I don't understand why they wouldn't try him left handed before Cheltenham. Connections have never mentioned that they think it an issue, but he's been beaten 25 lengths, 20 lengths and 29 lengths going left handed. You'd be pushing it to think there were excuses for all of those runs
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Arkle 2018
- Thread starter Welshman
- Start date
I don't understand why they wouldn't try him left handed before Cheltenham. Connections have never mentioned that they think it an issue, but he's been beaten 25 lengths, 20 lengths and 29 lengths going left handed. You'd be pushing it to think there were excuses for all of those runs
I genuinely think its not even in Henderson's mind, i cant seen it personally. Valid reasons for the distances he finished behind in them races over hurdles. Looks a natural over fences jumps straight as a dart, I will be suprised if it made tmuch difference.
I'll gladly hold my hands up if it does. But I think far too much is made of it. And he's one of the leading 3 or 4 for the arkle.
Footpad
Brain power
Petit mouchoir
Northill harvey
Sceau royal
I don't think sceau royal would have the resolve to win But hes in the mix
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Really weak renewal this when you see that on paper. Got to stick to my guns on Brain Power I think now, regardless of the fact that I expect he'll be favourite or thereabouts after the weekend. Those two races at Cheltenham he just looked to hate the place and gave up as soon as he was asked to find something extra. Petit Mouchoir and Footpad have him well held around Cheltenham and I have both of those backed. This weekend will be revealing whoever he is up against as I don't think he's ever beaten much of note - he'll at least be up against proven opposition this weekend (hopefully North Hill Harvey who beat him 20 lengths at Cheltenham in the Greatwood)
Step forward the only potentially top class horse in the race ..... Finian's Oscar
If Brain Power is fav, Which you're right, he could very well be ... then regardless of how 'well suited ' he might be to the longer trip there is no way he hasn't got the natural ability beat any of these.
Step forward the only potentially top class horse in the race ..... Finian's Oscar
If Brain Power is fav, Which you're right, he could very well be ... then regardless of how 'well suited ' he might be to the longer trip there is no way he hasn't got the natural ability beat any of these.
I actually think it's a pretty strong renewal. Genuinely. Not a standout miles ahead horse before this weekend. But very competative. And some of the highest ever rated hurdlers to ever go chasing. And even rarer to go chasing in there prime.
Step forward the only potentially top class horse in the race ..... Finian's Oscar
If Brain Power is fav, Which you're right, he could very well be ... then regardless of how 'well suited ' he might be to the longer trip there is no way he hasn't got the natural ability beat any of these.
You can see exactly why Finians' connections would be eyeing this up - to my eye the more prestigious race is also very winnable for them. I hope he goes here, Bamako Moriviere is a real dark horse for me in the JLT and i'd love to get stuck into him at fancy prices if I knew Finians was Arkle bound
Not weak I guess, but Arkle 2015 - Un De Sceaux, Arkle 2016 - Douvan, Arkle 2017 - Altior, Arkle 2018 - Brain Power? Been spoilt I guess by having some real potential superstar chasers going this route over the last few years. Arkle 2018 - Finian's Oscar i like the sound of
The best novice chase of the season so far is in prospect at Sandown on Saturday with some tall reputations set to be put to the test in the randoxhealth.com Henry VIII Novices' Chase.
Only five entries had been received for the Grade 1, £50,000 prize on Monday and by Tuesday there was one more. However, the likelihood is that Finian's Oscar, a Grade 2 winner at Cheltenham's November meeting, could be set to return to Gloucestershire instead.
Joe Tizzard, son and assistant to trainer Colin Tizzard, said on Tuesday morning: "We felt we had to enter him as it's a Grade 1 and the sort of race he should be in. There are only five against him, but it's a great five so I think it would be more likely we go back to Cheltenham with him over two miles five on Saturday week."
The five to which Tizzard referred are Brain Power, Capitaine, Jameson, North Hill Harvey and Sceau Royal. All except for the progressive Jameson and Brain Power, who won two Listed handicaps including one at this meeting last year, were graded winners over hurdles.
The six runners have all made a brisk start over fences, too, with an aggregate of ten wins and three seconds from 13 runs. Five already have Racing Post Arkle quotes, ranging from 8-1 (Brain Power) to 33s (Capitaine).
The Henry VIII is the first Grade 1 of the season for novice chasers in Britain and its fine history has only been fortified in recent years, with the last two winners being Ar Mad and Altior.
Only five entries had been received for the Grade 1, £50,000 prize on Monday and by Tuesday there was one more. However, the likelihood is that Finian's Oscar, a Grade 2 winner at Cheltenham's November meeting, could be set to return to Gloucestershire instead.
