sgt reckless

yeh,strange entry if hes an Arkle horse. Ive backed him for the Arkle so a tad concerned.....anyone heard anything from connections?

Sgt Reckless is an interesting contender for Mick Channon, switching back to smaller obstacles after making a winning start over fences at Uttoxeter last time. The seven-year-old picked up minor honours behind Faugheen at Punchestown in the spring.

Channon said: "There wasn't a lot for him over fences and we decided to let him take his chance back over hurdles as it looks as though he'll get his ground.

"They're talking about 15 millimetres of rain coming in on Friday night, so we might as well run him on Friday, when hopefully he'll get his ground.

"Whether he's good enough for a race like this, I don't know. We were put in our place by Faugheen at Punchestown, as most horses have been.

"It's a proper race. Faugheen and Irving are the main ones, but Purple Bay is a good horse as well and so is Sign Of Victory. There are no bad ones in there.

"Our horse is in great form, so we'll give it a go and we'll know where we stand afterwards, that's for sure."

Cheers Mac, sounds like hes ready to run so they feel may as well run him.
Hopefully hes back over fences after.

Although there is a 2m nov chase at Kempton next day....will the ground be much different?

Looks to me like they may be thinking revert back to hurdles.

2 mile novice chase division looks strong this year.

cheers GI Mac

True,it is mate.Think its a really strong year for nov chasers at all the distances to be honest.
God knows what the JLT and RSA will look like come March!!

Dec 23, 2014 -- 5:54PM, buddeliea wrote:

Although there is a 2m nov chase at Kempton next day....will the ground be much different?Looks to me like they may be thinking revert back to hurdles.

He's also entered in that novice chase on Saturday (the Wayward Lad) - is it still conceivable he might run on Saturday instead if the rain does n't materialise? There is plenty in the forecast for Boxing night into Sat.

Hope so mate,like to see him get as much chasing experience as he can.

read channons comments.....

I'm on for the Arkle too at a decent price and so am hoping that is still the plan. Not only that, but he will be 8 come March, so time is running out for a chasing career if going back to it next season (when he will no longer be a novice after winning his debut). Plus, he is unlikely to take top rank over hurdles, so what's the point?
In addition to which my only other Arkle bet is Ptit Zig and whilst I was busy patting myself on the back after his mullering of JH last week, PN was busy telling everybody he would be going up in distance.
So right now, my book is reading about as well as a Mills & Boon.

"Sgt Reckless is in such good form I'm desperate to run him – and I don't care who else is in the race," said Channon. "We've always thought he was a very good hurdler but he doesn't go on very soft ground, which is one of the reasons we're keen to run him at Kempton before the rain comes."

Dec 24, 2014 -- 9:35AM, alleged22 wrote:

read channons comments.....

I did but they were before the decs for the Wayward Lad were published because it was reopened.

Channon's usually pretty straightforward and I expect him to run in the Christmas Hurdle (considering backing him w/o Faugheen) but I just wonder if they might change their mind if the forecast changes and the rain is no longer expected on Friday night.

thanks, alleged - did n't see the sceond set of comments before I posted, thay're pretty definitive

down to run Lingfield (AW) on Friday - what they doing with this horse????

just waiting for better ground and keeping him fit/ticking over is my take on it...when I watched the Christmas Hurdle back it was noticeable that he was n't given a hard time (s'pose they picked up a modicum of uncontested prize money also).

problem is, he could arrive at the Festival without sufficient match practice over fences and the ground is usually at its easiest on Day One assuming thy're still targetting the Arkle.

I have to say it was slightly surprising that they decided to go for a maiden on the flat rather than another novice chase race if they are serious about going for the Arkle.

won nicely mind but i agree

im on for the arkle but one of the strangest preps ever if they do take that route!

agree !!

soon the stat-men will say you cant wih the arkle unless your held up and have had an all weather prep

bumpers for jumpers come into favour think my tent had one last year

im slightly old school but I find actually jumping fences provides a level of experience that a spin on the flat can't quite match

Is there any quotes from Channon anywhere about what he's actually doing with the horse? Needs some more experience of fences surely if he's going to run in the Arkle. Shame they didn't take him to Doncaster v Josses Hill last week really