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Already shaping up to be a cracker.
Hopefully those at the head of the market just now will all make it there on the day.
The first 3 home last year, Coneygree, Djakadam, and Road To Riches, will all be popular again, though not surprising to see Vautour at the head of the market. Easily the most impressive winner at the 2015 Festival, and if handling the step up in trip, then he shouldn’t be far away, he looks something special.
Loads of dangers lurking elsewhere too. I bet Don Cossack at huge odds for this years renewal, only for connections to go for The Ryanair, he’s always looked a Gold Cup type, and a threat to all if he continues his upward curve. Holywell still has a lot of appeal at 25’s, finished 4th last year, beaten only by the rain, and his run silenced a few of the doubters, I wouldn’t be in a rush to write him off. With a smooth prep this time around, the his stablemate Shutthefrontdoor could emerge as a dark horse for the race, though I’d like to see a bit more interest in him on Betfair, even at this early stage.
Saphir Du Rheu looks a huge price at 16’s, and he looks the sort to make a huge impact this season, continuing where he left off from last.
I doubt if we’ll see Silviniaco Conti at Cheltenham again, and Many Clouds may find his season geared towards Aintree, though a prep in this didn’t do him too much harm last time.
Ofaolains Boy could be interesting returning from injury, as could the very impressive Vroum Vroum Mag, though I’m personally hoping she goes The Ryanair route.
As well as Road to Riches, and Don Cossack, Gigginstown could throw Don Poli, Wounded Warrior, and Valseur Lido at it, not to mention a few others.
The Druids Nephew, who looked as if he’d have romped The National if he hadn’t slipped up, looks interesting, and not out of the question that he can step up again this season. I’ve taken a chance on him at huge odds, as well as a few others at this early stage.
You can also throw in the likes of Southfield Theatre, Shanahans Turn, and Apache Stronghold…….could go on and on.
It’ll be here before we know it, can’t wait.
Well Bobby I’ve been eating into Apache for the Ryanair at 33/1 so I hope he goes there.
Don Poli is tailor made for this imo. He’ll end Mullins Lexus hoodoo on the way anyway.
If Vautour stays – he more than likely wins in my opinion. As I really think he is the classiest horse in training right now. Looks like the King George will decide that. (though I’m keener on Coneygree winning that at the moment)
If he under performs on Boxing Day then I’m sure they’ll target the Ryanair leaving Djakadam and Don Poli and if that’s the case I’m going to be siding with Don Poli. I love the horse and although I don’t think the RSA last year was exceptional, to do what he did with so little experience and so win so easily was very very impressive. Just never turned up at Punchestsown so I’m happy to give him the benefit of the doubt. As above my only real concern is if he leaves himself too much to do before the hill by getting done for speed by Vautour and ending up outpaced and only staying on strongly up the hill to fill the places.
I hope Apache goes Ryanair as well Tommy, looks ideal for him, and 33’s is a serious price.
I am confident Vautour will take the Champion chase route this year,he’s a horse that could win a Gold cup too,in fact he’d win a Ryanair aswell…I wonder what price you’d get ‘Vautour’ winning any race at the festival NRNB?..I would take 6/4 now.Anyway I like 3 horses for this years Gold cup,Holywell 25/1,on genuine good ground he’s still a player,Shutthefrontdoor,33/1, I’ve got a huge soft spot for this fellow and for some weird reason he reminds me of one of my greatest Ante-Post coup horses in ‘Synchronized’,he looks nothing like him mind just that feeling he could outstay them all.My number 1 contender is Saphir du rheu 16/1 another one of TAPK’s finds of the season last year,he’s still a big baby but that doesn’t stop talent as contributors on here suffer from the same but unlike them this fellow will reach the top and if his jumping doesn’t beat him he’ll make them all go.
Evening all.
Gord, I’m with you on SDR and have backed him from 40’s down since pfn first highlighted the gold cup as his 2016 target last year. His Aintree run was very green to my eye and he’s all potential – by far my biggest winner for next years showpiece. However, I disagree with you on vatour and think he will also be lining up for the gold cup rather than the significantly easier 2m division provided the current fav stays sound. Willie surely wouldn’t try and crack the same walnut with both of his biggest sledgehammers..
You’ll not see vautour in the Ryanair either, more likely djakadam will drop to this trip is Ricci doesn’t want to send both to the gold cup.
Holywell remains a player on good ground but I’d prefer coneygree to repeat at this stage from the pair.
Saving on Don Poli too, not giving up hope on the proven C+D grinder.For me it’s SDR EW and a vautour GC + UDS CC double at this stage.
I cant see Vautour running in the QMCC
Unless of course Un Des Sceaux over jumps one and lands on the moonCharles Darwin to conquer the World
I think there’s next to no chance Vautour goes Champion Chase route Gord, and doubtful he’ll go for the Ryanair either.
I’d be confident both Vautour and Djakadam will be aimed at the Gold Cup, with the same owners Vroum Vroum Mag a Ryanair possibility.
Saphir Du Rheu looks like the muggy bet in the race at the moment. I can’t imagine backing him when Coneygree and Vautour will be cranking up the pressure at the front and breaking down the poor jumpers. Saphir Du Rheu undeniably has below-average jumping technique. I suppose that didn’t stop Synchronised, but I think you’d show a chunky loss when backing horses (no matter how able) with that profile at Cheltenham.
