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Ryanair 2019

What’s people’s thoughts of thistlecrack coming here instead of GC. Personally I would love him just to stay healthy
 
What’s people’s thoughts of thistlecrack coming here instead of GC. Personally I would love him just to stay healthy

Would go back for the Stayers Hurdle before coming here don't you think?
 
Would go back for the Stayers Hurdle before coming here don't you think?

Colin's probably going to alternate between fences and hurdles over distances of 1m7f - 3m2f, before a campaign on the flat :highly_amused:
 
Hurdles campaign would be easier to manage although potentially looking like a good renewal, tbh I don’t think he is going to be up to scratch in any of the 3 races
 
This would be a very hot race if UDS, Balko Des Fllos, Shattered Love, Waiting Patiently, Min and Monalee turn up.

The only one that will definitely be targeted at the race is UDS. As short as 7/1 with 365. 14/1 with WH.
 
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This would be a very hot race if UDS, Balko Des Fllos, Shattered Love, Waiting Patiently, Min and Monalee turn up.

The only one that will definitely be targeted at the race is UDS. As short as 7/1 with 365. 14/1 with WH.

Not for certain IMO, depends on the ground this year i suspect. IMO it was wrong to send him to the race last year with the ground how it was....
 
Not for certain IMO, depends on the ground this year i suspect. IMO it was wrong to send him to the race last year with the ground how it was....

Yeah what a mistake.

I had a lovely NRNB price in the CC too. He'd have been harder to catch for Altior than Min in that ground
 
In search of a potential shortener in a race where the market is always liable to collapse, I’m going to make a case for CHARBEL here at 33/1.

Form figures at the last 2 festivals of F-F take some forgiving but he’s one of few horses to really put it up to Altior in the last couple of years. He was completely scuppered last season by all the soft ground, though still managed to only be beaten 6L in the Tingle Creek. The class is clearly there.

He had a back op over the summer (kissing spines), they’ve done loads of rehab and jumping work with him, and this could be the season he finally realises all the potential. He gave Baron Alco 12lbs and a beating in a nice early season handicap last time out and that horse has come out and won the BetVictor. He really put his head down and battled well to the line that day under top weight and I believe there’s lots of improvement to come over intermediate trips.

Having run at the last 3 festivals I certainly think that’ll be the aim again and I don’t see any other potential target than this race. He looks likely to line up this weekend at Ascot and I really think he could show himself to be a contender in this sphere.

I’ll be honest when I went to check prices I hoped to see 40s or perhaps something exotic on the exchanges. 365 have 33s and the only other 2 bookies to have him priced up go 20/1. I’m not sure it’s enough to tempt me in at this point but I’ll be watching the race with interest this weekend with a view to pressing the button should he be putting in a big performance.
 
In search of a potential shortener in a race where the market is always liable to collapse, I’m going to make a case for CHARBEL here at 33/1.

Form figures at the last 2 festivals of F-F take some forgiving but he’s one of few horses to really put it up to Altior in the last couple of years. He was completely scuppered last season by all the soft ground, though still managed to only be beaten 6L in the Tingle Creek. The class is clearly there.

He had a back op over the summer (kissing spines), they’ve done loads of rehab and jumping work with him, and this could be the season he finally realises all the potential. He gave Baron Alco 12lbs and a beating in a nice early season handicap last time out and that horse has come out and won the BetVictor. He really put his head down and battled well to the line that day under top weight and I believe there’s lots of improvement to come over intermediate trips.

Having run at the last 3 festivals I certainly think that’ll be the aim again and I don’t see any other potential target than this race. He looks likely to line up this weekend at Ascot and I really think he could show himself to be a contender in this sphere.

I’ll be honest when I went to check prices I hoped to see 40s or perhaps something exotic on the exchanges. 365 have 33s and the only other 2 bookies to have him priced up go 20/1. I’m not sure it’s enough to tempt me in at this point but I’ll be watching the race with interest this weekend with a view to pressing the button should he be putting in a big performance.

Think that's a really good call/idea
I was interested for the weekends race as I thought it did really well to beat/claw back Baron last time.
 
