2026 Novice Chasers

[Quevega]

Seeing Affordale Fury win puts Western Fold back in the forefront of my mind for the BANC.

Given a 160 RPR for beating Affordale back in October and didn’t disgrace himself, gaining valuable experience, a month later in Grade 1 open company at Down Royal (just behind Affordale and ahead of Found A Fifty).

Wouldn’t be the first time Gordon has put a staying chaser away for the festival (Galvin).

Would seem to want better ground but currently 33/1 is a nice price.

Bits of 40's and 50's on betfair

 

[jrjr]

Bits of 40's and 50's on betfair

Thanks, Q. Prefer the e/w angle in this scenario myself, in case Final Demand proves a monster - although the Yellow Clay didn’t do much for the form again today.

 

[Lobos]

Thanks, Q. Prefer the e/w angle in this scenario myself, in case Final Demand proves a monster - although the Yellow Clay didn’t do much for the form again today.

True that. The Turners form doesn't look great but he's over fences now. FD has to do it at Cheltenham. Was disappointing this year for sure. Never really looked like winning. Was expecting more.

 

[Quevega]

Final Demand is way way way too short a price right now after what ended up a schooling session against his mates.
Ideal time to be laying off stakes on betfair at 6/4 or less IMO.
Loads can happen between now and then.

 

[Lobos]

Can't see many dangers to him though Q. Would love to be on at nice prices.

 

[Eggs]

Koktail Divin made it third time lucky over fences with victory in the Ballymaloe Relish Rising Stars Beginners Chase at Leopardstown.

Second behind subsequent dual Grade One winner Romeo Coolio on his first attempt, Henry de Bromhead’s charge was then beaten three lengths by Oscars Brother when upped to Grade Two level last time.

Back down in class here, the 11-4 chance made no mistake in the hands of Darragh O’Keeffe, cantering home 21 lengths clear to put himself in the Cheltenham Festival picture later in the campaign.

De Bromhead said: “He was really good and we’re delighted with that. He jumped brilliant, Darragh was brilliant on him and he picked up really well.

“He’s had three runs so we’ll see what want to do now. Obviously the lads would love to go to Cheltenham so I’d imagine we’ll go there, and then it’s a matter of whether we’d have a run in between.

“The Dublin Racing Festival is a big meeting as well so we’ll see what everyone wants to do.”

 

[Carnage at Taunton]

Can't see many dangers to him though Q. Would love to be on at nice prices.

There’s a few that could win this race imo, novice staying chasers improving throughout the season,jumping so important on the day.
Yep, lots can indeed happen between now and then.

 

[YoungHustler]

So basically you are ignoring what we saw in the races this Xmas involving Kitz and JDS?
That’s your choice of course if that’s the case.
I suppose I could do sort of similar as I have Kitz at much bigger prices and don’t have JDS at all.
Have to think about this.

Agree re Romeo.
Looking forward to his next race as GE said he’s stepping him up and today will have done that no harm imo.

Only ignoring Jimmy's run. I wasn't as impressed by Kitzbuhel's run as some people because of the proximity of the placed horses. I don't think Thomas Mor is a genuine G1 horse. The track would not have suited Wendigo and Salver would have preferred softer ground. Final Demand would have won by 10l on the bridle and I think Jimmy would have done the same if the same debut Jimmy(The Big Westerner franked the form yesterday) had turned up.

 

[Carnage at Taunton]

Only ignoring Jimmy's run. I wasn't as impressed by Kitzbuhel's run as some people because of the proximity of the placed horses. I don't think Thomas Mor is a genuine G1 horse. The track would not have suited Wendigo and Salver would have preferred softer ground. Final Demand would have won by 10l on the bridle and I think Jimmy would have done the same if the same debut Jimmy(The Big Westerner franked the form yesterday) had turned up.

Ok no worries
We can have different interpretations of races and performances and how we see them going forward.
I watched Kitz thinking glad I’ve got this one at big prices, and I watched JDS thinking not bothered I aint backed him.
But as said I can back him now as it was a lot worse than he has previously run.

 

[Guinness Village]

So basically you are ignoring what we saw in the races this Xmas involving Kitz and JDS?
That’s your choice of course if that’s the case.
I suppose I could do sort of similar as I have Kitz at much bigger prices and don’t have JDS at all.
Have to think about this.

Agree re Romeo.
Looking forward to his next race as GE said he’s stepping him up and today will have done that no harm imo.

Stepping up for aintree? Or fairyhouse? Those are possibilities, but the owners want to go to Cheltenham. He’ll run in the arkle if he travels over.

 

[Guinness Village]

When hills go nrnb on January 1st I’ll have an ew double on Kargese arkle and Romeo BANC.

 

[Carnage at Taunton]

Stepping up for aintree? Or fairyhouse? Those are possibilities, but the owners want to go to Cheltenham. He’ll run in the arkle if he travels over.

He said he’s stepping him up
In distance after watching his run the other day.
I’m taking that as he did not see that as a performance of a 2 miler.
No idea where he runs in the Spring but it seems they think he needs further than 2 miles.

