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I think Imperial Commander will now be aimed at the Lexus Chase.
They know he stays, regardless of conditions.
"Bosranic" wrote: Just got back from Cheltenham. As always, an uncomfortable day out due to overcrowding (Cheltenham, please look at this!), but it’s the Gold Cup and you have to expect this.
The Gold Cup turned into something of an anti-climax, really. The atmosphere was dead after, suffice to say, the biggest acknowledgment after the race was the sight of Kauto Star coming back unscathed after his tumble!
The crowd gave him a wonderful round of applause. They have so much respect for what he has achieved.
For those of you who say he never travelled. Completely disagree with that. He travelled and jumped until the eighth beautifully, including a few of his trademark ‘stand-offs’. I was stood on the grandstand side next to the rail (near the last fence) and all I heard was an almighty gasp…then silence when he made that mistake.
That fence took it out of him. As they went out onto the second circuit, my mate said to me "He’s back in it". Kauto looked to be travelling easier, but I turned to him and said "He hasn’t recovered from that blunder". You could Ruby was never happy after that (taking him to the outside, then back in again), but as always Kauto battled and battled, but you can’t make a mistake like that and expect to win a Gold Cup.
How many horse would have recovered from that in a Gold Cup and still got back on terms and been only 3L down four out?
I laugh at those of you writing his racing eulogy. The three mile novice chasers have a lot to prove and Imperial Commander is only a year younger than Kauto. If Denman is targeted at the National next year, Kauto is still in with a shout.
I will tell you this right now, Kauto Star will start favourite for the 2011 Gold Cup. Take the 6-1, is my advice.
Kauto looked wonderful beforehand and Denman, along with Calgary Bay, were the picks of the paddock. Denman looked incredible and on very good terms with himself. That is how good he is at this stage of his career. Paul Nicholls said you will never see him blitz a field again and he was telling the truth. He ran a cracking race and lost nothing in defeat.
As for the others. It’s hard to get excited about Imperial Commander because he isn’t a superstar. Sorry. He’s won seven races under rules – six of them at Cheltenham. Make no mistake, he deserved this success and was the best horse on the day, but 4-1 for next years race? Terrible value.
What an effort form Mon Mome. Delighted to see the horse run such a good race before Aintree and he looked well. Cooldine, lovely looking horse, but he beat a poor RSA field last year and that’s just about how good he is. Joncol now looks the best of the Irish three milers.
Lord Oaksey must be chuffed to bits with the run of Carruthers and Calgary Bay ran a stormer, too. You can tell he’s a bit of a fractious animal and he pulled hard early in the race and hit a couple. Henrietta said the main target next season is the Grand National – the 2011 running of that race is something to really look forward too!
A disappointing result for me, not because Kauto lost, but…I don’t know why!!
6/1 KAUTO next year you are joking, wouldnt touch it with a barge pole, so pleased for paddy brennan today and the NTD team , my god they deserved it after suffering from seconditus for weeks.
6/1 KAUTO next year you are joking, wouldnt touch it with a barge pole, so pleased for paddy brennan today and the NTD team , my god they deserved it after suffering from seconditus for weeks.
chloed, here’s the scenario.
Kauto will go to Haydock, Kempton and Cheltenham next season, all being well.
He puts up a good performance at Haydock before landing a record breaking fifth King George, showing that he still retains most of his ability in the process.
What price then for Kauto to once again regain his Gold Cup crown?
Horses like Kauto are very special. I certainly wouldn’t put it past him to regain the Gold Cup for a second time as an 11YO.
Contenders aren’t exactly queueing up.
There’s a lot of tosh being spouted post-Gold Cup, IMHO.
I think BigPhil talks sense.
Kauto is not finished. Was it not only 24 hrs ago that many people thought Denman had lost it.
They are two class animals that have little to prove.
At current odds I’d rather back Kauto E/W for next year. Denman is vulnerable and IC is too short.
Now, as for today’s race:
Those of us that said the Tank could beat KS fair and square have surely been proven correct.
You can go on and on about what
may
have happened
if
Kauto had jumped…but he didn’t, why not?
BECAUSE IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR HIM.
