Looking ahead to the NH season 2015/2016 proper

I thought he was much too big at 7/4-as it happens I was out and about and popped into an independent bookies and he was priced up at 11/10 in a match bet with Long House Hall.I backed it in the match bet to win the price of tonight's family takeaway.
Long House Hall came down at the third leaving me feeling very smug-Parlour Games travelled very comfortably after that touching a low of 1/4 until he fell to pieces at the second last-thankfully he made it to the finishing line.
I'm not sure if he just isn't a natural jumper of fences or if he will improve on that.
 
IS it too much of a generalisation to not really be positive about flat bred converts to hurdling that go chasing? I just can't think of too many that have made their mark to a similar levels of form. I also just think across all racing horses are simply bred to be good at an optimum task

i supoose we will get the red rum answer now but as much as I take good interest in his hurdles, jfs chase converts I'm just going to watch for now. And not expect too much
 
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Think there have been some success stories, Clive, my memory is not up to naming them but I think it's fair to say that horses bred to jump are a better bet when looking at chases.
 
clivex said:
IS it too much of a generalisation to not really be positive about flat bred converts to hurdling that go chasing? I just can't think of too many that have made their mark to a similar levels of form. I also just think across all racing horses are simply bred to be good at an optimum task
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Would not disagree with your point, but worth noting that the current 2m champion chaser is a son of Dubawi that got chinned in a 1m maiden in Leopardstown a few years back... I remember as I was on him that evening!
 
In answer to the point about juvenile and novice flat breds going chasing, its more about size and scope. In percentage terms they are significantly less likely to achieve anything significant. There have been many over the years that have had successful chasing careers though.

I generally avoid Ferguson's chasers though. I've not backed one yet, and until he learns how to school them to take advantage of their very obvious engines I don't intend to, irrespective of their lofty ratings over hurdles.

Parlour Games would be better aimed at a staying campaign over timber and the World Hurdle, particularly in a season when the novice chasers look exceptional.
 
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Maruco said:
Parlour Games would be better aimed at a staying campaign over timber and the World Hurdle, particularly in a season when the novice chasers look exceptional.
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Agree with this bit.

Whilst I don't think Parlour Games did anything particularly wrong yesterday, like most of Ferguson's horses, he just doesn't have the look of a chaser. The World Hurdle is wide-open, and there are a stack of valuable races on the way to the Festival - connections should be thinking about reverting.
 
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NJH pulling his best honest face tells the media he is working beeter thsn I have seen him working in the last 18 months...that is wierd considering he fooled more than a few into thinking he was back to his very best in March...we live in hope


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I think all the above is true but some horses have the size but still somehow don't look like chasers. That less than gutsy Henderson recent hurdler swings to mind. Name escapes me but from the beginning it just looked all wrong. and it was and yet it still attracted money on its classy hurdling form

one good advantage of goung racing lots is that you do make a mental note of those that look the part for the future. There's nothing technical about it at all and Jolllyallan for instance would be a real case in point
 
clivex said:
I think all the above is true but some horses have the size but still somehow don't look like chasers. That less than gutsy Henderson recent hurdler swings to mind. Name escapes me but from the beginning it just looked all wrong. and it was and yet it still attracted money on its classy hurdling form

one good advantage of goung racing lots is that you do make a mental note of those that look the part for the future. There's nothing technical about it at all and Jolllyallan for instance would be a real case in point
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That sounds like Grassy's old favourite Grandouet :)
 
That's the one. And yet a racing mate of mine kept backing him "on hurdles form". Too often people overanalyse and get in a mess. The horse simply wasn't a chaser . There was no need to rationalise it.
 
Grasshopper said:
Agree with this bit.

Whilst I don't think Parlour Games did anything particularly wrong yesterday, like most of Ferguson's horses, he just doesn't have the look of a chaser. The World Hurdle is wide-open, and there are a stack of valuable races on the way to the Festival - connections should be thinking about reverting.
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Ferguson does have Ittirad who's won a couple over fences. However he's jumped sketchily at times and doesn't look a natural IMO. I wouldn't be surprised if they revert to hurdles with PG as with Sea Lord


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Whistling Dixie is one I had in my tracker from last year. She is very closely related to Kicking King. Exciting Mare I am hoping. Runs in her maiden today at Galway
 
I've been watching most of the races from last March over the last weekend and I have a possible angle on the Queen Mother that will probably come to nowt.

If I had a top 2m novice chaser, Sizing John, L'ami Surge, ideally Shansehill - I'd be thinking UDS might well prove an easier nut to crack than Douvan. UDS wasn't that impressive in the Arkle and probably needs softer ground than he got that day. The Qm is 25 hours later into the Festival so chances are he's gonna encounter faster ground next March than he did this. Unfortunately there is bugger all amongst the current two milers able to take advantage of this. De Bromhead has Special Tiara but that horse is better outside of Cheltenham, leading me to think maybe Sizing John might be diverted to the Wednesday - have connections got the same cajones that Coneygree's had, and how much of their strategy last year was avoiding Don Poli in the RSA.

The ground issue could affect L'ami Serge also and unfortunately Shaneshill is with the wrong trainer. I can't think of any other likely candidates, Vaniteux maybe?
 
When Sizing Europe was a novice myself and a mate had a conversation with HdB where my mate attempted to persuade him to run Sizing in the Ryanair-he made it absolutely clear that running him outside novice company wasn't an option.
 
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