2012 Gold Cup

The cynic in me tells me that the Ditcheat team knew that Kauto’s participation was a big gamble and a step too far, and I certainly wasn’t surprised to see the horse being pulled up early on.

Fair play to Tony McCoy on Synchronised. He ploughed on regardless and got his just reward in the end. However, call me an old grump if you like, but the more I watch the race and the more I analyze it, the more I’m convinced that Long Run would have won had Barry Geraghty been on board.

Sam Waley-Cohen put many punters off from backing Long Run. They were the lucky ones. I am convinced the horse would be much better served with a professional on board – and I would bet, in his heart of hearts, so does Nicky Henderson.

Did you see SW Cohen take a look over his right shoulder after Kauto had fallen. Then to compound the fact that he forced Long Run into an ever closing gap on the inside – whilst the ever astute Tony McCoy grabbed the initiative on the outside route, he then beats seven shades of you know what out the horse in an effort to get back on terms, knowing full well that any ban doesn’t really bother an indifferent amateur.

Corinthian spirits have no place in professional sport – they should be excorcised.

*sob* What a depressing end to Kauto’s career. BOO HOO AND GROWL!!! I, like AP Hardy, thought of Istabraq when he was puled up

I’m fully behind retiring him if he’s had enough but he just didn’t get the chance to show his worth today. If he was feeling something when jumping was that from the recent prep fall or a more distant problem?

I would just love to see him go out on a high note, but where? Is Aintree a possibility?

I know we can’t have too much of a good thing, but I’m struggling top let go here (get a grip man!). I was watching the race with my chum and his relative came in to watch it purely because of Kauto – that’s what the horse did, made racing a bigger event than usual. I’m all for the "celebrity" side as long as it is justified.

Himself – you’re an old grump, mate! Long Run definitely ran his race and surely it’s now clear he is a very good horse but not a brilliant one. He’ll always be beatable. Maybe he’s a future Grand National winner?

As for this year’s Grand National I’d like to see Synchronised run. I know he has his way of jumping but it seems pretty effective – he hasn’t fallen yet.

Twas a gutsy performance from horse and rider and though he’s not that fashionable he is a real classic chaser that stays longer than Abu Hamza.

He’s in ripe form and I’m a firm believer of striking while the iron’s hot – so Aintree it is!

Finally, what a revelation The Giant Bolster was – he fought back to gain second from the reigning champ after the last. I still can’t fathom where that form came from, thought he was a patent non-stayer. Should pick up a grade 1 somewhere.

Zip

*sob* What a depressing end to Kauto’s career. BOO HOO AND GROWL!!! I, like AP Hardy, thought of Istabraq when he was puled up

I’m fully behind retiring him if he’s had enough but he just didn’t get the chance to show his worth today. If he was feeling something when jumping was that from the recent prep fall or a more distant problem?

I would just love to see him go out on a high note, but where? Is Aintree a possibility?

I know we can’t have too much of a good thing, but I’m struggling top let go here (get a grip man!). I was watching the race with my chum and his relative came in to watch it purely because of Kauto – that’s what the horse did, made racing a bigger event than usual. I’m all for the "celebrity" side as long as it is justified.

Himself – you’re an old grump, mate! Long Run definitely ran his race and surely it’s now clear he is a very good horse but not a brilliant one. He’ll always be beatable. Maybe he’s a future Grand National winner?

As for this year’s Grand National I’d like to see Synchronised run. I know he has his way of jumping but it seems pretty effective – he hasn’t fallen yet.

Twas a gutsy performance from horse and rider and though he’s not that fashionable he is a real classic chaser that stays longer than Abu Hamza.

He’s in ripe form and I’m a firm believer of striking while the iron’s hot – so Aintree it is!

Finally, what a revelation The Giant Bolster was – he fought back to gain second from the reigning champ after the last. I still can’t fathom where that form came from, thought he was a patent non-stayer. Should pick up a grade 1 somewhere.

