As I say I'm commenting on it having not seen it and the final race comment was 'unlucky' but I doubt that's of little comfort to anyone having taken the 4/7! He seems a horse who takes a soft looking fall too often, so he might be better back over the hurdles but at 9 years old he looks one who isn't going to set the world alight at this stage. He was either vastly over-rated in his pomp or a case of wasted potential over fences and I'd probably give him the benefit of the doubt and say the later view holds most weight. Any big fancies for the Festival Dex?
Apart from Salsify not yet tbh with the AP market cramped and so many multiple entries these days due to the extra races. You?
Dex, Topy fellas. 12/1 a nice price but opened up much bigger, guessing the yard got that. I didn't even see the race for my sins, I see that Lava Lamp was actually just behind when left clear at the last. Was it possible to say who was in charge or was it quite tight?
Plenty of fancies Dex but have only backed 2 ante-post and they were done in the last week so hardly massive value but hopefully still bigger than they'll be on the day: My Tent or Yours @2/1 and Sizing Europe in Ryanair @ 7/1. Salsify done me a nice turn couple of weeks ago- I read your preview and have to say I thought he was booked for a close second up until the last 100 yards when the jockey got him stoked up to get up! Would like his foxhunters chances but seen his old for Tammys Hill was beaten yesterday but quite possibly that was down to the tough race 2 weeks ago. Better ground is surely the making of Salsify and its seems they've slowly bringing him to the boil for the festival so sure to go close. Very much in the Sir de Champs camp for the Gold Cup but its looking an epic renewal in my view. S. Conte probably has the strongest form but I keep thinking back to them skipping Cheltenham for Aintree last year so have a nagging doubt their not 100% sure track will suit him but they can't keep him at home this year. Think Sir de Champs will jump for fun round their and can see him outpacing Bob's Worth. Arkle is also looking like a right ding dong battle but can't have a 9 year old winning the Arkle so expect Simonsig to win it handsomely. The Champion Hurdle's a done deal (I hope!)
Bobs Worth may not win the gold cup, but it won't be for getting out paced. He holds victory over the current champion hurdler Rock on Ruby. And last years Arkle second Cue Card. You could argue that the distance was further than the 2 mentioned's best, but the same applies to Bob, being shorter of his best. And Cue card didn't look to bad over 21f last week either.
Dont if i should be happy or mad took early prices 4/1 and 5/6 BUt had £10 double so not complaining i been following tatabela for years knew someone who had a leg in here might still not heared from her in ages Luck cant last all i need is posh to begin winning again
True hawkeye, Bob's Worth is far from a slow horse. In fact he possesses more speed than most seem to give him credit for, where most view stamina as his main strength. I'm just of the opinion that Sir de Champs has shown little of his best this year on soft ground and they believe on better ground he can quicken. He's matched strides with Flemenstar a couple of times now so he should have plenty of gears for a gold cup trip. It's looking a really strong race as I expect the top 3 in the market are all improvers
Financially SDS is by far my best winner of the race. So i hope your right Beef!! Bobs Worth is my favorite horse in training though, so wouldn't begrudge him winning. As long as one of those 2 win i will be happy.
There seems to be general acceptance that the 2nd season chasers are better than Long Run but I'm not so sure. I think he will go very close this time around, put up a real battling performance to win the King George.
Hawkeye, Bob's Worth is a horse I have Cheltenham 'previous' with! I had a nice bet on him 2 years ago in the Albert Bartlett then completely dissed his chances in the RSA last year, in fact I recall a Cheltenham preview article we done last year where I claimed quite outlandishly that he won't be winning and he can't jump To rub salt in the wound I also had a lumpy bet on First Lieutenant but sadly not each way! The Gold Cup really is looking a very tasty contest. Whoever claims it will surely be an above average winner
Long Run can't win this race on anything other than soft / heavy ground Oddy. I'm sure he needs a real stamina test now against the very best.
One of SDC, Bob's Worth or S. Conti wins the Gold Cup imho. I haven't studied the race that closely yet but Bob's Worth Henessey is the standout form of this season with the Tidal Bay formline. He sets the bench mark. The key to other two is, how much will SDC improve for good ground and how much has Silv conti had left in the tank in his two victories.
George you reckon any chance them sending Cue Card to run second behind the black aeroplane? Seems the owner is keen to try the 2 mile route with him and he'll get a much easier lead in that race than he will in the Ryanair??
Good ground when he beat Denman and Kauto Star to win - remember how powerfully he stayed on up the hill? If he puts in a good round of jumping he will take some beating. I actually think he is better on good ground - if you looks at this season's King George he was knackered coming to the last. I think jumping is the key to Long Run, rather than ground. He jumped like a stag when he won the Gold Cup
In the 2011 Gold Cup he beat 2 legends both on the downgrade Oddy. His stamina won the King George, in my view Captain Chris was the classier animal. If I was a bookie and the ground was good for the Gold Cup I'd lay him all day long I really would.
I've already done my dough on Flemenstar I do agree though that Bobs Worth and SDC should have it between them - outstanding festival form the pair of them but I will wait till the day now
Long Run couldn't win the worst gold cup in years and beat a bunch of non-stayers in the King George on bottomless ground. He wants four miles, they should work on getting his mark down imho. Hope not BOS, think he'd be the one to beat in a cracking renewal of the Ryanair but I have said for a while that he's the second best 2 miler in training (Simonsig potential rival but hard to judge him yet and I'm on Overturn at 7s so I don't want to accept how good he might be!) so could make sense to have 1 more crack at Sprinter Sacre. He had him somewhat ridden out in the Arkle but I don't know why they think they can get closer this year if they do go Champion Chase.
I like Cue Card, he's always fascinating animal to watch race but I have a suspicion he lacks the ability to tough it out at the end of the Ryanair trip and I'd actually stick him in the Champion Chase if he was mine. I'm also on Sizing Europe for the Ryanair so the less competition there the better Have to laugh at Mouse Morris' attempt to convince people First Lieutenant is heading anywhere other than Ryanair- the money's been pouring on him for the Ryanair so pull the other one Mouse! He'd actually be my main threat to Sizing but Sizing is an unbeaten horse over 2 and a half I expect him to tough it out at the finish should he need to.
