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Will be interesting to see if Mullins can get him back next year in one piece and if so can he be the first duel winner since Kauto. There a long number of horses who seemed to have ran career bests to win The Gold Cup and never really got back to that standard; Coneygree, Don Cossack, Sizing John, Lord W, even Native River (although he had his ground when he won). Might Bite, who didn’t win, certainly ran a career best last year as well. Topofthegame, Delta Work and Santini to join the division next year you’d think Al Boum will need to improve again. He’ll probably run in Punchestown and then go off on his holidays having had only 3 runs this season; plenty of miles on the clock.
I seem to remember it being mentioned that he might show up in France next.. for all Mullins has a habit of saying things after a race that are thought of just on the spot, it wouldn’t surprise as i am almost certain his owner spends most of his time in France.
He has plenty of options for Punchestown such as a fresh Kemboy.
Agree though, it’ll be a test to get him back in that form for next year given recent winners. He did only have 1 run this season beforehand though, so fingers crossed!
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Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!I think even the 6 year olds Long Run and 2015 runner up Djakadam never ran to that level again either. You would have expected them to show some improvement at that age.
Aye Donnelly resides in Paris so the Grand Steep in the middle of May looks to be the target.
Be good to see how he gets on in that against the best of the best in France, especially since UK/IRE trainers normally send over our G2 type horses as afterthoughts compared to this being a target.
One things for certain, it wasnt anywere near as testing as the 2018 running…. id say he will be back fine, the weather being so dry in the winter has kept like vautour said, the mileage low. A blessing in disguise maybe?
I think even the 6 year olds Long Run and 2015 runner up Djakadam never ran to that level again either. You would have expected them to show some improvement at that age.
Wrong, Homer.
After Long Run‘s Gold cup victory he ran at least as well if not better. Forget him beating Denman and Kauto Star in that race. Think of it instead as Long Run beating What A Friend 11 lengths. Nicholls third string What A Friend 4th, only a nose behind Kauto, with 4 to Denman and 7 to Long Run. In truth WAF was nowhere near the standard his proximity to Denman and Kauto made out. Latter pair obviously well below their best. Denman an 11 year old. Indeed, not just the Gold Cup, Kauto was nowhere near best in any of his 4 races that season, before coming back to a really good level in Betfair Chase victory. Following month Kauto then won the King George by 1 1/4 lengths from a Long Run (who was at least as good as when the 6 year old had won at Cheltenham) 17 lengths clear of third Captain Chris at Kempton.
After Djakadam finished 1 1/2 lengths second to Coneygree in 2015 – with 2 lengths back to third Road To Riches, Djakadam actually improved on his next start at Punchestown. 7 lengths second to a much better racehorse than Coneygree – Don Cossack, with this time 6 1/2 lengths back to third Road To Riches. Djakadam then won the John Durkan by 12 lengths, fell too early in the Betbright Trial before another performance better than his 2015 effort in the 2016 renewal. 4 1/2 lengths second to Don Cossack with 10 back to third Don Poli.
Both Long Run and Djakadam running to at least the same standard and probably better.
Value Is EverythingThere a long number of horses who seemed to have ran career bests to win The Gold Cup and never really got back to that standard; Coneygree, Don Cossack, Sizing John, Lord W, even Native River (although he had his ground when he won). Might Bite, who didn’t win, certainly ran a career best last year as well.
In his Cheltenham Gold Cup Sizing John beat Minella Rocco 2 3/4 lengths with short head to Native River, half a length to a below par Djakadam (who made a bad mistake 2 out) and 3 to Saphir De Rheu. Sizing John then went on to Punchestown, beating a now back to form Djakadam a short head, with 1 1/2 back to Coneygree; 42 lengths clear of the other two. Coneygree plagued with injury, the very reason he ran in the race as a novice but also making a second Gold Cup unlikely. However, arguably Punchestown 3rd is to the same form level as his Cheltenham victory. Finishing 1 1/2 lengths behind a now better Djakadam instead of 1 1/2 lengths in front. Sizing John’s performance at least as good as a month previous at Cheltenham. He then went on to beat Djakadam by 7 in December’s John Durkan. Although both not Djakadam’s best, it was further than he’d beaten that horse at Cheltenham. With a further 2 3/4 (total of 9 3/4) to third Sub Lieutenant. Latter had run Un De Sceaux to 1 1/2 the previous March – although with UDS going plenty quick enough that probably flatters SL. Unfortunately Sizing John’s path met with injury before he could get back to Cheltenham.
Don Cossack got injured after his Gold Cup and did not race again; but was only franking the Djakadam form of the previous April’s Punchestown Gold Cup and December’s King George. Had just overtaken eventual winner Cue Card when falling 2 out. He really was that class and such a shame not seen again after Cheltenham.
Lord Windermere won the poorest quality Gold Cup of my lifetime, taking advantage of Silviniaco and Bobs well below form. His next run, 5 lengths 3rd to an upwardly mobile Don Cossack imo just as good as LW’s Cheltenham form, before losing it completely.
As you say, Native River hasn’t had enough of a test of stamina since. Might Bite did win again. Just a few weeks later, his 7 lengths victory in the Betfair Bowl at Aintree over Bristol De Mai, with a further 3 1/4 back to the up-and-coming Clan Des Obeaux 3rd at least as good as his Cheltenham second – if not better.
Some horses go on to better ratings, some don’t, some get injured, some lose their form. But most Gold Cup winners are not as young and/or as progressive as Al Boum Photo. Has a good chance of being a two time winner, especially if his jumping continues to improve too.
Value Is EverythingBristol De Mai is an enigma it’s as simple as that.
Top class grade 1 horse who runs well when he wants to.
You can make as many arguements as you want as to what BDM needs but the truth is he goes on any type of track and on any ground it doesnt matter if he is fresh or at the end of a busy season.
The key to the horse is there is no key just be lucky when you back him.
A very talented but inconsistent horse ultimately.
I reckon BDM is a difficult horse to get cherry pick right , it’s been often mentioned his love for haydock but I reckon we also need to remember twiston Davies always tends to hit the season/early winter running , taking advantage of some other trainers horses needing the run , I always tend to follow him sept to November ….never had a bean on BDM …I reckon that would leave me evens Stevens lol
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