For whatever reason, No More Heroes didn't run his race that day, but he was beaten fair and square; I'm not arguing that.  I think Shaneshill did run his race, and ran a hell of a race up until 2.5 miles and simply didn't get home.

I just don't see it with Shaneshill,I really don't.
Maybe someone can help me?

Iv been on shaneshill rsa since September. Lots of horses get further over fences as they're not going an out and out gallop.
Agreed I don't rate my chances of picking up any money with shaneshill in any race. But a poor run in a fast attritional 2 mile chase wouldn't completely rule him out of being in with a shout over a longer trip. I live in hope and as long as I get a run for my money that's fine by me.

I think he's a big price now. Going to top up for the JLT. Second in two consecutive festivals isn't to be sniffed at. Happy to put a line through yesterday's run and a few of Willie's have disappointed. 12/1 ew looks a great bet to me.

Just backed different gravey 289.0 entered up for a 2m4 novice chase and his only cheltenham entry is the jlt, has some nice hurdles form, unexposed and according to henderson has been working well at home waiting for better ground. Likely to be hendersons main hope for jlt imo.

Funnily enough I've been thinking the same. Looking down the market principals, it isn't looking the deepest race is it? Still think Bristol de Mai will prefer it softer and Outlander isnt even guaranteed for the race. More of That, L'Ami Serge and Vaniteux are all still prominent in the betting and none look like running. I could see him going off around 5-1 on the day.

Good ground and the Festival seem to suit Shaneshill perfectly. The single biggest issue is his jumping, and that is tempering my enthusiasm a bit. But I've had a large bet on him, which I was pretty downbeat about, but since KV defected, I have topped up at 12's.

Agree with the above posters. I can see him being well backed on the day with Walsh on board. He looks overpriced to me, but I'm hoping he isn't backed in too much before NRNB arrives. Past experience with late injuries, defections, etc., has made me vow to wait for it when I can. I'm going to be checking on his price regularly to see if I have to go in before then.

Only a matter of time as to when Shaneshill goes back over hurdles...

If he can't beat outlander or BdM he should go back hurdling

Lets hope he jumps better for those who have backed him in JLT.

I think he's a better animal too. And we know he prefers better ground which you couldn't say for the other two. But his jumping is the big worry isn't it?

Not worries in the slightest about Serge... Think Garde La Victoire is a real danger though.

I'd side with Shaneshill but not with L'Ami Serge and/or More Of That in the field. And at the current price of 11/1 it's is a reasonable bet unlike the earlier 5/1.

Thought I'd remembered a quote from Hobbs that said they were leaning towards the JLT...

Philip Hobbs will consider letting Garde La Victoire step up in distance at Cheltenham next month to avoid a clash with the brilliant Douvan in the Arkle Trophy.

An impressive winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last March, the Willie Mullins-trained Douvan is unbeaten in three starts over fences and is odds-on across the board to strike once more on the opening day of the Festival.

Garde La Victoire is also three from three since switching to the larger obstacles and has winning form over the Arkle course and distance, but Hobbs is wary of biting off more than he can chew and admits the longer JLT Novices' Chase two days later could be a more attractive target.

"What worries me is Douvan and all those horses in Ireland winning easily.

"That's why we have the entries in the two races and it will depend on ground and opposition nearer the time," the trainer told At The Races.

"I think you assess everything. You shouldn't run away from one horse as a horse can always disappoint or he can fall and second prize in the Arkle is a fortune.

"(But) if there's Douvan and a couple of others to worry about, maybe the JLT might be better."

Garde le victoires not on my short list for either race but Hobbs said on atr when they were interviewing about the national horse onenightinvienna  last week about garde le victoire that "everyone's saying douvan's a cert so it looks like we will be running for place money but it' a novice chase so anything can happen"
So I wouldn't be backing for  either race with any certainty.

CCM

Munir's racing manager was very quick off the block after the Kingmaker that LA would not be running in the Arkle, and I can understand why, ie when the pace quickened the jumping of LA began to deteriorate, and that was on soft/heavy ground; on good ground, as anticipated in the Arkle LA will feel the pace even more and so will his 'quality' of jumping.

Between BDM and Outlander I'd have the latter as it's proven over 20f+ and was running against the best juvenile hurdlers over staying distances. Still a great shame KV has been sidelined, but this has given a chance to any Arkle bound runners wishing to avoid Douvan though.

Some others have posted today that NJH has confirmed L'Ami Serge for the Arkle today as well btw.

Hobbs talked about getting another run into GLV on better ground at some point - I think he actually mentioned Kempton and it looks like Saturday's Pendil Chase has been reopened due to insufficient entries.

If he does run in that - and runs well - I'd think they'd grasp the nettle and go for JLT - otherwise I personally think it's increasingly likely he'll turn up in the Arkle because:

All his novices chases have been at 2 miles (just short actually!)
The Arkle looks even weaker since the sad demise of the Gary Moore horses and the L'Ami Serge effort at Warwick
The prospect of a small field and big prize money for 2nd will be increasingly enticing - he was quoted in the RP on Sat as saying he only looks at the prize money in the context of justifying running Royal Regatta in Ascot Chase (great decision, picked up 3rd prize) - he might also think that he still has an outside chance of winning the Trainers Championship (I do!)

He's one of my handful of antepost bets - in the JLT - if he does n't appear in Pendil entries, I'll probably back him each way in the Arkle, though it goes against the grain because one of those bets will then be a loser.

If MOT does end up in the JLT as hinted by connections today in their interview with the Racing Post then it will take a very good horse to beat MOT (most likely be 'fav'); the interview will probably have made the decision for connections of L'Ami Serge to run in the Arkle now - the JLT has just got more difficult to win with the presence of MOT.

duffy,

Would you be referring to LS? If so, his supporters will not like it one bit. Nevertheless, I do agree with you....the horse has little or no chance with Douvan and/or Garde La Victoire over 16f even though I have it to win without Douvan.

8's available if you want it