Henry VIII novices chase 2025

[Danny]

This for me looks like the best race of the weekend. Whilst Lulamba on official ratings and the terms of the race with the weight he receives would look to be worthy of his odds on price tag, this is no penalty kick and imo he'll have to be every bit as good as his reputation to see this lot off.

I can't really get out of my mind how he was run down up the hill by Poniros last year in the Triumph. The way Alnilam tends to go about his business I don't think there will be any hiding place on Saturday. To my mind Alnilam and Be aware are the principle threats despite there being some early money around for the Sam Thomas trained Lump Sum. Be aware is a horse that every time he runs over 2 mile you'd think he'd want further but when he stepped up in trip in the Coral Cup last year he was keen and didn't seem to get home. If Alinlam does what I think he'll do and set a strong gallop it might tee up the perfect situation for Be aware to grind them down in the later stages. I don't think there was any shame in narrowly going down to July Flower last time out and it'll interesting to see if that form is as good as it looks.

Of the Sam Thomas pair there wasn't a lot between them over hurdles last term on their run in the Welsh champion. My main concerns with Lump sum is that he ran probably his worst race last term at this track in the Imperial cup, It may just be that he'd left his race behind with his 2nd in the Betfair hurdle off a big weight, maybe that had took it's toll so it's nothing more than a small concern. He could do no more than win as he did on chase debut so I'm not trying to detract from that but I have a suspicion that the early money that has been around for him this week may be based on the fact Jax junior has franked the from. Jax had won impressively before his race against Lumpy and came out after the race and won impressively again afterwards but again it's worth noting his worst 2 performances have come at Uttoxeter so I'd be inclined to think he just hasn't run his race that day rather than it being a solid form line.

I think it's a cracking race and for me on what they've achieved so far I'd have said Alnilam and Be Aware have had at least as strong a starts to their Chasing careers as Lulamba. I'm not really sure if I'll bet it with any intent but I think there is more value in coupling that pair than siding with the odds on favourite.

 

[barjon]

Should be an informative race.

Lulamba really only had a school last time for his chase debut (with half the fences missing) and passed ok, but it didn’t tell us much. His price is mostly reputation and he’s only four, so a long term project and I doubt he’ll be given a hard time in this if he can’t win easily.

Be Aware is a notebook horse and I was a bit disappointed to see him go down last time, although he jumped very well and beat a couple of decent ones with ease albeit not able to cope with the winner. I guess I’ll be sticking with him, but it’s probably wiser to just watch it all unfold with notebook at the ready.

 

[Ian_Davies]

The 2025 Henry VIII Novices' Chase - get it right, Daniel, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard weren't beheaded for this.

 

[archielab]

Is it sponsored by David Lammy?

 

[Ian_Davies]

There's a school of thought that the weight-for-age favours the 4yo (rising five) chasers this time of year, especially these relatively-precocious ex-French fuckers who were hurdling as foals and jumping fences at Auteuil as yearlings.

But while he won in cold blood at (Devon &) Exeter, I like every single one of Lulamba's rivals and I wouldn't exactly be shocked if any of them floored him, even the rag.

Cracking race tbf.

Ante-Post Betting: https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-r...national-hunt/henry-viii-novices-chase/winner

 

[chaumi]

At the prices, Sixmilebridge looks best value to me (in an 'anything can win this' race). Ben Pauling will have been gutted to lose him, and there are no obvious signs that the yard switch did anything negative for ongoing prospects.

If he's not quite up to this level, a good handicap seems sure to come his way down the line.

 

[Ian_Davies]

I really don't think he's far behind them on what they've all done over fences so far - they're all nice chasing prospects tbf.

 

[Oxford]

At the prices, Sixmilebridge looks best value to me (in an 'anything can win this' race).

If he's not quite up to this level, a good handicap seems sure to come his way down the line.

I agree and going to have an e/way bet

 

[pawras]

I don't have Lulamba as any sort of clear fav on ratings. I have it and Alnilam about level then Be Aware close up next, however Be Aware has the better trial race stats, see below.

 

[Frankel]

Is it sponsored by David Lammy?

 

[Slim]

The trip and track is too sharp for Be Aware.

 

[pawras]

Gonna be good watching race if nowt else

 

[pawras]

We'll see if Lulamba's class level over hurdles translates to fences

 

[Basil Pinenuts]

Sam Thomas still looking for his first Grade 1 as a trainer. Won the race as a jockey in 2007 (when it was a Grade 2) - still remember it featuring on the Channel 4 Derren Brown special.

 

[Ian_Davies]

Four declared.

Alnilam
Be Aware
Lump Sum
Lulamba

Betting: Link to follow

 

[Danny]

Looks like it's a straight forward race Alnilam and Lump Sum trying to run the finish out of the other pair, will it work ?

 

[Slim]

Looks like it's a straight forward race Alnilam and Lump Sum trying to run the finish out of the other pair, will it work ?

If ever there was a race to get loose on the front, this is it.

 

[Ian_Davies]

There's a school of thought that the weight-for-age favours the 4yo (rising five) chasers this time of year, especially these relatively-precocious ex-French fuckers who were hurdling as foals and jumping fences at Auteuil as yearlings.

But while he won in cold blood at (Devon &) Exeter, I like every single one of Lulamba's rivals and I wouldn't exactly be shocked if any of them floored him, even the rag.

Cracking race tbf.

Ante-Post Betting: https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-r...national-hunt/henry-viii-novices-chase/winner

Even though it's cut up a bit, I still think this is no gimme for Lulamba, arguably advantageous weight-for-age notwithstanding, as all three of his rivals look good chasing prospects to me.