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Cheltenham Festival Handicaps

I've no idea if he will be targeted at Cheltenham, but Squouateur has been given some 'educational' rides over fences to say the least. Never dangeorous in any of them and in most cases over an inadequate trip.

Anything near 3m on good ground I'd be backing him blind, but as I say he has to be aimed there first.

Rated 141 over hurdles last season and fav for the Martin Pipe, he is one to watch out for as he'll probably need to win a handicap in Ireland en route to Chelts in March.
 
Al Ferof - that's freaky. I was just going to ask if anyone saw his run yesterday. I missed it but noticed he was pulled up. I was thinking the 2.5 miles novice handicap on day 1 would probably suit, although the race is that compressed is hard to get in the race.
 
I swear this happens every year - McManus horses highlighted as plots then they win feck all open handicaps

I got 33s on CoC though :encouragement:
 
You are right Mayo. Squoateur went off 9/4 in the Martin Pipe last season and got stuffed.

The only gamble in recent years I can remember JP winning at the festival was Alderwood in the Grand Annual
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
You are right Mayo. Squoateur went off 9/4 in the Martin Pipe last season and got stuffed.

The only gamble in recent years I can remember JP winning at the festival was Alderwood in the Grand Annual
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11 years since this one

Mr Williams, who admitted to being up a six-figure sum after the second day of the festival, got through the next four races relatively unscathed before Mr McManus struck again in the last. The Irishman had four horses running in the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle but backed only one, Kadoun, with a relatively restrained £5,000 each way at a tempting price of 50-1. When the bay gelding bolted up Mr Williams was out another £325,000, although Mr McManus's pleasure was tempered by the loss of the favourite Olaso, which collapsed and died early in the race - one of five horses to die during the day's races.
 
I remember that race. The pub I was in fell silent when he crossed the line, with everyone reaching for the paper to try and work out what won!!
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
Al Ferof - that's freaky. I was just going to ask if anyone saw his run yesterday. I missed it but noticed he was pulled up. I was thinking the 2.5 miles novice handicap on day 1 would probably suit, although the race is that compressed is hard to get in the race.
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:) Great minds FM!

Yesterday was unbelievable. Firstly, he was kepy about 20L held up behind the fancied JP horse so that he could not be spotted or interfere with his run.

About 3 quarters of the way round he looked like he had a tonne of running left in him but was then mysteriously pulled up (although he did jump a little poorly towards the end so that may be the one reason I'm willing to accept).

But the fact is, he's been a non-trier thus far and is much more dangerous than the form figures suggest.
 
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Al Ferof said:
:) Great minds FM!

Yesterday was unbelievable. Firstly, he was kepy about 20L held up behind the fancied JP horse so that he could not be spotted or interfere with his run.

About 3 quarters of the way round he looked like he had a tonne of running left in him but was then mysteriously pulled up (although he did jump a little poorly towards the end so that may be the one reason I'm willing to accept).

But the fact is, he's been a non-trier thus far and is much more dangerous than the form figures suggest.
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Yep - a blatant non trier so far. Now we just have to get the correct race!
 
You could take 8/1 any race :very_drunk:
 
Al Ferof said:
I've no idea if he will be targeted at Cheltenham, but Squouateur has been given some 'educational' rides over fences to say the least. Never dangeorous in any of them and in most cases over an inadequate trip.

Anything near 3m on good ground I'd be backing him blind, but as I say he has to be aimed there first.

Rated 141 over hurdles last season and fav for the Martin Pipe, he is one to watch out for as he'll probably need to win a handicap in Ireland en route to Chelts in March.
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He is definitely on the radar but something makes me think I'm reading too much into him. His two notable wins last year were on heavy ground (a lot of Martaline progeny do prefer softer conditions) and when he raced at both Cheltenham (good) and Aintree (soft) off a mark of 141 he could not place. He may improve for fences but I also think he won't have gone unnoticed to Phil Smith who may well not want to take a chance on him and apply is Hurdle rating to his Chase rating. If this is the case then he'll be 1lb over the ceiling for the novice handicap chase on day one.
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
Al Ferof - that's freaky. I was just going to ask if anyone saw his run yesterday. I missed it but noticed he was pulled up. I was thinking the 2.5 miles novice handicap on day 1 would probably suit, although the race is that compressed is hard to get in the race.
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What are the options he could run in?

Festival Handicaps are something I have never ever looked at antepost but I am changing tact this year and keeping an eye out.

If you could educate me around any novice chase handicaps that would be much appreciated :)
 
There are two options realistic options I can see.

The novice handicap on the Tuesday which is 0-140 rating - he'll do well to get in that, bottom weight was 137 I think last year.

The festival plate, also over 2.5 miles is the other option - this is an open handicap chase
 
Al Ferof said:
What are the options he could run in?

Festival Handicaps are something I have never ever looked at antepost but I am changing tact this year and keeping an eye out.

If you could educate me around any novice chase handicaps that would be much appreciated :)
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The only Novice handicap chase is over 2m 4f with a ceiling of 140. As the race has become very popular in the few years it has been included, the handicap can become very compressed with only a few pounds covering the top and bottom weight. Therefore it is a tough race to plot a horse as you run the risk of either not being high enough to get in or exceed the ceiling. Last year only 4lb separated the field so it bordered on a level weights race. Irish horses have an even tougher time getting in as Phil Smith reserves the right to alter their Irish rating for racing in the U.K.
 
JackieMoon33 said:
The only Novice handicap chase is over 2m 4f with a ceiling of 140. As the race has become very popular in the few years it has been included, the handicap can become very compressed with only a few pounds covering the top and bottom weight. Therefore it is a tough race to plot a horse as you run the risk of either not being high enough to get in or exceed the ceiling. Last year only 4lb separated the field so it bordered on a level weights race. Irish horses have an even tougher time getting in as Phil Smith reserves the right to alter their Irish rating for racing in the U.K.
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:encouragement:
 
Been manic since these prices came out, managed to see the 33's on Cause of Causes but kept forgetting to back him. Gone to back him now and best priced 20's :disgust: damn you all for taking the prices!! ;)

He's fared me well in the last 2 years winning the 4 miler and the Kim Muir so i'll still be joining in at 20's - thought he'd be about 16-20s max anyway. Can't argue with the case made for him and echo it all completely. No chance for me he'll be seen in the Kim Muir as I can't see him dropping down to 145. He made a mockery of it last Spring - one of the easiest handicap winners i'll ever see at the festival I think. The good thing is he'll likely need another win to get him into the Aintree Grand National having missed out last year despite winning
 
The Druids Nephew has halved in price today for the Ultima Handicap Chase, 33/1 into 16/1 today.

He's a horse who had completely dropped off my radar recently.
 
Sometimes you have to wait for prices to drop to identify likely targets, better to have a 10/1 turn up than 33's in the wrong race, or in the yard
 
This one looks interesting for Nichols if he,s keeping him back rated 135 over hurdles.Owned by done, Ferguson, fogg+mason
Chameron
Info: 3g Laveron - Chamanka Form: 11
Our latest purchase is a really exciting prospect, although being a big, strong individual I must stress he isn’t a Triumph Hurdle sort but a chaser of the future. He won the Listed Prix Finot at Auteuil on his debut – which has supplied us with some top-class horses. The form doesn’t always work out but Chameron came out and won again at Auteuil six weeks later so he looks a nice addition to the team.
 
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