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RSA Chase 2020

charlie said:
I am all over Battleoverdoyen and think he’s a massive price @ 40/1 (William Hill). Ante Post prices are generally rubbish compared to the days of old, but prices like this give me faith all is not lost! I’ve used quite a few £5 free bets on him @ 25/1 (Skybet), but have decided to take a bigger position @ 40’s.

Gordon loves him. You don’t have to look too hard to stumble across plenty of quotes praising the ‘big chaser in the making’ that he ‘wouldn’t swap him for anything’.

Gerry Cosgrave, known as a genial County Down point-to-point trainer, had BOD before Gordon. ‘‘He was a lovely, big, strong fella, the sort that takes a bit of time, but he did everything so easy. You can see now, it was total ability he had. I had a feeling I had something nice, that’s for sure‘‘

He won his only pointing start at Loughanmore in April 2017 and five days later was sold for £235,000 at Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham. Interestingly, Racing TV did an interview with Richard Pugh (14/02/2019) who has probably seen more P2P’s that I’ve had hot dinners, and when asked which horses he saw at P2P’s for the first time that he thought would go on to be a star he mentions three. Best Mate, Imperial Commander and Battleoverdoyen who he described as ‘awesome’.

Gerry Cosgrave said "I’m hoping Battleoverdoyen wins the Gold Cup some day because jumping fences is his proper game."

Even if you’re one of those people that cannot put a line through the Ballymore, when you combine his profile and regard he’s held, P2P win, price tag, horses he is being aligned with, and the fact he's trained by GE, make him no 40/1 shot. He needs time, fences and more than two and half miles, all of which he will get. The market has over reacted to his flop at Cheltenham and Gordon’s post-race comments, and then Champ and Minella Indo have both enhanced their Cheltenham form since in fine style. They have shortened leaving serious value in behind. I hope Gerry is right and he is good enough to progress into a Gold Cup horse. Long way to go, but I expect BOD to win his beginners chase and not look back. Price will tumble and we’ll all be on at 40’s.
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I have to say, that is an absolute belter of a post. An excellent argument made.
 
Agree, cracking post Charlie... as a backer of BoD last year I had not considered having it my book this time around but you’re right, 40s is tremendous value based upon the above and worth a punt IMO.
 
Great insight and thoughts there charlie, have taken the boosted 44/1 with Hills
 
I struggle to see a scenario where Champ & Dickie Diver take each other on, so I think one of them has to give, choosing which, is ayones guess right now.

Wouldn't surprise me if one of them stays hurdling though.
 
ComplyOrDie said:
I struggle to see a scenario where Champ & Dickie Diver take each other on, so I think one of them has to give, choosing which, is ayones guess right now.

Wouldn't surprise me if one of them stays hurdling though.
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I agree. I expect they will both be started over fences and as we learn more their paths to Cheltenham will become more clearly defined. I am a big fan of Dickie Diver and have backed him with a few free bets. Coincidentally, the two horses that stood out a mile at Cheltenham just in terms of sheer size (other than TOTG), was Dickie Diver and Battleoverdoyen. They'll fill those frames and come back stronger and as better chasers than they ever were hurdlers imo. Here's hoping.
 
charlie said:
I agree. I expect they will both be started over fences and as we learn more their paths to Cheltenham will become more clearly defined. I am a big fan of Dickie Diver and have backed him with a few free bets. Coincidentally, the two horses that stood out a mile at Cheltenham just in terms of sheer size (other than TOTG), was Dickie Diver and Battleoverdoyen. They'll fill those frames and come back stronger and as better chasers than they ever were hurdlers imo. Here's hoping.
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You're not wrong, just re-watched the Bartlett 3 times in a row, and DD was just a gangly looking frame, but could be an absolute unit of a horse, IF he fills out.

I'm so tempted to have a small punt on DD for the Stayers, after re-watching the Bartlett.
 
Agree BOD is made for fences, jumps reasonably well from the limited view from his P2P: https://youtu.be/eSl7I9JizqA

I like Dickie Diver but was going to wait until his plans are a little clearer. 16-1 any race doesn't appeal unless adding in a multiple.
 
