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whats the story with NICANOR is he going to be back or is that him gone?? if he is to come back it would be great to see could he regain the form that seen him beat Denman
Nicanor was close to coming back a number of times last season but just kept picking up a few minor problems. He was ready to run around Punchestown time last April, but he’d have had to run in a Grade 1 hurdle as they didn’t want to lose his novice status over fences so they left him off for the summer.
There was a feature with Noel on ATR the other day and he said that he had him close enough to being ready to run at the minute, but he’s just suffered another minor setback and he’s swimming at the moment. Noel is hopeful that he’ll be ready to run at some stage in the near future.
I get the sense that he is quite a fragile horse and we might never see the best of him. He beat Denman quite comfortably in the Sun Alliance Hurdle as it was then and Noel was convinced that he’d make an even better chaser.
It must be very frustrating for all attached with Nicanor to know that they could have a real superstar but with all the setbacks might never get to see him at his best again, kind of like Feathered lady….
The more i look at the line-up for this race the more i hope they all make it safe n sound as it looks like it could be one of the best races at the festival..Nevada Royale looks good but will prob need it soft, breedsbreeze is 2 from 2 and looks the part, Aran Concerto looks best of the irish at moment as forpaddytheplaster win did not look anything special and fiveforthree still to go over fences….
Does anyone think wichita lineman has a chance if run’s in this?
Ballyfitz has the look of a Sun Alliance horse now! Another smart performance puts him in the mix with a lot of potentially top class 3m novice Chasers!
He was visually impressive alright, GWILSON77, but I’m not sure the form stands up tbh. Big Fella Thanks isn’t a horse I’ve ever particularly liked- just doesn’t convince me with his attitude at all. On the other hand it may simply be that 3 miles around Cheltenham in fairly testing ground is further than he wants. West End Rocker was never jumping with the same fluency as on his debut at Chepstow, and the fact that they were both out on their legs on the run-in simply adds to the belief that both were a ways below the Chepstow form, despite the almost identical collateral form.
trackside
Its surely a more likely outcome that they did run to Chepstow form, by your reckoning they both ran below form to the exactly same degree based on their respective Chepstow then Cheltenham finishes?
In any case the winner deserves our attention… he won with a ton in hand, by 11 lengths, from representatives of two of the nations top stables, giving them both 8lbs. He is a confirmed runner in the RSA and his trainer has given him an entry in the Grand National (a race he knows a bit about).
The RSA is over the same course and distance as Ballyfitz win on Saturday, he looks versatile as to ground and how he is not 5/1 favourite is beyond me.Wichita Lineman has as good a chance as any of them, on his old hurdling form he would be up there with the favourites.Great prospect!
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If Wichita Lineman wins the SunAlliance with the likes of Ballyfitz and Aran Concerto around I’ll eat my own arm.
Are you a closet Jonjo fiend, Mr Wilson?
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Friday will hopefully offer a clue or two in that respect, gus.
Massaini Maguire ran vey well after long lay off and could be one to keep an eye on for this race has won at Cheltenham a couple of times also!!
Equitrack,
i stick by my 1st post on this subject, but i also recognise talent when i see it. Ballyfitz in particular. I hope Aran concerto is not dependant on soft ground for he too is a fine prospect.Regarding being a "closet fiend"
you should know that Wichita lineman isn"t named after "Witches and fiends", its actually a song recorded by Glen Campbell from the sixties about guys who here sounds coming from the Telegraph wires that they work on! You learn something new every day!- Total Posts 17716
I think you have completely misunderstood what I meant by ‘closet Jonjo fiend’, Mr Wilson, but never mind.
I do agree though that Ballyfitz is a hugely promising staying novice who goes to the SunAlliance (as things stand) with every chance. He always had the look of a chaser, so it should have been a fair marker that he achieved a more than reasonable standard over hurdles.
Gone To Lunch is more fancied, in the betting, for NH Chase but I get the impression the RSA could still be the target.
This horse loves Cheltenham, he will go there as one of the most experienced novice chasers in the land. I’ve availed myself of some 85’s this afternoon and I think he is still the one to beat.
Just to reply to Kendal Cavalier.
I think you may well be on the money there when you say Gone To Lunch will probably go for the RSA I cant see him running in the NH Chase to be honest. I think he would find the RSA a more straightforward asignment.
Can I just mention the Grand National "Black Apalache" just remeber where you heard it first folkes.I reckon if the ground is soft on the day and he produces a good clear round there is nothing in training that could get near him that I can see at present.
Last time he fell at the second.But sinse then his jumping around the Antree fences is superb.
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