How far does First Lietenant win the RSA Chase by please?

Grands Crus

simply amazing that so many great horses are stepping up to the novice chasing ranks next year

dunguib, oscar whisky, poss peddlers cross, cue card, splinter sacre over the shorter distance

first lieutenant, grand crus over the longer distance

mouth watering, but still want to be on captain chris for king george and gold cup

agreed, Arkle looks immense albeit at a very early stage

yeah, no guarantee they will take to chasing, like say celestial halo, but you'd have to say the likes of splinter sacre and oscar whisky are pretty nailed on to be amazing chasers

oh and al ferof, bobs worth and get me out of here

for non stop[:(] james de vassy[:(]

mikael dhaguenet[:(]

now you're just saying the names of any horse and putting an emoticon after it..

like this

desert orchid

i can do it too

Agree both Arkle & RSA look tough at this stage but no doubt as the season goes on some that aren't winning may find themselves in the new Jewson, so potentially they may not be as tough as they look now.
Really like First Lieutenant too, but with over 11 months to go 12/1 seems a little short to me

dont thin gmooh will go chasing. sir jonjo said he schooled like a dunken donkey. jonjo always tells the truth

thats interesting reve, didnt know that

first lieutenant must be a good horse, look how buffeted he was from three out in the sun alliance, and he still got up

tis true, tis true. i wonder will mikael dhaguenet be going for the rsa again? i suppose he will

Micheal O Leary's other one ain't too bad either and i persume he will go over fences too [;)]

Sir des?

thats him sj

As well as Sir Des Champs and First Lieutenant, Gigginstown have another who could be the best of the lot: Last Instalment, who incidentally runs tomorrow. He'll need to be as good as his reputation lets on against The Real Article. Should be a cracker! [:D]

gutted as been waiting for these 2 for ages slabster! backed last instalment big when he won, but not so sure this time round as think will need to be superb to beat the real article. cant wait to see him chasing though, will go off around 10s in the rsa imo

reve
i take it you're on a wind up

Same as Paul.! I backed The Real Article each way this morning at 4/1, wouldn't be surprised at all if Last Instalment beat him though.

I am surprised Lios A Chioll is the favorite, he'll need to be something special to mix it with these two. Hopefully at least one of The Real Article and Last Instalment will fulfill their huge potential. Both could be special over fences next season.

wind up about what duffy?

Slabster, bad day? lol i backed The Real Article, but laid full stake off, and had a small saver on Last Instalment, so not too bad. Gutted they ran together though! went with him as thought of the two he's more of a hurdler and Last Instalment is gona be one hell of a chaser, is one of my RSA horses for next year. cant wait to see him over fences!

Took any 50's Paul4? [;)]

nah rhinestone, not for want of trying though! :( had a few quid at 32 in case he came in loads after sunday but he didnt

He's 50/1 at SJ [;)]

oh really? cheers, hadnt bothered looking aside from here

Silviniaco Conti

Hidden Cyclone another going chasing next season hopefully.

Backed FL this year and really fancy it will make a good chaser, has a definite target been mentioned anywhere? Presume they won't want to run in same races as Last Installment

gone off Grands Crus since this thread was started, can't have him at all now

First Lieutenant by 3L from Bob's Worth

cant jump

i thought his jumping was good yesterday real player imo

it was definately better- but still not gd enough i dnt think... he could still improve though

only problem is that mouse will have run him 67 times by the festival.

Was nt impressed by that performance at all the weekednd personally

really bjg funny how we all see these things differently.

howdi mouse is running him a lot for a good reason ,see the stats for r.s.a chase the last 5 years !

thought his fencing looked fairly solid if not terribly exciting.

however its clearly a horse that you can set your clock by, he is utterly dependable, and tends to get the job
done where it matters. he'd be the complete opposite of a bridle horse.

unfortunately though this is such an exceptional year for novice chasers that I couldn't be terribly confident about
any horse at this stage. restless harry is likely to go for the rsa, and has always been a chasing type according to his trainer
robin dickin.

throw in bobs worth and grands crus and you have the potential for an absolute cracker.