Joe Tizzard, son and assistant to trainer Colin Tizzard, said on Tuesday morning: "We felt we had to enter him as it's a Grade 1 and the sort of race he should be in. There are only five against him, but it's a great five so I think it would be more likely we go back to Cheltenham with him over two miles five on Saturday week."
The five to which Tizzard referred are Brain Power, Capitaine, Jameson, North Hill Harvey and Sceau Royal. All except for the progressive Jameson and Brain Power, who won two Listed handicaps including one at this meeting last year, were graded winners over hurdles.
The six runners have all made a brisk start over fences, too, with an aggregate of ten wins and three seconds from 13 runs. Five already have Racing Post Arkle quotes, ranging from 8-1 (Brain Power) to 33s (Capitaine).
The Henry VIII is the first Grade 1 of the season for novice chasers in Britain and its fine history has only been fortified in recent years, with the last two winners being Ar Mad and Altior.
Competitive rather than stand out would a fair assessment. If FO wins it I certainly wouldn't bang on saying it was a weak renewal in fairness.
I think Tizzard's comments there saying they'll take the easier option over 2m5f is exactly right but where he says its the kind of race he should be in 2mG1 highlights the Arkle at Chelt.
Obviously the JLT still would make the most sense with his prep and you could see it that if they were really confident in FO he would take them on now ...?
I also think, if they weren't going to the Arkle, they'd just say they are going JLT. No reason and out of character not to say it how it is.
Obviously the JLT still would make the most sense with his prep and you could see it that if they were really confident in FO he would take them on now ...?
I also think, if they weren't going to the Arkle, they'd just say they are going JLT. No reason and out of character not to say it how it is.
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I'd rather they send finians this weekend and get beat then go jlt than send him to the arkle and him power home when the winners gone.
Finians beat Capitaine (who has always been thought of as a speedster) a few lengths in the Tolworth, so I don't actually think he lacks for speed. I think it's more that his jumping has looked really slow, remains to be seen if that improves enough before March and/or if a faster pace would sharpen that up a bit
ComplyOrDie
Fat Jockey Patron (est. Jan 2021) & Moderator
Even IF FO comes out and beats this lot it doesn't of course tell the full story, because, as far as I am aware both Footpad & Petit Mouchoir have that field covered on hurdles form, and I know, I know, hurdles form should be taken lightly, as fences are a different proposition, but for me it stands well with my opinion.
The only way I ever change my mind, or am likely to change my mind on the form side of it is if said horse looks worse over fences, for instance Yanworth, but Footpad was flawless and Petit Mouchoir wasn't much worse either tbh.
The only way I ever change my mind, or am likely to change my mind on the form side of it is if said horse looks worse over fences, for instance Yanworth, but Footpad was flawless and Petit Mouchoir wasn't much worse either tbh.
Trying to sum up my opinion as well as I can ...
In terms of winning the Arkle... I want him to see him win and jump quicker over 2m ASAP.
In terms of where he runs at Cheltenham, I don't think he needs to run over 2m for them to send him to the race.
I don't think anyone could be bullish about his chances of his first go over fences was in the Arkle, but I'd be (and very much am) willing to chance it at 16/1, 14/1 and 12/1. Certainly when horses are shorter and less talented
They don't have to run him over 2 before festival. But they really should. I wouldn't be happy with an after the race "looks like we got that wrong" chuckle torm tizzard.
I'd give him all the credit in the world if he won.
Yeah pretty much exactly what I'm saying. Can see him wining and can see them admitting they got things wrong haha
ComplyOrDie
Fat Jockey Patron (est. Jan 2021) & Moderator
As PM was, and probably still is, one of my big hopes for the festival I have been keeping an eye on the exchanges about him, and his price, in the last couple of weeks has continued to contract very gradually. He has also come in for significant money too, since he's been sat in his box nearly £2k has been matched on him.
I find this very positive, even if we are not likely to see him on a race course for a while yet, he must be doing bits at home, as I can't imagine the savvy punters who use the exchanges ploughing into a horse whose well being is a relative unknown to the public anyway.
I find this very positive, even if we are not likely to see him on a race course for a while yet, he must be doing bits at home, as I can't imagine the savvy punters who use the exchanges ploughing into a horse whose well being is a relative unknown to the public anyway.
Big chaang
Finians oscar drifting with betfair and paddy power for this 14-1 now, and shortened up in the j.l.t. 5-1 , ladbrokes and coral too.
**********
Footpad / brain power shortening up for this aswell.
Finians going blue across the board for the jlt
Finians oscar drifting with betfair and paddy power for this 14-1 now, and shortened up in the j.l.t. 5-1 , ladbrokes and coral too.
**********
Footpad / brain power shortening up for this aswell.
Finians going blue across the board for the jlt
I think that'll be people reading too much in to the fact he's avoided the Arkle clash tomorrow, when he was never a likely runner... but I would see it that way wouldn't I
