There are so many imponderables- which add to the fascination of this year's contest..... Both Sizing Europe and Riverside Theatre are wonderfully consistent animals, but neither has actually won over three miles. Of the two, I prefer Sizing Europe and he may run a big race this year. His quality jumping will always stand him in good stead, but will he find at least one two good over the distance? Probably. Riverside Theatre certainly has place prospects. There was so much to like about Captain Chris as a novice, and you'd have to feel three miles is within his compass. Jumping will be crucial for him and he is certainly a dark horse. Al Ferof will test the Paddy Power form, but will this fast track play to his strengths? I thought he possibly lacked scope as a novice, but maybe the fantastic scope showed by Sprinter Sacre (against him in The Arkle) put forward an unfair comparison. He certainly jumped well at Cheltenham and, by winning that race under 11st 6lbs, he has to be a major player at Kempton- if he jumps these upright fences and can bring his undoubted stamina and resolution into play. Much has been said about Long Run. Despite his undoubted stamina, I've never thought he lacked plenty of speed and this race undoubtedly plays to his strengths. Has he declined a bit from his five and early six year old form? Maybe-despite the fact he's only seven now! Nonetheless, he's a major player and, on any form line, few will finish ahead of him here. However, the one I really like here is Cue Card. Despite disappointing some people as a hurdler, he's done nothing wrong as a chaser. Arguably he's run better than anything against Sprinter Sacre and stayed on really well against him in the Arkle. If he fully stays the trip, he has to have a massive chance and comes "unexposed" into the race. I feel the 7/1 offered is a fair price- nothing more- but he would be my selection in a very hard race to forecast.
Good luck with that Tam. No-one would be happier than me if he wrote his name into the history books of such a fine race but I'm really convinced he won't stay based on his runs against Bobs Worth and For Non Stop. Whether I back him a few quid for sentimental reasons I don't know (I hope not because it's poor discipline) but I'd love it if he won. Great attitude, classy and underrated. I hope people don't write him off if he puts in a bad one at Kempton, he's bred to get the trip but in my humble opinion the way he runs indicates (imho) he probably won't. If he does though......
GGW, thanks for that.In a way, the horse I'd like to win is Sizing Europe. He always gives top class performances, win or lose- and is a great jumper of a fence.
The two for me in this field are Sizing Europe and Cue Card. I am leaning towards the latter as there is plenty of stamina in his pedigree. Very open contest this year. Hopefully it won't be delayed.
I would like to see Captain Chris run a big race. I don't think he was ever fully right last year after he unseated at exeter. Before last years king george he had a setback and i think he looked in poor physical shape immediately before that race, although he stayed on to take third. I was glad to see him run well lto in ground that was far from ideal. I think better ground, right-handed tracks and 3m is ideal for him now, and i can't see him being out of the places if he gets his ground this year. It would also be great for the Hobbs yard who i have great respect for, but have not had the best of times lately.
I think he is coming Oddy- wherever First Lieutenant is, Sir Des Champs usually isn't! I might see if I can find some juice on Betfair in the morning and take the chance. I've been reluctant to do it so far and I may yet regret that! With Al Ferof out Mullins must fancy his chances of giving Long Run a good race around Kempton. No problems going right handed and whilst he is full of stamina, he isn't a slow horse. (Just Flemenstar is a superb animal!)
Top 4 in the betting Long Run who I think is finished Cue Card of whom I'm a massive fan but I think is a 2 miler Sizing Europe unlikely to run Riverside Theatre don't like the horse, can't be guaranteed to run anywhere at any time SDC is interests me most at 12s but Captain Chris must have a chance. Al Ferof was my idea of the winner I think. Perhaps Cue Card can do it!! I don't think he'll need to run to his best to win this now. Riverside Theatre maybe? Not much mention of him. He spent so long injured he's sort of the forgotten horse which is why I don't like him but maybe I am underrating him.
That 4/1 gets bigger and bigger every day, bet of the season so far. Once Sir Des Champs and Sizing Europe are confirmed to be staying in Ireland he will be even shorter, still 5/2 around and 11/4 in a place, get on while you can, wins at 6/4 Long Run paying for Christmas
Take Long Run out (following Al Ferof’s injury and the almost certain defection of Sizing Europe) and it looks the weakest ‘King George VI’ of my lifetime. Mr Henderson’s champion to my eyes looks well ahead of those now likely to run and I can see only one result on St Stephen’s Day. The wonderful triumvirate of Long Run, Mr Henderson and dear old Sam Waley-Cohen look set to reign once more, methinks!
Gonna throw a post wind-op Grand Crus into the mix, won his race last year in a quick time than the King George. The talent is/was there, a bit like Long Run. SDC surely gotta come over though?
I find that an extrordinary statement. Captain Chris, Riverside Theatre (winner of the hottest Ryanair ever), Long Run (winner 2 years ago and still a young horse), Cue Card (could improve over the trip and got closer to Sprinter Sacre than any other horse over fences), Finians Rainbow (2m champion chaser and set be as good over further) and The Giant Bolster (who may have ran in the worst Gold Cup in memory but was still only a length second). And GGW has a point, Grand crus was impressive in the Feltham last beating none other than Bobs Worth, he just doesn't get 3m+ at Cheltenham, at a flat Kempton he is fine. I make this years renewal a cracker, a race I'm really looking forward to
This King George is not weak. The novice chasers of last year will prove to be quite exceptional IMO. If Sir Des Champs comes over he would add a lot of interest to the race.
I'm all for Cue Card. His form against the best horses around, despite blunders, with very good horses well beaten, stand out for me. On top of that his last run produced a faultless display of jumping to win impressively. I'm sure he'll stay the 3 miles at Kempton. His sire is the highly successful NH son of Sadlers Wells and on the dam's side he has Deep Run and St Leger winner Hethersett. The slick jumping he showed last time out shows he is still improving and, combined with the speed to go with Sprinter Sacre over 2 miles, makes him ideal for this race in my opinion. 9/2 is a dreadful price but I won't be going against him. Long Run at his best would be the obvious danger but, if Cue Card jumps as slickly as in his latest run, I think his speed will cause Long Run to make mistakes and, for that reason, take Cue card to beat him over this track.
What's the verdict on Grands Crus? I know it was his seasonal reappearance LTO but 2.5 miles looked about 2 miles too far! I'm happy to overlook one bad run, but that was VERY bad. Like others here, I was impressed with Cue Card's stroll in the park in an Exeter grade 2 last time, but what did he beat? I know he can only beat what turns up on the day - and he did that easily - just not sure it adds up to much. At the moment Grands Crus ew at 11-1 looks a cosy bet if you accept his last run was too bad to be true
It's not a case of what he beat at Exeter Reebok. His form is already in the book. That showed he's cleaning up his jumping, something that cost him against Bobsworth and Sprinter Sacre.
Giving weight to Bob's Worth and For Non Stop too. That he got collared late on by Bob's Worth and For Non Stop was getting back at him as well worries me over 3 miles but fingers crossed. Going to try and be there to cheer him on. reebs I think Grand Crus has had a wind op which is interesting but sometimes needs a run or two to be fully effective (that might be complete **** but i'm sure i've read it somewhere)
