Interesting that you guys "in the know" are so keen on this Rashaan beast, I couldn't have been more impressed with JERS GIRL at Aintree and she gets a very handy fillies allowance!
That is a seriously good juvenile hurdle mate, should be a cracking race. I too was impressed with the filly at Aintree but think she will need to step up again to be involved here.
As much as it'd be nice to see Rashaan win that, the 'ones in the know' are actually backing Campeador in that race
I am not sure Silviniaco Conti is not the way to go as Nicholls knows he is not going to win the Gold Cup and so this is his biggest day of the year, he loves the course, stays the distance and will be primed to a tee. I am wondering if he was a little under cooked when beaten easily by Cue Card.
That's my one concern with Cue Cards improved form- how undercooked was Conti? They reversed form 2 years ago but as a fan of Cue Card is love to see him at his electric best again. At least with Coni you know the course, trip, and fitness is bang on. Cracking race.
Conti will do well to place this time. These 2 Irish horses are in a different league to what he's faced before. The each way value imo is Smad Place, the price has went since he was confirmed for it earlier in the week but I think he could easily plug on for third. Quality jumper so will thrive around there and of course already has track form.
Not convinced Don Cossack or Vautour will be suited to the race, Don Cossack lacks tactical speed and Vautour takes a few runs to get fully fit, debatable how strong his form actually is at this stage and also the question mark about his jumping right handed although dont know if there is much in that. They look to have the brightest futures of those in the race but honestly cant see how anyone could call either of them a good bet at the prices. Id be wanting 7/2 Don Cossack and 9/2 Vautour to consider them a bet, its a difficult race to be confident about and I dont have a strong opinion other than that Conti is overpriced. Should be a class race though, first proper event of the jump season.
I agree, I think it could be Cue Cards year. I also think it's silly to underestimate SC, this is his race. I don't really know too much about Don Cossack, not a horse I've really seen so can't really comment on that one but Vatour has looked pretty special and is an obvious threat. Really interesting race and should be a belter
Different animal but needs to be two different animals in one body to beat one the Irish pair one of which will put up a kauto-esq performance (just don't know which one yet- Don Cossack I hope)
The first 3 in the King George betting also the first 3 in the Ryanair betting. I expect there will be a shake up in that market in the next few days. For me Vautour's bubble gets burst on Boxing Day and he shortens up for the Ryanair.
Seasons greetings to all. I've been keeping an eye on the going reports for Kempton via turftrax and although there has been update every day the going description hasn't changed for 3 days. Kempton is either extremely fortunate or they fear a mass of non runners.
I think they are bringing in a new going description for it which will officially be 'Dire'. The rain has been consistently falling never pouring down but just very rarely stopping for long. I am not sure how the Irish horses are with this ground but there must be a case of risking leaving the Gold Cup at Kempton for them. My hope is that Chepstow gets called off as even dire does not serve to describe Chepstow when rain has been falling like it has been. For me one of the worst sights of the national hunt calendar is a horse in the Welsh Grand national being driven with the whip in bottomless ground.
Merry Christmas all! Think Conti will piss it again tomorrow, due to it being @ Kempton he's the best horse in the race by far and 9/1 is a steal, just a shame the ground is dry, only thing that could prevent him. Think he'll beat Cue Card into 2nd, one of the irish ones 3rd. Then Cue Card will smash him back at Cheltenham in the Gold Cup.
Firmly in the Don Cossack camp for the KG but think the other Giggs runner Valseur Lido has a great place chance at decent odds. Won on his only 3m start and doesn't lack for any speed either.
Lot of tips floating around for tomo,got three for the juvenile race at ltown already!One I've been told to back Ew is Borderline Chato in the bumper at Ltown 10/1.Fleming has a big owner behind him and has had a few bumper winners already this season and this lad could present some value in the lucky last.
