What did Kitten Rock actually achieve over hurdles? He won a few small-field soft-ground events and then got shown up in the Champion Hurdle. Douvan would beat him comfortably over hurdles imo.

Kitten Rock was found to be suffering from a minor spinal injury following his disappointing run at Naas on Sunday.

Trainer Edward O'Grady said: "He was lame post-race and has been diagnosed as having a small problem with his spine.He has had a procedure to hopefully rectify the issue and it will keep him out of action for three weeks."


It was too disappointing to be true especially as he jumped so well early on. Out of action 3 weeks, then only a month left to get him fit. A prep at end of Feb and then mid March for Arkle. Could be done but unlikely, I'll wait for his next run and judge him after.

CCM, those who were on the fav maybe don't get it but people that backed KR yesterday expected a clean sweep as his form over hurdles was miles ahead of those 2 finishing in front of him. We'll see how he comes in his next race/s and judge his chasing form properly but not on this run apparently. If you want to judge him on yesterday and tell me Shaneshill is that much better ability-wise, especially over 2 miles, then I'll have to simply disagree and move on.

And your first comment is a bit bizarre. Those who backed the fav 'don't get it'. I think they got it perfectly right tbh! Those who think Shaneshill is better than KR, currently look they are right in their assessment. Don't they?

yes, its bizarre if taken out of context. The difference of 30-40 lbs between KR hurdles and chasing form, as I mentioned yesterday, is not that obvious to me as he looked to jump well in the early part of the race. All I know now is he was found lame and today the spinal injury appeared as the reason for it. You're obviously well entitled to keep faith with the fav who did what his odds suggested but for KR backers things are not that clear-cut. Presumably his target is still the Arkle so the next run should tell us if he'll put it up to Douvan or not.

Lami serge goes arkle,  Henderson said before and after the race at plumpton, he also went into length about his supreme run and having to take on douvan again in the arkle.
The owners have bristol de mais already confirmed by NTD and connections to be going for the jlt, and I'd fancy vyta du roc would have a fair chance of going there too. As he ran in the neptune, started at 2 mile 1f over fences and got out stayed at aintree behind Thistlecrack on his only try at 3 miles. Henderson said He is set to run at Doncaster on friday over 2m 3f

timtim

I hope you are incorrect: I'd like to see L'Ami Serge runs in the Arkle, the only horse that could stretch Douvan in my opinion especially up the Cheltehnam hill as Douvan had not been stretched so far; I'd also like to see Ad Mad do to Douvan in the Arkle what Golden Freeze did to Carvill's Hill in the Gold Cup many, many moons ago.

Why waste time trying to get Douvan beaten. Mullins has told you he could be the best of a very good lot - better than Vautour, Faugheen, Hurricane Fly... just back it and enjoy it or don't back anything and enjoy it. If you have to bet against Douvan, bet in the 'without' market. He is simply streets ahead of the rest. Before his last run they talked up Sizing John - stuffed - and Ttebbob - annihilated. Last year L'Ami Serge was going to put it up to him in the Supreme and finished in a different postcode! What do you think will be different this time? Douvan was 6-1 for the Arkle after that race.

Douvan is definitely a beast but I wont be backing him at 4/6.

I have had a few bets on Ar Mad. Stays two miles really well, jumps at speed well and at 16/1 definitely looks the value. Jumped straight at kempton and whilst the left handed issue is of slight concern, he has raced and won going left handed before and has been really very impressive so far this season.

I have quite a few accumulator that include Willies horses so I will be the first to cheer on Douvan if he romps it, but they might not all romp it as we all saw last year. Oposing Douvan with Ar Mad and UDS with Dodging Bullets (after I have seen he is fit and well later this month)

Probably best time to lay Douvan will be after Leopardstown in 3 weeks time. After that, the British challengers will have two big trials at Doncaster at end of month and in February in the Kingmaker. The Pendil Chase over 2 and half in mid February has also been a good trial but this year I have a feeling if any horse will go there it'll be a sign for JLT path rather than Arkle.

Then back in Ireland the only credible challenger remains Ttebbob who was way below par after a quick reappearance but I hope that one will find an alternative route to Douvan until Chelt otherwise the lay plan will suffer as I think he'll go very close if not even beat him if he runs to his best. Although now thinking about it, to have 2 successful front runners in a row will be a small miracle after a spell of decades. That includes Ar Mad, although this one showed battling ability lto against Vaniteux and also produced outstanding sectionals in his last 2 races.

Do you not think he might be a JLT type though sage?

Has also won over 2m4f at Chelts though. He looks more of a staying type to me. Added to that, I think Douvan will frighten a few away and this fella will be one of them.

"Ar Mad is grand, but he's on a break at the minute, simply because there are no races for him now until Cheltenham," said the West Sussex handler.
"The only options are the Clarence House (Ascot) or the Game Spirit (Newbury) and I don't want him taking on those out of novice company.
"There's the Lightning Stakes at Doncaster but I'd rather find out about the left-handed thing at Cheltenham.
"I've spoken to a lot of people I respect about this and some say he'll be fine and others say to stick to what you know.
"If he didn't go to Cheltenham, there are races at Leopardstown and Fairyhouse for him but he'd never want the ground too quick"

There's 2 ways that you can take that quote.
I'll reserve judgement and let ar mad backers take what they want form that.

"Ar Mad is grand, but he's on a break at the minute, simply because there are no races for him now until Cheltenham," said the West Sussex handler.
"The only options are the Clarence House (Ascot) or the Game Spirit (Newbury) and I don't want him taking on those out of novice company.
"There's the Lightning Stakes at Doncaster but I'd rather find out about the left-handed thing at Cheltenham.
"I've spoken to a lot of people I respect about this and some say he'll be fine and others say to stick to what you know.
"If he didn't go to Cheltenham, there are races at Leopardstown and Fairyhouse for him but he'd never want the ground too quick"

There's 2 ways that you can take that quote.
I'll reserve judgement and let ar mad backers take what they want form that.

Interesting there on the Gary Moore film there on ATR

He said with words to the effect without quoting him 'He doesn't know whether Ar Mad will have another run or go straight to Cheltenham!'

All this tosh about no opportunities when Garde La Victoire picked up £6500 with very little opposition at Ludlow. Not saying Ar Mad needed to run there but Nicholls and Henderson are constantly telling us there are not enough novice chases but neither had a runner there.

Ar Mad could well be the key to this race.Unlike Douvan/Lami he has shown he can jump well under pressure,at the end of a race when others around him,as novices,tend to make their mistakes.Shrewd yard,dismissed chelt immediately after his Henry 8th romp,stating he needed to go right handed,using his plumpton beating as the excuse.The bit they failed to mention was he wore a hood,was held up,and pulled the jockeys arms out for most of the journey.

Victory in the Wayward Lad,against one of the leading contenders,seemed to bring about a change of heart,with the Arkle mentioned as the logical choice.Saw the ATR interview,like all good trainers,gave nothing away.Lets hope he does take his chance,there will be no hiding place up front,he surely will make it a proper test,and we already know he can battle.

These are embryonic chasers,prone to mistakes,all will be improving/growing/maturing at their own rate,literal form reading has its place,but its only part of the jigsaw,personally always liked novice chasers that go from the front.I hope they all make it,the race I,m most looking forward to on day 1.

Ttebbob found to have a problem after that race,
They meet again on Sunday by the looks of it,let's see what happens then.
He could still be a challenger.

Expect Ttebbob to be woefully outclassed again imo. Can't have that one in the same breath as Douvan.

Not so much ignore, as take with a pinch of salt...think Hannon's comments re: Canford Cliffs v Frankel at Goodwood those years ago