Grands Crus a broken mess after his double mauling by Big Buck's (see effort in France)

Bob my main danger ftm

Funny you should mention Restless Harry MP as I was really impressed with him at Wetherby the other day. And, while not winning last season he did run some respectable races in defeat.

I've always kept an eye out for him since GC day 2010 when he fell at the last and it didn't look like he was getting up, but eventually to a warm round of applause he did (one of my fav Cheltenham moments actually, that day was cold wet and generally miserable).

I'm just a little wary about falling for horses who are impressive at this time of the year as often they disappoint after. But certainly one to watch

is the apple of his trainers eye resner.

said from day one he was a superstar and that he was by far the best horse he's ever trained, ok he's not a huge trainer by any means but
you can't help but be enthused by his comments.

Do the doubters still think Grands Crus is a quivering wreck after his beatings from Big Buck's?

Looked different gravy to me today.

quivering wreck??what a stupid thing to say,just like TFR was after getting beat by BB
Some people!!

Grand Crus is going to be rather useful at this chasing game i would think,big big player over the 3m distance,and looks a future Gold cup threat for sure.

humble pie time, impressive enough tbf. Just not convinced by his battling abilities (which I think First Lieutenant has in spades) for a race like the RSA

i've taken 25s with willies for restless harry before today. hacked up at aintree and could easily be a better chaser than he was hurdler. think 25 is far too big. don't have the worry of a different race to aim at as well as he can't possibly have the speed for 2m4f or less.

Need to see Bobsworth and Mossley before i start on this race.At the moment GC is worthy fav with his hurdle rating and he can jump a fence.But that could change when Mr Hendersons 2 get going.

Impressed with Bobsworth today considering it was too short for him.He will love the extra distance of the RSA.

Sounds like they're looking at the Feltham next, as is Grands Crus, so that could be a cracker and will probably leave one very much shorter for the RSA

What price one of them dont run??

pessimist(realist)

these trainers like to have a chat about things

dont know how far hes going to win it but so young and rock on ruby have hardly let the form of the neptune down ,so we know flight leiutenant has not beaten donkeys ,dont underestimate the leiutenant .

I read that he burst a blood vessel in the race today.

Although I didn't really fancy him for the RSA, I hope that he makes it over for it, but I wouldn't risk him if there is any doubt.  He's had a fair few runs over fences now, so not like he needs the experience, so heopefully he is brought back slowly.

Bog Warrior has to enter the equation now.  To be honest, I'd never heard of him until about 2pm this afternoon!  Looks like he needs cut in the ground, and could be another Pandorama; will he or won't he run if the ground is good - certainly wouldn't be taking 6/1 now.

I'd say you have done your money on this horse for the RSA..

Would take one hell of a training performance to get him back to win a championship race after this, i'd say..

If they can get him back for Cheltenham, I'd take him the World Hurdle route. Not going to mix it at the very top level at chases at the moment as too 'safe' at the fences and his mistake and problem may have dented his enthusiasm/confidence

Bugger that, has Mouse Morris said anywhere how he is? I was really looking forward to seeing him over fences this year but it just hasn't happened

I actually think there has been an overreaction to his blip yesterday. Morris says he's fine and did not burst and that the blood came fron the impact of his mistake. He's proven at Cheltenham and is far better on decent ground, so I'll stick up for him and throw out yesterdays run. 20-1 is not the worst bet around at the moment.

I read that he burst a blood vessel in the race today.

HE DID NOT BURST......hit his head of the ground apparently when he "blundered badly and almost unseated" Davy out the back AND STILL RAN ON WELL AFTER THAT MAJOR MISTAKE ("steadily recovered to dispute 3rd 4 out") !

Mouse Morris is pleased there is no lasting damage to his Cheltenham Festival winner First Lieutenant after his bad mistake in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
Davy Russell performed miracles to stay in the saddle after his blunder at the eighth fence but after briefly getting back into contention, he was forced to pull his mount up.

It was initially reported after the race that he had burst a blood vessel, but Morris is keen to stress the blood was caused by the impact of hitting the fence."He's grand, I think it was more the bang on the head," said Morris.
"He bled from his nose. There was so much I think he would have been dead if it came up from his lungs.

