At this stage I'm in total agreement with you, unless we see something at Kempton to suggest he wants a marathon trip (unlikely).
I've rewatched Smad Place's win yesterday. He really hasn't got the praise on here he should. He was stupendously good. Up with the pace, jumped as good as any horse can and won pulling a cart. 16/1 for the Gold Cup looks very reasonable.
Alan King has quite publicly chastised himself for running in the race without a prep last year. This time round he was primed to the minute and put in a stunning display of front running jumping. We shouldn't forget either that he has done this off a "proper mark". He is certainly one to be wary about taking on this season not just in the Gold Cup but also in the King George if he turns up there.
165 I think he's rated. Never winning a National off that mark surely? What did Hedgehunter win his off??
Ahhhh.. So he won it year before he ran 2nd in the Gold Cup then. For some reason I thought he won it after that Gold Cup, hence thinking he'd a huge rating winning it...
HENNESSY hero Smad Place will have just one further run before bidding for Cheltenham Gold Cup glory, with trainer Alan King on Sunday ruling out a tilt at the William Hill King George VI Chase. King, whose flagship performer gelled beautifully at Newbury with Wayne Hutchinson, revealed there will be no Christmas competition for Trish Andrews' grey, who was short as 8-1 for the King George in the wake of his rhythmic Newbury success. King said on Sunday: "He was looking very full of himself today. I'm not saying he had an easy race, but he did finish a fresh horse and came out nice and bright today, whereas last year he was completely nailed by the Hennessy. "I would imagine he'll now go to Cheltenham on trials day for the Cotswold Chase. He definitely won't go to the King George, we'll skip that."
He has at least a stone to find with Coneygree in my book, and that is without thinking that he would get outdone for early pace from that horse. I think connections are quite right to skip the King George too, he is a horse that would surely follow in the footsteps of last years winner if anything? A trip to Aintree for the Grand National would be on my radar if I owned the horse. He jumps and gallops for fun, and he was fresh at the finish on testing ground on Saturday, so would run a big race around the national fences for me. The Cotswold Chase looks an ideal next port of call, perhaps he will meet Many Clouds in that to continue the GN theme.
