• 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

CJW said:
Absolutely brilliant ride. Fantastic. Those greys!
Click to expand...
Brilliant ride, brilliant horse.
One of the best 3m performances I’ve seen at Cheltenham from a novice.
I’ve liked the horse all season, thought he was putting in the best looking performances.
What he did at Kempton was lovely to watch, but Sandown started to put me off, and I weren’t convinced after that he would actually turn up yesterday .
Cashed out one bet I had, but when declared did go in again.
Surely will target the King George and possibly Gold Cup next year.
Exciting!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pisto, Lobos, CJW and 1 other person
What do we think about Kopek Des Bordes mistake at the last?

He looked to me like he was going to be easy winner and much the best in the race. I'd like to think it's just down to experience but that one mistake and it was over. He had a similar mistake at the last in the supreme.
 
He wasn't great at the first couple either, but for his second run of the season and over fences I would expect to see improvement if he runs again and into next year.

Still believe he will be a threat next year
 
  • Like
Reactions: Irish Rugby and CJW
CJW said:
What do we think about Kopek Des Bordes mistake at the last?

He looked to me like he was going to be easy winner and much the best in the race. I'd like to think it's just down to experience but that one mistake and it was over. He had a similar mistake at the last in the supreme.
Click to expand...
Think you need to take into account the mistake that Lulamba made
Both could have won the race without the jumping mishaps imo
 
Novices being novices. No doubt we'll get to see more evidence in Aintree and Punchestown.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Eggs
My own view is that if Lulamba had pinged the second last and Kopek had done likewise at the last, Kopek would have won going away - but we’ll never know.

It would be surprising if we ever see a rematch. Lulamba must be stepped up whilst Kopek is bound to be aimed at the Queen Mother next year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CJW
Garrison Savannah said:
My own view is that if Lulamba had pinged the second last and Kopek had done likewise at the last, Kopek would have won going away - but we’ll never know.

It would be surprising if we ever see a rematch. Lulamba must be stepped up whilst Kopek is bound to be aimed at the Queen Mother next year.
Click to expand...
The ground Kopek lost was around 2 to 3 lengths with that mistake, but he was still a similar distance by the line. He wasn't really closing at all.
So unless he was winded badly, which is possible, it looked like Kargese stayed on quite well herself, so it might have been close.

Il Etait Temps made a similar mistake but then quickened again.
But I'd go along with him maybe getting winded as he did look like he was going to take it up and win.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Garrison Savannah and CJW
I get the feeling with kopek that given he is such a strong traveller hes unlikely to find much when asked as hes already putting 100% in

Had he not made the mistake and lost momemtum i think hed have just continued to travel strongly and win

My gut is that hes not a horse who can belt the last and go again

Maybe if he learns to conserve himself
 
He's significantly less experience than Kargese isn't he. As a race horse and as a chaser. Think it's fair enough to assume he's going to be the better long term horse but the market has factored that in also
 
Quevega said:
The ground Kopek lost was around 2 to 3 lengths with that mistake, but he was still a similar distance by the line. He wasn't really closing at all.
So unless he was winded badly, which is possible, it looked like Kargese stayed on quite well herself, so it might have been close.

Il Etait Temps made a similar mistake but then quickened again.
But I'd go along with him maybe getting winded as he did look like he was going to take it up and win.
Click to expand...
Pre-Chelt I couldn't put my finger on what I didn't love about Kopek - I'd said he needs to lead but I knew that wasn't right as he's not led (and won) in the past.

But now I think the evidence is that I don't think he finds a great deal in terms of turn of foot - he stays on the one pace imo, which is a very high cruising speed, but he's not the type to quicken past horses. If he pinged the last and went 2/3 clear, he'd just have coasted up the hill on the bridle imo at the same pace and Kargese wouldn't have got past again. But because he didn't, he had to quicken and inject pace to close that gap and he couldn't do it. He's a quick horse but he's a high cruising speed horse (poor example but more BDA than Lossiemouth) rather than an injection turn of foot horse. Even in the supreme last year, he doesn't really put WM and Romeo to bed as quickly as you'd have liked him too given how well he travelled. He's a superb jumper though and with his cruising speed (and a clear campaign) he'll take all the beating in the 2m division in Ireland next season imo.

I said it at the time but FWIW I think Townend would like another go at that ride - should've asked him for a big one at the last rather than taking a pull before it. I think he may have been concerned about asking him too early (fitness, interrupted prep etc) but every time PT asked him for a big one he came up and if he did the same at the last he'd have won the race imo.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom