Orgasmic overdrive - great line. Seriously, this was Sky breaking news yesterday evening, racing never gets headlines and just goes to show what the festival has become. Dex - my post was not sympathising with Nicholls, I was emphasising the demand for information from punters and how they use anything said/read in their betting strategy
I only heard on the radio this morning. Gutted for the horse more than anything. If there is any doubt about his health/wellbeing there is no way he should run, absolutely no way, and I'm sure they will do the right thing by him. What 'punters' have to remember is that, when there is a problem you'll know last. Owners will always be first and the 'punters' will be informed as necessary. That's they way it should be in my opinion, and 'punters' will have to deal with that.
this is very disappointing news, surely even if he runs it has to be more doubtful than ever that he could actually win? Although my ante post bet on Long Run looks better this morning I would still be gutted if KS didnt run. my thoughts after the initial shock last night were 1) it is a bit like 2005 all over again, when Best Mate was withdrawn from the Gold Cup a week before. (by the way that was still a great festival despite no Best Mate) 2) what happens to Grands Crus now? I am very tempted to have an ante post bet on him, although the price is a lot shorter now and I still dont want to until he is confirmed for the Gold Cup. If Grands Crus does run in the GC it also will take something away from day 2 of the festival where he could well have been the star of the show that day. all in all the Kauto Star situation has huge implications for the whole festival
Listening to Paul Nicholls on ATR and I get the impression that this story might have been blown a little out of proportion. He sounded as if he was expecting him to make the race but that there was just a doubt because he hadn't recovered as quickly as expected which was why it was necessary to make this announcement. Who knows, but I am certainly more hopeful today than I was yesterday afternoon.
Totesport are NRNB on the Gold Cup so I might have a little dabble on him tonight - what's he trading at currently? Any 9/2 about?
On Kauto Oddy ? He couldn't win the race before his injury scare, has even less chance now IMO. It's your money of course - good luck !!!
I wouldn't touch Kauto Star at the moment but if we get to Gold Cup day and he is the line up then 4/1, 9/2 will look very appealing odds that would be hard to resist!
The King is solid on the exchanges. He's been shortening all day and now trades at 6.6/6.8. He did leap up to 12.0, or thereabouts, yesterday evening. All told the prospects of him bidding for a historic 3rd Gold Cup look far more positive this evening than they were yesterday. I have been watching his price tumble with delight all day. Of course, it could just be the blind faith of his army of supporters . . . . But I'll take the optimists view on this occasion.
Fair enough Grizzly but that's a pretty brave stance to go out a limb like that based on what he's shown us this season! I've been dubious of whether he could do it myself and even more so now, though I certainly wouldn't be running scared of the opposition in the field against him, Long Run included. He's an exceptional horse and he has proved us all wrong before...
Just like to say that I have been a Kauto Star fanatic, and not ashamed of it, ever since I saw him race at Newbury in either his 2nd or 3rd race, might be wrong off the top of my head but I think that's what it was. He was magnificent, the best young jumper of a fence I had ever seen. Since then he has gone on to become the best chaser for 40 or 50 years, and I am proud to say I've been present at the majority of the highlights. For the record I'll gladly admit that i was calling for Kauto's retirement in April / May last year, mainly due to the fact that to the naked eye it looked as though he was not going through with his races and had fallen out of love with the game. However throughout all the confidence I was putting in my own judgement that he should call it a day, I always had the nagging feeling that he was still the best naturally talented staying chaser out there. The way he has bounced back this season has brought me to tears both at Haydock and at Kempton, I simply could not believe that he had pulled off on both occasions what had seemed impossible just 6-10 months earlier. Me old man tells me that the noises coming out of Ditcheat are much more positive today than they were, and Kauto had a roll in his box after cantering which he has not done for a few days. I now think the chances are 70/30 that he will make the race, and if he does and is 100% he will win. Long Run has not trained on, and has become a sloppy jumper, I would not be surprised if last years running of the GC was his moment in the sun, and he did not go on to win another Cheltenham race
Kauto is a phonemonal animal, but although he wil still be the best jumper in the field if he lines up, hes not 8 anymore and will not get up the hill. I have disagree 100% with you about Long Run- his jumping has come on leaps and bounds look at the newbury race, his jumping had improved drastically (still not up to Kauto) but even if he jumps badly between the fences you wouldnt have thought he had (look at last years GC) The horse is built for the cheltenham hill and is Mr Stamina all over, I reckon he will win a couple of more GC's in years to come incl this years! I just hope he lines up, and if he does, it will only be because he is 100%. But I will be cheering him on any!
Tend to agree with Joe Lively about Long Run. It's a big call to say he will win a couple more Gold Cups - we have been a bit spoilt with Kauto and Best Mate - multiple winners of this tough race are not that common.
Can I just say that I've been a massive Kasuto fan all his career, watching him win at Haydock last year and ygain seeing him bravely holding off a horse 5 years his younger was phenominal, he has been as good a servant to NH racing that's ever graced the game, however, at 12 he cannot win another Gold Cup. 3m around Kempton he has a chance of adding to him ridiculous number of King Goerges, but a stamina sapping Gold Cup trip is not his ideal race and only his class and bravery has won him two of them already, but honestly he doesn't win a 3rd. I'd love to see him back at kempton in Dec, but that should be his next and last trip to a racecourse....
Fair comment to those that agree with me, and those that don't, racing is a game I love, mainly because it's a game of opinions before, during and even after a race has actually taken place. Don't get me wrong, Long Run is an 'A Lister' in terms of staying chasers, but he has not progressed as I thought he would, and I think his sloppy jumping is simply inherent in his character, and no amount of tutoring from Yogi Bear or whatever his name is will completely obliterate that. Kauto was 3rd last year when he was clearly under a cloud most of the season, as his trainer has alluded to, so to expect him to improve on last years performance based on the only evidence we have so far which are this season's performances, is no foregone conclusion. Here's to a cracking race, where the main protagonists turn up fit and 100% well
All I ask is that he and the rest come home safe. Achievements are unlimited in many ways, when do you know the right time to call it a day? He cannot go on forever and unless he looks in shape to run 3m 2f of absolute stamina and class jumps racing, he should be nowhere near a race course. I'm trusting Paul Nicholls to make the correct decision.
From Paul Nicholls Twitter, Just watched Kauto Star do a strong canter over 10 furlongs with What a Friend. Cliffords words. . "Big Step Forward".
