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2026 Champion Chase

Quevega said:
FWIW, I'd expect him to run anyhow.
Mainly cos JP or someone in his circle will point out the snivelling.
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According to RP he’s jocked up Sunday, not Saturday…
 
Kalif Du Berlais.....

Nicholls explained: "It's not definite we go up in trip, but I wouldn't want to run him over two miles on a fast track and fast ground again."

He continued: "The Desert Orchid (at Kempton, December 27) is a possibility and I always wanted to go for the Clarence House (Ascot, January 17) with him, but let's just see. You'll get plenty of good horses in those and wherever we go isn't going to be easy, but I've just got a feeling in the spring he will come to himself a bit more."

Nicholls added: "Some of those French horses are funny, at three and four they are like big school kids and are quite forward, but then they fall apart a bit and he's massive and he just hasn't really matured into his frame yet."

He concluded: "I don't know why he didn't turn up the other day, but you can always forgive a horse one bad run and that is why I'm not in a rush to run him somewhere."

Nicholls said: "He's had an easy month after Exeter and we'll just tune him up, they don't become bad horses overnight and I think having dealt with quite a few of these French horses, the key is to give them time — Kauto Star was still improving when he was 11."
 
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This weekend the champion trainer is set to unleash two more of his stable stars in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork, with Majborough and Energumene set to lock horns.
The veteran Energumene has already won the Grade Two prize three times, while Majborough won twice at Grade One level last season and is now set to step out of novice company for the first time.
“Both are in great shape and hopefully we’ll get down there,” Mullins added.
 
Lobos said:
Kalif Du Berlais.....

Nicholls explained: "It's not definite we go up in trip, but I wouldn't want to run him over two miles on a fast track and fast ground again."

He continued: "The Desert Orchid (at Kempton, December 27) is a possibility and I always wanted to go for the Clarence House (Ascot, January 17) with him, but let's just see. You'll get plenty of good horses in those and wherever we go isn't going to be easy, but I've just got a feeling in the spring he will come to himself a bit more."

Nicholls added: "Some of those French horses are funny, at three and four they are like big school kids and are quite forward, but then they fall apart a bit and he's massive and he just hasn't really matured into his frame yet."

He concluded: "I don't know why he didn't turn up the other day, but you can always forgive a horse one bad run and that is why I'm not in a rush to run him somewhere."

Nicholls said: "He's had an easy month after Exeter and we'll just tune him up, they don't become bad horses overnight and I think having dealt with quite a few of these French horses, the key is to give them time — Kauto Star was still improving when he was 11."
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Gone from a champion chaser, to a staying handicapper then back to a champion chaser already this lad.
 
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Benjy23 said:
Gone from a champion chaser, to a staying handicapper then back to a champion chaser already this lad.
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It's good to hear though. Hopefully he was just on an off day and we see more next time. He is entered up in a 2m 4f chase this week so I'm hoping he doesn't take up that entry and goes for another 2m spot instead. The bets might not be done with just yet. I've scribbled it out of the book but the slip stays there until final decs 🫣
 
Quevega said:

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www.racingpost.com

Jonbon a doubt for his hat trick bid in the tingle creek. Having won the last 2 renewals on heavy ground.
Trainer concerned about the ground getting too soft, apparently didn't like the Cheltenham soft ground the last day.
Fucking Melts.

I know he's just a sentimental old waffley bell end, but someone should tell him to shut the fuck up.

Something like the interviewer saying "He's won the last 2 renewals on Heavy you tit"

Nick Luck. Hang your Mr Whippy head in shame.:(
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It’s just ridiculous when we all know he won the race twice on heavy!!
Tell him to shut up, or better still stop keep shoving microphones in his face.
End of the day they can give any excuse they want to announce a non runner, after all they all fib at times.
 
Lobos said:
Kalif Du Berlais.....

Nicholls explained: "It's not definite we go up in trip, but I wouldn't want to run him over two miles on a fast track and fast ground again."

He continued: "The Desert Orchid (at Kempton, December 27) is a possibility and I always wanted to go for the Clarence House (Ascot, January 17) with him, but let's just see. You'll get plenty of good horses in those and wherever we go isn't going to be easy, but I've just got a feeling in the spring he will come to himself a bit more."

