Novice Chasers - 2014/2015

[Smarty72]

Going to be concentrating on Novice chasers for the winter months. This thread will include a few bets, thoughts and previews/reviews of various races involving novice chasers. Will not be all races and probably going to concentrate on the top class hurdlers starting out over fences and those that have already shown a decent level of form over fences but are still classed as novice chasers. The following have been all been put into the tracker as Novice Chasers of interest and more will be added as the season progresses..... 2m Novice Chasers Ted Veale - A J Martin trained in Ireland and a county hurdle winner at the festival in 2013 and a faller in the Arkle in 2014. Had 9 races over fences and only won on latest 2 attempts with the last a Grade 3 novice chase win. Best RPR of 153 and OR 140. Probably not good enough for the top races but has the ability to win a decent 2m handicap chase. One of the 2m handicap chases likely to be the festival target. 2m 4f Novice Chasers Alelchi Inois - Willie Mullins trained and 5 from 5 over fences with 2 Grade 3 wins. Good ground horse with wins from 2m 1f to 2m 6f. Sets the early season standard but unlikely to be seen through the winter months and will probably return in late spring. May get another run before been put away for the winter. Best RPR 150 on latest win. Colour Squadron - Philip Hobbs trained who has yet to win a chase in 8 races but is probably the best novice chaser around without a win to his name. Highly tried and always runs well at Cheltenham with 4 completed rounds with the best 2 performances when 2nd in The Paddy Power Gold Cup and 2nd at the festival in The Byrne Group Plate. OR 152 and best RPR of 153. Will win this year over fences but when and where remains to be seen. Like Indevan - Willie Mullins trained with 3 wins from 4 runs over fences at 2m 4f and a Grade 3 win last time out. Another good ground horse who may get one more run before been put away for the winter months. Best RPR 147. Splash Of Ginge - Twiston-Davies trained who won on 2nd run over fences at Cheltenham last week over 2m 4f. Quoted for both the Arkle (2m) at 33\1 and JLT (2m 4f) at 20\1 with the latter looking the better option as does not look to be quick enough for 2m. Best RPR of 146. 3m Novice Chasers Southfield Theatre - Paul Nicholl's trained with 1 win from one run over fences when winning at Chepstow in a class 2 Novice chase. That win came at 2m 3.5f but trainer expects this horse to get 3m. RPR of 145 and OR 150 for that run and likely to improve. Decent placed hurdle form at Cheltenham around 3m and the RSA could be the target for the festival (Best Price 20\1 Various). The Romford Pele - Rebecca Curtis trained with 9 runs over fences winning his last 3 races with the latest at Cheltenham last week. Also comfortably won the Listed Summer Cup (Handicap) at Uttoxeter. OR 150 and best RPR of 154. Quoted for RSA at 33\1. Expect to put in some good performances over 3m plus. Everyone is free to comment, add insight and even post bets if you wish.

[Smarty72]

Re: Novice Chasers - 2014/2015 15.10 Exeter - Class 4 Beginners Chase Good beginners race at Exeter with 3 decent hurdlers making there chase debuts in a 2m 1.5f race ....... Far West - 5yo from the Paul Nicholls yard who is rated at OR 147 over hurdles and was 2nd in the Triumph Hurdle in 2013 behind Our Conner. Did not really improve much last year. 10 races over hurdles with 4 wins. Grade 2 winner as a Juvenile. Unlikely to race much beyond this distance this year. Current favourite. Puffin Billy - 6yo from the Oliver Sherwood yard who is rated at OR 143 over hurdles with a Grade 2 Novice Hurdle win in December 2012. Been of the track for over a year after getting colic. Likely to need the run and given a gentle introduction today on his return. Again likely to be kept to distances around the minimum trip. One for the future as chasing was always the intention with Puffin Billy. Dunraven Storm - 9yo from the Philip Hobbs yard who is rated at OR 143 over hurdles and has won 2 of his last 4 races. Overall hurdles record of 4 wins from 12 starts. Has won twice here at Exeter in a bumper and novice hurdle. May get up to 2m 4f (having won over hurdles over 2m 3.5f) and despite only attempting the chase game for the first time at 9 could run a big race. The rest look seriously out of there depth against these 3 and it would be a big shock if one of the 3 market leaders does not win. Preference for today is for Dunraven Storm who will have the staminia to stay up that long uphill finish which is 1/2 mile. I think that Puffin Billy will not be given a tough race on his comeback from injury and connections will be looking to the future rather than today. Far West is clearly the best hurdler but an indifferent season over hurdles and a slow start to the season for trainer Paul Nicholl's makes me think that he will need the race today and again the future rather than today is more important for connections. However, I do expect Puffin Billy and Far West to be better novice chasers in the future than Dunraven Storm. 1 Pt Win - Dunraven Storm - 5\2 PP