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2 points.
1/ Tomorrow’s race is more valuable than the King George, so to assume this is a warm-up is just barmy.
2/ Haydock’s new fences are probably the least likely in the country to cause jumping problems, particularly for a horse intensively schooled for the race.I’ve only really gotten into racing the last 3-4 years so I’ve not really felt an attachment to a particular horse before but……
Over the last few years I have had the chance to see Kauto in the flesh on 3 separate occasions; beaten a nose by Our Vic, falling in a Gold Cup and the King George last year.
I’m starting to think that maybe I am a curse on him, and maybe it would be better for him if I stayed away from Haydock later on today……..but I can’t.
The most important thing to me when watching the race tomorrow is that he (and the others) get round safely, and yes he may very well be too old to win another King George, or another Gold Cup, but it doesn’t stop me hoping and praying that there is just one more win in him……fingers crossed it’s tomorrow
Can’t ignore stable form here, or the fact that NH has said Long Run is almost physically unrecognisable from the horse that won the KG and GC, such is his progress. Of course that makes sense, being a 6yo by Cadoudal.
Weird Al for the saver.
Making a case for Kauto Star.
No one could grudge Kauto Star another Grade 1 win but is there a case to be made for him? I’d like to try.
The first signs he may be deteriorating came in the Jnwine.com Champion Chase when there was no zip in his step running on at one pace to beat non stayer Sizing Europe.
AP then replaced Ruby in the King George when he was going for his 5th consecutive win in the race. Form the word go Kauto looked nothing like his old self. Usually by the 10th fence he’d be cruisng along, his head swinging side to side having the odd little tug at Ruby and enjoying himself.
When they jumped the 10th fence AP started to look slightly uncomfortable on him changing his hands and even giving him a light slap down the neck to keep him in the race. It wasn’t anything Long Run was doing as he was bowling along with the others, horses Kauto wouldn’t normally see in his way.
By the third last Kauto couldn’t even keep tabs on Long Run and it was clear he was beaten. All in all for him he’d run a stinker.
Then came the Gold Cup and for the first time last season Kauto looked something like his old self. He travelled like a dream jumped well and even pulled himself to the front along way from home.
1/2 a mile out Kauto looked like he might add a 3rd Gold Cup to his tally, He had Denman behind and Long Run was having to be niggled at to get into a challenging position. However as they came down the hill Long Run’s superior stamina kicked in and Kauto’s legs went to jelly..
The difference between the King George and the Gold Cup was that Kauto ran a much better race in the latter. He looked jaded and uninterested in the King George but looked as happy as larry in the Gold Cup.
While he has won 2 Gold Cups there’s case to be made for him not truly getting the trip. Twice his legs have gone to jelly on the run in and even when under no pressure he failed to pull away as you would have expected when he his races.
There’s little doubt in my mind he’s better on a park course like Kempton than he is round Cheltenham, there’s even less doubt he ran much better in the Gold Cup that he did in the KIng George.
Now if he comes here in the same form as he was in the Gold Cup there’s no way Long Run should beat him as easily as he did at Kempton and may not beat him at all.
Add that to the fact Paul Nichols is a genius at bring them back from the dead and you must give Kauto Star a fair chance of winning this.
History tells us it won’t happen. Some great horses who raced on after they started to decline never managed to reach those magical heights again, like Persian War, Bula, Hardy Eustace who all raced on longer than they perhaps should have.
However there’s only one Kauto Star and he gets my vote not go down without a fight and give them all something to think about today.
So stuff it I’m backing Grandouet and if he wins I’m sticking all the profit into Kauto for the hell of it.
I’m more worried about young Waley-Cohen’s dubious moustache than I am about Long Run not winning.
Sorry Kauto supporters, but the great horse has had his day.
I can’t see him coming second, let alone winning this. Yes, I can muster up some humble pie quickly if I’m wrong.Long Run to rule the grade 1s this season, again !
Oops
I’m gorging away. Fantastic performance from the old boy.
From a Long Run point of view and looking on the bright side: longer odds for the KG.still think LR needs a pro aboard. I really do !
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
Call me what you will, but when Kauto passed that winning post; there was a lump in my throat. Bloody fantastic.
Unbelievable! What a horse!!!
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
^I would question the love for the game of anyone who doesn’t have a lump in their throat / tear in their eye after that.
Who will Ruby ride at Kempton?
Great to see but today was his Gold Cup whereas Long Run is being trained for March.
Ok, own up, hands up all those who had to wipe away a little tear when old Kauto came home!
That was as emotional as I’ve ever been after a race – and I really didn’t see either the result or think I had it in me.
Coming to the last, Kauto was at the end of his tether; any other horse would have been lucky to clamber over it, yet he comes up out of Rubys hands and flies it. The jump was wasn’t consistent with how the horse was travelling. What a trooper.
I’m on cloud nine teras and all and not just because my selections won.
That would bring a tear to a glass eye.
We just saw the difference between a great horse and a very good one.
I maintain in his prime Long Run wouldn’t have got within 10 lengths of Kauto in the King George.
I know it’s a lot to ask but could it be Kauto could now win that elusive 5th King George?
I don’t care what race it was, that was an exceptional performance. You could see how much it meant to connections, that’s what racing is all about. This horse has given the people some days, what a horse
I’ve rarely enjoyed losing money more.
Wonderful.
As he passed the post hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention as a mark of respect for Kauto Star.
Well done Paul Nicholls, Ruby Walsh and all the team.
If any modern 12 year old can win a Gold Cup, this is the one.
Value Is Everything
I can’t see him coming second, let alone winning this. Yes, I can muster up some humble pie quickly if I’m wrong.
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