Novice Chasers 2020 / 2021

Other thing to keep in mind is that the 2m4f novice handicap (up to 145) no longer exists, so if you have a novice that won't get 3 miles and you want to run at the festival, you have to take one of them on.

Unless you think some connections will skip Cheltenham altogether to be fresh for Aintree Fairyhouse and Punchestown??

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littlelad said:
Other thing to keep in mind is that the 2m4f novice handicap (up to 145) no longer exists, so if you have a novice that won't get 3 miles and you want to run at the festival, you have to take one of them on.

Unless you think some connections will skip Cheltenham altogether to be fresh for Aintree Fairyhouse and Punchestown??

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Criminal that race was pulled for a ******* Mares Chase. Which only dilutes the other races further.
 
The Plate will be full of novices this season. In fact I'll go as far as saying that they may as well have got rid of the Plate because it'll only be novices that win it now. Just rename the old two and half novices chase with no OR limit on it.

As a comparison, name one good horse that's done anything notable whatsoever that's run in the Fred Winter? Why on earth keep that instead?
 
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Slim said:
Five O'Clock is a dark one for the Marsh. Not sure what other race they could run him in. 40/1 e/w looks ok. Have you anything in particular in mind?
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Have backed this one ante-post for the NH Chase, as I figured The Monk would be the RSA horse, and they’d basically give it up to Envoi Allen in the Marsh. He’s entered in Punchestown and Navan this weekend over 2m and 2m5f, so fu*ck know’s which way they’ll go with him.
 
Slim said:
Not sure about him. He looks a tearaway and the time to catch him was against all the non jiggers first time out. Could you really see him winning an Arkle that free? He's bled too.
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He might not beat Shishkin, but look at what’s left to beat after the jolly.

Felix Desjy?
Eldorado Allen?
Sharjah?
Klassical Dream?

He’d have all these yokes off the bridle a mile from home.

Didn’t know about the bleeding, and not sure it matters as I committed a while back. He’ll give backer’s a thrill regardless.
 
Euronymous said:
Coo Star Sivola
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You had Saphir and Sanctuaire in the early years but while Nicholls tended to use it as a stepping stone for some of the ex Frenchies that would make decent future chasers he was largely alone in that and it’s been an utterly garbage race.
 
To be fair I looked a while ago when they ditched the novice chase and you can find half a dozen horses, but from so many renewals it is easily the worst race at the Festival for quality.
 
Grasshopper said:
He might not beat Shishkin, but look at what’s left to beat after the jolly.

Felix Desjy?
Eldorado Allen?
Sharjah?
Klassical Dream?

He’d have all these yokes off the bridle a mile from home.
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I don't follow the day to day irish form the way most of you do but Sharja and Klassical Dream could make up into very high class chasers.

Sharjah is a 160+ hurdler so could make up into a 170+ chaser.

I've lost track of Klassical Dream since its Supreme run but if it was, say, a 150+ hurdler, it should make up into a 160 second-season hurdler and a 170+ chaser as well.

I would be looking for strong evidence that they should be dismissed before doing so, especially when Cheltenham is almost certainly on the agenda.
 
Maruco said:
The Plate will be full of novices this season. In fact I'll go as far as saying that they may as well have got rid of the Plate because it'll only be novices that win it now. Just rename the old two and half novices chase with no OR limit on it.

As a comparison, name one good horse that's done anything notable whatsoever that's run in the Fred Winter? Why on earth keep that instead?
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10 0f the last 18 winners were novice chasers Paul!
 
Desert Orchid said:
I don't follow the day to day irish form the way most of you do but Sharja and Klassical Dream could make up into very high class chasers.

Sharjah is a 160+ hurdler so could make up into a 170+ chaser.

I've lost track of Klassical Dream since its Supreme run but if it was, say, a 150+ hurdler, it should make up into a 160 second-season hurdler and a 170+ chaser as well.

I would be looking for strong evidence that they should be dismissed before doing so, especially when Cheltenham is almost certainly on the agenda.
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I was being a bit glib with that pair, DO, but neither have been out in a chase yet, and there are plenty of high-class hurdlers over the years, that didn’t do as well over fences (Buveur D’Air probably the most high-profile recent example).

Unexcepted is a bold-jumping front-runner; in much the same mould as his half-brother Great Field......and I’m a complete sucker for a horse like that.
 
Tempted to stick Tizzard in the Twiston Davies and Pipe thread. Think I’d be doing them a disservice though. His horses have been shite for over a year now.
 
I don’t have any negatives towards the Tizzards, but definitely think The Big Breakaway sits firmly in the ‘not to be trusted’ camp…
 
I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt for now Perp. He's pretty inexperienced so it may just be down to maturity. If he shows signs of heading off to the stables next time I'll start worrying.

My concern is moreso that he was edging right at a few fences which is far from perfect in a fast run RSA.
 
Why do we think The Big Breakaway is a good horse anyway? He was run over in the Ballymore and now beat today. Bubble is well and truly burst. If he was trained by Willie he would be 7/2 for the National Hunt Chase.
 
Five O'Clock doesn't take up either of his weekend engagements, but is entered over 3m1f at Punchestown on Tuesday.
 
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