Agree Cue Card ran more like Wetherby than he did Haydock but nonetheless, Thistlecrack just had the gears on him. Thistlecrack is a fair price for the Gold Cup but I'm just not personally a player at them odds. I'm not writing Coneygree off completely yet- he was a tired horse at Haydock but showed his zest was still there for most of the race and he could put Thistlecrack and the entire field under pressure with his jumping. Equally he lacks a gear if they do jump well in behind. I don't think Beefy has a bad point about Djakadam and whilst I acknowledge Beefy that you have pink and green spotted eyes, Djakadam is now logically the e/w value having run very well in the last two Gold Cups and potentially have a little bit of improvement there. It will be a really interesting watch in March and I hope they all run their races and come back safely.
Just back from the family and watched todays action - my evalulation to come Completely agree! Re watched the race twice this and ok I understand why Jacob went after Him after the second last! But yes he was little short going over it but come on he didn't jump it to awfully! And anyone would have taken that jump going ove the last! Look at Thistlecracks jump over the last 2 shortened up at the second but Tom sat tight and let him do his bit ok compeletly different calibre of horses! But the horse is a smart horse of his own! Surly a smack behind the girth after the second last would have been enough he didn't have to ask for a stride that obviously the horse didn't see!! And that's not just coming from a disgruntled punter
Haven't read many of The previous posts! But you had to be impressed by TC today but as some of you kind of said the shortening up of him to even money for the big one in march is abit much! Like Beefy I think Djakadam is the main danger really for him and the age he is now, it is possible there is improvemt there for him! I do hope Cue Card comes to Cheltenham and comes to the 3rd last in the same manor as he did last year! But I can i just mention one horse DON COSSACK of whom I haven't seen Metion k he has to match the same form as last year to put it up to Cue Card and after his injury it will be extenely difficult but Elliot has said he will not run unless 120% so really or he does run Elliot is a genius so does he stand any chance
Might Bite was short and close at that 2nd last and Daryl obviously felt he didn't want that to happen at the last and then he went for a big one and he took off way to early and had no chance. My only thought was, was he not aware he could just bunny hop it and trot up to win...If he was being chased hard which he wasn't I would have understood that final fence move. Only Daryl himself will truly be able to explain his actions and reasoning. If he jumped well and won he would be a hero tonight! Fine margins these things.
Thistlecrack has come a long way since I first tipped him up at ascot in February last year. I remember it well, I was there that day and ruby rode him, and I remember saying to everyone this horse was special.then I went to punchestown to see him,when I turned up in Dublin he was an outsider, they'd never heard of him. But that soon changed when I put the word out and he went off favourite. Tom scud was a bit sloppy that day and the Irish boys done a job on him but I had a chat with ruby later over a glass of wine and he said he was a bit special. Since then he hasn't looked back and I expect him to win the gold cup but you won't get any of the 25/1 I tipped up at aintree those days are long gone. But he hasn't won a championship race yet.
Very true on your last point but Daryl not knowing what was around him that is no excuse you surely have a look or even at the big screen that is right infront of him - as o said before i agree with Toppys point he has no awareness of speed, pace or what's even around him a jump is a jump in a week no one really remembers one good/ bad jump but they do a win or throwing away a win!
Toppy what do you want to know? About the winners he rode and what he thought about thistlecrack or what fran berry and pat Smullen would ride in the bumper and neither tipped the winner
If they can get him there fit then ofcourse Don Cossack has a chance, the one positive he has is that nothing has got to the bottom of him in the last 2 seasons. I think he's abit like a Big Bucks, he doesn't win all that flashy, but he will keep finding more if put under pressure. I think getting him there fit is a huge concern though, if he's not ready to run now, then can they really get him to his peak form by Cheltenham? Having seen a lot of similar situations over the years, I'd be very doubtful that they can. Let's hope they do though.
I think I got cut down quick enough a few year back for saying that Jacob wasn't up to the required standard around the time he was riding for Nicholls and co. I wasn't being harsh or talking from a betting perspective, I was merely making an honest assessment that I didn't feel he was good enough. Taking a few years but it seems I may have had a point!
Oddy was banging the drum when he saw the scan of the lad inside the womb. They say he has the best eye this side of the Bosphorous!
Well everything you chatted about really mate! We're so far removed from them and the racing media hide a lot of information so to hear thoughts straight from Rubys mouth would be great. Have you got any chat from him re: this season?
No, it was a one off meeting at punchestown he was on the table next to me with McCoy berry and Smullen .
It was a who's who of Irish racing, the o'briens were on the other table next to me and Niall Quinn was on a table behind me but I didn't want to talk to him because he played for the Arse but I gave ap some slack. It was banter mainly. I said to ruby he should have rode thistlecrack and he said he like to, and I said they done a job on scu and they were laughing and and say how the couldn't let the queens men take home their silver like they used to and I was chatting about when I'd seen him win on him at ascot. McCoy recognised me we had met before and we spoke about his last ride at HQ and the reception he received and he touched. All off the record no journos allowed in bar Nick luck. They were relaxed drinking wine and bubbly McCoy drunk water, he doesn't drink.
it was a terrible king george, 5/4 gold cup backers want sanctioning by the old zulu council Cue Card is one of the most overrated horses of all time, a horse I would never trust, took advantage of a very weak division last few years and as has been the case throughout his career, he gets shown up by a proper top horse the gold cup has been a glorified handicap since Kauto and Denman retired, novices have now won the two top jump races in the last couple of years, supposed to happen maybe once every 30 years Thistlecrack was 6/4 yesterday for a joke King George with only one seriously considered opponent, an infamous bookie horse no less, hes now 5/4 for a race in 3 months time that is certain to be a much harder test for him, not saying he cant win but taking the 5/4 just now is desperate stuff
Difference is I told everyone before the race, that Cue Card would get thrashed. It's easy to be wise after the result is known. I don't think the 5/4 is a bad price for the Gold Cup, as there isn't a lot around that's going to trouble him, with the only other high class staying chaser Don Cossack still yet to be seen this season through injury. Having said that, if I was forced to lump on anything at short prices for the Cheltenham festival now, I think Altior in the Arkle at 6/4 looks a safer bet. That horse looks a real tank, and his jumping looks more efficient than Thistlecracks.
