That's the thing. He just looks bullet proof. He handles any ground, a slow pace is fine, a fast pace is fine, he has the best jockey, he has one of the best trainers, he has everything. He'll be mighty hard to beat in March, that is for sure.
BTW guys I thought Little Josh was running a nice race in the Argento yesterday before understandably tiring. I wouldn't rule him out of Cheltenham calculations and have a bit of 50/1 e/w about him for the Gold Cup.
Definite non-stayer Oddy. Would be of interest in either the 2m5f Handicap or the Ryanair. No chance of getting home in the Gold Cup though.
It couldn't have been easier today. According to the RP though he was all out against Peddlers Cross in last year's Champion. Grandouet or Zarkandar might give him a race.
Simple answer to that is he proved all this last year and to my eye he looks possibly better than ever this year. He's a scary horse. It's pure folly for people to look to oppose him in my book. I feel the same way with Big Bucks, I find it hard to take serious these people looking to 'take on' either horse... People on here perhaps don't like the horse or were left red faced last year, I don't know, but perhaps they seek proper medical advice if they genuinely think there's a horse lurking in this Champion field whose better than the Hurricane...Just my own personal take on it, I'll be on here congratulating those who fancy Unaccompanied, Granduoet or Zarkander (sorry I'm not stooping low enough to include Binocular as I do value my self-respect) or whoever should they triumph against the Champ on Tuesday 13th March and I trust they will do likewise back
Yeah for sure Oddy, but I did only have the win bet (36s) as I thought she was value at the time (with uncertainty over the Fly). I know Cheltenham throws up it's surprises but the three championship favs (Long Run aside) look bomb proof at the moment and I can't remember going into a festival with the view than 3 or the 4 can't get beat. Someone was telling me yesterday (before racing) that Lads were offering 50/1 that all 4 holders retian their championship crown, that'll be a hell of alot shorter now...
You'll find it earlier in this thread but over christmas I did a â¬9 win yankee (had won a ton and decided to reinvest - 11 bets at â¬9 = â¬99) on Hurricane Fly, Sizing Europe, Big Bucks and Long Run. At the odds I got it returns just over a grand
Nice one Oddy, I think you'll get through to Friday mate but my faith in Long Run and SWC is much reduced these days.....
That's the one I'm most worried about BUT I keep thinking of Long Run closing in on Kauto Star up the Kempton straight - 2 furlongs further and the hill have got to play to his strengths. Surely NH will be having a talk to him about race tactics i.e. "if you get outpaced at the top of the hill, don't panic you're on the best stayer"
For all intents and purposes he looked in trouble last season at the hill. Kauto was going strong and then Denman came to press, and Long Run was being ridden. But Long Run really does respond. I think Long Run has a lot more in his favour at Cheltenham however, he goes into the Gold Cup this year on the back of two sketchy jumping performances, whereas at Kempton last year before the GC he was absolutely spot on. I don't know if you can get away with those errors at Cheltenham on the undulations and the tests of balance. If he jumps cleanly he has the engine to retain his crown, there is no two ways about it. I shall be cheering on Kauto though and just hope they all come back safe and sound. Think Grands Crus has done enough to warrant a shot at it, he is an excellent novice chaser and has jumped really well so far. Is there any reason why he would be more likely to make a mistake in the Gold Cup than the RSA? I understand it must be tugging on heartstrings a little bit because of the Gloria Victus tragedy in 2000, but I think that horsess jumping had been a little sketchy prior to the Gold Cup. They need to rigorously assess his schooling and jumping experience, and then make a decision. He'd be very interesting if he was cajoled into the race in the latter stages. By the way- I've updated the front page with a couple of bets that I had missed. If there are any more, let me know
Mullins said that Boston Bob would go for either the Neptune or the Albert Bartlett, but would wait to see where his other horses were going after the Deloitte hurdle on February 12th. http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/card.sd?race_id=545817&r_date=2012-02-12#raceTabs=oc_ Entries are there, some good names to that, obviously not all will make it. But it will be informative I suspect.
If I'm honest I desperately hope Long Run or Kauto win the Gold Cup because if they don't I just wonder how bad the winner will actually be, another Nortons Coin moment beckons.....
Has it ever happened before where the 4 defending champions have all returned and won the following year , in my eyes that seems highly likely this year
Hard to think that all 4 Champions have a strong chance of retaining their crown. I think I am right in saying that it has never been done before which just goes to show how hard it can be. Very had to see past Hurricane Fly, Sizing Europe and Big Buck's for me. That would make Long Run the most vulnerable but that is only because he is up against the best horse we have seen for a long time in Kauto Star. Long Run might be good enough but if Kauto can maintain his form of this season then he has to have an outstanding chance. None of the other defending champions have an opponent in the same county as him, that is for sure. Oddy, I think you have yourself a cracking bet. I think it is now a best priced 33/1 for the fourfold. I think when I first looked it paid 94/1 (if I remember correctly) but, needless to say, I decided against it. Not sure whether that is a or a or maybe both! Even 33/1 still looks fair seeing as it looks quite likely to happen . . . Though, with the 4 of them all it takes is for one to miss the Festival, fall, get brought down, run below par, etc. You just never know in this game. The best price usual their current odds is 31.49/1 with 888 and BlueSq. I have had a little investment at 33/1. I think that is very fair, I suspect largely because I think Sizing Europe is hugely overpriced given the paucity of the opposition.
the 50-1 ladbrokes was still on offer today for the 4 champs to retain. I dont have an account with them so I had a fiver on the acca with w hill. thought I better had before the fly ran, good bloody job. was about 43-1. can't understand why long run didn't shorten yesterday and why big bucks isn't even shorter to be honest. guess he's gotta turn up. still they often seem foregone conclusions before gthe festival but summat always surprises. gonna look that up ntd.
Does anybody bet with Stan James?! They are quoting 16/1 about all four retaining their crowns. Paddy Power are 33/1 and the fourfold can be backed at 31.49/1. They are a joke.
I think the only danger to the four could be Sizing europe imo with big zeb unbeaten since last years festiva wanting revengel, somersby landing his 1st G1 hungry for more and Finians Rainbow a very talented horse, it is another very strong line up, which I wouldnt like to call atm! but for the value of all 4 champs retaining the crown it has to be done!!
I bet with them yesterday for a change, put some funds in it (I made an account up with them to enter a comp) and they are shocking the site was so slow and they are so slow to put your winnings back on to your balance I missed put an e/w bet on shakalakaboom because they didnt do it on time! Shocking betting site, I withdrew my winnings & I have now closed my acc with them!!
using wiki on phone so not ideal but cannot see more than 2. 2003, 88 I think and 79. don't bode well but never been many years with chances like this.
Big Zeb's form looks piss poor though this season. On formlines through Forpadydeplasterer he doesn't even have the beating of Finian's Rainbow, and that one couldn't even beat Somersby over 2m. I think Sizing Europe has little to worry about to be honest, especially as he can lead. He'll just set his own tempo, jumping away, and nothing will catch him. Not always as easy as it sounds mind!
