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Rush of blood to the head no doubt, he has been away from this sort of pressure situation ever since winning on Imperial Commander – not sure if that was Cue Card’s best chance gone now. Especially since Thistlecrack is supposedly to go chasing next season.
Not sure what would have happened had CC stood up (to far out really) just have to file this under the ‘what might have been’ category.
Question for the group – RUK pundits on their round up of the meeting stated that it was a lesser race due to CC falling 3 out and Vautour & Coneygree being absent from the race.
It got me thinking that the first two issues can be argued either way as to whether a) CC would of won had he stood up and b) would Vautour have beaten them all based on his Ryanair performance – but the more intriguing one is had Coneygree not been injured, would connections have actually risked running him on that quick ground as with his fragility he has never been tried on anything faster than good to soft and this years race was run 7.50s faster than last year.
Personally, my answer to all three questions is no but I would be interested on everyone elses thoughts.
Aye, Gord. I was a bit concerned early but he was just getting into gear, and PB should have left his move until after that fence. Sadly for him, that might be his last chance of another Gold Cup
It wasn’t a great ride by Davy and i think he’s underestimated a couple of his rivals.
I’ve watched the replay again and it’s awful from Brennan. Crazy from such an experienced jockey.
I think Tizzard agrees because of the comments he made watching the big screen replay during his interview !I think lads that your being unfair on Brennan. I watched a replay of this race a number of times to see what actually did happen. Once Cue Card passed smad place he moved out from the rail a bit a long time before the fence and was travelling on a clear path for the best part of a furlong approaching the fence. Then when he got to the fence Paddy asked him up off a perfect stride and the horse decided to put in a short one. I really dont see what brennan did wrong or what he could have done differently, it was the horses error in my opinion. And i do agree that Davy Russell hung don poli way too far back. Id love to see sectional times for the first three horses from the time they jumped the second last. I wouldnt be at all surprised if Don Poli was the fastest. He powered up the hill. When i saw that i put a decent bet on him for the Grand National. Hopefully he runs
TWM, yes, that’s fair comment. Just watched the RUK footage and you’re right, PB was there in good time and there was plenty room when he went through. No fault of his and I take back what I said. Old Cue Card just picked the worst possible time to have the first racing fall of his life.
LD I’d be fairly confident Coneygree would not have been risked on that.
Cue Card had just got marginally in front when PB asked him up and he failed to rise. Too far out to say what would have happened but given his previous performances this season, when he’s been doing all his best work at the end of races, his fine record on track and ground, and no stamina doubts, he’d have beaten DC.
As for Vautour; I’ve thought him a superstar for a long time so my answer would have to be he’d have won if he’d run. I thought it shameful that not one journo asked the obvious question of Mullins/Walsh -‘any regrets on the switch?’
One person who will be asking questions is Ricci. They’ve made him look an utter fool. I have some contacts in Ireland who say Ruby was exerting all the pressure for the Ryanair, and that chimes with evidence from social media.
Mullins is a great trainer, no doubt, but Elliott is doing little wrong and Nicholls, given the paucity of his ammunition, has had a fine festival. I’d love to see Ricci move every one of them – we’d see some proper battles then, and Walsh/Mullins might learn a very hard lesson.
BTW. given Smad Place’s run and Many Clouds last year, that Cotswold Chase wants treating with extreme caution by trainers: looks like it bottomed those two. Smad Place might well bounce back somewhere at a big price as MC did in the National
TWM, yes, that’s fair comment. Just watched the RUK footage and you’re right, PB was there in good time and there was plenty room when he went through. No fault of his and I take back what I said. Old Cue Card just picked the worst possible time to have the first racing fall of his life.
I would agree with the above. I think PB was supremely confident that Cue Card would stay the trip easily and was getting in the best possible position to go as soon as he got in to the straight. Such a shame as I do believe he would have won today but alas we shall never know
Aye, Gord. I was a bit concerned early but he was just getting into gear, and PB should have left his move until after that fence. Sadly for him, that might be his last chance of another Gold Cup
It wasn’t a great ride by Davy and i think he’s underestimated a couple of his rivals.
