2026 Novice Hurdlers

[darlojim]

One thing I'm baring in mind is Gordon seems to be getting 1 over on Willie lately, but has he been beating Willies that have had a run? Off top of my head, there's only Romeo beating Gold Dancer

Be interesting to see going into the Xmas period, if he can still topple Willies that have had a run.

 

[Quevega]

Was.just about to reply about the notable market move for LDE today.

Sortudo out a fair bit too. Was 11/4 top price at one point.

I'd think all things being equal he's more likely for the Lawlors probably alongside St Baco and maybe one other.
He's less likely on a normal year to run multiple horses at xmas cos there's multiple meetings and lots going on at different tracks and jockeys etc. He can throw more in to the naas races and will have a full team of jockeys to go with.
But we'll find out soon enough.

 

[darlojim]

I was told they're hoping to keep LDE and Sortudo apart, so we'll see

 

[Ellisgittings]

One thing I'm baring in mind is Gordon seems to be getting 1 over on Willie lately, but has he been beating Willies that have had a run? Off top of my head, there's only Romeo beating Gold Dancer

Be interesting to see going into the Xmas period, if he can still topple Willies that have had a run.

Very firefox beating Ballyburn vibes for me

 

[ComplyOrDie]

I'd think all things being equal he's more likely for the Lawlors probably alongside St Baco and maybe one other.
He's less likely on a normal year to run multiple horses at xmas cos there's multiple meetings and lots going on at different tracks and jockeys etc. He can throw more in to the naas races and will have a full team of jockeys to go with.
But we'll find out soon enough.

I had Saint Baco down to be one for the Moscow Flyer myself.

So difficult to know really but his better ones have generally run over the Xmas period though, that we do know.

 

[Quevega]

I had Saint Baco down to be one for the Moscow Flyer myself.

So difficult to know really but his better ones have generally run over the Xmas period though, that we do know.

Yeah, possibly, but looking at the lawlors entries he normally likes them to have won a maiden first.
So that rules a couple out, then there's Sober who was last seen at Royal ascot, and Davy Crockett (who looks more likely for the flyer IMO)

And then all the horses entered in the future champions except St Baco.
Assume Love me tender and Divin Enfant are the chosen ones for Leopardstown that leaves St Baco and Sortudo for the Lawlors. is my best guess.

But it's all Bollocks really as even if we guess right, shit will happen and change and mean that it doesn't work out exactly like that.

 

[darlojim]

Copa to the lawlors too

 

[Quevega]

Copa to the lawlors too

From memory he's thrown three or four in to the lawlors including ones that have not ran since the summer. So Sober and the french one might run
He's usually more reluctant with maidens though but he was pretty close the last day so could see why they might run him.

 

[BigL]

Kaiser ball entered at Limerick on the 28th

 

[Benjy23]

No news on Fou De Toi? NYD entries the last hope?

 

[ComplyOrDie]

No news on Fou De Toi? NYD entries the last hope?

I do wonder if they'll give him 1 run and straight to the festival. Think they done similar with Melon.

Never been done before (winning that is), so a tough ask, just depends if he's actually any good or not!

 

[Exar Essay]

No news on Fou De Toi? NYD entries the last hope?

Ruby says Willie likes a minimum of 27 days between runs. I could be wrong but have always assumed it's 27 rather than 28 as that's the break between the Lawlors of Naas (now Ballymore!!) and the DRF. On that basis, I'd want to have seen FDT in a maiden by Lawlor's of Naas day if he's to tread the usual DRF - Supreme route.

 

[EnvoiAlien]

The Mark Howard November update said they'd had some niggles with Fou De Toi but was expected to be running in the next few weeks ?
If there's been no more issues so you'd expect to have seen an entry by now, New Years would be the cut off for me, just hope a cash out is available.

 

[EnvoiAlien]

FOU DE TOI (French Revolution – Willie Mullins): Yet to run for the Closutton team, he could emerge as a dark horse for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The four year old finished third on his hurdles debut at Auteuil in May last year and, while his Irish debut has been delayed due to a few minor issues, the Motivator gelding has impressed at home. All being well, he will be making his debut in a two mile maiden hurdle in the coming weeks. Available at 33/1 for the Festival opener (Bet365, Coral, Ladbrokes, Unibet), I wouldn’t put any clients off having an ante-post wager. If he stays right, he could be top-class.

Its the "If he stays right" that doesn't sit well, there was no need to place it at the end, also it suggests the minor niggle is a soundness one to me, think Mark knows a bit more than he has let on here.

 

[riccirich]

FOU DE TOI (French Revolution – Willie Mullins): Yet to run for the Closutton team, he could emerge as a dark horse for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The four year old finished third on his hurdles debut at Auteuil in May last year and, while his Irish debut has been delayed due to a few minor issues, the Motivator gelding has impressed at home. All being well, he will be making his debut in a two mile maiden hurdle in the coming weeks. Available at 33/1 for the Festival opener (Bet365, Coral, Ladbrokes, Unibet), I wouldn’t put any clients off having an ante-post wager. If he stays right, he could be top-class.

Its the "If he stays right" that doesn't sit well, there was no need to place it at the end, also it suggests the minor niggle is a soundness one to me, think Mark knows a bit more than he has let on here.

I'd assume the minor issues he's talking about were the ones that kept him out last season.

I don't know anything about Mark Howard, but I doubt he would be mentioning his price and saying he wouldn't put anyone off a wager if he knew the horse was very recently injured in any way. The "if he stays right" bit is just referring to how he wasn't able to make the track last season I'd assume, which possibly indicates he might be a bit fragile.

 

[Quevega]

With a busy spell on the horizon Mullins said: “I should be in Leopardstown every day baring Limerick for the Faugheen on December 28, but you never know.

Discussion earlier about riding arrangements for Mullins yard over xmas.
Patrick suggesting he'll be at Leopardstown most of the time except the 28th.

 

[darlojim]

With a busy spell on the horizon Mullins said: “I should be in Leopardstown every day baring Limerick for the Faugheen on December 28, but you never know.

Discussion earlier about riding arrangements for Mullins yard over xmas.
Patrick suggesting he'll be at Leopardstown most of the time except the 28th.

Hopefully rides a better race on the maidens than what he did on Kopek

 

[Yosser]

Nicky leaning towards an introductory hurdle at Newbury rather than the Formby for Act Of Innocence.

"I don't like knowing our fate too early so would rather keep him out of Grade 1s for the time being"

 

[Exar Essay]

With a busy spell on the horizon Mullins said: “I should be in Leopardstown every day baring Limerick for the Faugheen on December 28, but you never know.

Discussion earlier about riding arrangements for Mullins yard over xmas.
Patrick suggesting he'll be at Leopardstown most of the time except the 28th.

That's why Arcadian Emperor is entered there! Couldn't work out why a good one was there.

 

[darlojim]

Ruby on R2C last night on the Future Champions

'If I were offered one, I'd want to be on that one anyway' - talking about Le Divin Enfant.