NJH - Chasers next season

Mad Max is the Gold Cup horse imo

dont think any of them bar burton port truly stay a solid 3 mile round chelters

I see Burton Point as a decent Hennessey horse should Denman be at top weight

I really like French Opera for the Champion Chase. Beaten in Grand Annual off about 165 I think and loves Cheltenham. Nowhere else for him to go really and will surely be Geraghty's mount on the day. Still has a lot of improvement in him as fairly lightly raced and was always rated highly as a young hurdler. Start him in the 2 miler on the Sunday of The Open Meeting and possibly The Tingle Creek, although not sure that's his race then maybe The Vistor Chandler before Cheltenham. On ratings he has a similar chance to Sizing Europe but price massive.

wont geraghty be on big zeb

or Petit Robin or Forpadydeplasterer

If he's riding for Henderson and French Opera's in it, I'd think he'd have to ride it. Petit Robin isn't good enough and wants further ditto Forpadydeplasterer.

If he does choose Big Zeb, who isn't the most reliable jumper, then I'd imagine Henderson getting a half decent replacement like McCoy.

Can Henderson dictate what Barry rides that easily?

Even so, I can't see Henderson denying him the chance to ride the current champion tbh

But will he want to? Big Zeb is hit and miss to say the least.

Does anybody know if any of Oscar Whiskey, Lush Life & General Miller go chasing?

French Opera was rated 154 when he ran second in The Grand Annual and went up to 158 before beating 148 rated Tchico Polos 6 lengths at Ayr which makes his rating seem reasonable at least. Sizing Europe was rated 155 before winning The Arkle and Big Zeb 165 when winning a Champion Chase which fell into his lap with the disappointing run of the favourite and perennial runner up Forpadydeplasterer staying on into second over a trip now short of his best. The runner up later disappointed at both Aintree and Punchestown and it is likely that he was not at his best last season.

French Opera is a 7 year old, who will presumably be still improving next season and is available at massive prices compared to the other 2.

The jockey issue is not vital as McCoy also rides loads of the stable's horses and wouldn't seem to have any other obvious mount in the race but French Opera's form at Cheltenham reads 3112 and will surely go for this race.

Either way, he'd be my choice for the race at this stage but comments welcome.