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2026 Champion Chase

Imagine they'll give Maj another go at 2 at Xmas and then decide where he's going. Hopefully he strips fitter and jumps clean. His messy jumping is getting a bit too regular now.
 
Interesting to hear Patrick’s remark about fitness as he looked burly to me. At one point before last he looked like he was taking a blow and then ran on again. Might we see a different horse next time!
 
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Lobos said:
Imagine they'll give Maj another go at 2 at Xmas and then decide where he's going. Hopefully he strips fitter and jumps clean. His messy jumping is getting a bit too regular now.
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He’s one of the best 2 miler’s and already decided where he goes
 
Will IET go for the same race as Majborough at Xmas?
 
Killiney said:
Interesting to hear Patrick’s remark about fitness as he looked burly to me. At one point before last he looked like he was taking a blow and then ran on again. Might we see a different horse next time!
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Walsh seemed happy enough and said he’ll come on a tonne. I’d not have been happy with his jumping, but he didn’t look that fit to my, admittedly untrained, eye.
 
Lobos said:
Imagine they'll give Maj another go at 2 at Xmas and then decide where he's going. Hopefully he strips fitter and jumps clean. His messy jumping is getting a bit too regular now.
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Willie has said he will stick at 2m for now but might want further.
 
Lobos said:
Will IET go for the same race as Majborough at Xmas?
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Who knows with Willie. Inothewayurthinkin might not get back to form, Fact To File moves up and JP wants Maj in the Ryanair. There are so many moving parts. Il Etait Temps is nailed on for the CC at this point and i would say Maj 90% is also. It would be informative for him and wouldn't be the first time he has done it.
 
Think people have overreacted to Majboroughs performance

Obviously jumping issues which is what needs to iron out but we know hes better LH

Race fit FAF getting weight beat him by staying better

Maj still a huge player in the Champ Chase

I wonder if he would be better with a set of cheekpieces or a hood on now
 
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Exar Essay said:
Walsh seemed happy enough and said he’ll come on a tonne. I’d not have been happy with his jumping, but he didn’t look that fit to my, admittedly untrained, eye.
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Looked the fittest out there to me, only one that had any rib on show, which in itself is unusual in december for a chaser first time out, you'd expect plenty of cover with no rib visible until febuary/march time, if he is coming on a ton for the run then he carries very little condition.

Whoever mentioned some pieces I'd agree, ears pricked and just looking around a fair amount so he wasn't doing a lot.
 
I’d give him another chance left handed at level weights.
I was disappointed, but I’ve actually topped up at 7/1
 
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Guinness Village said:
I’d give him another chance left handed at level weights.
I was disappointed, but I’ve actually topped up at 7/1
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Oh for sure, he's far from a poor horse and 7/1 is a over reaction, he's got tons of ability, you'd have thought they'd have had a look at his fencing at home though as it cost him a big one last season.
 
ComplyOrDie said:
IET very good.

Jonbon with definite improvement from his seasonal debut which was good to see. Stayed on well there.

He's not quite finished just yet for me.
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That's twice IET has breezed past Jonbon and won with decent daylight between them, so yes he may not be finished but for me he keeps proving himself to be just short of championship class.
And will IET make the champion chase ?
Ducked it last year, well beaten in three previous trips to GL50, brave man if anyone is piling into 5/2...
 
IET is a 10lb better horse going right handed. Could see it in the Tingle Creek as he took the inside route all the way whilst Jonbon and L'Eau Du Sud jumped out to the left losing ground. I will happily take IET on in grade 1 chases going left handed until he proves otherwise. Found A Fifty is another horse that needs to go right handed if he is to win a grade 1 chase.

Majborough is worth having onside as well. Not one I would want to be backing at a short price, but considering he was conceding weight, experience and fitness to a winner who is a standing dish in right handed chases at this level, with Majborough conceding ground at the fences then with a clear round in the CC you can see him going close.

Jonbon and L'Eau Du Sud both look good each way bets for this race now also. Jonbon had headgear for the first time and has improved his form from last time. Still yet to finish outside the first two in 19 chase starts, if he runs to a 170 RPR like they have given him here, then he will place. L'Eau Du Sud was clearly out for the prize money, picking up another £18k without having a hard race. He probably wants easier ground and a longer break between races and we have seen what he can do at Cheltenham.
 
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darlojim said:
Think people have overreacted to Majboroughs performance

Obviously jumping issues which is what needs to iron out but we know hes better LH

Race fit FAF getting weight beat him by staying better

Maj still a huge player in the Champ Chase

I wonder if he would be better with a set of cheekpieces or a hood on now
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Think maybe a ladder to help him get over the obstacles

Or some horsehoes with springs
 
Runragged said:
IET is a 10lb better horse going right handed. Could see it in the Tingle Creek as he took the inside route all the way whilst Jonbon and L'Eau Du Sud jumped out to the left losing ground. I will happily take IET on in grade 1 chases going left handed until he proves otherwise. Found A Fifty is another horse that needs to go right handed if he is to win a grade 1 chase.

Majborough is worth having onside as well. Not one I would want to be backing at a short price, but considering he was conceding weight, experience and fitness to a winner who is a standing dish in right handed chases at this level, with Majborough conceding ground at the fences then with a clear round in the CC you can see him going close.

Jonbon and L'Eau Du Sud both look good each way bets for this race now also. Jonbon had headgear for the first time and has improved his form from last time. Still yet to finish outside the first two in 19 chase starts, if he runs to a 170 RPR like they have given him here, then he will place. L'Eau Du Sud was clearly out for the prize money, picking up another £18k without having a hard race. He probably wants easier ground and a longer break between races and we have seen what he can do at Cheltenham.
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Sure I heard Nicky saying they won't take Il Et Temps on again as he isn't going to beat him so he will probably step up in distance.
 
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I'm not sure why people are surprised Majborough didn't jump well. Especially those that have already backed him to be honest...
 
darlojim said:
Think people have overreacted to Majboroughs performance

Obviously jumping issues which is what needs to iron out but we know hes better LH

Race fit FAF getting weight beat him by staying better

Maj still a huge player in the Champ Chase

I wonder if he would be better with a set of cheekpieces or a hood on now
Click to expand...

You've got to have a serious amount of trust that his jumping will improve to still fancy him, unless you think FAF is the bar setter?

At this moment in time it's hard to see that for me, and I have Maj covered!
 
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