Master Minded 2/1* Captain Chris 2/1* Somersby 100/30* Medermit 7/1* Kalahari King 10/1* Imsingingtheblues 25/1* Dan Breen 25/1* The Sawyer 66/1* Kinkeel 500/1 Master Minded is a terrible price, there is no way he is going to defy a penalty and win this. At level weights, I'd rate his chances, but I could never back him with a penalty. He's a bridle horse, always has been, and there is no way he can conceed weight to horse's of this calibre and still win on the bridle* Captain Chris looks a fair bet, getting 5 pounds from MM. He would have won at Exeter, had he jumped the last so you would have to rate his chances highly. Medermit was getting weight that day, now he isn't, so there is no way I can see him infront of CC again.* Somersby is a hype horse, and has never been as good as his high reputation. As a result of his reputation his price is always ridiculously short, I wouldn't touch him.* Kalahari King is a funny horse, promises alot, but rarely delivers. He quite often runs a big race, like when 2nd in the Ryanair last season He is getting 10 pounds from MM and 5 from CC, so strictly speaking if he can produce similar form to his Ryanair 2nd, then he should win. But I just don't Like the horse's inconsistancy, and his tendency to always find 1 to good.* Verdict: Captain Chris 2/1*
I would rule Medermit out. Captain Chris is very consistent and I expect him to be spot on after his comeback. What can you say about Master Minded? Class Act on his day and Paul Nicholls says he 'has come on enormously' for that seasonal reappearance. I love Somersby and will back him for the King George, at the risk of looking bloody stupid. Henrietta Knight says ideally they'd want a bit further this weekend but that 2m3f at Ascot is stiff enough. I'm convinced you'll see Somersby in a better light at 3m around Kempton. Looks the ideal trip to me. I'd probably be looking at a Master Minded/Captain Chris RFC with Somersby running on late in the piece but not quite getting up. Anyone who feels MM will bounce back might like to take the 10/1 for the King George that is available on Betfair. If he wins this, he will shorten.
Thanks shergs! Was just thinking I was going to do a post about this! I am going saturday and I cant wait! I too was swaying with Captain Chris- but surely if Nicholls has any provisions for Masterminded to run in a gold cup or King George- he should be beating this kind of competition! But likes you shergs I just dont think he will! So I am to siding with Captain Chris!
1. Master Minded 2. Somersby 3. Captain Chris... The best horse in race should win and defy a penalty if he turns up in the kind of form we all know hes capable of. Somersby always gives a good account of himself as rarely ever ran a poor race just met one or two who are better than him (Master Minded for example) I think Captain Chris will obviously be the biggest danger buts hes not in the same league as the Master, Before the Arkle I wouldn't have touched him with a bargepole beaten out of sight by Ghizao on two occasions recieving 10 pound on one occasion and then hoses up at Cheltenham (Hes either improved massively or some horses haven't run to there likely ratings, I still don't know how Finians Rainbow didnt win the Arkle?) Intresting race but I'll stick with the class act...
I wouldn't be so quick to write MM off for this - the plan to go to the Old Roan a couple of weeks back felt like a hasty decision and he clearly wasn't tuned for that race. He won off the same weight last year and had Albertas Run toiling before that one fell. For me Captain Chris is still all abou potential and, yes, he may have won LTO before unluckily unseating Richard Johnson BUT even if he had that would be nowhere near what's required to win this and at 2s the pair I think Master Minded offers the better value. Can't see much else getting into it.
