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2026 Novice Hurdlers

Kennedy was happy with the jumping today but it seemed to me that the horse was guessing most of the time.
 
archie said:
Kennedy was happy with the jumping today but it seemed to me that the horse was guessing most of the time.
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Thought jumping was OK for the most part too, but they went a dawdle, so we learnt nothing on the jumping front.
 
Carnage at Taunton said:
I’m glad I have him onside, but I’m a bit wary of going in again right now after another last hurdle incident.
Think he will be available at bigger odds towards March anyway.
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Good to have him onside unlike me !
 
darlojim said:
Perfect that from Paul id say

Look asif your trying to be as close as you can

El cairos could have been 10 clear so cant rate him too high

Think irish mark may be 128 ish, UK around 132 if i was to guess
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Helnwein who I think has the best form with regards to the horses he's finished around this season in the top UK handicaps, is rated just 132. For me, he appears way better handicapped than Roc Dino if that one was rated anywhere near him. Helnwein is currently available at twice the odds of Roc Dino. RD is maybe capable of a fair bit more but for me Helnwein looks really well in .
 
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Interesting one this years supreme. The fav looks like it ticks all the boxes, but El Cairos really could be anything. Two runs over hurdles and has jumped 14 hurdles very quickly and slick, the other two (both the last) he hasn't bothered to even take off. Very very strange. What you have to say. is that if and yes it is an if Cairos gets over the last and they haven't run the finish out of him it will have too much toe for them. The fav also has Nico to slow it down. 2/1 or 6/1, as a racing lover prefer the 6/1.
 
Cooldaddy said:
Interesting one this years supreme. The fav looks like it ticks all the boxes, but El Cairos really could be anything. Two runs over hurdles and has jumped 14 hurdles very quickly and slick, the other two (both the last) he hasn't bothered to even take off. Very very strange. What you have to say. is that if and yes it is an if Cairos gets over the last and they haven't run the finish out of him it will have too much toe for them. The fav also has Nico to slow it down. 2/1 or 6/1, as a racing lover prefer the 6/1.
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Cheltenham Hill will have a say....
 
I’ve gone off El Cairos, he would fit the profile of a Ballymore horse - travels well, turn of foot, needs a bit more time over hurdles.

This isn’t the most ideal prep for El Cairos

El Cairos is one of those horses that’s looking at any excuse to throw away a race

So although I have him backed at 9/1, I’ll be starting to go hard on OPS - not only has he shown us how good he is, I can see further improvements in a race like the supreme.

Yeah, we have the DRF but I struggle to see what’s going to come out of that to challenge those at the top of the market
 
opatcho said:
I’ve gone off El Cairos, he would fit the profile of a Ballymore horse - travels well, turn of foot, needs a bit more time over hurdles.

This isn’t the most ideal prep for El Cairos

El Cairos is one of those horses that’s looking at any excuse to throw away a race

So although I have him backed at 9/1, I’ll be starting to go hard on OPS - not only has he shown us how good he is, I can see further improvements in a race like the supreme.

Yeah, we have the DRF but I struggle to see what’s going to come out of that to challenge those at the top of the market
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I’m hoping talk the talk can walk the walk . It’s shaping up to be a cracking race at any rate which is what we want to see .
 
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Pisto said:
I’m hoping talk the talk can walk the walk . It’s shaping up to be a cracking race at any rate which is what we want to see .
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I'm struggling to get on board with Talk The Talk.

He's by Born To Sea, a sire whose progeny have yet to hit any great heights. Aspire Tower his best so far. The one big positive to this is this is his first X with Walk In The Park, who could have a big influence.

Also, Talk The Talk's fall was odd, he landed fine then couldn't get his legs out quick enough and came down on the next step. Not ideal.

If you watch the replay of the race over Christmas he also goes to step at one at around 3 min 18 sec mark. So he himself is clearly not without risks attached.

They are all novices, so prone to mistakes.

I agree with @opatcho the safest play, as the market suggests anyway, is Old Park Star.
 
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OPS likes to race forward so he could set the race up for the likes of El Cairos and TTT. That said, he could also run the finish out of them. Not sure how they'll cope with the Cheltenham undulations and that Hill as well. Now shaping up to look a better race though.
 
Lobos said:
OPS likes to race forward so he could set the race up for the likes of El Cairos and TTT. That said, he could also run the finish out of them. Not sure how they'll cope with the Cheltenham undulations and that Hill as well. Now shaping up to look a better race though.
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El Cairos will get up that hill fine, IMO.

It will boil down to his jumping and whether he's better than OPS, for me.
 
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OPS took a lead at Kempton, think in his last 2 starts there's been nothing fast enough to give him a lead, if someone wants to blast out in front I think OPS would be quite happy to tuck in behind them imo.
 
EnvoiAlien said:
OPS took a lead at Kempton, think in his last 2 starts there's been nothing fast enough to give him a lead, if someone wants to blast out in front I think OPS would be quite happy to tuck in behind them imo.
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Not sure I'd want that though as a backer. He looks so much more comfortable out in front dictating, jumping fluently and winding it up.
 
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