The 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup

I would rate his performance at about 170+

It was a top performance, but it's hard to rate it much higher when there where so many close by

 

No doubt it was a fantastic performance fro Coneygree. I think the stat that he is the first novice to win the GC since whenever is a bit misleading as I doubt there have been many 8yo novices taking part. One usually associates a novice chaser as a 6yo. The performance of Djakadam, a mere 6yo must also be recognised as outstanding. Next year could be very mouth watering if these 2 turned up with Vautour but I expect Vautour and Djakadam will be kept apart

 

Nothing ventured nothing gained is the adage ,always good to see people follow the courage of their convictions -to think that a few months ago at plumpton he was havin his first run for two years! Yet his form was already in the book, and now franked in inimitable stylee! Gwaan!

 

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PICTURE:Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

 

I love this:

"In 2013 Coneygree sustained a pelvic injury and missed the whole of the next season. When Bradstock entered him in a race at Plumpton Racecourse in early November the horse was refused permission to race after being declared lame by the racecourse vet who reportedly said "He’s had two years off. He’s not worth anything". Bradstock responded by saying "It’s not any old horse that you are ****ing about with!"."

Edit. Courtesy of Wiki. The statement about a pelvic injury is incorrect according to the horse's owners.

 

And he's even got the great Ribot in his pedigree.

 

I wasn't keen on them going Gold cup but was happy as long as the horse ran to his best and boy did he do that...In hindsight they really knew they had a horse capable of doing what he did and fair play to all connections.

I was very excited about this year's Gold cup with alot of young up and comers and Novices entering it was always going to produce a good race and I think the front 3 are going too be at the top of the game along time.

 

They have Don Poli and Vautour closely matched for the 2016 renewal at 4/1 and 5/1 generally whilst reigning champ Coneygree ranges from 4/1 out to 8/1 generally.

 

I've got a horrible feeling Vautour will be in the Ryanair next season, he's 3/1 favourite for that ante post

 

I would say that is a strong possibility knowing Mullins.

 

What a run I got from Djakadam, at only 6yo you'd have to think he's open to most improvement and the one to take from the race. Certainly proved plenty wrong saying he'd no chance in a Gold Cup! If that beggar Coneygree had run where most of us thought he should of, Djakadam would a won the bleeding thing. Coneygree was lucky the rain came, he was the one benefitted the most from that. Don't think you can say it was a poor Gold Cup, the first three pulled well clear. Last year's lot got well hammered.

 

I think Djakadam benefited from the rain as well beefy. Fanatstic performance for a 6yo. Hope it doesn't have any lasting effects. He was my main fancy for the race. The word novice (usually associated with a 6yo) put me off Coneygree; I really should have regarded him as an 8yo unbeaten (over fences) Denman Chase winner . All credit to Oddy for his confidence in him

 

I must admit I wasn't a fan of Djakadam but he proved me wrong Friday and put a terrific round in. He certainly is a good horse now and at that age should improve again. Road to Riches is also a class animal.

 

Difference is Long Run was trained by Nicky 'get a season or two out of them' Henderson. You rarely see his best ones show longevity or stay sound for that long. <ihopeBarneydontseethisorImintrouble>

 

It wasn't a bad Gold Cup, people will only say it was because the favourite was so well beaten. The first three home were horses without too many miles on the clock who had all shown excellent pieces of form. The only question was whether their levels of form would be good to see off the old guard, Silviniaco Conti, lord Windermere, Bobs Worth et al.
I was in no doubt that we were going to witness the changing of the guard. Remembering 2014 and Silviniaco Conti staggering up the hill, he doesn't see the trip out on the testing course! The first three home are exceptional horses, Coneygree has few miles on the clock and Djakadam is a big baby still. These three will become four or maybe even five when joined by Don Poli and maybe Vautour next year.
I think we could be in for a few years of top quality fare in this division with the added bonus of a UK horse trying to oppose some excellent Irish animals. This could truly be the dawn of a golden era for staying chasers.

 

Hendersons horses in recent seasons, have not shown great longevity, they seem to pick up more injuries than any other yard. It was only a few years ago that he was dominating at the festival, and the best horse they have now is Peace And Co a 4 year old hurdler. I don't know if it's to do with the way he trains, or just bad luck, but it does seem unusual the amount of good horses that have either lost there ability or picked up bad injuries

 

If he ran them with a bit more regularity it might do the trick!

 

I think a lot of it is in the breeding fellas. A lot of these classy animals that he has are French breds and I think they peak younger!

 

In the right hands French breds can last too stick There's an abiity to keep a horse sound, to 'mind him' as they say and it's something I don't associate the great man Nicky to have, compared with a few others, Nicholls being one. I'm not saying he's a bad trainer, he is a very good trainer, with many strengths but keeping a horse at the peak of his powers into his teens, doesn't seem to be one.