The Foxhunters Chase

ive backed my flora at 16's , and to be perfectly honest i cant remember y i did it and when! haha, ill have to have a look  there must of been some fekin reason! or maybe not!

well the price you have is probably alright for Backstage

but I can't agree about Barber Shop staying 3 mile 2 f as he managed to be 4th in a Hennessey off 156 behind the mighty Denman (which is 19lb higher than Backstage ever won off btw) and ran to a mark of 159 when 7th in the Gold Cup. That sort of form would be more than good enough to see him win this. The problem I have is whether he will actually turn up.

Chapoturgeon may well have some stamina doubts but he is a classy sort having run a RPR 154 when winning at the Festival and I prefer both of these to Monkerty Tunkerty (1 chase under rules)

Not sure when entries are but as long as the horse if fit it will run. Opened at 33s after the Warwick win but now as low as 14s.

Last years well backed favourite On The Fringe is entered in the hunter chase at Leopardstown at the weekend, that race is usually the strongest Irish trial.

shando.....I know someone who is a relative of the trainer.  Warwick was a test to see if he could be cheltenham standard.  All systems go for Cheltenham at the moment (fingers crossed no problems), a definate intended runner.
This is a mother trainer/owner, daughter jockey set up and would be a great cheltenham fairytale for them.

Beware qualification rules!

all entries must have finished first or second twice in Hunter Chases under rules, or won two open point-to-point races, or won one open point-to-point race and finished first or second in a Hunter Chase since 1 December, 2007.

If more than 24 horses are declared to run, priority will be given to horses which have run in Steeple Chases and Hunter Chases under the rules of racing. On this basis, horses that have qualified through point-to-points can still run in a Steeple Chase or Hunter Chase up to and including Friday, 12 March, to enhance the chance of gaining a place in the final field. The BHA Head of Handicapping will assess the order of elimination, but does have the right to guarantee a place in the line up for one ‘wild card’, should he so wish.

so should monkerty tunkerty get in or not ????

Shando....yes the horse is qualified, but great answer stevo lol!!

Barbers shop entered in 2 hunter chases on Tuesday @ folkestone and on Wednesday @ Kelso. The race at folkestone looks a good race with Richard Barber entering both Chapoturgeon and Gwanako.

Cutting comment Sax

Thought Herons Well was travelling well in this last year when unseating and particularly unlucky to be brought down in the Aintree Foxhunters.  Plan has been to return for another tilt at this, though abandoned meetings have put paid to a seasonal reappearance a couple of times already (including tomorrow).  Could be of interest for me at decent prices.

Did not mean to be insensitive Martin pipe returns.

But from an early age Barbers Shop flattered to deceive. He was talented alright, one year cruising just before the home straight in The King George going as well as Kauto Star!

Let's hope the "hunting fields" have made a man of him.
GL

its all relative

some of his rivals in this race would have been lapped in many of the races he was asked to compete in

KG, Gold Cup, Hennessey, Paddy Power...

some of these , like monkerty tunkerty, have had 1 run under rules or have only ever run in class 3 handicaps and hunter chases

so mind how you go slagging the horse - he was simply outclassed in those races but still produced form far superior to most, if not all, of these entries

Indeed, the form is rock solid for this type of race. (foxhunter)
Watch the replays of the races you mentioned.

KG already spoken about.
Hennesy  I thought he was a right non stayer before & opposed him.  To my surprise travelled like a dream between 2&3 out found zero when the winner went on yet plugged on past Niche Market (Irish National winner)for a place.

This horse is a complete ... in my book.

Please do not swear judorick.

All I have done is to state my views on Barbers Shop, and have not commented whatsoever on his potential rivals.

Unless I'm missing something it's more than likely he will be in Berkshire since there are only 4 weeks to qualify and I cant see any sign of a single qualifying race.  I am getting very worried about my ante post bet on Chapoturgeon and he is already half way there

Barbers Shop should get one under his belt at Kelso on Wednesday. Weather seems OK in Scotland.

I have to broadly agree with Judo here - Barbers Shop has shown high quality form in some very good races. If he retains most of that ability he has to be intereseting for the Foxhunters. And hound or not, the horse has won 6 times under rules.

I think the race is changing though. It's traditionally been won by point-to-point and/or hunter chase horses but in recent years several winners have come from the "normal" chasing ranks. You make a very good point about jockey though Shakey and it's also a race where some luck in running is required as it can be a hazardous passage.

thanks Stront but looking at the last 6 years results, the horses that have won have ran in more points for most of their careers than rules races (Amicelli, Cappa Blue, Whyso Mayo, Drombeag, Zemsky) But I agree the quality of the race has improved due to rules trainers using it as an extra option other than a handicap race for horses at their twilight of their racing careers.  This is the arguement for a decent vets race at the festival.....the only thing missing from it for me.

These top class perfrormances that Barbers Shop was putting up were back in 2009 and the last twice we have seen him he has been a shadow of his former self.A lot can happern in nearly three years,Horse's progress and others regress that's all part of the game.Does he retain enough ability and enthusiasm to be competitive once again at a level that would see him win a race at the Festival?only time will tell...One thing i do know is that we've all got our own views and this is an open forum,shame some don't share this approach