Only Monsignor was ever going to do that but we've had that discussion and a revisit will get me banned ! ps - Monsignor > Arkle
I'm on TIME FOR RUPERT on Saturday. I think his latest win will have boosted his confidence, he's proven around Cheltenham (before RSA), jumps, gallops and stays (some of these won't) and I think he'll go very well.
I thought he might have rode the Minack but then again he chose the wrong Mullins horse today and it ended up being a Wylie horse who came out better in the Thyestes, So Tidal Bay it probably is! Like many have said with Grand Crus being pulled out of the Argento, Im starting to get the feeling that he will end up going for the RSA at the festival rather than the Gold Cup...
Will be a good choice made by Pipe if he goes for the RSA not to chuck him in the deep end straight away!!
I am sure that we are all looking forward to seeing this . . . 9. Tidal Bay - 11 - 11-0 -Paul Nicholls - R Walsh Very interesting to see how Ruby gets on with him. You just get the feeling that if anybody can get a tune out of him then Ruby would be the man for the job.
Still a fascinating race, but most unlikely the GC winner will come from it. It's Grade 2 status now looks appropriate.
Still pretty happy with my 6/1 about Captain Chris. If he has any Gold Cup pretensions then he needs to be taking this.
Ruby riding Tidal Bay - I remember being at Donny when Ruby rode Tidal Bay in his Arkle prep run (yes it was THAT long ago) and he fell. RUPERT for me.
Ruby Walsh as only ridden Tidal Bay once, He lost by a neck on him at Doncaster in his prep run for the Arkle where he went on to win...
I fancy Tidal Bay today, he's getting weight, and if anyone can get him right then Nicholls can. I don't think Captain Chris will go on the ground, and I feel Diamond Harry is somewhat overrated, yes he won a Hennessy, but he was only carrying 10 stone. Time For Rupert's price also looks to short, even though he does have good course form, you just couldn't have him at that price on what we've seen so far this season
Yes it was a good ride Ron. I know Tidaly Bay is a difficult ride, but I'm not sure what Ruby Walsh was doing, sitting there holding him on the bridle with 2 to jump, giving him a heck of alot to do. Looks like Pricewise has done his money on Captain Chris for the Gold Cup, we knew he jumped out right handed anyways, but today he was pretty much refusing to go left handed
Something is a miss. I mean this horse won the Arkle last year so I can't see it being that he doesnt like going left-handed...
Going left handed was definately the issue for Captain Chris today, watch the way he was jumping, and RJ obviously realised he couldn't win the race, with jumping like that, so he pulled him up. There was nothing a miss physically. Horses as they get older can develop certain quirks, just check out Denman as a novice around Exeter, he had no issues travelling right handed, but as he got older he refused to do it. Don't forget Captain Chris's last 3 runs have all been right handed, so he's probably got used to going that way
Im not so sure its Possibly the case Shergar but he didn't look happy at any of the fences and after reading AP's book he is adamant any horse that starts to jump one way is either hiding an underlying problem or protecting themself. It'll be interesting to hear what Phillip Hobb's as to say. I very much doubt He'll be going to the Gold Cup in that order. Pricewise as done his money anyway. Not a good day at all for P.Hobbs/Richard Johnson with Menorah aswell...
Having watched that race, what rivals of would connections of Grands Crus have to fear in the Gold Cup? He must have a terrific chance of placing. Proven round Cheltenham, sits off a strong pace and nurses his way into contention. Has the crusing speed to quicken with the tempo. Only question is whether he can keep up the accurate jumping and how well he can stay.
I agree TC - todays result could have bizzarly convinced the Pipe team to take their chance in the Gold Cup. I've never known a year like it, the Gold Cup jolly is a horse who has been beaten twice and jumped poorly, the second fav is a 12 year old, Grand Crus had two season hurdling and went over timber 8 times so his inexperience of fences is somewhat nullified by him racing experience, he's also seen Cheltenham 4 times (1 chase start) and clearly acts at the track - I'd never usually recommend a novice attempt a championship race but a Gold Cup tilt just makes sense to me...
