SS has had a breathing op since the Supreme Novices run.

Way,way to early to be suggesting who will and wont battle up the finish!! SS only had one start ffs.

I agree with Budd on this one. Sprinter Sacre looks a horse of immense potential, however on what we know to this point he is the one with a question mark over the hill. That doesn't mean he can't and won't answer that question in March, but I think Budd's concern is valid on known form.

Dont agree.
I can suggest opinion at any stage of the season.
If i feel more confident about PC and AF staying up the hill better than SS i am entitled to say that.
I have given my reasoning why i feel that may be the case,but also stated that SS may well get up the hill fine.
None of us know what will happen,but See absolutely nowt wrong with trying to work out which of the 3 is more likely to win the race.
Getting up the hill could well be vital in this race cos its hard imo to seperate them,and imo from what i have seen of all 3 horses in their careers so far i would have PC and AF in a battle more than i would have SS.
I may be wrong of course,but this forum is a lot about suggestions and getting things right and wrong.

frequently hurdles ratings are the best way to separate runners in the Arkle. Peddlers was clearly the best over hurdles and I expect him to come out on top

don't forget, in 11 races under rules only one horse has managed to beat him and that was Hurricane Fly so you need to be very special. Peddlers at this stage a clear and strong favourite irrespective of what they have done over fences to date

When I say he didn't look like a natural to me, I should probably have said he was a bit big and bold for my liking. Depends very much on your personal opinion as to what constitutes a good chasing style, especially for a novice at Cheltenham. I prefer the economical, neat style of Peddlers to an extravagant one of Sprinter Sacre (and I know this is based on one very promising debut, so am not knocking him really). Just think there is less to go wrong with the former style. If you are wrong at a downhill fence when the tempo is increasing, I think you can get into more trouble with an extravagant leap than a fiddly one.

And for what it's worth, I have one or two doubts as to whether Al Ferof will have the pace to go with them if the ground is good. Stamina is a big part of any Arkle winner's arsenal but in Sprinter we clearly have a speedy beat that will have plenty off the bridle from a way out if they let him, and in Peddlers Cross we have a stout stayer and battler with the speed to keep himself on terms with the likes of Hurricane Fly. Not sure whether Al Ferof has that ability yet.

yes but Peddlers produced superb hurdles form the year before winning the RSA hurdle as well as going close to winning a CH. If we are looking for ways to separate these runners then I suggest hurdles ratings as a way to do so at this stage. Subsequent events may show that to be an incorrect premise but at least it is something solid to base an opinion on. Anything else is just "opinion" based on not much more than visual impression imo.

It is unlikely that any of these horses are going to show anything like the form required to win an Arkle before the big day so how are you gonna decide? As I say, PC achieved the most over hurdles and the Arkle has often been won by the highest rated hurdler in the field. That adds up to enough for me.

I wont use Hurdles ratings to decide chase races,i never have.Just my feeling on how they will get on over fences,and then watching them jump them.
I'm fine with that.

that was in hindsight knowing the result and Sizing Europe was a very highly rated hurdler, as was Tidal Bay, MWDS, Moscow Flyer and plenty others.

The point is about ranking them NOW when they have not had the chance to show their best efforts over fences because they are still facing easier tasks and gaining experience. You think any of them are worth ranking higher than PC AT THIS STAGE then please give me an objective reason why. If not you are guessing (which you are entitled to do of course but where is the justification?)

Judo the one flaw with your argument is that if you base everything on what is known then you aren't allowing for improvement, and using any real initiative to work out what could happen. Form in the book is the starting point no doubt, but if it was that easy we'd all be rich

Osana was rated higher than SE if I recall.

I am all about looking for improvement but I am not gonna guess based on nothing more than impressions in weak races that have little to do with the white hot competition of the Festival. In this case, Peddlers is my benchmark and until someone shows me something to threaten him I am going to assume he is clearly the best. I won't be betting til much closer or indeed on the day when all the information is available. I reserve the right to change my mind right up to the last minute. However, at this stage all the evidence suggests PC is clearly the most likely winner

fair play mac. I'd forgotten Osana ran too, was trying to remember all the runners and being a bit lazy as I could have looked it up, but the RP site isn't working for me at the moment

Fair enough Judo,we have different approaches.No doubt it works for us sometimes and sometimes not.
For me a big part of CHeltenham is having a go early to nab some good prices and seeing how they go throughout the season.If they fail thats part of the game and accepted,but if they dont,i have ammunition to play with when the festival gets near.
I love the festival,but the build up,which for me starts November is a big part of it as well.

By the way mate,if this was the CHurdle without HF and we had the same 3 horses at the top of the betting,i would still give Al Ferof a fair chance against PC.Hes the improver and maybe dont need to improve that much as that was a good Supreme,as is being proved.

i haven't seen any novice jump as well as somersby's first 2 novice chase wins....we won't talk about what's happened since

Hurdles form can never be ignored but look at Join Together beating Champ Court & Mossley today. Probs 3rd best over hurdles. Back on topic mega pleased with Sprinter Sacre. He will have to improve a lot throughout the season I think to win the Arkle but he's shown the right signs fto. Personally win or lose would love to see him chucked into the deep end before the Arkle. He needs a tough race to wise him up a bit but that's just my opinion.

Me,beligerent??

OK,lets get this straight.
Al Ferof is a born chaser that used his hurdles season as a stepping stone,and winning the supreme was a bonus for connections.Had he ran well and not won i would have still had a look at him for the Arkle.
When he won the supreme he showed me that he is a Cheltenham horse and one to have on your side wherever he goes the following season,They decided the Arkle which distance imo is perfect for him at this stage of his career.
Yes,his hurdles form is good to have and i do take notice,but his hurdles rating is not the reason why i am backing him for the Arkle.
Sometimes you watch a horse and think,now thats a chaser,and then to get a price you may have to take a risk and go with yer gut feeling.
As Judo said,all i had was hurdles form,thats true,but i also had a gut feeling about the horse,and i acted on that and thats why i got 14 before his debut.Had i waited i would have 7's.
As i have said,sometimes that goes pear shaped,have to accept its part of it,but when it comes off not only do you have a good price,its also a good feeling to know you got it right and beat the bookie.

we can discuss it till the cows come home but..lets hope they all line up and we truly will have a cracker of a race on our hands.

Having seen Al Ferof for the first time at Sandown, to my (very untrained, borderline ignorant eye) I Really didn't see what makes him a standout better chaser than hurdler; he didn't strike me as overly big and scopey at all, not like Knight Pass for example who you could see from a mile off would be interesting over fences.

Like I say though, I'm possibly talking nonsense here but it's what struck me!

Know what you mean Joist.When he walked into the paddock he did not strike me as a big imposing sort at all,bit disappointed to be honest,especially when a bit later i saw Sizing Europe walk in!! Blimey that is one impressive looking horse.
Al Ferof must have some engine though,and the main thing for me is that hes proved he can jump well round Sandown and more importantly re the Arkle,he can jump well round Cheltenham.