• 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!

Where will they go ?

Worth a try though COD. He can always fall back.

If he is declared for a novice chase campaign the firms might push him out for the CH hurdle (even just a little bit..) and smash him in for chases. There may just be a window to cover the CH at a decent price in case chasing doesn’t go to plan. Will not hold my breath on that price push tho..

Race planning Sax outlined above appears to hit the nail on the end - love to see him in the champion chase given the age of that division + they have a serious yardstick on El Fabiolo which shouldn’t shy them away from competing.
 
Yep, has the beating of El Fabiolo through Jonbon and Energumene will be 10 and can't surely get his ground for a third year running. There's bugger all else to beat. Same route as Altior or Sprinter, final prep in Game Spirit and then Champion Chase instead of Arkle. Written in the stars.
 
I really wanna pull the trigger on the 4/1 el fabiolo for the champion chase but the huge cloud that is Constitution Hill is stopping me !
 
I really wanna pull the trigger on the 4/1 el fabiolo for the champion chase but the huge cloud that is Constitution Hill is stopping me !

I think it’s worth pulling the trigger now. I have. Even if CH were to end up here I still see El Fabs price shortening over the season so you should always have a full cash out available to you.
 
I really wanna pull the trigger on the 4/1 el fabiolo for the champion chase but the huge cloud that is Constitution Hill is stopping me !

What price would he be without CH in there ?
 
What price would he be without CH in there ?

I'd have him shorter than Energumene, 5/2 ish but i wouldn't be backing him at that price though.
 
I think you have to wait and see how CH goes in schooling over fences. His hurdling is pure and flat which means that he will need to learn an entirely different technique for the larger obstacles. It should be noted that he lost his only point due to a bad mistake at the last.

Nicky was with Fred Winter from 1974 to 1978 which means he was probably deeply affected by the loss of Lanzarote during the 1977 Gold Cup in what was only his fourth chase. I'd be fairly confident that, if he does go chasing, CH will stick to the novice route.
 
  • Like
Reactions: EnvoiAlien
I think you have to wait and see how CH goes in schooling over fences. His hurdling is pure and flat which means that he will need to learn an entirely different technique for the larger obstacles. It should be noted that he lost his only point due to a bad mistake at the last.

Nicky was with Fred Winter from 1974 to 1978 which means he was probably deeply affected by the loss of Lanzarote during the 1977 Gold Cup in what was only his fourth chase. I'd be fairly confident that, if he does go chasing, CH will stick to the novice route.


….would he never have ‘jumped a fence’ at home, Archie?
 
I would love to see a horse attempt to win CH, CC and GC in three consecutive seasons and we finally have a horse that is "potentially" capable of doing just that.

Despite his undoubted ability, to do the above would still require a huge amount of luck. Staying injury free, staying on his feet and we are assuming (probably quite rightly) that he will be equally good over fences.

El Fabiolo, Energumene, Impaire Et Passe and Galopin Des Champs are all very decent animals and if he can reach the same level over fences, he would look to have their measure, but its by no means a "gimme".

I, for one, am looking forward to seeing what he is capable of over fences and whilst a 3 or 4 time Champion Hurdle winner would be an immense achievement, it would leave me wondering "what could have been...??"

But the real prize is for him to come back in 2028 and win the stayers hurdle as an 11 year old

Both doing a 'sire du berlais' and the grand slam 4 championship races ...we can only dream 
 
  • Like
Reactions: The Giant Bolster
But the real prize is for him to come back in 2028 and win the stayers hurdle as an 11 year old

Both doing a 'sire du berlais' and the grand slam 4 championship races ...we can only dream 

Grand National in 2027
 
But the real prize is for him to come back in 2028 and win the stayers hurdle as an 11 year old

Both doing a 'sire du berlais' and the grand slam 4 championship races ...we can only dream 

Surely his summer break should be winning the ascot gold cup every year
 
But the real prize is for him to come back in 2028 and win the stayers hurdle as an 11 year old

Both doing a 'sire du berlais' and the grand slam 4 championship races ...we can only dream 

After reading this post, I now not only think his career will be a failure if he doesn't win the champion hurdle, champion chase, gold cup and stayers hurdle in that order (doesn't have to be consecutive years - I'm not an unrealistic person! :devilish:) but I've also convinced myself that one day if/when I own a horse of a lifetime, this is the route I'd take.

To put this ridiculous thought process in context, I'm currently not rich enough to own a share in a horse, let alone a complete horse...
 
After reading this post, I now not only think his career will be a failure if he doesn't win the champion hurdle, champion chase, gold cup and stayers hurdle in that order (doesn't have to be consecutive years - I'm not an unrealistic person! :devilish:) but I've also convinced myself that one day if/when I own a horse of a lifetime, this is the route I'd take.

To put this ridiculous thought process in context, I'm currently not rich enough to own a share in a horse, let alone a complete horse...

What about the Kings Stand?
 
Nah, not gonna expect that of him... gotta give him a chance to meet my expectations - even Frankel couldn't win the Kings Stand!

I was just joking mate, Personally, I would love to see them go Champion Chase then Gold Cup. Anything after would be largely irrelevant because he would by then be a Hall of Famer.