He just needs to bully the field and hold on. If he wins i expect it will be by a diminishing lead the closer they get to the line which will make it look like he doesn't stay very well. Exciting race. Last years was great and hopefully we'll be served up another treat in a couple of weeks.
I think he will get perfect tow into race from Smad Place. The Vautour question has been settling into race and that should help him. I really like him and want him to prove he is the best around.
I think SMAD PLACE will lead and given a positive ride I think it will take something mighty good to get past him!
Don Poli will outstay them all up the hill. STAYERS win the gold cup, remember Synchronised? I doubt Vautour will even run, lots of negative vibes around him. A few years ago I really wanted Flemenstar to be a stayer, so much so that I told myself his defeat in the Lexus was down to a bad ride, rather than the truth that he just emptied after the last. Same happened to Vautour at Kempton, went out like a light. As Dex always used to say about Flemenstar, he is too exuberant to get these longer trips.
No Kauto or Denman in this field Nass, and Coneygree won it through sustaining a relentless gallop with accurate jumping. I had my doubts about Don Poli before he ran at Aintree but the lad just has an air of inevitability about him - just keeps on relentlessly hammering away and gets past everything. Apart from his early forays to the track, he has only been beaten twice, both times at Punchestown and I am prepared to believe either (a) he was over the top both times or (b) Punchestown doesn't suit him (more likely). I'm convinced this lad is an absolute staying machine and will mow down anything put in front of him up that hill.
Are you not worried he will get run off his feet oddy? He's a boat and in a slog could see why you might back him. Anything with good in the description and Smad Place tearing off in front will have him off the bridle a mile from home.
Rumours around Vautour are on the back of a schooling race in which Gangster pulled well clear with Vautour coming out of the pack but some way behind him. Hardly surprising given one could be going over 2m5 over hurdles and the other over the gold cup trip and fences. He's working fine, Ricci doesnt want to build him up too much as the dissapointment if he doesnt win will kill him. You can tell Vautour is his favourite and you can see why. Hes just trying to keep a lid on it so he doesnt get too dissapointed if it doesnt go to plan. Theres no way Ruby is riding anything other than Vautour in the race in spite of the questions about Vautour not staying. I personally disagree, he just idled in front and wasnt 100% ripe for the KG. In spite of that he nearly won it.
No, a good strong even gallop will suit him down to the ground. If you watch the RSA from last year he had no problems sitting off the pace set by Kings Palace and The Young Master and powered up the hill after the last. The only scenario that wouldn't suit is a dawdle for 2 miles then quicken down the back straight, can't see that happening though.
Not sure about Smad Place personally. He definitely needs to lead to be at his best but he does't have the tactical pace of Vautour so if Ruby wants to lead there's nothing Smad Place can do about it. I could see them both messing about the whole way round and ruin each others chance as a result. I genuinely think this is an incredibly difficult race to call. My antipathy to Don Poli now borders on malice. If he was 14/1 i could see the case and would probably back him on the off chance he is hiding a stone and more of talent behind his lazy style. Unfortunately he's 5/1 and the worst value of the entire race.
CUE CARD the one they all have to beat, can't understand why he's not favourite. If he were with a 'fashionable' yard he would be.
the whole 10 year old thing i would assume Drev. I love the horse but i think the 2 Don's are proper stayers and thats what you need in this.
