2026 Novice Chasers

[Eggs]

Does anyone have any genuine contenders/fancies for the Arkle at this stage? Just having a look over the oddschecker list and bar Kopek des Bordes, there doesn't seem many certain runners?

Lulamba - nothing confirmed yet/4 year old stats
Anazadam/W.Munny/TNL/Con.Hill - all routed down the Champion Hurdle route
Salvator Mundi -can't remember what the stable tour suggested but would be second strong Mullins anyhow

Most the horses in the next 10-15 on the list all have either had injuries - question marks over the trip - or are IMO not anywhere near the top level.

I know the Arkle tends to end up being a very small select field anyway but it has just highlighted how difficult antepost is at this stage of the season when most horses haven't ran yet to even indicate their well being.

I got down to Karniquet (available at 50/1 with some firms) and started talking myself into that he looked good each way value and that his form, albeit always behind Kopeck, actually didn't look too bad - before giving myself a slap and closing the tab. Having already backed KdB - I'll sit and wait for some actual evidence.

….ATRs James Flaherty highlights Karniquet but seems to think he’ll improve for being stepped up in distance;

‘A Willie Mullins novice chaser beginning with the letter ‘K’. It is incredible that even with that precise selection basis, there is still such depth. I have avoided the obvious one in Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Kopek Des Bordes, but was still left with a strong shortlist of Kawaboomga, Kopeck De Mee, Kiss Will and Karniquet.

Kawaboomga is yet to return to Closutton if reports are to be believed, and while notable mentions go to the other two, I have gone with Karniquet, who I expect to leave his hurdles form well behind when meeting fences and a greater stamina test.

He was highly tried last term and chased home Kopek Des Bordes at the Dublin Racing Festival before running creditably in the Cheltenham Grade 1 over the minimum trip. The son of Kapgarde is yet to race beyond two miles since arriving from France, and I believe that could unlock significant improvement.’

 

[Lobos]

Kargese......Arkle

 

[EnvoiAlien]

Mambonumberfive could be worth a look at 66/1, trainer confirmed that he'll be chasing this season, won the Adonis on his second UK start, no show at the festival and tbf he didn't show much at Aintree, but one things for sure, he was built for fences last season, has an entry for Aintree next weekend so we could wait to see if he runs,and how he gets on,but we all know if he shows a glimer of ability he'll be 20's the same evening.

I think even at this early stage the race revolves around Lulamba & Kopek DB though,hopefully a few we're not considering will show huge improvement for a fence to make it interesting.

 

[Lobos]

Taking into account her Mares allowance, Kargese would be 1lb better off with Kopek on their official Hurdles ratings. If she can show a similar amount of form over Fences then she'd be a threat to all.

 

[darlojim]

Jimmy du seuil had some cut with PP today

40/1 into 14s for the BANC

Not sure if someone put him up somewhere

 

[Runragged]

Jimmy du seuil had some cut with PP today

40/1 into 14s for the BANC

Not sure if someone put him up somewhere

Pricewise in The Big Jump Off. He has also put up Love Me Tender for Turners, Haiti Couleurs for Gold Cup and Quai De Bourbon for Grand National.

 

[darlojim]

Pricewise in The Big Jump Off. He has also put up Love Me Tender for Turners, Haiti Couleurs for Gold Cup and Quai De Bourbon for Grand National.

Ahh that makes sense

4 to write off then

 

[Lobos]

Ahh that makes sense

4 to write off then

Yep, that'll be it then. Oh dear, that's them lot done for.

 

[Runragged]

Could be an informative little Beginners Chase at Perth tomorrow. Just the three runners, but you have Tripoli Flyer for Fergal O'Brien. Rated 142 and winner of the Dovecote last year. He is closely matched on bumper form with Kingston Pride, who has been sold and switched to Olly Murphy. He was very well regarded when at the Henderson yard though never seemed to fulfil that potential. Murphy said in his stable tour that the horse "jumps well, and is hopefully, going to make a lovely middle-distance chaser". The third runner is another grade 2 winner last season in Jet To Vegas who Russell/Scudamore regarded as an "exciting prospect" in their recent stable tour.

I would be concerned with regards to Cheltenham for Tripoli Flyer that O'Brien said they wanted to find a right handed chase to start him off. However, if successful here I could see the Henry VIII being the next logical step.

 

[RufusFlynn]

Taking into account her Mares allowance, Kargese would be 1lb better off with Kopek on their official Hurdles ratings. If she can show a similar amount of form over Fences then she'd be a threat to all.

As much as I like Kargese - it would be very much against what Willie usually does if he was to pitch her in against the boys at the top level no?
I actually don’t think I would fancy her in any Chase at the Festival - she has far more options staying over hurdles. A couple of poorer runs not seeing out the Mares Hurdle trip would even tee her up for a repeat County bid?!

 

[Yosser]

Kargese......Arkle

Has she been confirmed as going chasing Los Lobos?

 

[Lobos]

Has she been confirmed as going chasing Los Lobos?

Nope

 

[Yosser]

Nope

I was going to move on Murcia for the MH then....

 

[Wayward Lad]

As much as I like Kargese - it would be very much against what Willie usually does if he was to pitch her in against the boys at the top level no?
I actually don’t think I would fancy her in any Chase at the Festival - she has far more options staying over hurdles. A couple of poorer runs not seeing out the Mares Hurdle trip would even tee her up for a repeat County bid?!

Why would they go anywhere near a handicap?……she’s rated 159 inc her Mares allowance. She will only be 6 next year so will probably still be improving

Fences could be the making of her in getting her to settle ?…..and remember who beat her in the Triumph improved just over a stone for fences

If she doesn’t go chasing then where does she go apart from the Champ Hurdle?

 

[Lobos]

Why would they go anywhere near a handicap?……she’s rated 159 inc her Mares allowance. She will only be 6 next year so will probably still be improving

Fences could be the making of her in getting her to settle ?…..and remember who beat her in the Triumph improved just over a stone for fences

If she doesn’t go chasing then where does she go apart from the Champ Hurdle?

Exactly this. She has nowhere else to go. Arkle or nowt.

 

[EnvoiAlien]

Has Kenny sent any mare of his chasing before ?
Off the top of my head I can't remember any,then again he has had a fair few horses so I expect there's been a couple at least.

 

[darlojim]

Has Kenny sent any mare of his chasing before ?
Off the top of my head I can't remember any,then again he has had a fair few horses so I expect there's been a couple at least.

Halka du tarbet went chasing but was injured and retired

 

[Jimmyrob92]

Mambonumberfive could be worth a look at 66/1, trainer confirmed that he'll be chasing this season, won the Adonis on his second UK start, no show at the festival and tbf he didn't show much at Aintree, but one things for sure, he was built for fences last season, has an entry for Aintree next weekend so we could wait to see if he runs,and how he gets on,but we all know if he shows a glimer of ability he'll be 20's the same evening.

I think even at this early stage the race revolves around Lulamba & Kopek DB though,hopefully a few we're not considering will show huge improvement for a fence to make it interesting.

Worth a look for the arkle??

 

[EnvoiAlien]

Unfortunate, at least he is happy to give them a fence, I always thought he was cold on chasing for his mares, maybe it was just Honeysuckle he didn't want chasing.

 

[EnvoiAlien]

Worth a look for the arkle??

I think so, trainer says he has a lot of speed, also will only be a 5yo by festival time so don't see them stretching him out to 3m just yet, 2m4f perhaps but as the Turners is now a handicap we're a long way off of considering horses for that.

Anything caught your eye in the early Arkle betting ?