I think JP's novice chasers are going to be a tricky to predict the correct races for. I said throughout last season that he'll have a hell of a squad for this season and most of them are with Henderson which makes it even more difficult. With Henderson alone he has Birchdale, Champ, Champagne Platinum, Dickie Diver and Rathhill as possible high class chasers. Most of those are very unexposed and open to lots of improvement as they have another year of growth. Some even skipped their bumper season and went straight over hurdles so that's a sign that they want to crack on with chasing as soon as possible.

Although I was championing Birchdale for the RSA, I am now in two minds given his run in the AB and subsequent comments from Henderson. However, I'm not sure even he is that clear cut as he'd have had another summer now and I found this from early last season too:

"Nicky Henderson has no shortage of promising types on his hands and Birchdale looked to be another when earning a 20-1 quote for next year’s Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle with Paddy Power in taking the Actioncoach Invest In The Best Maiden Hurdle.

Assistant trainer Toby Lawes said of the 9-4 victor: “That was very good. He has always looked like a really smart horse that has loads of size and scope.

“Barry (Geraghty) said that trip (two-miles-five-furlongs) is good and that he wants every yard of it. In time he will be the most magnificent three-mile chaser.

“He is a really smart horse for the future and everything he achieves this year is a bonus. He is a really exciting prospect.

“We could possibly come back for the Leamington. We won that with Mr Whipped last year and it’s a nice race. Something like that would be right up his street.”
 
The latest from billy obviously states it’s up in the air but personally i’d be shocked if they keep Champ over hurdles for any longer and he’s not competing in a novice chase in the next couple of months.

He’s already had the extra year over hurdles. He’s been bought as a Gold Cup horse long term. Though that doesn’t always come to fruition, a third season over hurdles would mean he’d be novice chasing at 9 years old. I just can’t really see it. They’ll be plenty of slotting the JP horses around each other but if he continues the form he shows last season and takes to fences, for me there’s no way he gets moved around for the sake of another (as we’ve seen with some of JP’s in the past i.e Yanworth to Stayers) and some may brush it off but I do think the McCoy name will give him some form of slight preference (again if he performs)

I also wouldn’t get too hung up with trying to allocate different horses for different races. Not all the JP horses will fulfil the promise or potential currently held but if they are were to do so, they’ll be no choice but too run several in the same races. And there’s been no problem doing so before...

Buveur D’Air vs Yanworth
Jezki vs My Tent or Yours
Buveur D’Air vs My Tent or Yours
Yanworth vs Unowhatimeanharry
 
jono said:
The latest from billy obviously states it’s up in the air but personally i’d be shocked if they keep Champ over hurdles for any longer and he’s not competing in a novice chase in the next couple of months.

He’s already had the extra year over hurdles. He’s been bought as a Gold Cup horse long term. Though that doesn’t always come to fruition, a third season over hurdles would mean he’d be novice chasing at 9 years old. I just can’t really see it. They’ll be plenty of slotting the JP horses around each other but if he continues the form he shows last season and takes to fences, for me there’s no way he gets moved around for the sake of another (as we’ve seen with some of JP’s in the past i.e Yanworth to Stayers) and some may brush it off but I do think the McCoy name will give him some form of slight preference (again if he performs)

I also wouldn’t get too hung up with trying to allocate different horses for different races. Not all the JP horses will fulfil the promise or potential currently held but if they are were to do so, they’ll be no choice but too run several in the same races. And there’s been no problem doing so before...

Buveur D’Air vs Yanworth
Jezki vs My Tent or Yours
Buveur D’Air vs My Tent or Yours
Yanworth vs Unowhatimeanharry
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Great post. Despite what he's achieved and his enormous potential Champ is just one of those horses that does nothing for me. That being said I wouldn't be one bit surprised if he turned out to be a superstar, nor would I be surprised if he achieved very little compared with his big reputation
 
I'd imagine we all have horses like that Charlie.
I'm the same with a few myself.
Like Battleoverdoyen for example - does nothing for me.
But unlike you, I'll not sit on the fence, I'm happy to state that I think he's 'probably' bang average.

'probably' is like a little a fence though isn't it.:highly_amused:
 
jono said:
The latest from billy obviously states it’s up in the air but personally i’d be shocked if they keep Champ over hurdles for any longer and he’s not competing in a novice chase in the next couple of months.