All about Captain Chris for me. I am really excited about this horse. I am convinced that we haven't seen anything like the best of him yet. To my eye there is still so much improvement still to come. I think he has every chance in both the King George and Gold Cup and expect him to take this en route to both races. Istabraq, his first run against Ghizao was something of an afterthought after he was beaten by Silviniaco Conti. He was then never going to be a Champion Hurdler so was switched to chasing. His run at Newbury came very quickly after a breathing operation and he was understandably below par on that occasion. Furthermore the softer ground was firmly in Ghizao's favour. He was beaten at Sandown behind Medermit courtesy of an awful ride from Richard Johnson. I backed him that day and couldn't believe that he had managed to get the horse beat. He then showed his true colours when staying on powerfully in the Arkle and at Punchestowns over an inadequate trip. At 3m and with a good ride i think he can achieve a great deal. Richard Johnson failed to get him into any sort of rhythm at Exeter and it was a testament to his ability that he was still the likely winner at the last. There is a lot more to come from this horse, of that i'm sure. Really excited by him and i think 9/4 is a fair price. Already on at 10/1 for the KG and 33/1 for the GC.
You got better odds than me for both then... I couldn't agree more Zenyatta. CC has the best form, given the excuses and to be frank short of another UR none of them will beat him - Master Minded obviously has the ability but I've started ignoring him as far as betting goes - odds are never value given the dodgy recent form. It'd be good to see I'msingingtheblues run a big race, although given the quality of the field I think he'll struggle to place. Captain Chris to win comfortably - and then go on to put Long Run to the sword on boxing day.
I agree I can't fancy Master Minded at that price conceding weight and - for me - a slight question mark now if he is the horse he was. OK he may have needed the run at Aintree but I couldn't back him with that still in mind. Captain Chris improved as he went on last season and would have won well at Exeter but for the mishap! Getting 5lbs from Master Minded and barring no repeat of Exeter then he'd be my pick for the race. Somersby I don't think has ever been a hype horse or one judged with a high reputation? Certainly haven't seen the fanfare for him that Racing Demon got when he came on the scene! Would have had a top chance in the Ryanair had circumstances been different. He's consistent and ran Master Minded close at Ascot last season; well in control on his comeback and gets 4lbs off MM so I wouldn't dismiss him. 7/2 at the moment and that looks a fair enough price with Master Minded & Captain Chris at 2/1. Can't look beyond those three to be honest so would go for: 1. Captain Chris 2. Somersby 3. Master Minded
Looks a cracking renewal to me. Depends what shape Sommersby is in he would be well worth an each way interest though would want to see the horse before the race to check his condition, HK often leaves plenty on her stars early season though the way he brushed 1833 aside the other week was impressive
jeez, if we all fancy CC to take this, and the majority do me included, then the 2/1 is a good price... And im with the majority on here as well. It will take some for Master Minded to win this... We shall see, i cant wait... Hope you have a great day Woolcombe... Im not jealous, honest...
The Captain for me too - I agree with Toppy's RFC, and although I normally avoid forecasts like the plague I already have Long Run & Kauto coupled in the Betfair. Looks like I may have to make that 2
Has to be Captain Chris he looked well forward at Exeter and if stands up and improves on that I think he should win easily. One reservation for me is Sommersby a bit of a talking horse and I'd be wary of that one producing a big run. MM can't fancy at all... obviously class act on day but needs to reproduce old form to figure. 1. Captain Chris 2. Sommersby 3. Master Minded
Really ? That's thrown it wide open - it will also mean some false (short) prices about a few of these.....
Just come up on SPorting Life Grizzly - didn't work well. I can't get on Oddschecker from work so don't know what the revised market looks like. Probably slight odds on MM
If MM is odds on then that's the first of the false prices in my book ! Like you mate I can't get anything at work - sky sports and that's it, so I can see Skybets prices. On this ground over this distance I make Kalahari King a big runner - yes he's disappointed more times than not but he was stopped twice up the hill in the Ryannair having to veer round beaten horses and beaten only a length, at some point it will all click right for this horse and he will win a big race. I'd much rather be on KK each way at 9s than Medermit at 7s. Actually scrub that, probably less than 8 runners now so each way a non runner for me....
Ooooooh that's sore one....was looking fwd to that contest.....I would think MM 4/6f....3/1 Sommersby...not touching the race.
