You all know that I scarcely ever bet on the National Hunt (did anybody else back Desert Orchid when he won the King George at 16/1 simply because David Elsworth said he would stay 3 miles?), so I was only watching today. At the time, I knew that Cue Card had got up (Simon Holt needs to visit SpecSavers, I would have bet every penny I have on the photo) but I thought that was because he was gutsy and game – as it turns out it was because Brennan flogged him. Vautour did put in the better exhibition of jumping but the other horse simply wore him down on the run in. Whether he is a short-runner and stopped in front I will leave to those who follow the game more forensically. I did not think that the favourite Don Cossack would have won if he had stood up as he had been under pressure for a while and was not making up the ground for it as well as Cue Card was doing. Obviously the Cheltenham Gold Cup is a different race, different type of course, different distance and the ground may well be different; however, I would not write off Cue Card purely on age grounds as we keep seeing those types of statistical records rewritten every year. It took him four tries to win the King George – different horse. At least it appears to have started a debate that will keep the NH followers going until March unless something hoses up over the New Year weekend!
Absolute bollocks QM...............evidence below! The Stewards held an enquiry into the use of the whip by Ruby Walsh, the rider of VAUTOUR (FR), placed second, from approaching the final fence. Having heard his evidence and viewed recordings of the race, they found him in breach of Schedule (B)6 Part 2 in that he had used his whip above the permitted level. The Stewards suspended Walsh for 2 days as follows: Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 January 2016. The Stewards held an enquiry into the use of the whip by Paddy Brennan the rider of the winner, CUE CARD from the third last fence. Having heard his evidence and viewed recordings of the race, they found him in breach of Schedule (B)6 Part 2 in that he used his whip above the permitted level. The Stewards suspended Brennan for 11 days as follows: Saturday 9, Sunday 10, Monday 11, Tuesday 12, Wednesday 13, Thursday 14, Friday 15, Saturday 16, Sunday 17, Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 January 2016. Under Rule (B)54 the Stewards also fined the rider £4,200. Both jockeys guilty of over-use of the whip so who did the flogging!
They should both be chucked out but if it's a question of who flogged more, it's clearly the rider got the 11 day ban - unless that's totting up I don't know about.
Neither should be banned they should either have no whips whatsoever or if they have them as a racing aid then should have no restrictions on their use age!
Although i had a little bet on CUE CARD (as the value) im not a massive fan i just cant see him winning a GC.. DON COSSACK lacks the acceleration but was begining to motor when fell...we will never know for sure...i do believe though he had enough to get up..at present he looks the outstanding 3m+ chaser
After today all I have is two words for you DON POLI Now with the gold cup market having. abit of a shake up after cue cards tremendous win (i didn't back him either) it has strengthened my views on the future 2016 winner; will stay, can jump and will be gigginstown number one hope for the race! Get on now before Monday evening when he becomes clear 4-1 fav imo
12s does seem big for sure, but I think that price factors in his concerns at the absolute very top level. Word.
Ok cause Cue Card is as good as Dessie Put it this way if Cue Card wins the Gold Cup then il run around Cheltenham naked with my underpants on my head. Thats how confident I am of it not happening
You will regret saying that, we will have a 606 day out to witness that. And I thought I was pissed yesterday day getting my don poli and my don Cossack and not being able to spell vautour
One double down the pan but the treble looks very much to Come in but we have all been here before tho haven't we
Only just saw the result I ****ing one that would happen another Mullins accy let down by the last leg!!
Vautour is some horse, was always unlikely to stay with the speed he had shown, Ruby held on to him for as long as possible but I was never fully confident in the straight despite him looking to have the race won most of the way, looks like the Ryanair is the logical race for him although would rather see him in the 2 miler. The winner is a dog bookie horse, always has been, has no chance in the Gold Cup, neither does Don Cossack whos lack of tactical speed was exposed and was beaten when falling. Don Poli lacks that as well but he stays better than Don Cossack. Running out of reasons to oppose Faugheen, looks nearly unbeatable.
It looked to me that the Don was coming back to Cue Card just before he fell, to my inexperienced eyes i would have said had he jumped that fence he would have outstayed them both.
I've watched this race back a few times partly because a few on here were adamant that DC would have won if he hadn't capsized and I still can't see it. If The New One is out in front in the grade 1 excuses stakes then Don Cossack is only a couple of lengths down and closing.
If you didn't know Don Cossacks running style then you might think that. But go back and watch some of his other races, and you'll see that he's a horse who often comes off the bridle early, and finds a lot when he appears to not be travelling well. And as for the last part, Don Cossack has won 3 G1 chases this year, how many other chasers have won 3 G1 chases this year? Jumping is his achillies heel, no one is doubting that, but you can't doubt his ability