Nobody (apart from VTC) has mentioned last year’s winner Coneygree yet. There are quite a few scenarios where I’d take him in a match bet versus Vautour, who needs to prove himself more fully on soft ground and when challenged for the lead.
I think we can take it from the quite excellent over hour long feature with Patrick Mullins last week that Vautour goes to this and that Vautour and Don Poli are their big guns for the big one.
Vautour has to prove he stays as Patrick says, but he certainly wasn’t running out of any steam in last years JLT. To quote Patrick on Don Poli – “he took the piss out of the others” in the RSA.Reading between the lines I wouldn’t be surprised if Djakadam was to drop down to the Ryanair after Patrick suggested he thinks that the horse may have missed its chance to win the Gold cup last year.
Interestingly he also mentioned Vroum Vroum Mag could be a Gold cup mare!For me I think the two front runners in last years winner and the impressive vautour may set it up for a proven stayer – DON POLI!
Did he mention which paths they were taking en route to the Gold Cup?
Most likely nothing for Haydock. 1)horses aren’t ready, 2)don’t want to give them a tough race at this time of the year 3) Willie will work back from the Gold cup instead of forward from Haydock.
Vautour – “will go for the King George then we’ll know more, but he wasn’t stopping after making all at chelt last time.”
Djakadam – “hes fat at the minute, hes a very fat horse.” “last year might have well been his chance.” Horses will run less through this year and theres no plan for him yet.
Don Poli – “just had an off day last time.” Ideal candidate for gold cup. On chelt last season – He toyed with horses – poli just took the piss out of them. No ? over him staying.
SDC – back in training. Very lazy, but looks great. Will be hard to get him back, will be difficult for him.
Vroum Vroum Mag – could be a gold cup mare, we haven’t considered the Ryanair! he hasn’t even heard it mentioned but it could be a possibility.The hennessy – don’t think we will have anyone fit enough its been too dry. We had a gold cup horse last year and he got stuffed off 10’4! Thinks it will work out for them in the long run.
That’s the gist of what he said mate.
Don Cossack was very impressive last week; jumped smoothly an won effortlessly. Roi de Mee is short of top-class but a decent yard-stick at this time of year. I wasn’t totally convinced by the Don last year, felt the races in Aintree and Punchestown rather fell apart around him, but he’ll be a fierce competitor this year; so much to look forward too.
Incidentally I remember Annie Power absolutely leaving the Don for dead in a novice hurdle; would have loved to see her over fencesThis is turning into one of the best Gold Cup’s for many a year.
I love VATOUR, he looks a monster. He might run in races 3m+ on
the run up to the GC, and may well win the King George on route,
but the GC is a gruelling 3m2f race with a killer uphill finish.
I’m not convinced that is what he needs. Short of that distance,
I don’t see anything coming close, but at around 4/1 for the
GC, I’m not into that.My idea of the perfect horse for the race, is Don Cossack. I think
he has everything you need for the race. He will definitely get
the distance, is tough as teak and has a turn of foot when it
matters. I agree with Befair, his comeback race at Punchestown
was one you would have expected him to win easily, which he duly
did without turning a hair. It proved nothing other than he looks
in good heart, and I’m sure that was all that Gordon Elliot was
looking for. All being well, and he gets there in one piece,I think
8/1 is going to be huge come the off. I have him as my star horse
in VTC’s Ten To Follow, I’m expecting big things from him this
year.I’m also in agreement with many that have mentioned him so far,
that SAPHIR DU RHEU looks very interesting at 16/1. He takes to
Cheltenham, winning the Cleve Hurdle and a good runner up in the
World Hurdle. He had looked a bit of a sketchy jumper when unseating
at Newbury and then falling at Kempton, which is probably why
Nicholls chose the hurdle route in the Cleve and World Hurdle’s,
but it was his reverting to chasing in the Mildmay Novices at
Aintree in April that was hugely impressive. At 16/1, if he has
managed to sort out his jumping frailties, he has to be a contender.Throw DON POLI, DJAKADAM and CONEYGREE into the mix, and a few others
you could make a case for, and to me this is the best looking GC
for many a year. I’ve no doubt there will be a few heart breaking
stories along the way, but I’d love to see them all in the line up.Can’t come soon enough.
TAPK has been watching horses race for over 30yrs and just from what I contribute to this forum its blatantly obvious I was gifted in the ‘How the hell does he do it’ department.My strike rate for Cheltenham Gold cups is just one reason I am a legend and having put up the winner on here Ante-Post every 2nd yr it works out that 2016 is my turn to win again.We saw the Gold cup winner today at Haydock in Cue Card a horse everyone has questioned the mental/physical/Training/Jockey permutations of a thousand times.Joe (Steeplechasing) was the first to say Colin Tizzards horse was brilliant a few years ago but its took to today for me to finally agree.I have missed the fancy prices 190’s down but have had £100 e/w at 14/1 with William hill today for March Glory and £200 win at 5/1 with Ladbrokes for the King George..I am in the process of backing him for the double too such was the impact of todays performance……Move over ‘Vautour’ you are beatable at trips beyond 21/2m.
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