"It was just one of those things. I don't know why he made a mistake as he was jumping grand up until then.
"Maybe it was the ground, he doesn't jump as well out of soft, we know he's not at his best on it.

"Because he hasn't really burst - it was from a bang - I wouldn't be saying he was a bleeder so I wouldn't be too worried.
"We'll just have to see if he runs at Christmas. I'd be loathe to run him on heavy ground again.

"His class nearly got him back in the race. It was some recovery from Davy, I'd put my glasses down and it wasn't until I heard the commentator say his name again that I knew he was still going."

There is a long standing trend in the RSA chase that says you do not want to be with the highly rated hurdlers. I know it is highly counterintuitive (you would think you would want a horse that has demonstrated a high level of ability like in the Arkle)

I will be opposing Grands Crus, Flirst Lieutenant and any other high rated hurdlers.

Will be getting Paul Jones "Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide" as always in February and I am sure he will confirm the trend I mention

Judorick

What a ridiculous and flash in the pan statement

2010 winner Weapons Amnesty 154 rated hurdler

2009 winner Cooldine 150 rated hurdler

2007 winner Denman 151 rated hurdler

So 3 out of the last five winners have been rated 150 and above over hurdles

I'd say the trend is turning myself..but don't let that detract from your silly statement..trends are useful, if used properly..

Or should I of said 3 out of the last 4 have been rated 150++

If you allow for Timmy Murphy's awful ride that is..

screw you you mug

splash out the money and buy Paul Jones book and find out if its a ridiculous trend

mug

Personally think some stats are useless but if a good hurdler takes to fences there's no reason why he won't make the grade.

So have we wrote FL off or is he still a live one for the RSA?

It's a price thing for me bluebird. Rather be a small backer at 20's than a layer. Keep him in for now.

Your the mug Judorick writing what you did...

If you knew anything yourself you wouldn't have written it..

Paul jones book is a good read, but trends have changed in regard to this race and if you knew anything yourself, you would know that..

D day for this beast today, I haven't given up on him, but he needs to bounce back from his last run. I can forgive him that, as he fairly belted a fence but did well to stay in touch for as long as he did on ground he hates.

He has plenty in his favour today, 3miles, decent ground etc, so there can be no excuses I think. I have availed myself to some of the 20/1 that is available for the RSA chase. Whilst GC is looking very good, I believe this horse can still be a creditable challenger.

Last instalment

Backed FL today as I thought the ground put things in his favour but Last Instalment has just shown himself to be not only the better of the owners prospects but a real contender for the RSA having looked every bit as good on decent ground as he has on soft/heavy.

Indeed, he was impressive, looked very resolute towards end of the race.

Last Installment is Denman-esque with his jumping. No way should he 12/1 for the RSA and i've availed myself to some.

Have also backed ew at 12/1. Still prefer Grands Crus and backed him a while a go but as he's not certain to run in the RSA, 12/1 about this impressive animal seems a very generous price

Everyhting that's happened this week makes it more likely Grands Crus will run in the Gold Cup. I still think he should go for the RSA and were it anyone but Pipe....

I can't see Grand Crus running in the Gold Cup, Martin Pipe might run him in the race, but I doubt David Pipe will.

Last Instalment was a taking winner of the Topaz Fort Leney Novices' Chase at Leopardstown, leading home a one-two for owners Giggingstown House Stud.

Brian O'Connell was in the saddle aboard Philip Fenton's charge who jumped fluently throughout. In contrast First Lieutenant, the choice of the owner's retained jockey Davy Russell, hit the second last and lost some valuable momentum.

He rallied for pressure and overhauled Allee Garde for the forecast spot in the shadows of the post, but the winner had flown and Last Instalment went on to score unextended by six lengths.

Sky Bet and **** cut the winner to 8-1 (from 16s and 14s respectively) for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham with the former pushing First Lieutenant out to 16-1 from 12s.

Fenton said: "He's a lovely horse. I was surprised that Davy opted for the other one (First Lieutenant).

