Well done Bob and SDG backers, I knew deep down he was going to be hard to beat but I dont oppose Hidden Cyclone, and no the shrewdies were not on e/w. He was always doing too much up front with Kauto Stone taking him on for the lead and he did not jump well at all, lost ground at most fences after the first couple, Sire De Grugy jumped like a stag. Best horse won obviously but Hidden Cyclone would get a good bit closer with a decent round in my opinion, especially at Cheltenham. Him and Kauto Stone cut each others throats really and despite jumping poorly on the day, he has ran an absolute blinder to beat the rest well. Deserves a crack at the Champion Chase and I suspect he might have a bit more to say in that race than he did on Saturday. 10/11 Sprinter Sacre could be the gift of all time but 16/1 The Cyclone could be a very decent e/w bet.
Just a bit of banter Boris What's your take on Sprinter Sacre? If he turns up even 85% fit he slams the field, the current odds seem very appealing. Having said that, there's always the risk Geraghty pulls him up. I'm sure they would do some serious work with him prior to the festival with all sorts of monitors hooked up, to make sure there is no repeat (and part of me still thinks Geraghty just thought "what are we doing in this fecking bog" at Kempton).
I know m8 Obviously if hes healthy and the ground is decent then he wins easily, but always going to be that doubt with him now after what happened last time. Hes never really been a betting prospect over fences and he still isnt unless you want 10/11 antepost about a horse who pulled up with a heart problem on its last run, main thing is the horse is ok. Sire De Grugy was very impressive on Saturday, would have been interesting to see what Sprinter Sacre would have done in that race on that ground. Would have saved me a few quid too as even I wouldnt have backed Hidden Cyclone to beat SS!
I suspect SS will need to be more than 85% fit -and as fit as they may get him there is always going to be a nagging doubt health wise-no amount of monitoring is going to replicate a champion chase and its unique demands.SDG on the other hand seems to be going from strength to strength,
It is heading more and more that way. Very hard to take 10/11 about a horse who was clinically unwell last time out and at this stage is basically going to Cheltenham without running a full race this season. He might not have to be at his very best performance wise but he has to be healthy. No one HAS to bet at the end of the day- in fact it would be nice to enjoy that race to hopefully just enjoy Sprinter at his best.
A bit of admiration for MoG from yours truly. Taken some big hits recently but taken them on the chin. Respect. SIRE DE GRUGY is odds on without Sprinter Sacre surely. Worth the risk for me.
Sorry Bob. I think SDG is worth backing at the price as he will be odds on if SS doesn't show. I actually think he is progressing well enough to give him a darn good race if he does show! The two mile division is one where superstars come along and look invincible. For a while they are but not forever! Master Minded was possibly the last example. They are not machines.
I'm not sure. I think if Sprinter turns up he can be considered a safe conveyance and if he is a safe ride he wins. Would I take 9/4 about SDG (who I rate highly (obviously)) over a course I have doubts about to win a race in which he might have to run against an all time great after a busy season? I don't know. I'd probably look for some each way value. Maybe Twinlight at 25/1. Maybe Baily Green at 25/1 each way. Having said that I'm stuck with Sprinter in what is effectively 2/1 after a balls up with a bet last Cheltenham.
3/1 still this morning Bob. My question is would you like to be on SIRE DE GRUGY at 3/1 on the day if Sprinter Sacre has defected?
