Surprised they didn't go to the PPGC with The Minack RV. Still a nice prize for him today. How well did Appleaday jump at Sandown (before one mistake cost him all chance) love watching horses jump around Sandown.
I agree that Long Run is not necessarily the certainty that many people think but I do think that at this stage he is the most likely winner (though that is fairly obvious). I also agree that it is quite possibly that the 2011 GC, whilst a brilliant spectacle, might have been a poor race with both Denman and Kauto Star on the downgrade. However i think the staying novice chasers are all fairly similar, with no stand out horses. Therefore i can only conclude that they are all short of the necessary level to make up into a GC contender because i am quite certain that not all of them can be good enough. As history has shown, it pays to seek a novice stepping up in trip and i think this year is no exception because to my eye Captain Chris is the most likely of last season's Novices to win a Gold Cup. There are plenty that i might place above him to run into a place (TFR for example, or the one of the Irish like QDLR) but he would be the one to win a Gold Cup, if he stays, which i think he will. I don't think you can use Midnight Chase as a guide for the Gold Cup form because he was beaten out of sight in the GC. He just plugged on for 5th beaten 19 lengths. Certainly an interesting division with plenty of alternative opinions!!
As RV suggests, might well be a good advert for the chances of Mon Parrain. Nicholls is absolutely on fire today. Fantastic day for the Champion trainer. Just goes to show what Henderson has on his plate to beat him for the title.
Zenyatta, I agree with most of what you say, but I should add another name to that of Captain Chris ie. Rubilight. Just watch his last race against Sizing Europe- he had at least a stone in hand coming to the last and, if Russell had pressed the button two out, he would have won by a very long way. His fall was just stupid by Russell! Sadly he has an infection, but I do believe he and Captain Chris are the two best prospects from last year's novice ranks. I'm also a great admirer of Quito De La Roque but he just lacks the touch of class of the above two. At Cheltenham however, he'll always run well and, if he did get soft going in March...who knows?
Backed he certainly was. From 6-4 this morning into 4-5 and wins the way an odds on shot should! Zen, I think we're pretty much on very, very similar wavelengths re: the gold cup / long run debate! He's the defending champ and clearly the most likely winner but the form is looking dubious and everything said about LR would have been said about Binocular at the time also! Time tells the stories for us... Now I've a few tokens to use for this Breeders Cup lark..Mmmnn... Goldikova was 5-2 this morning with Laddies, did anyone get that? I'd be backing her at that price for sure. No other race really interests me as a betting medium as I know sweet FA about most of the contenders
Looks like we are singing from virtually the same hymn sheet then! Perhaps slightly different but fairly similar i would suggest. I still think Captain Chris is very exciting. He really think he could be right out of the top drawer if he can put it altogether. He is capable of jumping well, i think he'll stay and he has the pace to win an Arkle too. Really hope he takes his chance in the KG.
Zenyatta, yes, Captain Chris has great resolution and class. Problem will be choosing the best race for him.
5.20 Churchill MEEZNAH WIN 8/1 & HARRISON'S CAVE E.W 20/1 A race I am interested in from a punting point of view rather than just to watch. I like the look of two against the home team. Meeznah is a class act on her day and at 8/1 she offers some fair value for the win. The step up in trip should suit and her latest effort behind Dancing Rain was some high class form. The home team don't look strong so for E.W purposes Harrisons Cave may well be able to plug on for a place, this is a slow horse but he is a progressive 3yo and Aidan O'Brien took this 2 years ago with Man Of Iron who was also a nice price
