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There’s no better National prep then running in the Gold Cup.
I suppose Jonjo must know what he’s doing.Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
There’s no better National prep then running in the Gold Cup.
I suppose Jonjo must know what he’s doing.Well I cant imagine its got anything to do with ‘Carlingford Lough’ winning the other day as JP is never one to shirk from running more than one horse..Strange when he says the horse is 100% fit and ready too….Lets hope its because
Holywell
is absolutely burning them gallops up Nath.
There’s no better National prep then running in the Gold Cup.
I suppose Jonjo must know what he’s doing.I am hoping Many Clouds will prove that this year Nathan. He’s 33/1 and you know that a good Gold Cup run, a decent weight and the intention to go to the race would see him a potential single figure price once the bookies start gouging the odds on National morning. It’s a risk that he simply won’t run but would you really rather back Teaforthree at 25/1 after winning a 1900 quid Hunter Chase at Bangor?
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
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The race looks perfect for an improver like Holywell to stamp its claims all over the division. Either that or Sil Conti romps home.
The race looks perfect for an improver like Holywell to stamp its claims all over the division. Either that or Sil Conti romps home.
I believe Holywell has plenty to prove. It’s been well touted that he’s a spring horse and has been prepared solely for one race. However he didn’t make a great seasonal debut, albeit that Many Clouds has done very well since, and he then unseated in the four runner affair where Sam Winner won.
I have no doubt that Holywell will win easily today and probably shrivel to a silly price for the Gold Cup. The problem is that I can’t remember many Gold Cup winners having run at Kelso beforehand.
Today’s race will be a far cry from the furnace of the Gold Cup and while I backed Holywell at Cheltenham last year, where he won well, it wasn’t without a heart stopping moment on the way when I thought he was going to fall.
I am concerned if Holywell has improved enough, has had the correct lead up to the race and can be accurate enough in a race that will not allow any howlers on the jumping front. I’ll be checking the Gold Cup betting a 4 O’clock to see where he is after his odds-on limber up.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
Got to think Holywell is back to at least the form of last season, with better to come given Cheltenham and March. Bit worried after the mistake at the first, but no further problems. Might do better if allowed his head. Shame Carlingford Lough has come to the fore, because although McLernon won at the last two Festivals – he’s no AP.
Am one of theracingforum pack on Holywell at silly prices, although I agree he’s no value now @ a top price 12/1.
Value Is EverythingGot to think Holywell is back to at least the form of last season, with better to come given Cheltenham and March.
Don’t you mean got to HOPE? How anyone can think that stroll in the park was comparable to or even better than what he achieved last season is beyond me. There was no pressure on his jumping today and he was still iffy on occasions. Basically it was just a relief to see him just get round and win.
As for the jockey booking I would be quite happy to see McLernon on board.
Holywell’s wellbeing is quite obvious in the way he jumps and travels. He was under little pressure from his rivals today, but the blinkers brought back that enthusiasm and smoothness.
Got to think Holywell is back to at least the form of last season, with better to come given Cheltenham and March.
Don’t you mean got to HOPE? How anyone can think that stroll in the park was comparable to or even better than what he achieved last season is beyond me. There was no pressure on his jumping today and he was still iffy on occasions. Basically it was just a relief to see him just get round and win.
As for the jockey booking I would be quite happy to see McLernon on board.
Do think it is easy for us punters to dismiss form of small fields around smaller venues. I did not realise before looking at it – just what the form could (emphasise “could”) be rated, untill looking at it in more detail.
I know it was not a handicap, but look at the marks the first three had before this race Stilvi.
Holywell went in to the race rated 163 from what he achieved last year.
Fentara had a mark of 133, Diocles 137.
A strict 1 lb per length view of the form works out like this:
Holywell gave Fentara 17 lbs and a won by 25 lengths. 17 + 25 = a 42 pounds beating. 133 + 42 = 175. So using Fentara as a guide Holywell could now be rated 175 from 163.
Holywell gave Diocles 6 lbs and had him a total of 29 lengths behind. 6 + 29 = a 35 pounds beating. 137 + 35 = 172. So using Diocles as a guide Holywell could now be rated 172 from 163.However, I do share some of your doubts about whether either Fentara or Diocles ran to form Stilvi. Have not taken the form literally, hence why I said “back to at least the form of last season, with better to come given Cheltenham and March”. I did not say it was definitely better. At least showed his well being.