I’ve watched the replay again and it’s awful from Brennan. Crazy from such an experienced jockey.
I think Tizzard agrees because of the comments he made watching the big screen replay during his interview !I think lads that your being unfair on Brennan. I watched a replay of this race a number of times to see what actually did happen. Once Cue Card passed smad place he moved out from the rail a bit a long time before the fence and was travelling on a clear path for the best part of a furlong approaching the fence. Then when he got to the fence Paddy asked him up off a perfect stride and the horse decided to put in a short one. I really dont see what brennan did wrong or what he could have done differently, it was the horses error in my opinion. And i do agree that Davy Russell hung don poli way too far back. Id love to see sectional times for the first three horses from the time they jumped the second last. I wouldnt be at all surprised if Don Poli was the fastest. He powered up the hill. When i saw that i put a decent bet on him for the Grand National. Hopefully he runs
I’m more critical of the speed he was going – it’s not a place to take up the running and be aggressive.
I doubt Coneygree would have run on that ground or that Vautour would have stayed the distance but that was a very good Gold Cup. The highest rated horse won and proved that last season’s Aintree and Punchestown runs were top class in their own right and not just due to others being below par.
Good no- hoper ride by Paul Townend on Irish Cavalier, sadly just mugged for 4th
you mean Noel fehily on o faolins boy?
My apologies.
Anyone else find it strange that Townend didn’t ride Don poli? Or that Townend didn’t ride valseur lido on Thursday?was really concerned with happened to wane earlier and when cue card fell – was tanking. nothing away from the winner but bet vatour wont get a better chance. thought i saw Willie waling past me but i could have been mistaken. what happened to long dog spoilt my whole day … just horrible. thought it was false ground.
big shout out to davy – thought he did his job
From today’s Guardian:
Cue Card’s stamina for three and a quarter miles remains unproven but he showed no sign of fatigue as he cruised to the lead about two seconds before exiting Friday’s race.
It appeared to be the trainer’s view that Cue Card was probably three clean leaps from victory. “I watched the others after he fell,” he said. “Watched them plod on.”
Paddy Brennan, Cue Card’s jockey, said he was “struggling a bit, mentally” in the aftermath of the race. “But the best thing for me to do is come here, with my friends and get back to work. You’ve got to move on.
“He settled so well, early on, I was sure he would stay. When I pulled him out and went into that gap [between Djakadam and Don Cossack], it was like he was running away.”
That natural exuberance, which spoke so well of Cue Card’s remaining reserves of energy, led to his downfall.
I don’t believe the problem was pulling out before the fence other than the horse reading the move as a signal to go forward. The issue was Brennan not backing the move up with his own actions. He clearly moves his arms as if to ask the horse for a big one but then decides against it. From that moment of indecision it was curtains.
From today’s Guardian:
Cue Card’s stamina for three and a quarter miles remains unproven but he showed no sign of fatigue as he cruised to the lead about two seconds before exiting Friday’s race.
It appeared to be the trainer’s view that Cue Card was probably three clean leaps from victory. “I watched the others after he fell,” he said. “Watched them plod on.”
Paddy Brennan, Cue Card’s jockey, said he was “struggling a bit, mentally” in the aftermath of the race. “But the best thing for me to do is come here, with my friends and get back to work. You’ve got to move on.
“He settled so well, early on, I was sure he would stay. When I pulled him out and went into that gap [between Djakadam and Don Cossack], it was like he was running away.”
That natural exuberance, which spoke so well of Cue Card’s remaining reserves of energy, led to his downfall.
Always nice to have ones own opinion vindicated at this game it gives you confidence to continue when you have been Robbed of certain glory..I’m in a position now thinking Cue Card could easily do it again as an 11yo,had he been 1yr younger I’d be lumping on as like I’ve said all year this horse has a new lease of life at a time others would be just showing signs of slowing down.Stats are strongly against ‘Cue Card’ doing it next year but maybe a Charlie Hall, King George, and Gold cup campaign could see the ‘Re-born’ Cue Card become the oldest horse since 1969 to win it.
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