP 10-1, Sir G 10-1, Irish Point 12-1, Slade Steel 12-1.
BANC; Ballyburn 10-1, Dancing City 12-1, Majborough 14-1, Caldwell Potter 16-1.

 

[Yosser]

For the Arkle, I think a lot hinges on how IT'S FOR ME is. If he is back fit and healthy that should help with the Impaire Et Passe and Ballyburn conundrum. Munir and Suede i can't imagine will want to throw two good darts at one race when they could have one in each. I could feasibly see them chuck two at the Arkle in It's For Me and Mistergif but as somebody mentioned the other day, Mistergif could well now be campaigned for a mark in the Turners. Definitely one to watch closely in his races. He was left in the Gallagher's until declaration time last year so they must think he is fine with the two and a half miles. So after getting my Turners money back i am now looking at an early short list of Mistergif, Jango Baie and potentially one of Jeriko Du Reponet and Mirazur West. When the markets re-open i think i might have a few speculators on those and then leave the race until closer to the time.

 

[JackieMoon33]

For the Arkle, I think a lot hinges on how IT'S FOR ME is. If he is back fit and healthy that should help with the Impaire Et Passe and Ballyburn conundrum. Munir and Suede i can't imagine will want to throw two good darts at one race when they could have one in each. I could feasibly see them chuck two at the Arkle in It's For Me and Mistergif but as somebody mentioned the other day, Mistergif could well now be campaigned for a mark in the Turners. Definitely one to watch closely in his races. He was left in the Gallagher's until declaration time last year so they must think he is fine with the two and a half miles. So after getting my Turners money back i am now looking at an early short list of Mistergif, Jango Baie and potentially one of Jeriko Du Reponet and Mirazur West. When the markets re-open i think i might have a few speculators on those and then leave the race until closer to the time.

I’d say there is possibility that Mistergif could stay hurdling too. He came off the flat so I’m not sure whether he’d have the scope for fences. He could be on a workable mark for them to exploit still.

It’s For Me is an interesting one due to him only having the one start so we don’t know his ceiling at all.

However, the double green novice chaser I like most though is Largy Hill and he’ll be only going one way (BANC) if he proves up to that level. The BANC is a race I always pick out a couple of long shots for and he’s one of them (diary write up pending). He’s been a slow burner for connections but he looks one that will improve over fences.

 

[Yosser]

One of Willie or Patrick on last years stable tours spoke quite highly of The Blizzard Of Oz's future as a chaser too so they have a few to key an eye on.

 

[JackieMoon33]

One of Willie or Patrick on last years stable tours spoke quite highly of The Blizzard Of Oz's future as a chaser too so they have a few to key an eye on.

Given the removal of the Turners, double green could easily have multiple runners in each. Largy Hill and Readin Tommy Wrong would be my current standouts for the BANC as I don’t believe IEP is a proper stayer for that race.

 

[charlie]

I was all over IEP for the Arkle this year and was gutted they went over hurdles. I think he'll be Footpad 2.0 for the same connections and anything in double figures for the Arkle is a bet worth taking even now.

 

[Durham Edition]

Has anyone heard if the plan is for Quai De Bourbon to go chasing? Gigginstown normally like there's to go chasing so I think he will and I feel like I want to get him onside for the Brown's early on at 20's I think he could be a good bet.

 

[Odin]

Has anyone heard if the plan is for Quai De Bourbon to go chasing? Gigginstown normally like there's to go chasing so I think he will and I feel like I want to get him onside for the Brown's early on at 20's I think he could be a good bet.

He was available at 50s just before the Pipe. I think it was Exar Essay who alerted us then, so I had a bit of that. I think with the changes and his 145 mark he's probably more likely for the Turners handicap now but I've no intention of cashing my bet. Not sure if I personally would be as keen at 20s now but dunno how much that's my opinion being shaped by the price I've got

 

[Durham Edition]

He was available at 50s just before the Pipe. I think it was Exar Essay who alerted us then, so I had a bit of that. I think with the changes and his 145 mark he's probably more likely for the Turners handicap now but I've no intention of cashing my bet. Not sure if I personally would be as keen at 20s now but dunno how much that's my opinion being shaped by the price I've got

Thanks Odin, I am also worried that he may go the new Turners route haven't seen any markets for that race yet and don't tend to get involved in the handicaps till NRNB. Nice ticket to have at 50's bravo.

 

[BigChaang]

He was available at 50s just before the Pipe. I think it was Exar Essay who alerted us then, so I had a bit of that. I think with the changes and his 145 mark he's probably more likely for the Turners handicap now but I've no intention of cashing my bet. Not sure if I personally would be as keen at 20s now but dunno how much that's my opinion being shaped by the price I've got

Have I got this right , P.P , B.365 , offering full refund for Turners bets and honouring the bet if they win in the New Race ??.
I'm a bit confused . ( not hard ) ... .:excitement:.