Zip

They should have retired him after Kempton, his course, his race. They were lucky to get away with it today. It was foolhardy.

The Thinker?

Himself – you’re an old grump, mate! Long Run definitely ran his race and surely it’s now clear he is a very good horse but not a brilliant one. He’ll always be beatable. Maybe he’s a future Grand National winner?

That is a pretty lame argument. Of course any horse is beatable.

This year’s Gold Cup was a poor renewal, and even although Long Run was probably not performing to the standards he set last season – and given that Kauto Star was very unlikely to produce anything close to the briliance of old, then I remain adamant that the race was Long Run’s to lose.

I think the overall time of the race was 5 secs ( or thereabouts ) slower than last year.

The fact that Long Run didn’t win was due to his jockey. He is more of a hindrance than an aid. He is tactically poor and at least a stone below the better pros in terms of ability.

It’s all right bleating on about how it’s his family’s horse and they can do what they like blah, blah, blah… but when the most prestigious Steeplechase race in National Hunt is up for grabs and millions are bet on the favourite in that race, then the trainer must insist on obtaining the best jockey available. Of course I realise that Mr. Henderson would never admit as such – for the sole reason that he does not want one of his rich patrons picking up his ball and walking away.

Himself – you’re an old grump, mate! Long Run definitely ran his race and surely it’s now clear he is a very good horse but not a brilliant one. He’ll always be beatable. Maybe he’s a future Grand National winner?

That is a pretty lame argument. Of course any horse is beatable.

This year’s Gold Cup was a poor renewal, and even although Long Run was probably not performing to the standards he set last season – and given that Kauto Star was very unlikely to produce anything close to the briliance of old, then I remain adamant that the race was Long Run’s to lose.

I think the overall time of the race was 5 secs ( or thereabouts ) slower than last year.

The fact that Long Run didn’t win was due to his jockey. He is more of a hindrance than an aid. He is tactically poor and at least a stone below the better pros in terms of ability.

It’s all right bleating on about how it’s his family’s horse and they can do what they like blah, blah, blah… but when the most prestigious Steeplechase race in National Hunt is up for grabs and millions are bet on the favourite in that race, then the trainer must insist on obtaining the best jockey available. Of course I realise that Mr. Henderson would never admit as such – for the sole reason that he does not want one of his rich patrons picking up his ball and walking away.

I’m sorry but the owner has every right to say who rides the horse and you are ignoring the fact that the horse was bought specifically for Sam Waley-Cohen to ride. The fact that millions are bet on him has no bearing whatsoever on the owners decision as to who should ride. The jockey is one of the factors to take into consideration when placing bets. Everyone knows who rides Long Run and should factor that into their decision on whether to bet or not. You also say that this was a weak renewal ( even though a lot of the competitors were the same as last year) but ignore the fact that in a supposedly stronger race last year Waley-Cohen won on the horse as well as winning a pretty strong King George on him.

"Kenh":3h2lndrv wrote:

I’m sorry but the owner has every right to say who rides the horse and you are ignoring the fact that the horse was bought specifically for Sam Waley-Cowen to ride. The fact that millions are bet on him has no bearing whatsoever on the owners decision as to who should ride. The jockey is one of the factors to take into consideration when placing bets. Everyone knows who rides Long Run and should factor that into their decision on whether to bet or not. You also say that this was a weak renewal ( even though a lot of the competitors were the same as last year) but ignore the fact that in a supposedly stronger race last year Waley-Cowen won on the horse as well as winning a pretty strong King George on him.

The fact that millions are bet on the favourite should have a bearing. Roberto – 1972 Derby ring a bell ? No sentiment shown there by the owner and trainer. There are many more examples.

As for last year’s win. Well, if you had listened to Nicky Henderson’s pre-Cheltenham festival interview on ATR, he said that Long Run’s victory was made all the easier by Kauto Star not being anywhere near himself, whereas this year he was firing again – hence why he defeated Long Run twice. So, bearing that in mind Denman’s heart problem as well, then it would have been remiss of young SWC not to get Long Run’s head in front of two ailing horses.

