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2026 Novice Chasers

When was this as only the other day comments were made regarding RC being aimed toward 3m?
You’d be a poor man taking Gordon’s comments on face value and backing accordingly over the years.

But if he’s beaten over 2m that reads like they’ll pull up stumps with the idea & step him up.
 
You’d be a poor man taking Gordon’s comments on face value and backing accordingly over the years.

But if he’s beaten over 2m that reads like they’ll pull up stumps with the idea & step him up.
I suppose it depends upon the manner of the defeat.
 
My boy Ballygunner Castle is out tomorrow for his first go at fences. My first bet and wildcard for the BANC this season. I have been looking forward to seeing him over a fence for a long time.

Watch him fall on his arse now :ROFLMAO:
 
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Lulamba 158P from 146P​

Lulamba's comprehensive victory at the Punchestown Festival, where he reversed Triumph Hurdle form with Poniros, ensured he was Timeform's highest-rated juvenile hurdler last season and, therefore, an exciting prospect for novice chasing this term.

Lulamba made a smooth start over fences when winning a beginners' chase at Exeter by ten lengths and he comfortably dealt with a step up in class in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown on Saturday (replay below), winning in a faster time than Il Etait Temps in the Tingle Creek later in the afternoon.

He was up against three promising rivals but was sent off the 2/5 favourite and duly proved a class apart, ultimately scoring by nine and a half lengths from Be Aware, who went into the race as Britain's highest-rated novice chaser.

Lulamba now has that distinction and he is rated only 1 lb behind Romeo Coolio who heads the division following his eight-length success in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse. Lulamba's performance has been rated of similar merit to the one Altior produced when successful in 2016. Jonbon, who like Lulamba and Altior is trained by Nicky Henderson, posted the best performance in the Henry VIII in the last decade, by Timeform's reckoning, when beating Boothill by eight lengths in 2022.

Kala Conti 149p from 141p​

Kala Conti had made a pleasing start over fences when landing a beginners' chase at Cork last month and she confirmed herself a better chaser than hurdler when following up in a Grade 2 event at the same venue.

Last season's County Hurdle winner Kargese headed the market on her chasing debut, but she was readily brushed aside by Kala Conti who scored by 16 lengths, producing a performance in the region of half a stone better than subsequent Arkle runner-up Only By Night put up in last year's edition.

Only By Night ended last season rated 148 and Kala Conti has already matched that level. She's likely to be a leading contender for the Mares' Chase at Cheltenham, though her mares' allowance means she currently takes a prominent position among this season's novices.
 
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Kopek looks a good thing in this, anyone see kopek as value at 2/1 this far out ?
Only if it was non runner no bet 🤣
 
My boy Ballygunner Castle is out tomorrow for his first go at fences. My first bet and wildcard for the BANC this season. I have been looking forward to seeing him over a fence for a long time.

Watch him fall on his arse now :ROFLMAO:
Good luck but I think punchestown had been called off 😔
 
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Good luck but I think punchestown had been called off 😔
Hopefully put the card on again sometime this week.

I just like him. The very first time I saw him jump a hurdle, he was long at them, didn't have a massive turn of pace but ended up winning his 2m maiden so stayed there longer than I would have wanted. His form petered out towards the end of the season but I kept him in the notebook as a chaser to follow. His ability might not amount to much hence the 66/1 price but he looks the type to excel over a fence much more than his hurdling ability.
 
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Hopefully put the card on again sometime this week.

I just like him. The very first time I saw him jump a hurdle, he was long at them, didn't have a massive turn of pace but ended up winning his 2m maiden so stayed there longer than I would have wanted. His form petered out towards the end of the season but I kept him in the notebook as a chaser to follow. His ability might not amount to much hence the 66/1 price but he looks the type to excel over a fence much more than his hurdling ability.
He was on my radar as a Nov hurdler but with his form tailing off …. But he was always going to be a chaser…. He was 120/1 on exchange yesterday.
 
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Karoline Banbou declared for a 2 mile Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday. She might be a wildcard for the Arkle or the Mares Chase. Willie spoke very positively about her going over fences.
 
Karoline Banbou declared for a 2 mile Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday. She might be a wildcard for the Arkle or the Mares Chase. Willie spoke very positively about her going over fences.
He did but if I remember rightly he said she would be better when she steps up in trip which wpuld make me doubt the Arkle route, I've just took 109/1 on the Exchanges thanks for the reminder 😁
 
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He did but if I remember rightly he said she would be better when she steps up in trip which wpuld make me doubt the Arkle route, I've just took 109/1 on the Exchanges thanks for the reminder 😁

Mares Chase you think ?
 
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Romeo Coolio shortened in Arkle across the board and gone out in BANC across the board. Has Gordon been talking again ?
 
Romeo Coolio shortened in Arkle across the board and gone out in BANC across the board. Has Gordon been talking again ?

….probably because KDB is out with a set-back until after Christmas.
 
Ah. I missed that. Thats not great news for my portfolio. Do you know where I can get more info on that news ?
 
Regent's Stroll entered up over 2m4f at Wincanton on Tuesday.

Jeriko Du Reponet also entered.

I see a madness on Unibet, Regent's Stroll has been cut from 16/1 into 7/1 over the past two weeks for the Jack Richards Handicap Chase 🤦‍♂️
 
Regent's Stroll entered up over 2m4f at Wincanton on Tuesday.

Jeriko Du Reponet also entered.

I see a madness on Unibet, Regent's Stroll has been cut from 16/1 into 7/1 over the past two weeks for the Jack Richards Handicap Chase 🤦‍♂️
Caldwell Potter Mark 2 ?