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General Chat

Odin said:
Galopin won the 3m novice stayers hurdle at Punchestown, which may have been outside the UK season but still counts as his novice hurdle season to me. Never more than 2m5.5f over fences though if that's what you meant :encouragement:
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I'd say, with Willie, he doesn't like those better horses starting as 5yos in Novice Chase going to the 3M BANC that often (that's 5yo rising 6 by the time of the Festival)

●Gaelic didn't last year
●Galopin didn't in his Novice year.
●Djakadam was even younger, being a 5yo in the Turners

I've settled on it being partly about age, for a few of his better quality younger horses going shorter trips as Novices before the years in the Gold Cup.

With Ballyburn aged 6yo already and 7yo by March then there's no experience, age, stamina worries on that score.

So I have it open as to whether its 3M or 2M next March.

Love to see the BANC move to the Gold Cup course as part of the changes this season.

That may be of interest if Willie thinks Ballyburn can be a Gold Cup horse in March 2026.

But I know no more than those suggesting the Arkle or the Champion Hurdle
 
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In addition to refunding bets, spokesmen for Paddy Power and Sky Bet said customer bets had been recorded and would be paid out as winners, in addition to the refunds, if the selection they had initially made went on to win the revised Turners Novices’ Chase.
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Nice touch.
 
Ben Pauling interview with gingerjoe on youtube says he will start The Jukebox Man over 2m 5f but see's him as a proper grade one 3 miler. Big fan of Ben Pauling, hope he has a good season.
 
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Yosser said:
Ben Pauling interview with gingerjoe on youtube says he will start The Jukebox Man over 2m 5f but see's him as a proper grade one 3 miler. Big fan of Ben Pauling, hope he has a good season.
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I like Pauling too although he’s not too popular with the locals anymore :biggrin-new:

He’s picked up The Jukebox Kid from the point scene who looks like will be in a similar type too. Very impressive staying performance in his point and if he transfers to the track, he could be another AB type for Pauling to go to war with.
 
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JackieMoon33 said:
I like Pauling too although he’s not too popular with the locals anymore :biggrin-new:

He’s picked up The Jukebox Kid from the point scene who looks like will be in a similar type too. Very impressive staying performance in his point and if he transfers to the track, he could be another AB type for Pauling to go to war with.
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I actually had The Jukebox Man in my tracker from his point debut and kind of ignorantly ignored it because he had gone to Ben but soon started taking notice. I backed the Jukebox Man on the day E/W but was already on stellar story so was rubbing my hands together coming up to the line. SS was obviously the better winner. Do you know if The Jukebox Kid has gone to Mr. Redknapp Jackie? I would say if that is the case, the AB will certainly be the aim. Creatures of habit these trainers.
 
Saxon Warrior said:
I'd say, with Willie, he doesn't like those better horses starting as 5yos in Novice Chase going to the 3M BANC that often (that's 5yo rising 6 by the time of the Festival)

●Gaelic didn't last year
●Galopin didn't in his Novice year.
●Djakadam was even younger, being a 5yo in the Turners
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I'm comfortable that age played a part with Djakadam, but not sure Willie's entries over the last few years really back up the idea that he doesn't like sending 6yos to the RSA. His entries recently have been (age in brackets):

2024: Fact to File (7)
2023: Bronn (6), Adamantly Chosen (6), Sir Gerhard (8), Ramillies (8)
2022: Gaillard Du Mesnil (6), Capodanno (6)
2021: Monkfish (7)
2020: Allaho (6), Easy Game (6), Castlebawn West (7)

For me, it's more the way the horses race (and to some extent, who Townend wants to ride) that dictates where they end up. At the moment, it's difficult to see a situation where PT doesn't want to ride 2 from Ballyburn, Impaire Et Passe and Dancing City as his Graded horses. If it's Ballyburn and Dancing City, it's nigh on impossible to see any situation other than Ballyburn Arkle, Dancing City RSA; the Ballyburn, Impaire Et Passe combination is much less certain, but I'd still favour Ballyburn over 2m as Impaire Et Passe definitely looked to me in need of a step up in trip last year as I said previously. The fact there are strong rumours about Champion Hurdle participation also suggests Arkle more likely than RSA to me...
 