Nice write up Viking Flagship. Speaking of 33/1 shots, I like Willoughby Court as an EW play for this. After having jumped left a bit on chase debut he jumped really well in the Ladbrokes Novices' Chase at Newbury. He is somewhat forgotten having missed the festival this year where he was a strong favorite for the JLT. That was due to suffering from pus in a foot so there is very little cause for concern for this campaign. I'm not worried he was ruled out of his intended comeback at Carlisle in early November because he had cut himself in his box - little cause for concern there. I know the Irish have a tremendous record in the race and dominate the top of the market, I think this fella will slowly creep into contention and be cracking value come March providing he remains sound. Definitely one for the EW acca's and maybe even Mayo's Millions!
 
Think that's a really good call/idea
I was interested for the weekends race as I thought it did really well to beat/claw back Baron last time.

Yes very tempted by Coral's 6/1 for this weekends race as a bit of an each way thieves bet. Anyone know if Min is turning up?
 
Nice write up Viking Flagship. Speaking of 33/1 shots, I like Willoughby Court as an EW play for this. After having jumped left a bit on chase debut he jumped really well in the Ladbrokes Novices' Chase at Newbury. He is somewhat forgotten having missed the festival this year where he was a strong favorite for the JLT. That was due to suffering from pus in a foot so there is very little cause for concern for this campaign. I'm not worried he was ruled out of his intended comeback at Carlisle in early November because he had cut himself in his box - little cause for concern there. I know the Irish have a tremendous record in the race and dominate the top of the market, I think this fella will slowly creep into contention and be cracking value come March providing he remains sound. Definitely one for the EW acca's and maybe even Mayo's Millions!

Cheers Charlie. Willoughby Court was one of my first AP bets last year and I was gutted when he was pulled out. Will def be keeping an eye on his progress this year.
 
I agree Willoughby Court is very much a forgotten horse... 33/1 with Bet365 looks a very sound bet to me.
 
Willoughby Court definitely of interest. Backed it in the Neptune and the JLT.
 
Am i the only one that thinks the Charbel form tie with Baron Alco whilst looking superb on paper is slightly flattering and Baron wouldn't of been spot on first up ? Still impressive granted but i feel everyone has seen it and now thinks he's a 160+ horse?
 
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Am i the only one that thinks the Charbel form tie with Baron Alco whilst looking superb on paper is slightly flattering and Baron wouldn't of been spot on first up ? Still impressive granted but i feel everyone has seen it and now thinks he's a 160+ horse?

You're definitely right that most will have flagged it,
but not sure you can be certain baron wasn't spot on, no matter what trainer or anyone says. If it had bombed the other day at cheltenham they's have said it bounced and/or didn't like the ground.
 
Nice write up Viking Flagship. Speaking of 33/1 shots, I like Willoughby Court as an EW play for this. After having jumped left a bit on chase debut he jumped really well in the Ladbrokes Novices' Chase at Newbury. He is somewhat forgotten having missed the festival this year where he was a strong favorite for the JLT. That was due to suffering from pus in a foot so there is very little cause for concern for this campaign. I'm not worried he was ruled out of his intended comeback at Carlisle in early November because he had cut himself in his box - little cause for concern there. I know the Irish have a tremendous record in the race and dominate the top of the market, I think this fella will slowly creep into contention and be cracking value come March providing he remains sound. Definitely one for the EW acca's and maybe even Mayo's Millions!

Defintiely made a case for Willoughby Court early on in this thread myself.

Waiting eagerly for some news on him regarding where he's going to be running next. He'll definitely go under the radar despite being a previous distance festival winner.

Has there been a negative update regarding him, he was 25/1 with 365 earlier in the summer - I have a screenshot of it.
 
Another one you'd have to hover over this weekend is Benatar - a standout 40s with 365 as well. It's been mooted he was Moore's first choice for the BetVictor Gold Cup and he's got some excellent pieces of form.

Pulled way too hard in last years JLT and came home ahead of Kemboy and Finian's Oscar still for 3rd.

Anyone like him at 40s?
 
Another one you'd have to hover over this weekend is Benatar - a standout 40s with 365 as well. It's been mooted he was Moore's first choice for the BetVictor Gold Cup and he's got some excellent pieces of form.

Pulled way too hard in last years JLT and came home ahead of Kemboy and Finian's Oscar still for 3rd.

Anyone like him at 40s?

Exactly what I thought earlier, two (benatar & charbel) to have in the antepost betslip ready for the race saturday for sure.