2019 Gold Cup

To be fair on Elegant Escape he was staying on well at the finish. An extra furlong and a little more cut under foot would still make him a live outsider with place possibilities at least. I wouldn’t give up the ghost just yet.

Hopefully everythings ok with Potato.

EE is a boat and struggled to overcome a horse paddling at the finish.

Decent horse, probably could run similar to Minella Rocco in the GC when he finished 2nd, but i’d be shocked if he’s every good enough.

If it came up deep ground there’s nothing I’d want to know bar Elegant Escape. He must have a proper engine to finish so close today after being outpaced more than once and throwing in some sketchy jumps. It was a fine finish for him under the circumstances. He is dead honest, full of courage and a thoroughly admirable steeplechaser.

I mentioned on the Cotswold thread that I thought something went wrong for him close home. He’d made up 6 lengths from the last, most of it in the final 150 yards. When he reached Frodon’s quarters his run stopped and I’d bet Frodon took his ground at that point. I’m not saying he’d have won but it might have been a neck or a head. He is a very good horse and getting better with every run. Even on decent ground in March, if they go mad up front – Frodon, Bristol De Mai, Native River, Coneygree, he could easily pick up the pieces. There’ll be many worse festival bets, although I think that with ordinary luck he’d win a Grand National by a furlong.

Having seen that today, which of the first two would you back in the Gold Cup? Bear in mind that because of rail movements today, the Gold Cup will be just 83 yards farther.

I doubt tactical pace is important in races beyond 20f, Jack. GC history is riddled with horses coming from impossible positions to finish in the money, many of them without the class or progressive profile of Elegant Escape.

The legend really showed us the signs of a champion today.

Despite nothing going right for him, the changing pace destroying his jumping rhythm and really making it almost impossible to win today.

This horse was beaten he had terrefprt, Alyson Monterg and Frodon well ahead of him and he was struggling today.

He has the spirit of a champion though and doesnt understand the word defeat, he kept fighting and almost won despite how the race was run.

This is a champion alright, make no mistake about that.

I doubt tactical pace is important in races beyond 20f, Jack. GC history is riddled with horses coming from impossible positions to finish in the money,

I did say above i think he could well place like MRocco did….I don’t think he’s good enough to win unless he meets the extreme conditions i said as well.

Mike I have already told you on this thread that you use ‘stats’ to prove how Elegant Escape cant win yet you have backed one of the statistically worst looking gold cup horses of all time。

You are what is known as a walking talking contradiction.

Stats are for pratt’s. Any stat.or trend can and will be broken.

I don’t think we learnt anything about Elegant Escape yesterday that we didn’t already we know. We know he is laden with stamina. We know it’s likely he will get outpaced at some stage in a race. I thought he made at least a couple of jumping errors when getting in too close, so there’s definitely room for improvement if he can iron out those errors. The problem is he will come up against better horses in the Gold Cup than those he raced against yesterday. If it’s very soft or heavy he has a real chance but this doesn’t look likely at this stage given the fair weather we’ve had.