L'Ami Serge

He must have had a setback.

I remember them saying last season that he has loads of ability but he is also very fragile and needs watching day to day.

Yeah guessing he'd had a setback too but just wondering if anyone knew the specifics. Knowing NH won't be happy with him until 2017.

NJH was on the morning line today and not one of the presenters asked him about the horse...

Wasn't Nicky bigging this lad up saying he has never seen a horse be as exciting over his fences.   If the horse has met with a set back surely Nicky would come out and say it considering he's one of his top novices. His last run last season was his worst so maybe the plan is to get one or two runs max, into him before the festival??

Better news! Racing UK report L'Ami Serge chasing debut delayed after he picked up a chest infection - now back in full work and should be ready for his chasing debut in the new year.

Great news indeed...   Nice 2mile 4f around Uttoxeter to get the ball rolling.......

Good news it's not an injury but I'd be a bit concerned over the 'at the earliest' given NH's apparent fear of running his best horses:

Grade One-winning hurdler L'Ami Serge will not make his eagerly-awaited debut over fences until the new year at the earliest.

Connections of the talented five-year-old, who features prominently in the betting for the Arkle Trophy, have been forced to delay his chasing debut after he picked up a chest infection.

Last seen out finishing fourth behind Douvan in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding had previously struck at the top level after capturing the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in January.

Assistant trainer Charlie Morlock said : "He had a little hold up. It was just a health thing. He got pretty close to having his first run, then he just picked up a chest infection so we had to back off him and he is slightly on the back-burner at the moment.

"It will be into the new year when he races, but he is back in full work.

"He is still showing that he has a huge amount of talent."

I see your point SGN - sequence usually goes something like ' waiting for this dreadful weather to dry up', 'just can't find the right race for him' and finally ' not sure I want to go to the festival with such limited chasing experience'.

Despite the above, I'll try not to be so cynical - theoretically there's still plenty of time to get two chase runs into him before festival week.

^ actually in the case of L'Ami Serge all his winning form is on soft so the first point above should not apply.

Don't want to put a dampner on this for you L'ami fans, but don't you think he's more likely JLT in any case. I was with him last year, but when you look at the bare results it's not that special.  He beat Kilcooley (Stayer) over 2m at Newbury.He then beat Kilultagh Vic (Stayer) over 2m at Ascot. Emerging Talent was upside until falling 2 out also, and he's subsequently been beaten twice at odds on.  He then went and beat Jollys Cracked it who's been beat in 4 Hcps since then and finally was easily beat into 4th behind Douvan at the festival.

Henderson has 2nd Fav Vaniteux already and I can't see why L.Serge should go to the Arkle with 1 and max 2 runs and turn the form around with Douvan and Sizing John, both of whom have already run and won with ease over fences and will both have more experience by the time the Arkle arrives.

I think it makes sense to go JLT as won't be run as fast and he won't be taking on his conquerors of last season.

Just my thoughts.

Don't think it will have anything to do with NJH and his other runners though. Simon Munir will be calling the shots, and of his novice chasers L'Ami Serge looks to be the paciest to me. I really don't think think you can say the horse lacks speed, and you want a horse that stays further in the Arkle anyway. I'd agree that everything suggests he will struggle to turn the tables on Douvan, but fences might be the making of him, and nothing went right for him in the Supreme and he still finished 4th.

Bristol de Mai was outpaced in the Henry VIII and he looks a perfect JLT horse for the owners imo. And Vyta du Roc is another who definitely wants at least 2m4f, but seeing how they started him at 2m I reckon he will be a JLT type rather than the RSA. He's trained by NJH as well.

So when you look at what Munir has for the novice races, I think L'Ami Serge stands out as the likeliest Arkle type.

Not good for an Arkle ''winner'' to be making there chase debut in the new year though. Would want them have to have 3 runs or more personally. But i'm all in on Vaniteux now.

now entered in 2m 214y Novices' Chase at Plumpton on Sunday, potentially interesting little race at 5 day stage.

He should pump that lot Rease, receiving 5lb too.

Agree re Vaniteux.

I'd expect L'Ami Serge to win but if two or all of Regal Encore, Willow's Saviour or Aso turn up they'd provide a decent benchmark as they've all been beaten comfortably by potential Arkle contenders.

I note Henderson has Vyta Du Roc (same ownership) and Volnay De Thaix entered in the Dipper at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

Given L'Ami Serge yet to go beyond 18f in career and time is moving on, I'd think the Arkle is most likely race for him, no bets at all yet for me but I'm definitely not in the camp that thinks Douvan is home and hosed - the only thing we learned about him on Boxing Day is that there's plenty of room for improvement in his jumping.

Looks like he has scared off a lot of the oppo!

Will be off with the forecast ahead

Over 20% for your money today.

Looked good but hard to take much from it. Amazed Douvan is 4/5 when you have two classy opponents in Vaniteux & Lami Serge. EW doubles with Yanworth for me.