The rigours of the Gold Cup, unless a weak field (as when he won in 2009 – and Denman not 100%) is not his optimum. On any other course I’d say he’d beat IC and Denman. Maybe IC will prove otherwise…
However, take nothing away from Kauto – he is surely in the top five jumping horses of all time, irrespective of what he does or does not do hereafter.
Denman and IC could never match Kauto’s achievements.
I hope he comes back and wins more big races and, as things stand, he is the value for the 2011 Gold Cup as he is a nice E/W with a genuine win chance and a fab place chance.
As for the Tank, he showed any doubters he still has an appetite for a battle. It seems certain he will never tear apart a field as he did in 2008, but he can still be a contender in the top races. National
would
be interesting…but they need to go for it next year, not wait any longer.
Congrats to all who backed Imperial – a changing of the guard….but those older warriors will fight another day.
I really wasn’t sure IC would stay but he was sublime today. He quickened brilliantly.
Lastly, the hype was good for racing – racing needs every bit of publicity it can get and the race reached parts of the media it otherwise would not have.
Sure, the showdown failed to materialise…but does that not happen in all sports?
We’ve all taken home a stunning blonde with a body chiselled by the Gods. Only to find she is a dead fish in the sack. It happens.
Most gripping race of the meeting for me and KS is OK
.Zip
Ps,
Thank **** Videoplus thingy actually worked today and recorded the racing, whoo hoo!!!bosranic
I would be delighted if kauto came out next year and won, but to take 6/1 at this stage would be madness, and he would have to improve on his jumping and at his age is that possibile, cheltenham is all about rhythm and i think kauto has lost his fluidity.From where I was sitting (in my lounge) it wasn’t too much of an anti-climax because it was a delight to see NTD and Paddy Brennan and the owners so obviously thrilled after their win. There seemed to be a lot of good feeling for them. That’s got to get your juices flowing despite any disappointment over the Deanman/Kauto clash fizzling out. It was still an exciting race which is what everyone wanted, and all the horses live to fight another day.
Personally I never bet, but as I watched all the build up even I was tempted because to me IC looked almost a certainty. I know that’s easy to say in hindsight, but even though there was only me in the room I was saying out loud "It’s going to be IC, it has to be". Everyone was so f=ocused on the big two that they couldn;’t see tht another horse had arrived on the scene to take the crown. Every era is replaced by another, and maybe this is ICs.
bosranic
I would be delighted if kauto came out next year and won, but to take 6/1 at this stage would be madness, and he would have to improve on his jumping and at his age is that possibile, cheltenham is all about rhythm and i think kauto has lost his fluidity.kauto has never had that much fluidity in his jumping – when he stands off is when it goes wrong – either too far or puts a leg down (usually too far). He has never been at " his best" at cheltenham either – but he is such a good horse does it matter. I hope he doesnt harm himself but as he gets older and more tired in his races the mistakes will become more numerous (he has always been a bit of a dodgy jumper). A minimal campaign but the gold cup the main target again is in order next season – you never know.
that apart Imperial fully deserves the plaudits today – fantastic day for Nigel and a very very good horse round cheltenham now – look at his record here
i’m over the moon with the result today and i glad kauto came back unscathed
how much improvement is in calgary bay with all that size ? – im a bit disappointed with todays result if fancied him a lot more
regarding the prep for mon mome comment, rough quest was 2nd in the gold cup, then went on to win the national
i thought it was either 3 or 4 weeks gap before the national ? if its 3 then its a lot more difficult than 4 – depends on the calendar – i remember j.pitman mentioning it at some point
regarding the prep for mon mome comment, rough quest was 2nd in the gold cup, then went on to win the national
And Garrison Savannah did it the other way round in 1991.
Irish Contenders for next year
Pandorama
Mikael’Haguenet
Trafford Lad
JoncolI think Joncol will win next year he will be the best Irish horse.However lack of course form could be a problem
Neptune Collonges should hopefully be back next year, a fresh, rejuvenated horse.
That’s a point – forgive my ignorance, but what’s happened to him this season.
(I am a comparative racing n00b, sorry.)
BlueSky @pghenn.bsky.social
So don't run, just like the others always do
i like joncol too
vf
The best looking horse in training and, yes, he does possess immense potential.
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