 

[Cheltenham Novice Chase]

Have I got this right , P.P , B.365 , offering full refund for Turners bets and honouring the bet if they win in the New Race ??.
I'm a bit confused . ( not hard ) ... .:excitement:.

Yep, that’s what I’ve been offered and I had bets on Impair Et Passé, Slad Steel and Jericho Du Reponet. I doubt any will run in the race but stranger of things have happened.

 

[BigChaang]

Yep, that’s what I’ve been offered and I had bets on Impair Et Passé, Slad Steel and Jericho Du Reponet. I doubt any will run in the race but stranger of things have happened.

Yeah , Nothing to Lose in that situation . :encouragement: .

 

[Ice]

Have I got this right , P.P , B.365 , offering full refund for Turners bets and honouring the bet if they win in the New Race ??.
I'm a bit confused . ( not hard ) ... .:excitement:.

I'd say good pr for them with not that much risk !

 

[Odin]

Have I got this right , P.P , B.365 , offering full refund for Turners bets and honouring the bet if they win in the New Race ??.
I'm a bit confused . ( not hard ) ... .:excitement:.

I read it as B365 offering bet credits for the new Turners race, PP offering cash.

In 365 case, you'd win cash for the non-Turners part of any multiples, with the Turners winner being topped up in bet credits. This latter part is most relevant to me as I don't have any singles on the Turners with 365 so I may have misread for singles.

 

[Exar Essay]

He was available at 50s just before the Pipe. I think it was Exar Essay who alerted us then, so I had a bit of that. I think with the changes and his 145 mark he's probably more likely for the Turners handicap now but I've no intention of cashing my bet. Not sure if I personally would be as keen at 20s now but dunno how much that's my opinion being shaped by the price I've got

I agree Odin. That's how I see it now too.

The more I think on it, the fact that the Turners isn't going to be a limited handicap is fascinating. I don't think you'd rule out a Grade 2 level chaser competing still. If any of Mullins' lot don't have it all there own way over the course of the season, I could still see them ending up here. I could see some decent horses having a similar season to Appreciate It a couple of years back and then running off 150 - 155. Similarly, Nicholls seems to have five or six with 'potential' that it mightn't be too hard to hide over the course of the season. I could see a couple turning up here off 140-145.

A lot of commentators have offered conflicting thoughts on what it means for the remaining Grade One novice chases, but for the Turners itself, I think it's a really positive change.

As an aside, is this Mullins' best opportunity to break his handicap chase duck?

 

[Odin]

As an aside, is this Mullins' best opportunity to break his handicap chase duck?

100%.

It could very easily play out like the Punchestown handicap he's won multiple times with top weight:

Mister Policeman was 4/1f off 149 this year
Won in 2023 (Kilcruit, 148), 2022 (El Barra, 140), 2021 (Asterion Forlonge, 152), 2019 (Real Steel, 151), 2018 (Kemboy, 147), 2016 (Avant Tout, 145), 2015 (Blood Cotil, 141).

Some record that...

 

[Killiney]

Don’t forget to add Skybet to the list of bookies (Bet 365 & PP) honouring bets in the ‘new’ Turners.

 

[SeanRock]

I touched on Gidleigh Park being good value in the BANC briefly in the General Chat thread a while ago but though I better expand on that a little here.

Looking back on his runs over hurdles last year I think he's going to be a force to be reckoned with in staying chases this season. He was huge as a 6yr old but with another summer behind him it will have only helped him fill his frame further going into his 7yr old campaign. For a big horse he was neat and tidy over the small obstacles last year in the main, showing plenty of scope and intelligence when not meeting them on a good stride which can happen with big lads. He has a turn of foot too which is key in the 3m race on the old course, you need a bit of boot coming round the home bend before the last two fences which come at you quickly.

Connections went relatively easy on him last year, only taking in one grade one which was the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. He underperformed slightly that day in bottomless ground with the race being ran at a relatively sedate pace not helping matters either. 6th of 13 runners wasn't too bad in hindsight given how raw he was. Plenty of good horses kick on to have excellent careers after disappointing in that particular race. He's proven to enjoy the Cheltenham hill when getting briefly headed by Lucky Place on trials day only to kick past him again and win going away at the line. Lucky Place subsequently then went on to run a very solid 4th place in the Coral Cup.

The well worn words of anything he did over hurdles being a bonus definitely applies here. I think the 50/1 available with Paddy Power is cracking value.

 

[JamieSensible]

What are people's thoughts on Salver for the Arkle? I've requested a price, bit of a left field shout but ran well in the Triumph and Gary Moore does send them chasing when they're young.

 

[Quevega]

What are people's thoughts on Salver for the Arkle? I've requested a price, bit of a left field shout but ran well in the Triumph and Gary Moore does send them chasing when they're young.

Looks very flat bred IMO.
If he goes chasing he might flatter for a bit but likely to be a way off the better bred (for chasing) types.