I agree with you on one point. I will now factor Sam Waley-Cohen into any future risk takings.

I think its wrong to assume this years race was a poor renewal, afterall, the ultimate cheltenham yardstick that is Midnight chase was beaten further this year than last, and that horse has improved this season. Even Carruthers who was beat 60l last year was beaten 70l this year. Do we now assume all these horses ran below form ? IMO this years gold cup was a stronger race than last years, when Long run beat a couple of horses who were basically coming to the end of their careers.

Yes, Midnight Chase and Carruthers were below form.

Carruthers isn’t the most consistent needs to be up with the leading arrowhead to jump/travel with any fluencey. Got a bad start and then badly interfered with by What A Freind’s fall. Leaving Carruthers at the back, not where he likes to be. Batchelor did the right thing by taking his mount very wide, out on his own, resulting in Carruthers running on again. However, the damage was done to his "running to form".

Midnight Chase’s best form has been with a comparitively easy lead. Time For Rupert took him on yesterday and on that ground Costello couldn’t summon up enough pace. Noticeable each time Time For Rupert got any sort of lead Midnight Chase made mistakes; albeit minor ones. Resulting in Midnight’s below form performance. Wasn’t given a hard time once his chance had gone either.

The Giant Bolster’s form has been under-estimated by many. Only rated 4 lbs behind both Synchronised and Burton Port yesterday. So didn’t have a great deal of improvement to make, considering Long Run’s below parr performance. Reason for TGB’s starting price are twofold. (a) Doubtful stayer and (b) Previous form suggested he’d needed to lead to jump anything like well enough. A better round of jumping (even without leading) led to an improved performance. Certainly stayed the trip.

Synchronised improved to win in Ireland and did so again with Jonjo in such good form and an extra 2 furlongs making all the difference. Will be suited by the Grand National trip. For sure he’s a better jumper than last year, but still not (imo) good enough. With what happened to Gold Cup winner (and Jonjo ridden) Alverton in the National, doubt if he’ll go.

Look at Long Run and Burton Port’s form compared to Newbury, considering the 10 lbs pull in the weights, gap should’ve been wider yesterday. There isn’t much doubt Long Run ran below form yesterday, although I don’t hold SWC responsible. Jumped just as well as last year. May be the horse just isn’t as good for whatever reason. But am surprised Henderson didn’t re-apply ear plugs. Ran in them in both Gold Cup and King George victories and Betfair Chase loss (unfit). Didn’t wear tham for King George defeat and "Denman" victory. Pricked his ears when getting to the front and didn’t go as far clear as you’d expect. Convinced crowd noise disrupts concentration. Riverside Theatre certainly franked the form of Long Run’s King George.

Compared to recent years this year’s race was low on horse quality. We’ve been spoilt for so long. However, yesterday’s spectacle was still a marvelous race. AP at his best and two outsiders coming to have every chance. Thought my long forgotten ante-post bet Time For Rupert was going to win. Had me wondering whether my 12/1 was B O G for a minute!

As Lee McKenzie would say "Terriffic Stuff"!

That’s how I see it anyway.

The Waley Cohens are perfectly entitled to put who they want on their horse. However, we are most certainly not seeing Long Run at his best. The horse would be a tricky ride for Barry, AP, or Ruby and SWC has shown himself to be a very good amateur jockey in winning a GC and a KG on him. But what brave men they would be if they were to say, we have had our fun maybe we should try something different and let BG have a go. Think it will probably be down to SWC to be the man and say to his dad I am a big enough man to let someone else have a go. I think everyone who matters in racing would have massive respect were he to make such a decision, I hope he does. Congratulations to JP, without his generosity where would jump racing be? I would suggest up the amazon with a toothpick as a paddle!!!!