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Champion Chase 2018

I've had to put 1pt on Douvan NRNB at 4/1, if he does make it I do expect injury to have take it's toll but I just had to ensure I had something on I'd be kicking myself if he went and won it and I didn't!

This could shape into a great race the way it could go!
 
I'm very much hoping Yorkhill will come here. Will help the price of Altior on the day...

You can get 2/1 on the exchanges. You'd think anything bigger than that between here and March would suggest he won't be 100%.

Or if Yorkhill hacks up in a couple of weeks you might get something better than odds on NRNB. I couldn't be backing him without a prep run and admit to backing Yorkhill at 7s. He doesnt show up, I lose my stake, he shows up, I have the option to trade out.

I was looking down the field for something at a price and noticed Alan King has old boy Valdez entered?? He hasn't been seen in 3 years so its a bit crazy that he'd get an entry here. You'd wonder is he actually planning him to show up here or take the handicap route. Has anyone heard anything re Valdez? Is the 100/1 NRNB worth considering? :D

I also have a small stake on Politilogue at 33s so looking for one at a big price...
 
"Nicky Henderson was left purring after Altior reportedly dazzled in a workout in Lambourn at the weekend"

I for one am over the moon with this - without looking too far ahead and getting carried away. Praying Altior makes it to the festival!! I placed a 2pt win Acca back in August:

Might Bite @ 10/1 - GC
Altior @ 6/4 - CC
BVD @ 5/1 - CH
UDS @ 8/1 - Ryanair

Would be my biggest win to date if it cops!
 
I’m wishing for Altior to make it and run a good race - had a few AP bets before they came out and mentioned he needed an op

My worry is, I have a strict rule - don’t back anything which has had a intrupted campaign and going into the festival without a good prep run

The Champion Chase is brutal, they got hard and you need to be on point. No matter what Henderson does between now and March, Altior will not be 100% prep’ed for this race - he’d need at least 1-2 races.

Yorkhill is in the same boat, and as for Douvan, I can’t see him running at all!!!

Politologue is the only horse in there that has had a complete season. If I followed my notes then I should be backing him but like most, finding it difficult to do so

I did like Fox Norton, but trainer form and going up in trip is just madness

Special Tiara?! Proven and like good ground at that time of year. But....Hmmmm not sure if he’ll let him steal lengths like he did last year. They’ll be watching him closely. Plus I would imagine that he’ll start below under par - age is bound to catch up with him

Hmmmm
 
I’m wishing for Altior to make it and run a good race - had a few AP bets before they came out and mentioned he needed an op

My worry is, I have a strict rule - don’t back anything which has had a intrupted campaign and going into the festival without a good prep run

The Champion Chase is brutal, they got hard and you need to be on point. No matter what Henderson does between now and March, Altior will not be 100% prep’ed for this race - he’d need at least 1-2 races.

Yorkhill is in the same boat, and as for Douvan, I can’t see him running at all!!!

Politologue is the only horse in there that has had a complete season. If I followed my notes then I should be backing him but like most, finding it difficult to do so

I did like Fox Norton, but trainer form and going up in trip is just madness

Special Tiara?! Proven and like good ground at that time of year. But....Hmmmm not sure if he’ll let him steal lengths like he did last year. They’ll be watching him closely. Plus I would imagine that he’ll start below under par - age is bound to catch up with him

Hmmmm

I agree opatcho. Odds on for a horse with no prep and post wind op just isn't for me, regardless of how good they are. There are murmurings about the Game Spirit but not really sure how likely that is. Some may take the line that avoiding the Game Spirit indicates they are happy with him at home.

