I'm the same about Medermit. I had a right bet on him at Plumpton but hat is it for me. I just don't think they believe in his jumping. In his stable tour after the first win they swerved Cheltenham to get more schooling into him, then they swerved Exeter and eventually ran him over a longer trip at Cheltenham for experience. May have won but I wouldn't be rushing to back Hell's Bay in this race.
He could definitely win the Arkle and, 'if' he is as good as his rating and depending what eventually turns up but he is not as good as his rating imo.
The Punjabi, KK form may be flattering him, another mystery here.

He got injured in the CH. Pulled muscles in his back.

I dont fancy the horse for the Arkle either, but he has improved his jumping with each race this season imo so would be dangerous to rule him out.

It is quite possible yes Bud. As they go a fraction slower. But whos to say he is not just getting the hang of things ? It was his 4th start over fences.

I personally think the ground will determine which race they go for. If it is Soft then they go for the Arkle. He handles Soft and they'd go a little slower which might suit him.

There is only one winner of the Arkle this year,

step up

GHIZAO

on at 12/1 myself, 6/1 still value[;)]!

there are about ten horses in with a chance of winning the arkle at this point hence 6/1 the field, personnally i'm on medermit @14's, i think if he goes for the race he will be more a 6 to 8/1 chance on the day.

i see rock noir is up on sunday again...anyone heard anything from connections if he's defo going for arkle or not..

Flat Out now out for the season.

I know where you are come from Sea. However with Flat Out not running WM might be persuaded to run Mikeal D'Agenet in his place. WM must be having a headache what to run where now the problem may have been removed.
So no celebrating just yet my friend.

thats a shame for flat out connections,looked a horse full of promise

543 is staying over hurldes and is on target for the World Hurdle. That's the last I heard.

Didn't Mullins also lose Enterprise Park over fences ??

Flat Out's injury does not seem so bad, not a tendon, and his form was boosted yesterday with Ad Idem winning. Hopefully he'll be back next season.

i hope you're right Sint.
Stick G and FR in this time last years market, reckon they'd be 4th/5th favs at best.
Going to take a look through it today for any lurkers.

I know Med is a bit iffy but on class and known form to date he'd have a cracking chance.

are the decs out yet?

I normally love the arkle but with flat out  injured and realt dubh not getting the  excitement levels going at all. Finian's Rainbow too short based on his chase form. Ghizao madness short based on beating nothing. Cristal Bonus staying hurdling, Mikael probably going for rsa. I mean this is the most uninteresting arkle in memory.

Mik will run in a grade one, not some second rate new addition like the 2m4f race. Arkle or RSA.

Pun Run,

i also have Rock Noir on here at a fairly big price.  Tocuh wood he will run in the Arkle - I've backed Punjabi and Flat Out already for the Arkle and we know what happened to them!!!

I think this horse has a good future, won a Grade 1 hurdle in France and I think he's made a good start to his chasing career (apart from one run that came too soon).  Last run he won a decent novice chase against fairly good opposition by 7 lengths giving weight away.

I don't think JP McManus has got any other runners (GMOOH probably won't run), so hopefully Rock Noir will.  As CV says above, this is looking like a poor race so in a normal Arkle I'd say Rock Noir had very little chance; but in this years????

If you look at his hurdles form: beat Jumbo Rio as a 4 year old in a G1 and he is a decent yard stick in Ireland.  He also beat Najaf by 20 lengths, who came out and was second in the Albert Bartlett for Paul Nicholls and then third behind Peddlers Cross at Aintree.  I think the 40ish/1 is good value.

But yet to prove it mate,well certainly over fences.

yeh,i am keeping my eye out for possible entries for the horse.
Thought he got home pretty well in the CH last year,and if he takes to fences he becomes a player imo. Cutting it a tad short though!!

well chief, tks for the views, i just saw Bellvano entered in the same 2m chase at Hereford on Sunday, AP is already confirmed for Bellvano so it looks like rock noir will be a n/r for that race. They must want to see what bellvano can do before they declare either one as a definite starter in march. Of the 2 id still rather jonjo's even though bellvano has only run the once..

Finian's Rainbow isn't going to newbury for that exact reason  sint

I would imagine ..