Nice when a wee double like that wins! What a price that was even allowing for the R4 deductions! Both absolutely smashed Great to see return of the Don. Glad I kept the faith.
Noticed that, could be a false gamble then, he was the first horse into my provisional list for next season, was thinking nice one for next year but hopefully he can do it tonight, had a good bet at 8/1. Wary of this Wolverhampton Tapeta though, havent seen much of it but looks like plenty of races will be stolen from the front.
Very impressed by Don Cossack today. I assume he'll be aimed at the Lexus / Irish Hennessy / Gold Cup route but off an OR of 151 I wouldn't mind seeing him at Newbury end of November.................
Lets hope he builds on it Oddy, always looked potential Gold Cup material but let himself down at the festivals last year, I think he would have went very close that day in the RSA when he fell, his jumping is something else when on form, devours they fences.
The Don's a good, class horse and he done me a right turn today but he's never a Gold Cup horse. The simple reason is that I suspect that the track doesn't suit him. Huge animal whose better going right handed but boy does he have some scope to jump a fence. Unless I'm mistaken his next aim is the JNwine Chase at Down Royal. It'll be a different kettle of fish than today's race judging by the entries! Course looks ideal for him, but they'll see there what they've got. He'll definitely pay to follow round Ireland. By the way how freaking impressive did Alechi Inois look today?! He absolutely sauntered round pinging fence to fence. What a sight he was
Reminded me of Flemenstar a little bit I think Don Cossack was a big baby until this season, looks much more the finished article. Will need to re-watch his races to get the left handed thing, it never stood out to me before ...
Don Cossack got the job done well today but no one should get carried away with the form. He always looked a horse with massive chasing potential but he has to deliver it on a big stage. Think he looks an ideal Hennessey horse Oddy and would run a big race there on a nice galloping track with few undulations Anything on your minds for the Hennessey this year? Last year we were excited about Invictus returning but unfortunately we were not to see him race again after that. Don Cossack aside, I can't think of any other 'second season chasers' who jump off the page to me.
Just the one Nass has already mentioned Toppy - Alan King's Uxizandre. Rated 158 over fences and won a novice hurdle over 3m1f so should stay OK
Toppy, Mullins reckon Djakadam is very well handicapped, second season chaser off, I think, 147. Hennesey is his aim Would be pretty sure Alan King will send Smad Place, you'd have to suspect he looks well in too. How fantastic would it be for Nicky to let Bob's Worth have a go, that would leave Djakadam sitting on a feather weight but I can't see Bob running in it. Smallish horse under top weight.... Oddy my niggling doubt with the Don re Cheltenham concerns the undulations as much as the direction. Absolutely huge horse, I've seen him couple of times, I just suspect he's too 'top heavy' to enjoy the track. The fact he fell there too (nowhere else) indicates it may not be his track.
He did Oddy but I just think he's going to end up short of the top table (even if that Grade 1 top table isn't currently located as prominately as in recent seasons). His jumping is interesting..he covers a lot of ground in the air and has huge scope but does tend to jump low and flat which is fine when on rhythm but can go badly wrong. Agree with Beefy that he's a big beast but he's looks more long and slender,like a Merry Gale for example,rather than a Denman. I think Cheltenham will be fine but his jumping and overall profile doesn't inspire me. He's already had 15 runs and is only 1/6 at Grade 1 level thus far. There will,however,be worse contenders this year and impossible to say how much a horse will improve in a season.
Graham Cunningham has got Smad Place down as a tentative Gold Cup selection in what looks an open Gold Cup year. Is Djakadam the very young chaser? Being just a 5 Y 0 would put me off slightly but I agree he has potential. Is it not time to start your 10 to Follow thread??!