I don't think it's accurate to say Yorkhill is in the same boat as Altior. The Christmas Chase may have been a flop but he still finished the race and runs at Leopardstown this weekend. He will have had 2 runs at that stage which follows the same prep where he has won twice at the festival
 
I’m not keen on horses that haven’t been prepared for one of the key races

Then again, I’d like to edit that post regarding Yorkhill. Saying that his in the same boat as Altior and Douvan isn’t abit strong.
At least he’ll have a decent run over 2 miles before he heads to Cheltenham.
It’s not an ideal route, but it’s better than having no runs at all!!!!

If he wins we’ll this weekend, then he’ll I can see money flooding in for him.
He has excellent course form... and personally he’ll be running over the correct trip

Issue is... he STILL needs to prove himself this weekend. He could lose, he could be a flop, he could get round and win but not be all that convincing.

For this time of year, it a worry backing a horse (right this minute) who has yet to show anything. He does have a chance this weekend to prove himself - but at 5/1..... hmmmmmm
 
I was looking down the field for something at a price and noticed Alan King has old boy Valdez entered?? He hasn't been seen in 3 years so its a bit crazy that he'd get an entry here. You'd wonder is he actually planning him to show up here or take the handicap route. Has anyone heard anything re Valdez? Is the 100/1 NRNB worth considering? :D

I also have a small stake on Politilogue at 33s so looking for one at a big price...

You don't need many reasons to back at 3 figures... he won't run in the CC unless he shows an almighty, best ever performance, on his return after 3 years... so you're 99% to just be getting your money back.... but that is a bet to nothing. I wouldn't knock it, albeit I also wouldn't back it :p
 
Yorkhill and Min both declared as expected.

Loser packed off to the Ryanair?
 
Yorkhill and Min both declared as expected.

Loser packed off to the Ryanair?

Most likely loser CH depending on faugheen.

Min won't go further than 2 I'd be very confident.
 
Townend picks Yorkhill

Better horse than Min.

I want Yorkhill to end up in the Ryanair so not sure what I want to happen in this race. Min winning by a small margin as yorkhill closes him down?

If yorkhill flops they've said he'll go back hurdling and Faugheen is key to that as well.

No Faugheen and I'd be 100% Yorkhill went CH
 
Better horse than Min.

I want Yorkhill to end up in the Ryanair so not sure what I want to happen in this race. Min winning by a small margin as yorkhill closes him down?

If yorkhill flops they've said he'll go back hurdling and Faugheen is key to that as well.

No Faugheen and I'd be 100% Yorkhill went CH

but I do see faugheen very likely to win.

If he gets beat in this and his jumping is fine as it has been. How could he win a CH. And we all know he will be 9/2< and be backed heavily for the CH regardless
 
Better horse than Min.

I want Yorkhill to end up in the Ryanair so not sure what I want to happen in this race. Min winning by a small margin as yorkhill closes him down?

If yorkhill flops they've said he'll go back hurdling and Faugheen is key to that as well.

No Faugheen and I'd be 100% Yorkhill went CH

Over 2 miles Is he?
 
Over 2 miles Is he?

We will soon find out. I'm not sure.

He sidestepped the supreme for the neptune but it was a long time ago. Over a different discipline
 
Over 2 miles Is he?

Dont know yet. Better horse in terms of ability though... as i said I hope Min beats him but I'm not hopeful or confident.
 
We will soon find out. I'm not sure.

He sidestepped the supreme for the neptune but it was a long time ago. Over a different discipline

They obviously think Yorkhill is one of their top notchers the way they talk about him. However I don't think he will win on Saturday. Massive advantage for Min having David Mullins instead of Paul Townend.
 
I just had a small bet on MIN for the Dublin Steeplechase, I just thought Yorkhill at 5/6 and MIN at 5/2 didn't make sense as both are 5/1 for the CC, Yorkhill has something to prove and could well go back to hurdling where MIN is a good chaser IMO and they just made him do too much early on in his last race, I still think MIN has a very good chance of winning the CC and if he does wins the Dublin race he could well go off Fav for the CC with doubt about many of the others... Hopefully this is not my pocket talking as I do have him for the CC at bigger odds..