"The decision was left late. We had great confidence in this fellow and we weren't surprised today. He will have one more run before Cheltenham if he goes there.

"He doesn't particularly need one, but he could go for the PJ Moriarty Chase here. There's also the option of the Powers Gold Cup for him.

"The ground was maybe a worry today. We would have loved to have seen more rain but he coped with it well."

Hope you're right GI. I think he's got a cracking chance in 2013 and beyond if they give him a proper novice campaign now.

Last Instalment looks a real un,not sure where they can go with FL now

Note trainers words if he goes there.

Grand Crus more likely to go for the GC acc to racing post today

Perhaps I'm just being stubboren but not inclined to give up on First Lieutenant for RSA just yet... hard to get the image of his Festival win last March out of my head.

Trainer hasn't given up



First Lieutenant will head straight for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in March following his second to Last Instalment at Leopardstown on Wednesday.

The six-year-old is already a Festival winner having won last season's Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, leaving trainer Mouse Morris excited about what the chestnut could achieve over fences.

His novice chase campaign has not gone exactly to plan so far as although he has won twice, he has now been beaten three times and was pulled up on his penultimate start in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse.

Stepping up to three miles for the first time and encountering better ground for the first time this season, First Lieutenant was a slightly unlucky second in Wednesday's Fort Leney Novice Chase and Morris feels it is far too early to write off his stable star.

"He's great this morning and considering what happened the time before at Fairyhouse, I was pleased with his run," said Morris.

"He made a mistake at the second last which didn't help. I'm not saying he'd have won, but he'd have finished a good bit closer. He just got in a bit close to the fence.

"Apart from that one mistake I thought he jumped super and the more times I watch the replay, the more pleased I am. He really attacked his fences yesterday, which he hadn't been doing as much before.

"The better ground obviously helped him so we'll give him a break now and go straight to Cheltenham for the RSA Chase.

"We know he likes the track as he won at the Festival last season, when he got better as the season went on. Hopefully he does the same again.

"He's 20-1 for the RSA and I wouldn't put anyone off backing him at that price. We might have lost the battle, but we haven't lost the war yet."

reaseheath   you are right not to give up on first leiutenant have watched his last race closely on replays and think it was a cracking run, after travelling like the class horse he undoubtably is, i  didnt notice this at first and its not been picked up by the race comments  but he seemed to get hamperered or run into the back of another horse  on the home turn and lost a bit of momentum, and then made a  mistake at the 2nd last but ran on really strongly at the finish , him getting beat has helped as he has drifted out to 20s in the shops i have helped myself to this and will be going in again hopefully   ladcrooks will go nrnb on all cheltenham races shortly.

On as well. Fantastic e/w bet at 20's

with grands crus looking a strong possibility of taking the gold cup route and after reading m.morris comments ( thanks to  g.mac ) the 20s available on first leiutenant , look very generous indeed ,time to top up .

Sonofvic goin back over hurdles for the rest of the year

After jumping and running so disappointingly at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, we have decided to send Sonofvic back over hurdles for the rest of the season.

He ran a great race first time up over fences when second to Grands Crus at Newbury, but Monday told us that he needs more time and experience, and he clearly isn't a Sun Alliance horse on that form.

So we will keep him as a novice over fences for next season. With more experience and runs under his belt, he will be fine.

He is only very lightly-raced, winning both his hurdles last season, and the plan is for him to maybe have three more runs this season, possibly starting in a handicap hurdle at Sandown on February 4. He is currently rated 141 over hurdles.

Foyleswar - Well after also watching the race over at Leopardstown I agree First Lieutenant was a shade unlucky. My main reservations lie with how good do you rate the form?? I just cannot get the average looking Allee Garde out of my head and really not sure how good the Irish staying Novices are.

For me although FL always looked like making up into a top class chaser after what he achieved as a Novice Hurdler I just haven't seen much progression from him. His run against De Valira is just average form and he made such hard work of it, he then just beat the average Stephanie Kate and although Cross Appeal has won a decent handicap since the other horses again just look average. I have no doubts Morris will get the freshness back into the horse by the festival.

