• HELP US - Become a Patron - Fat Jockey is a horse racing community focused on all the big races in the UK and Ireland. We don't charge users but if you have found the site useful then any support towards the running costs is appreciated ... a small donation each month would be a huge contribution. Become a Patron!

2026 Novice Chasers

archie said:
It might not matter at Kempton but I wouldn't be certain that Jimmy du Seuil is bred to stay 3 miles at Cheltenham.
Click to expand...
No, does look iffy on his breeding based on performances of the sire, dam and damsire progeny. Only thing I would say is that the BANC in the last few years seems to have gone to more pacier horses, those who have shown good form at shorter and have subsequently proven to need 3m or shorter. Maybe down to the smaller fields we have seen lately for the race? Could just be an anomoly as well, but not every BANC winner is a GC horse.
 
Deffo Benji. He was clearing away on chase debut too. The longer he can be ridden cold, the better. He came from nowhere at Cheltenham and waltzed through the field. The 3 (maybe 4 Predators Gold) all have something going for them. I do think the Gigginstown duo, Gold Dancer and Predators Gold will be in a bit of a shoot out to see which one lines up in the BANC and which goes for a handicap outside of the Mullins big 3. I wouldn't put it past Willie to save one of them for Aintree. I have backed Gold Dancer so don't want it to be him but he is the 'Spring ground' horse.
 
….SLs Matt Brocklebank suggests giving Salvator another chance. The 2m 1f novice Chase he runs in does feature in Saxon’s planner linking it to the Arkle for which 365 are a stand out 33-1, he’s as low as 16-1 elsewhere.

Profiting from the almost inevitable onslaught of festive winners set to emerge from Closutton in the next couple of weeks is easier said than done, but do look out for SALVATOR MUNDI in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Boxing Day.

The Met Eireann reports 2025 to have featured the fourth-wettest autumn in 85 years, but despite conditions being suitable in the main, Mullins was still seemingly more than happy to bide his time and loads of the horses were badly in need of their first start of the campaign during November.

Salvator Mundi looks a prime example of that, having blown up on the long run to the final fence on chasing debut at Thurles. He was ultimately picked off by the cannily-ridden Kappa Jy Pyke (Danny Mullins) and it goes down as a bitterly disappointing defeat at odds of 1/7, but I’m expecting considerable improvement to come.

Having comfortably accounted for Romeo Coolio, by seven lengths no less, in the Grade 1 TrustATrader Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April, Salvator Mundi could represent excellent value in against that same Elliott-trained opponent, who has clearly taken to the larger obstacles very well but now drops down in distance after landing the Drinmore in good style at Fairyhouse.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lobos
Salver & Wendigo both in already for the Kauto Star.

Waiting on Willie to wake up!
 
Lobos said:
PT already jocked up on Kitzbuhel as well so looks likely Jimmy not coming over?
Click to expand...

Not sure how he's going to split JDS & FD up, but I imagine he won't want them to meet until at least Leopardstown really.
 
Salvator Mundi thrown in against Romeo Coolio at Leopardstown!
 
Any one got any fancies in the kauto at kempton ?
 
BigL said:
Any one got any fancies in the kauto at kempton ?
Click to expand...
Ya, leave it alone :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:

Outside of the King George, i am only having 1 bet at Kempton and that is in the last. The Kauto looks an intriguing race but not a betting proposition for me. I would leave the mudlark Salver alone. That's as far as i got :ROFLMAO:
 
  • Haha
Reactions: BigL
BigL said:
Any one got any fancies in the kauto at kempton ?
Click to expand...
Strong on Salver. I think Kempton will suit his rhythmic jumping style. I think Wendigo will need a harder track and Kitzbuhel mightn’t be pacey enough.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigChaang and BigL
…P Mullins re Salvator;

“Obviously we were disappointed with Salvator Mundi first time and he definitely didn't run to his form there, for whatever reason, because he jumped pretty well," Mullins said.

“Paul has been very happy with his work since – now jockeys are always very happy with horses when they can't ride them - but he is particularly sweet on Salvador at the moment.

“Aintree definitely suited him, he loved the good ground and the good gallop and possibly going left-handed too. I don't know if that is a thing, but Leopardstown is quite similar in that its that way round and relatively flat.

“When I rode him when he disappointed at Punchestown in the spring, where he lost his race was the steep descent on the side of the course. He just got rolling down there with me, and, around Leopardstown, where they'll be going a good gallop, and there's no momentum build-up downhill, I think he'll settle fine.

“Obviously Romeo Coolio is favourite and we need to be back to our Aintree form. It’s going to be a good contest and we are expecting to leave our Thurles race far behind whatever happens.”
 
….W Mullins;

Kitzbuhel
He made a good impression when he won his beginners’ chase over two miles two at Punchestown. We’re hoping with that experience under his belt that he can go close here stepping up markedly in trip.

Salvator
It’s great to see the Racing Post Novices’ Chase over two miles back at Leopardstown this year. We run two in it. I hope Salvator Mundi will improve a lot for his run in Thurles where he maybe did a little too much during the race when beaten at long odds-on. Maybe different tactics this time will be a big help to him and he’s a horse I hope will be Grade One material over fences.
 
July Flower appears to be completely overlooked against Romeo and Mundi.

For me, she's the main danger to the Fav as she's looked a natural over fences and the drop back to 2m has been the making of her. Coolio looked superb last time but on the drying ground and over the minimum trip you just get the feeling he'll be flat out all the way. The weight that Flower gets will also be a huge advantage. As for Mundi, he'll need to improve a massive amount from his debut run to get involved especially as this race is a step up in class from his last run.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigL, BigChaang and Carnage at Taunton
Lobos said:
July Flower appears to be completely overlooked against Romeo and Mundi.

For me, she's the main danger to the Fav as she's looked a natural over fences and the drop back to 2m has been the making of her. Coolio looked superb last time but on the drying ground and over the minimum trip you just get the feeling he'll be flat out all the way. The weight that Flower gets will also be a huge advantage. As for Mundi, he'll need to improve a massive amount from his debut run to get involved especially as this race is a step up in class from his last run.
Click to expand...
Be interesting to see how her form stacks up on a line through Be Aware in terms of Lulamba's effort, albeit he was getting weight and July Flower will be getting some here (i assume)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom