Douvan is a beast...he'll beat any horse over any distance that's how good he is...Gold Cup winner 2018
I don't understand why when every good 2 mile chaser comes along there is this obsession with making them a Gold Cup horse. What is wrong with winning the Champion Chase every year? It would be the worst thing they could possibly do with Douvan trying to turn him into a Gold Cup horse. Horses with that much speed just don't win Gold Cups.
More on Douvan from Timeform " he is one of the most exciting novice chasers seen in Timeform’s experience, likely to be a match for virtually any of the established top-rank chasers next season." For complete Timeform post Aintree update see here And here for other Timeform Features
The 2 mile chasing division looks there for the taking next season. Sprinter Sacre is still the king for now, but at 11 years old, and with all the issues he had health wise it's hard to see him stopping Douvan. The only thing that counts against Douvan is his trainers piss poor record with horses in these premier chases at Cheltenham.
Not sure there's an obsession is there? How many can you name? If you can win the Supreme, Arkle, QMCC and the Gold Cup with the same horse why wouldn't you? It's well within his ability in my opinion, and he's not an out and out speed horse is he, he's not short of speed, but I'd say his jumping accuracy and ability to gallop horses into the ground at a constant pace are his more prevalent qualities. Anyway I stand by my original statement....the next superstar providing he stays fit and well
What about this - leading jump horse on money earned this season is Rule The World That's almost as bad as the FIFA world rankings ..............
That's just in GB though oddy doesn't take into account money won in Ireland...Although rule the world would still be top, just goes to show the amazing money on offer for winning one certain race
It's ludicrous winning the National yields FAR money than what Cue Card has done i.e win the Charlie Hall, Betfair Bowl, King George and Aintree Bowl! That's just downright wrong if you ask me. Clearly understand why the race is so valuable but the whole ethos of a handicap being that far ahead in prize money of graded stuff just sits uncomfortably with me. Best races should equal best prizes.
Quite a few, Moscow Flyer, Master Minded and Sprinter Sacre spring to mind. I recall Nicholls and Henderson expressing similar views to mine when asked by the media if there champion chasers could win a Gold Cup. There is really no need to take the risk, as in most cases history tells us that great 2 milers don't stay the Gold Cup trip. How many horses can you name that have been great over both trips? Kauto Star obviously won 2 Tingle Creeks, but that was from the front in a bog, he was never exceptional over 2 like he was over staying trips.
Yeah theyre the three I thought of, but Master Minded was only shunted up to 3 miles when he was gone at the game, and I don't think Moscow was ever seriously talked about being stepped up in trip, from memory though so feel free to correct me. I remember an interveiwer asking Henderson about moving Sprinter up in trip which he instantly dismissed...no obsession then. Can't name many to be fair, but then again how many Douvan's have you seen? Look at the horse, not the history books. I repeat, from next season he'll beat any horse in training, over any distance. Kauto Star was a freak of nature...good ground, bad ground, left handed, right handed, 2m, 2m4, 3m, 3m2. Ridiculous when you think about it
Totally see where Shergs is coming from here in that there's no need to up 2m champions to 3m on face value but I also take Joes point of view here that the horse is really the one who tells you. Sprinter Sacre was so exuberant I think there would have been doubts as to him going 3m in some tough conditions. Master Minded was tried too late and was inconsistent by then. There's something about Douvans tempo and cruising speed that would give me a lot of confidence that makes me think he could be a King George horse one day. Gold Cup is impossible to predict until they run it. I think Douvan looks a touch more laid back than Vautour and for that reason I'd like his chances, given how close to 3m Vautour gets. Kauto the more we look back the more we will appreciate him. A very good 2 miler but a Champion over further. One horse who is somewhat underrated in that sense is Cue Card. A very good 2m hurdler, a very good 2m novice chaser (had to face Sprinter in his prime in an Arkle), and has then gone on to win a Ryanair, 2 X Betfair Chases and King George. Don Cossack likewise is a stayer who has shown the necessary speed to be a Champion and I think that's what makes these stars stand out from other staying winners.
How many Douvans have I seen? He's very talented no doubt, but I've seen better 2 mile novices even recently, he wouldn't have got Sprinter Sacre off the bridle in his Arkle (Cue Card couldn't) and I wouldn't say he was that much more impressive than Un De Sceaux was last year. Hes a top class horse no question, but he's got a lot more to prove before we can start saying we haven't seen a horse like him.
That was some performance Ron, thanks for reminding me, I just had another peek at the video of it. Superb