 

[jrjr]

Watched a good interview with Romeo’s owners, who seem a very nice couple of guys. They were 100% adamant that Romeo goes to Cheltenham (and won’t run again before then). Called it the Olympics of horse racing, also said the ground will dictate where he runs, Arkle or BANC. Commented that it wouldn’t be the Ryanair and pinpointed the danger of tweeting after a few Xmas drinks..

For my money it will be stick with what you know:
- gave weight and a beating to July Flower, the winner of the Cheltenham Arkle trial (and Henry’s best hope)
- easily beat Salvator who was in line as Kopek’s deputy (probably now Kargese)
- has won a Grade 1 over the minimum distance
- may not see Lulamba as a hugely speedy 2 mile opponent
- possibly have some kind of line on Lulamba through the July Flower/Be Aware form line (bit of a stretch though)
- blue print established by Jango for a more staying type of horse to win the Arkle

The spanner in the above might be Kopek and if he produces a monster run at DRF.

 

[opatcho]

The owner was on ‘on the bridle’ and seemed like a nice fella, Cheltenham being the man target for them, and so glad they’ve got a horse as good as Romeo

Unfortunately for them, the graded Turners Novice Chase no longer a thing - should have suited Romeo perfectly.
I still think he needs to go up in trip, not down. Jango for me was a exception to the rule, others may try it but not a given they won’t fall out the back of the tele

Romeo has tried twice at the festival over 2 and hasn’t bee successful.

I guess yeah, wait and see how turns up for the turners and take it from there

*Ive back Romeo for the BANC*

 

[Guinness Village]

Watched a good interview with Romeo’s owners, who seem a very nice couple of guys. They were 100% adamant that Romeo goes to Cheltenham (and won’t run again before then). Called it the Olympics of horse racing, also said the ground will dictate where he runs, Arkle or BANC. Commented that it wouldn’t be the Ryanair and pinpointed the danger of tweeting after a few Xmas drinks..

For my money it will be stick with what you know:
- gave weight and a beating to July Flower, the winner of the Cheltenham Arkle trial (and Henry’s best hope)
- easily beat Salvator who was in line as Kopek’s deputy (probably now Kargese)
- has won a Grade 1 over the minimum distance
- may not see Lulamba as a hugely speedy 2 mile opponent
- possibly have some kind of line on Lulamba through the July Flower/Be Aware form line (bit of a stretch though)
- blue print established by Jango for a more staying type of horse to win the Arkle

The spanner in the above might be Kopek and if he produces a monster run at DRF.

Arkle it is then

 

[Ellisgittings]

Watched a good interview with Romeo’s owners, who seem a very nice couple of guys. They were 100% adamant that Romeo goes to Cheltenham (and won’t run again before then). Called it the Olympics of horse racing, also said the ground will dictate where he runs, Arkle or BANC. Commented that it wouldn’t be the Ryanair and pinpointed the danger of tweeting after a few Xmas drinks..

For my money it will be stick with what you know:
- gave weight and a beating to July Flower, the winner of the Cheltenham Arkle trial (and Henry’s best hope)
- easily beat Salvator who was in line as Kopek’s deputy (probably now Kargese)
- has won a Grade 1 over the minimum distance
- may not see Lulamba as a hugely speedy 2 mile opponent
- possibly have some kind of line on Lulamba through the July Flower/Be Aware form line (bit of a stretch though)
- blue print established by Jango for a more staying type of horse to win the Arkle

The spanner in the above might be Kopek and if he produces a monster run at DRF.

It'll come down to ground I think too. Softer ground = easier decision to run over 2m. But beating Irish Panther all out is not arkle winning form.

I'd put reasonable money on him ending up in the 2m race if he makes Cheltenham but he's not a 2miler by any stretch. In a weak renewal he'd maybe get away with it, but not in a strong one

 

[Carnage at Taunton]

Well for now I will go along with his trainer’s opinion and look forward to him stepping up in distance.
See how he does at a distance more suited to him.

 

[Carnage at Taunton]

It'll come down to ground I think too. Softer ground = easier decision to run over 2m. But beating Irish Panther all out is not arkle winning form.

I'd put reasonable money on him ending up in the 2m race if he makes Cheltenham but he's not a 2miler by any stretch. In a weak renewal he'd maybe get away with it, but not in a strong one

Lulamba and Kopek about it looks a strong renewal to me
Imo GE knows he won’t beat them.

 

[Benjy23]

Suspect there's not many BANC winners that had their last run at 2m or their career furthest at 2m 4f before the big day. Straight there would be a negative for any BANC backers imo.

Suspect he'll go Arkle.

 

[Carnage at Taunton]

Suspect there's not many BANC winners that had their last run at 2m or their career furthest at 2m 4f before the big day. Straight there would be a negative for any BANC backers imo.

Suspect he'll go Arkle.

His best form over fences is over 2 and a half, both times impressive, and not stopping.
I don’t know if he will have another run before March but I’m thinking GE intimated he would? by saying he’s stepping him up next time.
If not, having proved he’s good over 2 and a half, I’d be ok if he went straight to the BANC as a backer,i have faith in a trainer that knows his Chasers pretty well.