• HELP US - Become a Patron - Fat Jockey is a horse racing community focused on all the big races in the UK and Ireland. We don't charge users but if you have found the site useful then any support towards the running costs is appreciated ... a small donation each month would be a huge contribution. Become a Patron!

General Chat

Can't help remembering Quevega suggesting Kabral for the CH and then saying Dan got it wrong not running him in it following the Stayers . I agree.
He travelled and jumped beautifully in the Stayers and looked the winner until after the last. He certainly didn't lack pace when running away with the Relkeel on Good ground and IMO he'd have no trouble over 2m especially over fences. I can see why Dan is heading that way.

Dan also has The New Lion and Soldier Reeves both of which have been talked about with the Stayers in mind.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Black Dog and Eggs
Yep
He certainly improved
But not for the extra half mile IMO
There were and have been other examples of horses improving vastly when moved from nicholls in recent times
He’s probably not got the same recipe these days 😉
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lobos
Quevega said:
Yep
He certainly improved
But not for the extra half mile IMO
There were and have been other examples of horses improving vastly when moved from nicholls in recent times
He’s probably not got the same recipe these days 😉
Click to expand...
That's how I see it. It wasn't the trip that improved him, it was the change of stables.

Can't wait to see what he can do over a fence

With OPS, Act of Innocence, Sober Glory and KDM, there should be some good clashes prior to Cheltenham this side of the sea for a change.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigChaang
Do you think it will be Old park Star - arkle and Act of Innocence b.a.n.c. Faugheen ?.
Any opinion ?..
 
Can't see them clashing. They thought Act Of Innocence was their Supreme horse until Old Park Star came along but he looked fine at 2 and a half AOI. I will probably get him onside for the BANC but tentatively. Will he go all the way up to 3 or go to Aintree or somewhere similar 🤔🤔
 
I just think , with Nicky Henderson , saying recently A.o.I will run over further , those races seem right , unless O.p.s gets beaten over 2 miles early on .
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
I'd imagine they'll both start at 2 miles and only step up if beaten.

Act of Innocence Arkle , OPS BANC is the way i think they might go.
Click to expand...
Wow, what a call that is FM…..

25% of the ante post Arkle book taken by OPS and he may not run in it……

Only Unibet pricing OPS for the BANC (16/1)

If you are correct (and I hope you are) then value opportunities in the Arkle at present methinks 😎
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
That's how I see it. It wasn't the trip that improved him, it was the change of stables.

Can't wait to see what he can do over a fence

With OPS, Act of Innocence, Sober Glory and KDM, there should be some good clashes prior to Cheltenham this side of the sea for a change.
Click to expand...
Don’t forget Tutti Quanti with Nichols..…another 150 plus rated hurdler going chasing this season…..although Nichols did suggest recently he maybe a 2 1/2 miler over fences🤔
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
It looks really thin when you start going through potential up and comers.

Are Idaho sun, Narsico Has, Mydaddypaddy all staying over hurdles? What else is there?

I'm assuming King Rasko Grey, Kabral Du Mathan, Old Park Star all go over fences.

When you go through them, Lossiemouth at 5/2 starts to feel way too big, which sounds ridiculous to say!
Click to expand...
It’s easy to forget she went off at 7/5 sp this year.
Despite all the doubters
 
  • Like
Reactions: Faugheen_Machine
Quevega said:
Yep
He certainly improved
But not for the extra half mile IMO
There were and have been other examples of horses improving vastly when moved from nicholls in recent times
He’s probably not got the same recipe these days 😉
Click to expand...
You may well be right Q

However I struggle to see that the significant improvement didn’t come as a result of going over further than 2m AND maybe the change in trainer

KDM when with Nicholls and running over 2m over hurdles at 4 years old didn’t get above a 131 OR and at 5 years old didn’t get above a 140 OR. He had a run in France before joining NIcholls so was reasonably experienced as a hurdler.

As a 6 year old he has improved 16lbs (now rated 156) last season ……so are we to take it he is a 156 OR horse over 2m hurdles?…….and that is simply natural progression and the change in trainer?……or is he a 156 OR over further than 2m over hurdles, which is where I am at

He could be 156 OR over 2m and it could be natural development combined with the trainer change……but for me there’s a question as to whether he could be the 160 plus rated 2m fencer needed to win the Arkle…..will he have the speed against the out and out 2 milers 🤔
 
Wayward Lad said:
25% of the ante post Arkle book taken by OPS and he may not run in it……
Click to expand...
You would assume there is value down the list but these bookies operate ante post markets at 200% or more these days, prices really are horrific.
I'd say you have to delve deep to find any sort of value...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Carnage at Taunton
A bit of me still thinks Nicky and co could be tempted to stick to Hurdles with OPS for this season especially with how very, very light the opposition to Lossiemouth looks and with AOI in the picture.
 
Wayward Lad said:
You may well be right Q

However I struggle to see that the significant improvement didn’t come as a result of going over further than 2m AND maybe the change in trainer

KDM when with Nicholls and running over 2m over hurdles at 4 years old didn’t get above a 131 OR and at 5 years old didn’t get above a 140 OR. He had a run in France before joining NIcholls so was reasonably experienced as a hurdler.

As a 6 year old he has improved 16lbs (now rated 156) last season ……so are we to take it he is a 156 OR horse over 2m hurdles?…….and that is simply natural progression and the change in trainer?……or is he a 156 OR over further than 2m over hurdles, which is where I am at

He could be 156 OR over 2m and it could be natural development combined with the trainer change……but for me there’s a question as to whether he could be the 160 plus rated 2m fencer needed to win the Arkle…..will he have the speed against the out and out 2 milers 🤔
Click to expand...
Yep
It’s one of things we’ll never know for sure so have to make our own minds up.
I’d rather back the horse at 2 miles hurdle or fences than 3 miles all day long. But can see why others could differ.
I did say often enough that the horse travelled like a classy speedy type more than a stayer and it looks like the trainer is leaning that way now.
But we’ll see how it pans out.
I don’t think he’ll be quite up to arkle class myself unless it fall’s apart
But I’d almost certainly not back it for the browns, or stayers hurdle again.
The horse looks classy without the heart or stupidity to stay.IMO
 
Lobos said:
A bit of me still thinks Nicky and co could be tempted to stick to Hurdles with OPS for this season especially with how very, very light the opposition to Lossiemouth looks and with AOI in the picture.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I think it makes sense to keep an open mind re OPS.
Yes Hendo has said he goes chasing along with AOI, but circumstances could change his mind during the early part of the season, schooling, how both are progressing and what they are showing them at home.
Right now either proving better over fences would not surprise me, could be the same for Hendo.
Imo out of the two AOI is the one most likely to go chasing , just looks the part to me. To be honest though so does OPS, and it could well be both go chasing as Hendo has said, but his love of the Champion Hurdle is obvious, and any situation that occurs that gives him a big chance of another winner, I don’t think he would be slow to take it. Sir Gino told us that.
Going to be interesting how it pans out anyway.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lobos
Lobos said:
A bit of me still thinks Nicky and co could be tempted to stick to Hurdles with OPS for this season especially with how very, very light the opposition to Lossiemouth looks and with AOI in the picture.
Click to expand...
I know he hasn't been schooled as of yet, but unless he's disastrous, he'll be chasing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lobos
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom