I was having a looksie at Ladbrokes prices in the Cheltenham Gold Cup earlier and really could not, and I do mean could not, believe my eyes. Under the NRNB banner they are quoting: 7/2 Djakadam, 4/1 Vautour, 5/1 Don Cossack, Don Poli, 6/1 The Cue Card. Truly astounding. Does anyone not think these will be bigger come the morning of the race! Who in there right mind would take any of these odds?!? I’ll guarantee one thing come ‘tapes up’ they certainly won’t, if all 5 make it to the post, be going 6/1 and under re 5, I say 5, animals! In Ladbrokes current market these 5 horses, combined, amount to almost 90%! Whatever happened to ante-post punting at the Cheltenham Festival, me wonders?!? No wonder those bookie chappies are so keen to promote this NRNB addition.
Even more astounding, I wake up this morning to find non-stayer and speed horse Vautour is now favourite Don Cossack and Djakadam have now both shown slight chinks in the jumping department which probably confirms my belief that Don Poli is the strongest Irish challenger. A dominant display in the Irish Gold Cup should see him go favourite. However, on a line through Many Clouds (who is nothing if not consistent) there seems to be very little between Don Poli and Smad Place. In fact the BHA has Alan King's grey 1lb superior. At more than double the price, Smad Place is still a bit of value, especially the 16s on offer at Corals with the NRNB proviso, should he go for the Ryanair.
This game is all about opinions but for my few cents Vautour will stay the trip just fine. He'll be at least a stone better going left handed and even if he does get a bit weary in the last 100 yards they won't be close enough to capitalize. My only concern would be if it came up really soft. With Coneygree out for the season this is Mullins/Ricci's chance to bag the blue riband. They won't bottle it. In fact I'm so convinced that I've struck my biggest wager for many a year at 7s. The last similar size bet I had was on the unbeatable Hurricane Fly for the 2012 renewal of the champion hurdle!
Vautour would be great for the race. On the King George evidence, you might say non-stayer, but Cue Card was the same when he was beaten by Conti, and yet he has gone on to be really smart over 3m. It's these comments from Ricci about fitness that intrigues me. We know Mullins horses are building towards March but Vautour especially so. He was below par last Christmas and he was sensational at Cheltenham, which is why I am wary to discount. Take Cue Card out and Vautour is some way clear of some other very good horses and Walsh reckoned he was back in front again after the line. I would imagine Vautour could be held onto for much longer if required and I visually can see him going over 10L clear as they roll down hill in a Gold Cup. I'm just not sure what happens up the hill but the Gold Cup needs superstars to try it and find out once and for all, and the Ryanair needs the second tier chasers because it isn't a blue riband.
Absolutely. Rich Ricci was on the Morning Line yesterday and actually made it worth watching for a change. He did though say that he left all the decisions regarding targets to Willie. He said that with a straight face.
The last Supreme Novices Hurdle winner to win the Gold Cup? The mighty L'Escargot (supreme winner 1968, Gold Cup 1970 & 1971).
Few Gold Cup winners went mighty close in the Supreme to be fair. Best Mate, War of Attrition and Kicking King all finished second in it I think. Nothing I've seen thus far puts me off Don Poli. At all. And he's still available at 6/1...
The Irish Hennesey (I'll call it what I want) really should have little relevance to the Cheltenham Gold Cup. If you liked Road to Riches beforehand, you can't have been too concerned with yesterday's remote second finish. He sat up near the front of a serious gallop and travelled and jumped well enoughout, bar a couple of sticky jumps. Stuck on well enough too considering he hasn't ran since November and this was a stern examination of fitness in the circumstances. Better horse on a better surface as we know. What I find strange is that Noel Meade feels 'they went too quick and he never got into a rhythm'. Surely a horse who some feel is stretched by the Gold Cup trip should have had no problem with the speed they were going (if fitness was an issue it would tell later). And is this possibly a slight dig at Bryan Cooper for chasing, what turned into an unsustainable gallop? Judging a pace is a primary role for a jockey, so did Cooper get it wrong? Should he have sat in behind and bided his time, like the winner did? Really don't know who young Cooper will choose to ride in the big un, I'd suspect Don Cossack. As the beater of the Don Poli drum I'd not be too disappointed should Davey Russell end up on my mount. There's no shortage of good jockeys over here, I'm nearly hoping Cooper does go to the other Don...
Cooper has had a real few shockers over the past few months and I agree, I wouldn't be against someone of Russell's talents being on Don Poli if he was my pick. I think the natural talent of Don Cossack will prove irresistible to Cooper and that will leave Gigginstown to decide who rides Don Poli.
I can't see him riding Don Poli, as Toppy says the talent of Don Cossack is to much to turn down. I do like Don Poli's attitude, but it's a no brainer for me. Don Cossack is a horse of serious talent. You look at some of the donkeys Don Poli has been all out to hold off this season, and you know full well Don Cossack wouldnt need to come off the bridle to deal with any of them. Don Cossacks form is more than a stone superior in my opinion.
BUT Don Poi is the only one who looks absolutely nailed on to stay the trip and jump round. Cheltenham form is excellent too. Don Cossack is a brilliant talent but two visits to Cheltenham and a King George he has been found lacking under pressure.
Don Cossack is nailed on to stay IMO, look at the way he won at Punchestown last year, he certainly wasn't stopping at the line. Yeah he has his quirks and has had some bad days jumping, but atleast you know he has the talent to win a Gold Cup if he can execute his race well. I don't think Don Poli has proven he has the talent that's required to win, as his current level of form would see him about 20 lentghs off last years Gold Cup form. He's struggled to beat the likes of Many Clouds (getting weight) and First Lieutenant who's way over the hill.
Completely get that argument but to present the other side, is he just a horse who will only ever do enough and grind it out and go head to head with whatever is racing him? He does love that Cheltenham hill too...
That's all up for debate I suppose, but from what I've seen he hasn't looked like a horse who is holding something in reserve, he looked all out in the Lexus, like a horse that was giving everything he had. Big Bucks used to win in the style you are on about, but I don't get that impression with Don Poli, can you honestly watch that Lexus or the race against Many Clouds, and say he has plenty left in the tank?
I certainly can't say it looked like he did- I'd be a liar. But he is just such a bloody tough old boot that I wouldn't want to be against him a close finish. Big Bucks was brilliant looking back- remember when he kidded Grands Crus and Voleur La Vadette into thinking they were coming with a challenge? Then he ate the hill and rebuffed such an idea
Yeah so many great memories of Big Bucks, but the one with Volar La Vedette stands out the most for me too. It was a great race to watch unfold the way VLV slowly crept into the race. Definately one of my favourite Cheltenham races. The way Andrew Lynch try's to sneak up the other side of the track hoping Ruby wouldnt notice was a great tactic to try and beat him too, and he had Ruby panicking trying to make sure BB could see her. As he'd of just switched off otherwise.
Move across the board for Road To Riches in the Ryanair Chase suggests Gigginstown runners in Gold Cup will be the two 'Dons' and Valseur Lido. Thank goodness for NRNB!
