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2026 Novice Chasers

Both :D
But yeah, fragile animal with tons of ability, I'm half tempted to have a go for the RSA but second guessing Emmett is hard work.
 
EnvoiAlien said:
Both :D
But yeah, fragile animal with tons of ability, I'm half tempted to have a go for the RSA but second guessing Emmett is hard work.
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Yeah rough following his horses

Fucker could end up in anything
 
Wayward Lad said:
Good news for me if taking up her entry, although if she does, how on this earth can we trust what trainers say?
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What would you even back her for chasing wise? It's pretty common knowledge she schooled like a fridge last year haha. I wouldn't touch her with a bargepole for anything. Especially when you consider her Cheltenham form is probably 10lb below her best. Maybe more
 
On the Regents Stroll talk, what has he ever done to prove or even suggest he's a top class racehorse? He's obviously a nice type, and would be of interest in a handicap, but I couldn't foresee what G1 he'd win. Especially based off a win in a 2 runner race when the second should be given a hefty ban for that ride
 
Ellisgittings said:
What would you even back her for chasing wise? It's pretty common knowledge she schooled like a fridge last year haha. I wouldn't touch her with a bargepole for anything. Especially when you consider her Cheltenham form is probably 10lb below her best. Maybe more
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The Arkle…..where else for the highest rated 2m hurdler to go chasing this season

IF she takes up the Xmas chasing engagement and jumps well and wins, then her price will crash……a big IF I acknowledge!

She has always been thought of as a chaser and last years hurdle campaign was an afterthought

Why does everyone think G2 Mares Chase when she clearly has the pace for G1 2M hurdles

The Cheltenham hoodoo, which may or may not be true, has been over hurdles and chasing may remove this

All IF’s and Maybes 🤔 but that’s why she is 33/1!
 
Wayward Lad said:
The Arkle…..where else for the highest rated 2m hurdler to go chasing this season

IF she takes up the Xmas chasing engagement and jumps well and wins, then her price will crash……a big IF I acknowledge!

She has always been thought of as a chaser and last years hurdle campaign was an afterthought

Why does everyone think G2 Mares Chase when she clearly has the pace for G1 2M hurdles

The Cheltenham hoodoo, which may or may not be true, has been over hurdles and chasing may remove this

All IF’s and Maybes 🤔 but that’s why she is 33/1!
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Yeah not going to be without ifs and buts with a 33/1 shot!!
They do come in though, and nowt wrong with trying to think differently about possible outcomes and using some imagination to get a nice price .
 
Trainer has said she's going to be supplemented for the hurdle grade one though.
The chase entry is just Gordon and his potato method
 
Carnage at Taunton said:
Yeah not going to be without ifs and buts with a 33/1 shot!!
They do come in though, and nowt wrong with trying to think differently about possible outcomes and using some imagination to get a nice price .
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Thanks CaT

I know it’s a contrarian view and that there is not much love out there for BDA, particularly at Cheltenham, but;

- why would Gordon enter her in a 2m chase on the 27th Dec if she were going to stay hurdling this year, as has been speculated upon?
- she maybe has had a setback earlier on in this season but a run and win on the 27th in a chase, followed up by another run would still be enough for an Arkle challenge IMO.The jigsaw puzzle is all there for everyone to see, we just need the first piece to be laid and for it to go well
- She’s a 160 rated hurdler, whose form with Golden Ace (OR152) and JDG (OR150) doesn’t look so bad in retrospect for her 2024 Festival Mares Novice performance
- She’s still only 6 years old so may still be improving
- I think earlier on this season she was reported as schooling fine over fences so the previous years jumping like a table views could be a thing of the past
- IMO her performance in beating State Man maybe bottomed her for the season last year, although she still beat July Flower at the end of the season, a horse that some think has a chance in the Arkle. Over hurdles she would have to give July Flower 20lbs on official ratings
- I’d suggest that the Arkle has less depth this year than the Mares Chase
- would sort the Romeo conundrum out, either way maybe
- she was at one time, before last seasons 2m hurdling campaign, talked about as a potential Gold Cup horse in the future, apparently the apple of Gordon and Jacks eyes, so if not the Arkle then why not 50/1 for the BANC?

She is a proven high quality horse that is only six years old, whose owners surely will look towards G1 races and the kudos that goes with them but after last years poor run in the Champ Hurdle appears to be discarded in terms of anything at the Festival

I’m probably barking up the wrong tree, not the first and won’t be the last time, but what if she takes up the 27th engagement and jumps like a stag……
 
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Wayward Lad said:
The Arkle…..where else for the highest rated 2m hurdler to go chasing this season

IF she takes up the Xmas chasing engagement and jumps well and wins, then her price will crash……a big IF I acknowledge!

She has always been thought of as a chaser and last years hurdle campaign was an afterthought

Why does everyone think G2 Mares Chase when she clearly has the pace for G1 2M hurdles

The Cheltenham hoodoo, which may or may not be true, has been over hurdles and chasing may remove this

All IF’s and Maybes 🤔 but that’s why she is 33/1!
Click to expand...
It was only an afterthought because she jumped like an absolute fridge at home haha. I can't see why a year later she'd be a good jumper of fences. And if she hates Cheltenham (which might / might not be true), it won't change over fences as it's most likely track related (she's ran on old and new course so not course specific either).

