Kalif du Berlais, am I missing something?

Wont be going Nicholls said after the race.

“His jumping is brilliant but he’s not a Triumph horse is he! All those types like him in the past – Clan Des Obeaux, Frodon – they always finish in the middle and end up superstar chasers, so I don’t see a point in running them in the Triumph Hurdle.

“He could come back here for the Adonis, although we’ve got a few runners for that, so it might be one more run and possibly look at Aintree. All options are open, but I don’t see him as a Triumph horse because he’s the wrong type.”

40 here for 23 quid but not on the agenda, seemingly.

just seen that now. We'll see. Wins the next thing at Kempton by the length of the track who knows? He looks a real good horse to me. Be having a few £ on him chasing with the allowance beginning of next season. Had a few £ on at 50 anyway.

and, leif, I am going to Aintree for the 4yo race so I shall be having a thrash at this one!

Illustrious owners - Sir Alex, Hales and the other guy.
You'd think they would want it at Chelters but if its long term target is the Gold Cup they're willing to wait.

you must be right leif but, as we have seen time after time,  the temptation of Prestbury Park.....any way, if it runs I can lay off for a big free bet. If it doesn't, just the cost of a few pints. Lost in the rounding!

I've noted both the runner-up and the third hoss.
Both have done well on debut.

Same connections skipped it with Monmiral.

The winner at Huntingdon might be more of a Triumph horse. This one was very good but did look a bit too big for a hurdler. Reading about his purchase, it was clearly massively expensive and apparently "everyone knew" it was the one to get.

I think it's admirable that Nicholls skips the Triumph with these horses with their longer term future in mind. More connections ought to put the shiny bauble that is Cheltenham every year in a proper perspective.

The hoss looks like a future CHASER
Move on

are they saving it to take on constitution hill over fences

No, because (i) CH will never go over fences, and (ii) if he did he wouldn't stay 3 miles.

Just think if this really was the goods then surely Anthony Bromley would have got this to Isaac Suede and co instead of this lot.

so as buckley promised wouldnt have won THE BOAT race which is 4.5 miles ,let alone the gold cup ?

So many things to consider between now and March. This is young raw horse that could be ruined by a very hard race at Cheltenham although the Triumph is no longer a 22 runner cavalry charge. I suspect that he will only run if they think he has enough in hand to dominate the race which is possible but Saturdays race was no where near the Huntingdon one on Friday or the Cheltenham trial won by Burdett Road in overall class. And of course there are no decent form lines with Irish trials.

cobbden thinks burdett rd is his best ride of the festival

Was that before he rode the 2 Nicholls horses on Friday and Saturday? I still think Burdett Road is the best and flat experience often helps in the Triumph.

Will be fascinating to see how he gets on at the DRF. Mullins doesn't really get his good juveniles going until Christmas.

well I was missing something! But a bob or 2 at 50/1 is no great loss. Fortunately I had a decent thump on him today. I am now simply echoing PN but I do think this is a really good horse. If he goes chasing as a 4yo I shall throw a few £ on him for the Arkle/Turners. I am normally very sceptical about 4yo hurdlers but I think this may be under rated. Good luck all.

One of the Triumph stats is flat rating , the second was just beaten , getting 5lbs and was 126 OR and 69 on the flat , fwiw 64/87 Triumph win/placed horses rated 70+ . Just sayin ...

and Kalif looked very unfurnished so if he was mine, I don't think he would run again this season. He had to be brave to get past Givemefive and the Kempton straight when soft/heavy is a very gruelling test. Monmiral is an example of a very promising immature horse that has gone backwards after hard races at 4.

Baron Blakeney showed the way to campaign a juvenile: beat 28 horses to win the Triumph; then win the Great Met at Epsom; then second at Royal Ascot; then win the big novices' chase at Aintree, beating a Gold Cup winner (Forgive 'N Forget) and a National winner (West Tip); then spend the next two decades as a stallion.

Wouldn't have yesterday's ground as soft/heavy, Sage.
More like good/soft.

Fair enough. Still looked hard work from 2 out.