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2026 Mares Chase

I’m going to have a pop at her for the mares chase.
Im all over Spindleberry and still have reservations about panic attack but slowly getting drawn into the hype. Will be good to see if she can hold her form all the way through the season
 
Im all over Spindleberry and still have reservations about panic attack but slowly getting drawn into the hype. Will be good to see if she can hold her form all the way through the season

Spindleberry with an entry in the Thyestes, if she wins that off top weight she surely has to go Gold Cup.
 
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Im all over Spindleberry and still have reservations about panic attack but slowly getting drawn into the hype. Will be good to see if she can hold her form all the way through the season
Owners are still wanting to go for Gold aren't they ?
 
Wasn’t Spindleberry the rage for this last year but was said to need deep ground so they never seriously looked at the race, or did I dream that ?

Hacked up on quick ground at Donny recently though….
 
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Yeah they are aiming high. I’m hoping she runs well in her next run but gets beat to burst that bubble (whether thyestes or Irish gold cup). Realistically no chance in gold cup, which Willie has made public.
 
Yeah they are aiming high. I’m hoping she runs well in her next run but gets beat to burst that bubble (whether thyestes or Irish gold cup). Realistically no chance in gold cup, which Willie has made public.
It doesn't really matter what willie thinks right now. He changes his mind depending on what they do on the track. If she wins a thyestes off 154, and gets raised to a mark of 160+, plus a 7lb mares allowance, then she'd have a chance in a gold cup.
 
It doesn't really matter what willie thinks right now. He changes his mind depending on what they do on the track. If she wins a thyestes off 154, and gets raised to a mark of 160+, plus a 7lb mares allowance, then she'd have a chance in a gold cup.
Oh totally agree. When I backed her way back when, I didn’t anticipate gold cup as a possibility, so hoping she’s beaten beat in the thyestes….then into the mares….may have to back her in the thyestes to get my stake back though 😂😂

Edit is it certain she goes there? As also entered in gold cup? Any news?
 
Oh totally agree. When I backed her way back when, I didn’t anticipate gold cup as a possibility, so hoping she’s beaten beat in the thyestes….then into the mares….may have to back her in the thyestes to get my stake back though 😂😂

Edit is it certain she goes there? As also entered in gold cup? Any news?
Not seen anything about her target but I haven't really looked. If she takes up either entry though it spells danger for mares chase bets. Both races are over three miles against the boys. If she shows improvement for the longer trip then she may not drop back down.

She'd need to win the thyestes to go for the Gold cup you'd think. If she goes up against galopin and the rest then going close to winning would probably be enough encouragement for them to go for the gold cup.
 
Wasn’t Spindleberry the rage for this last year but was said to need deep ground so they never seriously looked at the race, or did I dream that ?

Hacked up on quick ground at Donny recently though….
Lack of chasing experience I believe
 
Not seen anything about her target but I haven't really looked. If she takes up either entry though it spells danger for mares chase bets. Both races are over three miles against the boys. If she shows improvement for the longer trip then she may not drop back down.

She'd need to win the thyestes to go for the Gold cup you'd think. If she goes up against galopin and the rest then going close to winning would probably be enough encouragement for them to go for the gold cup.
Yeah I know. Wish the entries weren’t made, but I think (hope) gallopin would walk all over her and she’ll do well to win off top weight, so hopeful a beating means mares.
 
Gordon Elliott is eyeing another raid on the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown, this time with Kala Conti.

Elliott sent future Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Gerri Colombe to the Esher track in 2023 to become just the second horse trained in Ireland to win the Grade One, after Willie Mullins’ Gitane Du Berlais in 2015.

Kala Conti holds an entry in the Grade Two Carey Glass Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase at Thurles on Sunday – but Elliott fears the ground may just be on the quick side for her.

As a result, Sandown racegoers on January 31 could be set to benefit from the presence of a mare who beat County Hurdle winner Kargese by 16 lengths on her second start over fences last month.

When asked about Thurles, Elliott said: “I’m told the ground is going to be good enough down there, so honestly I’d say no.

“I might go for the Scilly Isles with her. It could cut up and she could get black-type placed there.

“If she went there and ran well you’d have to think about Cheltenham
 
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Was there any comments from WPM after Jade De Grugy's win today? Is she going to the chase or hurdle?
 
I'd be surprised if they've lost her novice chase status just for that race there to come back hurdling myself.

But it is willie mullins
Yeah when I seen she was out again today I thought the same. Could that also add fire to the Lossie decision has been made for the Mares?
 
The Mares Chase isn't for Novices is it so losing her Novice status doesn't really mean much to be honest... Reckon Lossie goes Champion Hurdle it's almost certain Jade will revert to Hurdles.
 
The Mares Chase isn't for Novices is it so losing her Novice status doesn't really mean much to be honest... Reckon Lossie goes Champion Hurdle it's almost certain Jade will revert to Hurdles.

I was thinking post festival for races for her still, having to mix between hurdling and chasing, but the punchestown one is open too

So yeah, maybe they will