Nicholls added: "Some of those French horses are funny, at three and four they are like big school kids and are quite forward, but then they fall apart a bit and he's massive and he just hasn't really matured into his frame yet."

He concluded: "I don't know why he didn't turn up the other day, but you can always forgive a horse one bad run and that is why I'm not in a rush to run him somewhere."

Nicholls said: "He's had an easy month after Exeter and we'll just tune him up, they don't become bad horses overnight and I think having dealt with quite a few of these French horses, the key is to give them time — Kauto Star was still improving when he was 11."
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Sounds like he is rethinking his premature (in my opinion) decision to rule out 2 miles.
 
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Killiney said:
Sounds like he is rethinking his premature (in my opinion) decision to rule out 2 miles.
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As a pre season backer, I’m hoping he has another go, though god knows how much he needs to improve to have a chance in the CC
 
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Whilst all eyes inevitably on the tingle creek, I am super excited to see the hilly way this weekend. A proper test for Majborough on reappearance, for all marine will inevitably not be super fit. Hoping he can be a little more fluent this year and put it up to the old boy!
 
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Kauto’s star said:
Whilst all eyes inevitably on the tingle creek, I am super excited to see the hilly way this weekend. A proper test for Majborough on reappearance, for all marine will inevitably not be super fit. Hoping he can be a little more fluent this year and put it up to the old boy!
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Marine isn't entered?
 
Benjy23 said:
Marine isn't entered?
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I am having an absolute mare today. Sorry guys. Misread the racing post article, they mentioned both horses in a sentence, turns out they were talking about both being joint favs….will be sure to check entries next time!
 
Barry Connell will be eagerly watching how Majborough gets on in Sunday’s Hilly Way Chase at Cork ahead of a potential clash with Marine Nationale later in the season.

Connell’s Marine Nationale sets the standard in the two-mile chase division having won the Queen Mother at Cheltenham before following up at Punchestown.

The pair are joint-favourites for the Champion Chase with the majority of bookmakers but are on course to meet before then at Leopardstown at both Christmas and the Dublin Racing Festival, should Majborough come through this weekend in good shape.

“Majborough could be Marine’s biggest rival and I suppose if he hadn’t made those jumping errors, he could have won the Arkle,” said Connell.

“They all finished in a heap but it’s actually working out really well. Jango Baie came out and won, as has L’Eau Du Sud and Only By Night too.

“Majborough is in the same position we were last year, he needs to make the leap to open company whereas we’ve had a year in open company.

“Majborough did have a full novice campaign whereas we only had two runs, so we started behind the eight ball with limited experience. It was always going to be a question of Marine needing those early runs to get that experience.

“Particularly for two-milers, jumping at that speed, it’s more necessary to get that experience than over further when they aren’t jumping at speed.

“Marine ended the season with those two great runs last year then went out to grass, he’s come in in great fettle – it was just a shame Navan got called off the first day and he couldn’t run there in the Fortria.

“I wasn’t tempted at all by the Tingle Creek. We have a perfect programme for him, we know he’s better on better ground so he’ll go to Leopardstown at Christmas and the Dublin Racing Festival before defending his crown at Cheltenham. Leopardstown is half an hour away and four races is perfect for him.

“He had an easy week after missing the Fortria, we’ll build him back up but he won’t do much as he’s a light horse and he’s not that hard to get fit.

“We’ve got the joint-favourite for the Queen Mother and the third favourite for the Champion Hurdle in William Munny, it’s never going to happen to us again. We are a small stable and these are horses of a lifetime. To have one is a miracle but to have two is incredible.”
 
Is Only By Night a definite for the Mares Chase or is there an argument for her coming here? Cromwell is now 2/116 since the beginning of November, with this mare winning in that month and then another winner a few days ago. I feel her run is certainly worth upgrading and when you think she is closely matched on that Arkle form with Majborough and L'Eau Du Sud then it makes sense to go for the Grade 1 races. If she does go for the 2m 1f race at Leopardstown over Xmas then can see her going well. Majborough should be having a prep this weekend in the Hilly Way but Marine Nationale, Quilixios, Solness and El Fabiolo if coming here would all be making their first starts of the season. She is 16/1 for that race which looks a cracking price especially if Cromwell yard is finding form whilst the 33/1 for the QM may look big after.
 
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