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2026 Novice Chasers

Final Demand
6g Walk In The Park - Zuzka
Bryan Drew & Prof Caroline Tisdall
1/113-11
RPR 156h OR 158h

He was just so natural at Navan, meeting every fence on the right stride. When he got over the third-last Paul just gave him a squeeze and a shake and he started opening up again. His jumping was just fantastic. It looks like he's the real deal. There is still plenty of improvement in him. I wouldn't have had him tuned up at all for that Navan race, so we'll roll onto Christmas with him now, maybe Limerick, and then the Dublin Racing Festival and hopefully the Brown Advisory.
 
It was as good a novice display as u can get and he will get even better over further , 6/4 is very skinny but if it gets there will be long odds on
 
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….Lads offer 5-1 for Now is the Hour to win NHC.
 
Lulamba tidy enough.

Just a shame they had to miss so many of them fences, as he probably wins by further given how clumsy the other lot were :ROFLMAO:
 
Thought Fingal warmed into the race nicely, 2 miles a bit sharp for him,probably didn't help him early trying to lay up with the proper 2 milers, could be one for the 2m4f race or even the RSA if his handicap mark isn't favourable.
Nice introduction by the winner,got in close to a couple and had no issues, pricked his ears two out and didn't do a lot in front, will come on for the run.
Looking forward to Kopek now as the Arkle is starting to warm up with a few decent novice chasers showing up in the last fortnight.
 
EnvoiAlien said:
Thought Fingal warmed into the race nicely, 2 miles a bit sharp for him,probably didn't help him early trying to lay up with the proper 2 milers, could be one for the 2m4f race or even the RSA if his handicap mark isn't favourable.
Nice introduction by the winner, out,got in close to a couple and had no issues, pricked his ears two out and didn't do a lot in front, will come on for the run.
Looking forward to Kopek now as the Arkle is starting to warm up with a few decent novice chasers showing up in the last fortnight.
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Scilly Isles is their big target for him.
 
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Thanks for that Bonjers, he is one I've been wanting to see over a fence, today was a good introduction.
 
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Henry viii next for Lulamba apparently, that should tell us more re him being a big Arkle player.
Was pretty good today I thought and would have learnt a lot despite the amount of fences omitted.
Not backing at current price though.
 
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De Boinville said on Racing TV: "I was all fairly smooth, I was probably one of the only ones who was a bit disappointed the fences were out down the back. We came here to educate him as much as anything and the more fences they jump in public the better."

Regarding his pre-race antics, when Lulamba almost looked like he might want to return to the stabling areas rather than head down to the start, the experienced jockey said: "You saw him trying to go home and things like that before they let me out, so he's fresh and well. He wouldn't blow a candle out there (after the race).

"He's now slow, but you can see from the way he jumps that he can definitely go further. He's just very clean and makes a lovely shape over his fences, more in the realms of your Ballyburns and things like that, rather than your hurdler-types. I think he's going to be a horse who rewards you in time, just being patient picking your battles as it were.

"They've gone a nice enough gallop, we were still fairly well bunched turning in and then it was a bit more of a sprint for home, but it's lovely ground and they're lovely fences. I just wish we'd had more of them."
 
Like how kopek settled given the crawl first mile. Ground must be attritional. Looked much better when Paul allowed him to quicken 5 out. Player.
 
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Good job he's riddled with ability, because pulling Pauls arms off wasn't looking ideal at the beginning.

Wins as he likes though, levels above that opposition.

Jumped much better when allowed his head too.
 
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Kopek and Final Demand have put big big markers down this weekend. He never got out of second gear there.
 
KDB every bit as impressive as Final Demand yesterday. Lulamba will need to be very very good to beat him. I can't see it.
 
ComplyOrDie said:
Good job he's riddled with ability, because pulling Pauls arms off wasn't looking ideal at the beginning.

Wins as he likes though, levels above that opposition.

Jumped much better when allowed his head too.
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Completely agree, as soon as Paul gave him some reign jumping was spot on! Just looked a little sticky although not mistakes because he was pulling so much.

Can’t imagine how hard it must be for a jockey jumping fences holding all that reign and timing it with the landing etc :ROFLMAO: if that makes sense.
 
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Going to be some Arkle this season, 2 very good displays today for the 1st & 2nd favs, Kopek didn't make as good a shape due to his high head carrage but his engine is huge, was very good once allowed to stride on, a fast pace & some more experience and the worlds his oyster.
Exciting times ahead.
 
He must have a huge amount of ability to pull that hard and still pick up so well when asked at the end.

Jumping was quick and accurate.

Much like final demand something is going to have to improve a lot to get near him in march.
 
Eggs said:
….KDB a best 5/2 Arkle.
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It's not great, but to be expected and in comparison to Final Demand who is mostly 6/4, then it is probably fair enough.
 
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