Cross Country Chase 2019

[paz247]

I’ve been following Timiyan ever since JP purchased him for Big money as a 3yo, didn’t turn up in that years Triumph and has had a chequered career so far, an interesting one to put in COD, and one I’ll be keeping an eye, ie targets, change of trainer? Although doubt that will happen.

 

[archie]

Timiyan runs in the Kerry National tomorrow.

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Timiyan runs in the Kerry National tomorrow.

Cheers Archie. May have a play on him tomorrow. Gone up 10lbs since last run but 7lb claimer on board too to negate some of the rise.

 

[Scooby91]

I wonder if they will let don poli have a spin at trials day

 

[Istabraq]

I wonder if they will let don poli have a spin at trials day

Pretty sure the two XC races Cheltenham stage outside of the festival are at the Autumn meetings and not Trials day, last year I think they transferred to January because of postponements.
But if Don Poli is being considered for this he’s be a very interesting contender...

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

Are there any quotes around Don Poli's wellbeing? I thought they might go down the Hunter Chase route this season of he was back to fitness.

 

[cpfcpatriot]

Are there any quotes around Don Poli's wellbeing? I thought they might go down the Hunter Chase route this season of he was back to fitness.

Kevin Blake gave a slight mention on FFP last week, he did mention the GN as being potentially on the agenda

 

[Kevloaf]

Are there any quotes around Don Poli's wellbeing? I thought they might go down the Hunter Chase route this season of he was back to fitness.

Clearly not read my Grand National post have you

Kevin Blake gave a slight mention on FFP last week, he did mention the GN as being potentially on the agenda

It was along the lines of Kevin Blake saying O'Leary told him he's back in training and doing very well.... and in answer to "Will he be a NAtional horse" he said "very much could be".

That is paraphrasing but 50/1 one of my all time favourites in the race he was born for will do me :highly_amused:

 

[KingSprinterSacre]

The Noel Meade-trained veteran finished a creditable sixth in the Grand National at Aintree in April, but was well beaten at Galway and Down Royal since and was knocked down for £35,000 to David Christie, who is a leading figure on the point to point circuit in Northern Ireland.

Christie said: “I know he’s an older horse, but he moves like a four-year-old.

“He’s been in Noel’s all his life and hopefully a change of scenery will do him the world of good.

“He’s been bought by a client to go for those cross-country races in Cheltenham, Auteuil and Punchestown. That’s the number one plan.”

He added: “He’s been hunting in Ireland. Hopefully going down the cross-country route might just light the wick again.

“If that doesn’t work out we can maybe aim him at a National in the spring, but we’ll see.

“I think there’s a cross-country race at Cheltenham in November so we might aim to start him off there.”

Road to Riches

 

[Middle_Of_March]

The Noel Meade-trained veteran finished a creditable sixth in the Grand National at Aintree in April, but was well beaten at Galway and Down Royal since and was knocked down for £35,000 to David Christie, who is a leading figure on the point to point circuit in Northern Ireland.

Christie said: “I know he’s an older horse, but he moves like a four-year-old.

“He’s been in Noel’s all his life and hopefully a change of scenery will do him the world of good.

“He’s been bought by a client to go for those cross-country races in Cheltenham, Auteuil and Punchestown. That’s the number one plan.”

He added: “He’s been hunting in Ireland. Hopefully going down the cross-country route might just light the wick again.

“If that doesn’t work out we can maybe aim him at a National in the spring, but we’ll see.

“I think there’s a cross-country race at Cheltenham in November so we might aim to start him off there.”

Road to Riches

Whilst I have no intention of backing him, I’m pleased to see he’s running in these races. He’s a likeable old boy and it’ll be nice to see him in races he will realistically go well in.

 

[Hurricane fly]

I think there will be another high profile horse or two going this route on the way to the national

I’ve particularly got my eye on Don Poli as a candidate, couldn’t back Tiger Roll until the picture becomes a bit clearer

 

[Kevloaf]

I think there will be another high profile horse or two going this route on the way to the national

I’ve particularly got my eye on Don Poli as a candidate, couldn’t back Tiger Roll until the picture becomes a bit clearer

Could certainly become a bit of a theme. Balthazar King the first one I can think of but I imagine there were the odd one or two before?