He’s already had the extra year over hurdles. He’s been bought as a Gold Cup horse long term. Though that doesn’t always come to fruition, a third season over hurdles would mean he’d be novice chasing at 9 years old. I just can’t really see it. They’ll be plenty of slotting the JP horses around each other but if he continues the form he shows last season and takes to fences, for me there’s no way he gets moved around for the sake of another (as we’ve seen with some of JP’s in the past i.e Yanworth to Stayers) and some may brush it off but I do think the McCoy name will give him some form of slight preference (again if he performs)

I also wouldn’t get too hung up with trying to allocate different horses for different races. Not all the JP horses will fulfil the promise or potential currently held but if they are were to do so, they’ll be no choice but too run several in the same races. And there’s been no problem doing so before...

Buveur D’Air vs Yanworth
Jezki vs My Tent or Yours
Buveur D’Air vs My Tent or Yours
Yanworth vs Unowhatimeanharry
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just want to be clear, Nicky said that Champ is probably going chasing but they havent ruled out going down the stayers route, that was a comment at the start of August.
Also he was pretty adament that Birchdale didn't stay 3 miles and he should of run him in the Ballymore, I felt that his comments were that strong that ive backed him max bet for he the JLT
 
Also asked him about Champ Platinum and kind of rolled his eyes, not really in a disrespectful way but more a look of frustration after that I personallywouldnt go near him as an antepost selction.
 
billymag said:
Also asked him about Champ Platinum and kind of rolled his eyes, not really in a disrespectful way but more a look of frustration after that I personallywouldnt go near him as an antepost selction.
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Just to clear as well billy...Not brushing off what you've passed on or suggesting it's not true at all. Very grateful for the snippets you pass on in here. That's just my view of the horse.

Champagne Platinum is a funny one. Thought he showed a fair level of promise early last season without much substance. At Nickys Lambourne Open day in April he made a point about him for Novice chasing and to not forget about him. But his run at Punchestown that followed and this view certainly has me lukewarm on him again!

My shortlist for the race so far is:

Minella Indo (backed)
Battleoverdoyen (backed)
Bright Forecast
Next Destination
Dickie Diver

Strong case for Reserve Tank made here recently too.
Basically just a race that I like plenty in! Could easily have 6 or 7 backed before any of them jump a fence :highly_amused:

One other to add at a big price that should take very well to chasing (based on looks) is Beakstown (50/1)
Trainer would put me off in the big grade 1 races still and as above there's loads of horses I like here who have achieved more but I think he'll step up another notch chasing
 
billymag said:
Also asked him about Champ Platinum and kind of rolled his eyes, not really in a disrespectful way but more a look of frustration after that I personallywouldnt go near him as an antepost selction.
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I’m 99% sure I remember reading recently that Champagne Platinum is out for the season.
 
jono said:
Just to clear as well billy...Not brushing off what you've passed on or suggesting it's not true at all. Very grateful for the snippets you pass on in here. That's just my view of the horse.

Champagne Platinum is a funny one. Thought he showed a fair level of promise early last season without much substance. At Nickys Lambourne Open day in April he made a point about him for Novice chasing and to not forget about him. But his run at Punchestown that followed and this view certainly has me lukewarm on him again!

My shortlist for the race so far is:

Minella Indo (backed)
Battleoverdoyen (backed)
Bright Forecast
Next Destination
Dickie Diver

Strong case for Reserve Tank made here recently too.
Basically just a race that I like plenty in! Could easily have 6 or 7 backed before any of them jump a fence :highly_amused:

One other to add at a big price that should take very well to chasing (based on looks) is Beakstown (50/1)
Trainer would put me off in the big grade 1 races still and as above there's loads of horses I like here who have achieved more but I think he'll step up another notch chasing
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I agree Jono , could easily have half a dozen backed in this race before october, Another horse maybe not to.
pass by - Lisnagar Oscar @ 40-1 -p.powers. Rebecca Curtis trained Ofaolains boy to win this race in 2014.
 
jono said:
Basically just a race that I like plenty in! Could easily have 6 or 7 backed before any of them jump a fence :highly_amused:
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I can definitely see myself in this situation :highly_amused:

Billy, I would never hold anyone to account for the information they supply on here, it's voluntary and everyone has the option of using it or not. The information you pass on is fantastic and muchly appreciated my end for sure.
 
Its all good lads, my message probably didnt come across as it was intended. I was just trying to emphasise that I would hate to put people away, I certainly didnt think people were being funny. Keep up the great work.
 
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