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2026 Novice Chasers

Carnage at Taunton said:
Not sure where RC goes in the spring, but I do know he’s the best jumper of a fence I’ve seen thus far of all the novices
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I have him second in terms of jumping behind The Jukebox Man but there is a gulf in class me thinks in Romeo's favour.

Edit :- Scrap that. You said Novices' :ROFLMAO:

That would put me in agreement.
 
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Gut feel. Romeo Coolio never quite top class over hurdles and possibly therefore not top class over fences. Beaten by Kopek Des Bordes and Salvator Mundi at Cheltenham and Aintree in the key G1's. What about he goes for the Jack Richards over 2.5 miles a la Caldwell Potter.
 
BuckingThe Trend said:
Gut feel. Romeo Coolio never quite top class over hurdles and possibly therefore not top class over fences. Beaten by Kopek Des Bordes and Salvator Mundi at Cheltenham and Aintree in the key G1's. What about he goes for the Jack Richards over 2.5 miles a la Caldwell Potter.
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😲
 
He'd be rated very high for that won't he. Not sure that'll seem more appealing than the Arkle!
 
BuckingThe Trend said:
Gut feel. Romeo Coolio never quite top class over hurdles and possibly therefore not top class over fences. Beaten by Kopek Des Bordes and Salvator Mundi at Cheltenham and Aintree in the key G1's. What about he goes for the Jack Richards over 2.5 miles a la Caldwell Potter.
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He looks top class to me without a doubt
 
BuckingThe Trend said:
Gut feel. Romeo Coolio never quite top class over hurdles and possibly therefore not top class over fences. Beaten by Kopek Des Bordes and Salvator Mundi at Cheltenham and Aintree in the key G1's. What about he goes for the Jack Richards over 2.5 miles a la Caldwell Potter.
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Firefox ran in it off a mark of 150. However, he had been beaten over fences three times previously.
 
will probably be like the supreme, romeo will be out in front. Kopek just behind.

They will pull miles clear and kopek will win because hes faster.
 
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FinalFurlong91 said:
will probably be like the supreme, romeo will be out in front. Kopek just behind.

They will pull miles clear and kopek will win because hes faster.
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Not sure Kopek will agree with that. Reckon he'll pull his way up front.
 
Romeo looks very good but he's definitely more of a three miler than two. Personally I'd be testing him against Final Demand at Limerick, or the Flogas. Limerick would be a cracking track for Romeo though
 
I'm in the 2 mile camp rather than 3 for Romeo, he looks more like a 2 mile cruiser than a 3 mile grinder to me and his spot on jumping would be a better asset in an Arkle than a Brown Chase, imo.

I'd have thought the Killiney Chase over 2.5 miles in January would be a likely next target, then the debates over his Festival target can continue for a few weeks longer! :D
 
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However much impressive he was yesterday, I'd still have Romeo behind Final Demand and Jimmy in the BANC and Kopek and Salvatore in the Arkle imo. He'd have more of a chance in the Arkle imo.
 
Romeo very impressive again.

I see some, probably those with cash down, mention the BANC, but this lad was all speed last season, Gordon said he was the quickest horse in his yard at some point too. Therefore I'm not sure, the season after, that suddenly he's a 3 miler, although given the way the field is looking he'd have an E/W chance for sure, due to his class.

Jack seemed to think he'd be absolutely fine coming back in trip, and the way he jumps he'd certainly be putting pressure on the others to get it right too.

I hope he goes to the Arkle, and the main ones in the betting make it, because it's looking a proper race currently.

The BANC on the other hand, well, Final Demand vs Jimmy Du Seuil vs Wendigo as it stands, not a belter, IMO!
 
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I have this gut feeling that Romeo Coolio won't (doesn't) find too much in a battle. His class ensures that he can beat lesser animals easily but every time he meets proper G1 horses he loses. The Drinmore was a very moderate edition, probably weaker in depth than the Francome at Newbury, and proved very little.
2m or 3m in March he should meet good horses and I could only see place prospects. If the Arkle falls apart like last season he might pick up the pieces but, as I'm not a book builder, I'd be happy to wait for 3 months to find that out.
 
Elliott said: “That was brilliant, he was good. We always knew chasing was going to be his game and we’re absolutely thrilled.”

With no two-and-a-half mile Grade One option at the Cheltenham Festival these days for novice chasers, Romeo Coolio will either have to step up in trip for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase over three miles or revert to two for the Arkle, for which he was cut to 5-1 from 8-1 by Coral.

“Obviously with Cheltenham you have two or three (miles). We could also come back here at Easter or go to Aintree, there are loads of options,” Elliott added.

“The one thing Jack did say is that he wouldn’t be afraid to bring him back to two off a real fast pace, the way he jumps.

“There is no decision that needs to be made today, we’re going to enjoy it and see what happens.”

When asked if Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting was a potential next port of call, the trainer said: “Everywhere is open now, we could even end up in Kempton. We’ll keep all options open. We’ll dream about everything.

“I’ll never forget when the owners came to me at the start, the one thing they said was that they’d love to have a horse for the Champion Chase. Whether he’s quick enough for that, I don’t know, but we’ll dream in every direction and see what happens.”
 
Eggs said:
“I’ll never forget when the owners came to me at the start, the one thing they said was that they’d love to have a horse for the Champion Chase. Whether he’s quick enough for that, I don’t know, but we’ll dream in every direction and see what happens.”
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If ever you needed your answer.

Many horses dropped from the BANC back down to the Champion Chase?

Kauto Star probably could have but we've not seen many, if any like him, ever!
 
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As a BANC backer, was disappointed with GE's comments. He clearly doesn't see him as a 3 miler which I find quite bizarre personally. Over fences the further he goes the better he has looked on both tries... admittedly weak races, but he has absolutely powered through the line.

Yes he has a high natural cruising speed, but this could mark him out as being a bit of a freak and a potential superstar if he does stay, rather than a horse for the shorter trips.

From a breeding point of view, there is just so much stamina there. He was out speeded over 2m in the top races to my eyes, and I think the same will happen over fences at the minimum trip, albeit his brilliant jumping will be a big help.
 
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