Waaheb

i like him too

Cant wait for this fella to reappear....definitely the most exciting novice in Ireland for me.

If he can jump, he is going to take a great deal of stopping in whatever race he runs in. I think he's pencilled in to run at Leop in the meeting that starts on Boxing Day.

I wouldnt worry about it not being entered either. Loads of time for him to have a few runs and put himself in the picture for Chelts.

surely an entry soon

Will be out d last week in December

wheres that from BJG ....TA

Dont have a link but read it somewhere the other day - thats the intended plan anyway

much obliged

Have it saved actually sorry

From the 15th Nov

Another Weld runner that has yet to see a hurdle on a racecourse is Waaheb but that hasn’t stopped bookmakers installing the high-class bumper horse as an 8 to 1 ante-post favourite for the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

“The plan is to look at Leopardstown at Christmas with him. He’ll start off in a maiden. We should be able to get him there, especially if the weather we are getting continues,” the trainer said.

Waaheb wound up last season just losing out to the ill-fated Lovethehigherlaw in a classic finish to the Champion Bumper at Punchestown. Along with the November Handicap winner Hidden Universe, another likely to reappear at Leopardstown’s Christmas festival, Waaheb makes up a winter team that their trainer describes as “small but select.”

Has anything been mentioned in Ireland about Too Strong for the Supreme? Suprised to see hardly any bookies are quoting a price

forum at its best

Toostrong - WP Mullins 3rd Dec

Mullins said: "In time he'll want a much longer trip. It was a slow muddling race and he didn't jump as well as he can.

"I think he's a stayer more than anything else. He is a huge big horse and he is crying out for fences next year."

Mark Howards excellent One Jump Ahead publication detailed Toostrong's background as follows - Owned and bred by the Couetil family in France, he is by the same sire as Sprinter Sacre and ran in two APQS Flat races. Fourth on his debut at Fontainbleau in October, Toostrong  was a winner next time at Seiches-Sur-Le-Loir (2700 metres) in the Provinces under Adrien Fouassier in December. He was acquired by agent Richard Hobson soon afterwards.

Looking forward to Waaheb

he's got a nice team

Galileo Something was second to Sous Les Cieux the other day is a smart flat horse

worth paying attention to where they run

Waaheb isn't entered in any race so far at Leopardstown!! Hope all is well with him!!

Wont be he is going for a maiden hurdle after xmas low key start

I hope you're correct Howdi, but I would have imagined that Dermot Weld would have targeted him at the 4 year old 2mile maiden hurdle.  He seems to really like this race and in recent years has ran or intended to run his best novices such as Rite of passage and Hidden universe.

any news?

The 1st race on Irish Champion H´dle day in the middle of Jan. or the Deloitte Novice H´dle in Feb. ?

Sorry, this may be too late this year (29th Jan.) so Punchestown instead at 2.50 on the 15th ?

Ooops,
A hurdle race for five yrs old and upwards

Steps To Freedom (10) , Waaheb (10) , Tour DArgent (12) , Prospect Wells (14) , Simonsig (14) , Galileos Choice (16) , Its A Gimme (16) , Cash And Go (20) , Colour Squadron (20) , Corbally Ghost (20) , Dandino (20) , Darlan (20) , Fingal Bay (20) , Please Talk (20) , Tetlami (20) , All The Aces (25) , Allure Of Illusion (25) , Cinders And Ashes (25) , Distant Memories (25) , Dylan Ross (25)  - Others  25 or more

? out ...big drift

drift on purple too

drift on purple too

?? Scene that earlier

Last price matched:      21.00

Surprised he's been so short given he's yet to jump a hurdle in public.

What about Samain? Similiar profile, high class bumper horse, yet to jump any hurdles.

Fail to see why there was such a big gap in price between these two.

Waaheb looks different class to Samain.

Last price matched:      14.50

Samain
5g Black Sam Bellamy - Selva
Gigginstown House Stud
He was unbeaten last season in three bumpers and improved with every run. If he can transfer that level of ability to hurdling then he should do very well in novice races. He has a high cruising speed and will start over 2m. We will take it from there and let him find the trip that suits best. He seems adaptable in terms of ground. He has met with a setback and will not reappear until the second half of the season  ............from WP Mullins website

He won't be rushed back,maybe punchestown

Waaheb certainly is an exciting prospect and after watching his bumper 2nd at Punchestown, it did not dampen my excitement. That said, why has he not been seen this season. That has dampened it. Could not have a bet until we see he is ok, and can jump.

hope he's entered soon.

Weld said last season he already jumps great...

My sentiments exactly Willie.

The way he brushed Cash & Go aside at Limerick said he must be very, very special. Giving him weight too. I dont think C&G was quite right that day, but it was still an awesome performance.

But as you say, needs to prove he has progressed and can jump.

Lack of a run by now got to be a concern imo. He isnt going to much race practise and he;ll need that for a Supreme Novives.

I see this horse has now hit 18.0 on here, does anyone know anything regarding the wellbeing of this horse? Bit of a worrying drift!

Wouldn't surprise me to see this horse heading straight to Aintree...

Is it me or at the minute does the supreme novices race seem a bit poor in quality atm? Steps to freedom no wonder horse to me, prospect wells had a decent enough weight in the handicap hurdle a few weeks back and wasnt good enough to take its chance, i think we still have yet to have seen the winner of this race.

would suprise me stakey

i dont see what all the commotion is he hasnt a breeze in the supreme imo

how do you come to that conclusion based on his bumper form!

Massive fan of the horse, but seem to remember Weld saying last year that Chelt wouldn't suit him - sent to Leopardstown(?) instead. Will he be looking to do something similar this year and keep him at home?

nah that was just because he was inexperienced, not all trainers like the Cheltenham bumper, Henderson doesn't.

He's got even less experience hurdling, so by that reasoning will the pace/hurly-burly of the Supreme be any good for him? Hope you're right though....

Aintree wouldn't have the kudos to interest Weld I'd have thought. If he misses Cheltenham, it will be Fairyhouse and Punchestown I'd have thought with Tracey Piggott fawning over him. Also, I'd guess the prizemoney would be better.

David Duggan sent me a tweet top man david

announcement this week unlikely to make cheltenham

Leading hope Waaheb ruled out of Cheltenham

BY TONY O'HEHIR 3:38PM 10 JAN 2012

WAAHEB, 10-1 joint-favourite with the sponsors for the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle, has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival by trainer Dermot Weld.

Thefive-year-old sat at the top of the betting for the festival opener despite having yet to race over hurdles and Weld said on Tuesday he would not be able to get him ready in time for the race.

"Unfortunately Waaheb has had a few minor hold-ups and it will not be possible to give him an ideal preparation or a race before Cheltenham. Consequently, he will not be running at the festival," Weld said.

"Depending on how he progresses he might be back in action before the end of the season, possibly at the Punchestown festival."

David new.....

Nice one btw Howdi. Got rid of all my green on him on the back of your post. Cheers for putting that up.

Wonder if they will run him in the Bumper at Punch? Makes sense to keep him as a novice next year imo. Only a 5 yr old.

Another reason not to be betting AP after New Year. That said, you didn't need to be Mystic Meg to avoid this one

pleasure david knows his stuff nice bloke too - gd to follow on twitter

only lost a fiver

Bast@rdo.