But even if not giving Holywell full credit for the 25 length win, there are other reasons to think more improvement may be forthcoming.
We know Holywell goes so well at Cheltenham at that time of year (dual Festival winner). He’s also well known (when at his best) for finding a good deal under pressure… did not need to come under pressure today.
Share your concern over Holywell’s jumping Stilvi, which is why I’d love to see AP on board instead of McLernon. Aknowledge the latter has done well on the horse before; but AP is more consistent and imo more likely to get the horse jumping. As well as more tactically aware. Not 22 times champ for nothing. More inclined to react correctly to different scenarios within a race. Sneaky feeling might jump better with a clear view of the front.
Value Is EverythingThis is the most open Gold Cup I can remember in the last 40 years.
The favourite has been beaten in the last 2 runnings, if he could not win it last year which is one of the worst Gold Cups I can remember then why should he win it this year when the quality is higher? Silviano Conti will drift in the betting, I can see 5/1 being available on the morning of the race.
Holywell is well touted on here by many of you and some are on at fancy prices, alas I am not one of them despite backing him at the last 2 festivals. If he arrives at Cheltenham in similar form as last year I can see him running well and even winning it but think he will end up placed
If you fancy Holywell then you should also fancy Many Clouds who beat him easily this season and followed up in The Hennesey, the horse is still improving and has every chance but what puts me off is the trainer’s poor record at Cheltenham.
Carlingford Lough is a high class plodder, he could stay on into a place when the others have had enough.
Bobs Worth is the forgotten horse in the race, I could see him coming back to form at Cheltenham, a few positive vibes from the stable and he will be back in single digits. He ran way below his best in last years race but was still only beaten a few lengths.
His Cheltenham record is second to none, unbeaten until last year and only beaten 4 lengths despite running way below form.Lord Windermere…how this won last year I will never know, I was shaking my head in disbelief after he won. The runner up is just a good handicapper, this goes down in my top 3 worst Gold Cups, the others being Cool Grounds and Cool Dawn’s races. I could never back this horse.
Road to Riches clearly has a chance on the formbook but he just does not press my buttons, he has no form outside of Ireland and there are horses with a better chance at higher prices.
Djakadam disappointed in the Hennessy and should have won it with his weight if he was a future Gold Cup winner so I will strike a line through him.
Boston Bob has 2 ways of running, I could see him running into a place if on a going day.
That leaves Coneygree, a horse which excites me, small stables have a good history in this race, he is improving with every race and represents the best value in the race at 16/1 NRNB with Ladbrokes, I may have a saver on Bobs Worth as he has won plenty for me over the years, I expect a much better showing than he put up in the Lexus
Are you sure Ladbrokes are NRNB?
I clicked on the betting basket at Ladbrokes odds and it came up as an ante-post bet. I can’t see it being NRNB because that would make Paddy Power’s odds of 8/1 derisory, not to mention pointless for attracting trade.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
Ladbrokes online are not nrnb.
I go in the shop most mornings on the way back from the school run to read the RP and I could swear the prices on the board were with some kind of concession with them.Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
I was driving up to Scotland on Thursday and had to stop off at Alnwick to look at a job so I thought I’d just pop over to Kelso to watch this years Gold cup winner shake off the cobwebs en-route to Fife…..anyone who’s driven around Scotland will realise that what looks like a half hour journey always turns into an hour and a half.So I missed the bloody race! Having watched the re-run later I saw the same Holywell we saw last year with all his idiosyncracies,one of which is he jumps better the faster he goes the other is quite an interesting one though and that is he holds his head high when he’s cantering and drops it significantly when he’s racing,AP had him doing both when required to so I thought it was a pleasing excercise..Why on earth he needed to go 300 bloody miles to achieve it jsut shows that travelling for these guys is just an everyday thing.
Gord, you don’t scare me…I have no plans to start applying fake tan to the nether regions.
Gord, you don’t scare me…I have no plans to start applying fake tan to the nether regions.
Yes Joe its certainly going to be a Bitter Sweet victory,I just hope I can focus on Holywell doing the business,spanking the opposition rather than me having to spank yo bare Ar*e and posting the Pics on here.
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