My main worry is how much he will improve because in a vintage year for staying Novices he is well down the pecking order. I think he is still a horse I respect and his jumping was good at Leopardstown but he seemed to just stay on at the same pace and had to work incredibly hard to overhaul the average looking Allee Garde on the run in. I think I will have a couple of quid saver on him at the 20's as am already involved as think he is to bigger price but just feel his form is plateauing. I maybe wrong but he has just disappointed me and it would surprise me if he were good enough. Its a shame but that is the way I see it.

Last Installment is also way to short for this at around 7-1 mark on what he has achieved.

good points harry ..i was a little dissapointed with him in his earlier races this season as his jumping was a little deliberate and to be honest i was half expecting him to be more deliberate and cautios after the bad blunder he made in bog warriors race where he was pulled up ,but it looked like he may have learned something from it ,  in his last race when 2nd to last instalment he jumped much better as the race progressed although  he did make a mistake at the 2nd last but all in all his jumping was better ,also the better ground helped and as for not progressing as expected hopefully m.morris is just bringing him along slowly gaining vital expierience over fences  the last few winners of the rsa chase had at least 4 runs over fences  so expierience of fences is usefull .i may have got this all wrong but morris enthusiasm for the horse inspires confidence  and he has the vital previous  cheltenham festival  form so all in all a good few positives and i am happy with the 20s good luck with whatever you go with .

His last run was very decent given his 'traumatic' experience from just a  few weeks before

Mouse knows how to get him ready and i'm sure he will, he has all the necessary qualities required of an RSA horse imo

Whether he's good enough remains to be seen, but he'll stay, he battles, he'll like the ground and we know he goes on the course

Been disappointed with his jumping tbh. May be the ground is a reason but for me he looks likely to make a couple of bad mistakes.

Last Instalment on the other hand has jumped impeccably each race and smashed FL 6 lengths lto. If you think Mouse Morrise is confident about his horse, then you should hear Philip Fenton aswell.

I took 12/1 after his G1 win lto, but no idea if he will run. Gigginshouse like the RSA and have saddled several runners in recent years, Weapons Amnesty,Magnanimity etc. But you just wonder if they will run both horses.

Sintonian think they will defo run both...I totally agree foyles he jumped better last time just got a nagging feeling the race fell in last Instalments lap and he was definitely flattered to win how he did..I wish the mullins horse who fell had stood up...as I would know more..

You must be a trends man foyles as First Lieutenant would be in the group you would want to be. I agree and you can forgive him but just not sure how or what the form is worth...

I don't like to be biased and big up the ones I have backed to often but I certainly won't be getting involved in the Irish staying Novices I have seen...but will have a saver on First Lieutenant as think he ran better and jumped better the last day than the bare result suggests also he had had a bad experience in the Drinmore...he will do better but he will have to show massive improvement to get involved in this years RSA imho..

as you can tell  harry im really keen on him  ive already backed him at 20s each way  at lads nrnb and went in again tonight  and will probably go in again at 20s e/w  , we know he has a lot of ability if you take his neptune form over 2.5 m  beat rock on ruby ,so young, oscars well ect, cant remember who was 3rd but that hurdles form is solid  and he looked as though 3miles + would suit ,if he can translate the hurdles form to chase form (and he looks more a chaser ) he  surely wont be far away given luck in running of course !

Laddies aren't NRNB on this race fella :(

Well be lucky pal he is a fair 20-1 shot

sorry martin getting confused backed oscars well different thread nrnb with lads my  apologies!

"First Lieutenant ran well over Christmas. Mouse (Morris) likes to run his horses at Christmas and go straight to Cheltenham, so that is what First Lieutenant will do all being well. His next race will be the RSA Chase"

At the weekend, the most significant move came for the Nicky Henderson-trained Bobs Worth, who shortened to 5-1 (from
6-1) for the RSA Chase, even though he had been beaten five and a quarter lengths by Grands Crus in the Feltham Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. And there was a reason.
Henderson explained:“Barry [Geraghty] was suspicious of his breathing at Kempton.
“We scoped him but found nothing. We made a small adjustment to his soft palate and he is back cantering.”