As Quevega says, she won't take up the entry, it's just Gordon being Gordon. I'd save your money on that one. Even if not, it's very rare a champion hurdle horse goes from open company to novice chasing and succeeds in the 2m division. I couldn't even name the last Arkle winner to run in a champion hurdle. Edwardstone was the last to go from open company hurdling to chasing, but that was a poor renewal
 
Ellisgittings said:
It was only an afterthought because she jumped like an absolute fridge at home haha. I can't see why a year later she'd be a good jumper of fences. And if she hates Cheltenham (which might / might not be true), it won't change over fences as it's most likely track related (she's ran on old and new course so not course specific either).

As Quevega says, she won't take up the entry, it's just Gordon being Gordon. I'd save your money on that one. Even if not, it's very rare a champion hurdle horse goes from open company to novice chasing and succeeds in the 2m division. I couldn't even name the last Arkle winner to run in a champion hurdle. Edwardstone was the last to go from open company hurdling to chasing, but that was a poor renewal
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Thanks

Do we know when there is confirmation of being supplemented for a race?……..as I struggle to believe anything the top Trainers say nowadays, especially Gordon and Willie!

Probably done my money, but I still believe she is serious horse and that the Festival hoodoo could be overdone

I take your point about a champ hurdler going chasing historical trend, but I don’t think BDA was ever really thought of as a Champ Hurdler, more a GC chaser……..size/scope etc……it was only after the reported poor jumping of fences schooling last season that the afterthought of another year over hurdlers was considered…… then she beat State Man over 2m and the rest is history!

If she stays hurdling then it has to be CH surely as Gordon has Wodhooh for the Mares Hurdle and a fair few for the Stayers……or does she miss the Festival and target Aintree and Punchestown?
 
Wayward Lad said:
Thanks

Do we know when there is confirmation of being supplemented for a race?……..as I struggle to believe anything the top Trainers say nowadays, especially Gordon and Willie!

Probably done my money, but I still believe she is serious horse and that the Festival hoodoo could be overdone

I take your point about a champ hurdler going chasing historical trend, but I don’t think BDA was ever really thought of as a Champ Hurdler, more a GC chaser……..size/scope etc……it was only after the reported poor jumping of fences schooling last season that the afterthought of another year over hurdlers was considered…… then she beat State Man over 2m and the rest is history!

If she stays hurdling then it has to be CH surely as Gordon has Wodhooh for the Mares Hurdle and a fair few for the Stayers……or does she miss the Festival and target Aintree and Punchestown?
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There won't be 'confirmation' per se until she is supplemented. I'm unsure of when the Irish decs have to be in for the Xmas races But I would think it could be the 23rd for the race on the 27th? But Gordon said she's being supplemented so the intention is there.

She is a big scopey mare, not really an ideal CH type, but once they stay over hurdles in open company nowadays, they tend to struggle when chasing. Whilst she's scopey she's always been a nice enough hurdler and she's got plenty of boot too, she isn't slow

I doubt she'd skip Cheltenham if she wins at the DRF.
 
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Wayward Lad said:
Thanks CaT

I know it’s a contrarian view and that there is not much love out there for BDA, particularly at Cheltenham, but;

- why would Gordon enter her in a 2m chase on the 27th Dec if she were going to stay hurdling this year, as has been speculated upon?
- she maybe has had a setback earlier on in this season but a run and win on the 27th in a chase, followed up by another run would still be enough for an Arkle challenge IMO.The jigsaw puzzle is all there for everyone to see, we just need the first piece to be laid and for it to go well
- She’s a 160 rated hurdler, whose form with Golden Ace (OR152) and JDG (OR150) doesn’t look so bad in retrospect for her 2024 Festival Mares Novice performance
- She’s still only 6 years old so may still be improving
- I think earlier on this season she was reported as schooling fine over fences so the previous years jumping like a table views could be a thing of the past
- IMO her performance in beating State Man maybe bottomed her for the season last year, although she still beat July Flower at the end of the season, a horse that some think has a chance in the Arkle. Over hurdles she would have to give July Flower 20lbs on official ratings
- I’d suggest that the Arkle has less depth this year than the Mares Chase
- would sort the Romeo conundrum out, either way maybe
- she was at one time, before last seasons 2m hurdling campaign, talked about as a potential Gold Cup horse in the future, apparently the apple of Gordon and Jacks eyes, so if not the Arkle then why not 50/1 for the BANC?

She is a proven high quality horse that is only six years old, whose owners surely will look towards G1 races and the kudos that goes with them but after last years poor run in the Champ Hurdle appears to be discarded in terms of anything at the Festival

I’m probably barking up the wrong tree, not the first and won’t be the last time, but what if she takes up the 27th engagement and jumps like a stag……
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She was indeed talked of as a future Gold cup type, so any dec for a chase I would certainly take note of, as that may well
Mean she’s schooling ok.
Worth keeping an eye on imo.
 
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