I fnacy Don Poli for the National and hadn't really considered him for this... I don't think the Cross Country race is one where Stamina wins the day though, so Don Poli wouldn't be one that leapt out to me but I love Don Poli so I'll watch the space with interest

 

[Hurricane fly]

I don't think the Cross Country race is one where Stamina wins the day though,

The last two years have suggested to me that it’s sinply the best horse in the race that wins, and not necessarily a ‘specialist’, and with it being equal weights helps this fact.

Even looking away from the Tiger Roll last year the Last Samurai finished 3rd on his first ever try over the obstacles/course.

The Don is purely guess work from me as Elliott has used it as his prep for his best chances in the National the last two years and I think DP goes that way.

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

I was always under the impression you needed to be agile round the cross country course because of all the turning and unique fences. Don Poli doesn't strike me as the type of horse that would be suited by that test but I'd happily be proved wrong. He's also one of my favourite Kev :very_drunk:

 

[Garrison Savannah]

I was always under the impression you needed to be agile round the cross country course because of all the turning and unique fences. Don Poli doesn't strike me as the type of horse that would be suited by that test but I'd happily be proved wrong. He's also one of my favourite Kev :very_drunk:

Completely agree about your comment regarding agile. TR’s size, agility, and nimbleness allowed him to be in the right place at the right time last year. Once he’s there or there about his turn of foot put the race to bed pretty quickly.

Given the above I couldn’t have DP for this race - but likewise I would back him for the GN

 

[Istabraq]

Enda Bolger used to be the genius in XC training/prep but Gordon Elliott isn’t doing a bad job either so I wouldn’t dismiss out of hand an ex top stayer taking to this code....

 

[Kevloaf]

Don Poli is sticking to G1 chases with an eye on the Grand National

Whilst Tiger Roll is being aimed at this race again, as top weight in the Grand National may prove too much.

5/1 with WH still

 

[BigChaang]

Not a fantastic price , but going to include Auvergnat @ 12-1 ( w.hills ) in a multi for this race .

 

[charlie]

I am going in again on Tiger Roll at 5/1 with Hills. My main concern was the effect of the National but that quickly diminished after hearing Gordon's bullish words in the stable tour last week which you can see here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABYEWg1AwmA

He will definitely have a far more straightforward campaign this year compared to last year and at 9 I see no reason barring injury why he cannot go back and do it again.

 

[ComplyOrDie]

I am going in again on Tiger Roll at 5/1 with Hills. My main concern was the effect of the National but that quickly diminished after hearing Gordon's bullish words in the stable tour last week which you can see here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABYEWg1AwmA

He will definitely have a far more straightforward campaign this year compared to last year and at 9 I see no reason barring injury why he cannot go back and do it again.

Yeah, I have a few bets on Tiger Roll myself. My initial concern was how many horses follow up a win in this race, and secondly how much of last season would have had an effect on him.

Garde Champatre (2008/2009) is the only horse to have followed up from the previous season, though Balthazar King probably would have gone close, as he followed up the season after (2012/2014) having missed the 2013 race through injury.

Given that it is such a young race in terms of history at the festival, and 2 horses have come back and won it twice at some point, I can probably dispel the worry of Tiger Roll being able to follow up.

However, this race and then the Grand National last season is a lot for one horse to achieve and I'd imagine plenty of them could bottom out after such a season, I am pinning my hopes on Tiger Rolls attitude from those wins and that mentally he must be a strong animal.

The opposition in the race is also something that would have me backing Tiger Roll again. Urgent De Gregaine was a worthy opponent last season but will be 11 this time around, same as The Last Samurai, and recent years have suggested we should be looking at 8, 9 or 10 year old's ideally. At this moment in time the only horse I can causing him a problem is Auvergnat.