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Yosser said:
Ben Pauling interview with gingerjoe on youtube says he will start The Jukebox Man over 2m 5f but see's him as a proper grade one 3 miler. Big fan of Ben Pauling, hope he has a good season.
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Going chasing yeah? Still a nice enough price given his consistent Grade 1 form
 
Assuming both Impaire Et Passe and Ballyburn go chasing and assuming they take to the game, most on here are of the opinion that PT would want to ride both. As the Turners is now out of the equation, to me, of the two, based on their Hurdling exploits and style of running, IEP would look more suited to the Arkle and Ballyburn the BANC and that's how I see them being split. However, as has been said before, doing the reverse doubles would still be very sensible. Re Dancing City......based on the above, I can see him before Willies NHC horse.
 
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Yosser said:
I actually had The Jukebox Man in my tracker from his point debut and kind of ignorantly ignored it because he had gone to Ben but soon started taking notice. I backed the Jukebox Man on the day E/W but was already on stellar story so was rubbing my hands together coming up to the line. SS was obviously the better winner. Do you know if The Jukebox Kid has gone to Mr. Redknapp Jackie? I would say if that is the case, the AB will certainly be the aim. Creatures of habit these trainers.
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No owner yet but that won’t change his target. The horse is a Big Ol’ stayer so won’t be going anywhere else if he can reach that level.
 
Ice said:
Nice one mate, I'll give that a whirl.
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Kicked off with paddy power about free bet refunds they refused to refund on them. After a while they gave me a one time offer for a lower amount than I had been voided. Had to accept it as they wouldn’t budge. Might depend on who you get to speak to.
 
With the Turners out of the picture surely Gidleigh Park is targeted at the BANC if he’s up to it, at 50/1 (PP) he is well worth a swing. Very much built & bred for a fence.
 
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News has just taken the wind out of my sails. I can understand the decision making process, I think, but it opens so more possibilities with novice hurdlers. Will we see a few more staying hurdling than going novice chasing? If Willie really targets another uk championship this season will his tactics change as well?
bugger knows. Guinness calls
 
The main reason I favour Ballyburn for the Arkle is because Willie doesn't have any other major standout for that race unless there's massive improvement from the likes of Tulleyhill and Mirazur West and Co. IEP could be the one but he has looked better over longer and the owners also have Mistergif and It's For Me.
Willie puts his horses where he has the best chance of winning so Ballyburn not going for the Arkle greatly reduces his chance of winning the Arkle whereas i don't think it is the same case for the BANC where he could run at least 10 horses(with not huge differences in ability imo).
 
Guinness Village said:
News has just taken the wind out of my sails. I can understand the decision making process, I think, but it opens so more possibilities with novice hurdlers. Will we see a few more staying hurdling than going novice chasing? If Willie really targets another uk championship this season will his tactics change as well?
bugger knows. Guinness calls
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Still lots of races to go round and the strong possibility of more of Willies skipping Cheltenham altogether for nice pots elsewhere. I do agree though that very likely a few more will stay Hurdling and head to the Stayers and CH.
 
YoungHustler said:
The main reason I favour Ballyburn for the Arkle is because Willie doesn't have any other major standout for that race unless there's massive improvement from the likes of Tulleyhill and Mirazur West and Co. IEP could be the one but he has looked better over longer and the owners also have Mistergif and It's For Me.
Willie puts his horses where he has the best chance of winning so Ballyburn not going for the Arkle greatly reduces his chance of winning the Arkle whereas i don't think it is the same case for the BANC where he could run at least 10 horses(with not huge differences in ability imo).
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Marjborough has to at least enter the chat for the Arkle. Won a Triumph that's started to look half decent, even as a 4yo he looks like a chaser that was given a go over hurdles. You have to rewind 20yrs for a 5yo winner but he just screams fences and if that's the way they go you'd assume they'll start him off over the minimum.
 
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I might be wrong but after Impaire Et Passe’s win at Sandown, did WPM not mention something about a possible step up in trip for him? Tried to find post race interview but can only find PT’s.

His wins last season he seems to do it all very easily over 2m5f so another 3f wouldn’t be out of the question imo. He’s 6 going 7 and another summer on his back to strengthen up I’d possibly favour that than going down to 2m where he was beat twice last season.
 
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