2012 Gold Cup

That is simply not true.

https://theracingforum.co.uk/horse-r … cheltenham

There’s the thread.

No worries Yorkie, just used the search facility to find ‘nrnb cheltenham’

first sensible post ive read all night…have not been on here for over 6 months..and i know now why..never heard so much nonesense by these idiots…dont waste your time superman replying to the kauto convention society..if they cant applaud a 6yo winning the gold cup, then you know its a lost cause. Wonder if they will lay Long Run large on betfair?? Think we know the answer to that..

Where do you start. If Kauto or Denman win, they are superstars. If Long run wins, then it’s a weak renewal. We will just forget the fact that Long Run is the first 6y/o to win it since Millhouse, or that it was no weaker a renewal than we’ve had in recent years. If Kauto beats Madison Du Berlais and Barber Shop to a King George, he is a superstar. If Long Run beats Kauto Star to a King George, it was obviously because Kauto is regressing. Then there’s the contradiction, if these people are queing up to pick fault with Long Run, then surely that takes the shine off Katous Betfair win? …yeah i thought not ! The fact is if we look back at any race we can pick faults. He’s still six and he stays for days. If he jumps he probably will win the KG and Gold Cup. There’s no point unecessarily criticing a horse just because some want to oppose it from a odds perspective.

Interesting market that. Dessie Hughes is quite bullish about how good a horse Magnanimity is and it has to be said that for a horse that injured himself during the race the ran a cracker in the RSA. Plainly needed the run in the Lexus after so long off and he’s worth a small investment at 25/1.

I said prior to this afternoons Argento that Midnight Chase was a solid benchmark for any aspiring Gold Cup candidate after his fine effort last year (fifth, beaten 19L).

With last years staying novice chasers proving mediocre, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to look beyond the front two – Long Run and Kauto Star.

Time For Rupert was well and truly exposed today and fellow 2011 RSA graduates – Bostons Angel, Wayward Prince and Magnanimity – have been beaten by the likes of Golan Way and Synchronised. Midnight Chase gave Wayward Prince 11lb and a 2L beating in the Rowland Meyrick, while Syncronised stuffed Quito De La Roque by 11L in the Lexus.

Post Argento, it’s looking increasingly likely that Grands Crus will go down the RSA route. Paul Nicholls has suggested that Tidal Bay could very well miss Cheltenham in favour of Aintree, and the likes of Captain Chris and Diamond Harry hardly look a threat, with the former almost certain to swerve the contest.

Of the others, Donald McCain will have one eye on the Grand National with Weird Al, we have yet to see Burton Port, and Albertas Run has missed three months of this campaign with a leg injury.

There will be no Denman this year and there has be question marks over What A Friend, so Midnight Chase could quite easily improve on his effort last year. The only concern is that a certain Kauto Star is likely to loom up halfway through the contest and the Argento hero will have to go toe-to-toe with him – and we have seen already this season what happens to those who try and take him on.

The sophomore efforts of last seasons staying novice chasers, and sunsequent efforts of the more established staying brigade, highlight more than ever the superiority of Kauto Star and Long Run.

If the ground comes up no worse than good to soft, Kauto Star will be very, very tough to beat. The Cheltenham hill may not be Kauto’s greatest ally at this stage of his career, but decent ground will give him every chance and Long Run could find it all too much trying to peg him back. If it comes up soft, the reigning champion will have youth and stamina on his side.

Third place? It’s wide open!

I said prior to this afternoons Argento that Midnight Chase was a solid benchmark for any aspiring Gold Cup candidate after his fine effort last year (fifth, beaten 19L).

I backed Midnight Chase at big odds for last season’s race. Although he eventually stayed on he had made a few errors and was effectively beaten with a circuit to run. For me on the day he was disappointing. If I remember he was backed in to around 9/1?

As for stating Grands Crus is now more likely to run in the RSA what do you know that we don’t? David Pipe is quoted as saying they are no nearer a decision.

Just reading between the lines, stilvi.

"There’s no getting away from it – it’s a top-class field and it’s great the race has attracted so many good horses, but we just felt this wasn’t the best option. There are plenty more options coming up."

~Tom Scudamore, RP online

He also states that David Pipe is looking at a novice chase at Newbury in a couple of weeks. If he was taken out of todays race because it was too competitive, it will be no different in six weeks time. If he goes to Newbury, most trainers will be running scared. It will be another uncompetitive small field and connections must surely realise that it will not be enough to prepare him for a tilt at Gold Cup, particularly against the likes of Long Run and Kauto Star.

It’s just my opinion, but I would be surprised if he ran in the Gold Cup.

I have backed Grands Crus for both races but I still believe the Gold Cup would be his best option and all being well that is where I expect him to run. I can see the reasoning of one hard race as opposed to two.

No indication Captain Chris was ever going to stay or be good enough and given today’s disaster he should be a million to even run.