Walkon

did like alot but only going hurdling so doesnt have too short a novice chasing season so couldnt be too confident

pardon..paul?

sure trainer said it in stable tour?

I think another season hurdling was always the plan.

"he’ll stay hurdling because I don’t see him being ready till Christmas and I don’t want just three months novice chasing with him" suppose wouldnt rule it out, mis-remembered the quote

I dont see staying hurdling being a problem as he already knows, and has experience of the discipline.

nothing wrong with having one run over fences, then Arkle. Well Chief did it. This a similar type if you ask me. Hardly likely to be good enough for a Champion run, so school him well and take on a flimsy bunch of novices imo

trainer said wouldnt go over fences though?! until next year

wont be going over fences this season.

plans are never changed. fact.

These plans wont be changed.

why not?
let's say he gets stuffed at haydock, they then think, oh sh1t, what shall we do with a 153-rated horse that's too high to win a handicap and isn't good enough to do anything in a champion?
common sense to take a chance at a weak arkle imo

but trainer said he wanted a full season novice chasing with it, so why would he throw it in on back of one run?

so he'd get three chase runs into it (assume Aintree or Puch afterwards) rather than four, maybe. wow, loss of one novice run, hardly a big deal.

What a great run from him, superb to have him back!

Looked to be running a great World Hurdle trial until he blew-up. Shame he's being aimed at the Champion imo, much more room at the top of the 3m Hurdle tree.

...but will they run both MC and Walkon in CH?

Might be worth chancing a step up in trip for Stayers..or more likely missing Cheltenham altogether, and going for 2 1/2 mile race there instead.

there = Aintree

Defo sounds CH bound, S & C.
I don't think they should miss Cheltenham with him, he's too good to do that and operates there so no reason to.  Target needs a rethink, though!

Thing is trainer has Bensalem in the World hurdle as well, so either way would be probably be running two in a race. I think the Champion is the way myself,( especially as I'm on!) and King obviously happy enough for Bensalem to fly the flag in the other.

A very very good horse.  Great he is back and has kept his form.  A battler too!