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One of IC’s owners posts on betfair.
He was adamant that IC’s "prep" would be KG or Lexus, as they want 12 weeks to prep him for either the GC or the Ryanair – last year they felt he was actually a bit "undercooked" for the Ryanair. Just passing that on. Trainer and jockey are mad keen on the Gold Cup, he said.
I would imagine there is a good chance they will redirect him to the Lexus now especially as Denman looks unlikely to line up
With the sad loss of poor Exotic Dancer, it looks like Tony McCoy will be free for the Gold Cup. If both Denman & Kauto Star make it to Cheltenham then McCoy would be the obvious choice to pick up the spare ride on whichever horse Ruby rejects.
If Ruby Walsh decides to stick with Kauto Star, as I’m sure he will if that horse is ok, then I’m equally sure that come next March, Paul Barber and Harry Findlay will entrust Sam Thomas to guide Denman round the Prestbury Park course to yet another facile Gold Cup victory.
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I have always been on the Kauto "side" of things, and i backed nothing today. But I was screaming at the t.v. as Denman came up the straight. I have massive admiration for the horse. There was a stage when What A Friend came to him that I thought the weight would get the better of him, but he just kept going. One of those performances that makes the hairs stand on end.
That’s exactly how I felt. No-one who’s a true fan of jump racing could fail to be impressed and moved by Denman yesterday. I don’t know if I’ll switch sides. I guess I’ll just have to wait to see what my gut feeling is on the day. I have a suspicion I might switch a little, although I’d probably be satisfied if either won. They both deserve it.
Denman’s Hennessy success has converted many critics and it was a delight to see the big guy back to his best, but in the euphoria of Saturday afternoon, many have forgot that Kauto Star has an opportunity to create more history this season.
The first horse to regain the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Kauto Star is one of only three horses to win the King George on three occasions and, as far as I know, the first horse to complete the King George / Cheltenham Gold Cup double on more than one occasion. He has a chance to be the first horse to win the King George on four consecutive occasions and join the elite by winning a third CGC, thus completing the KG / CGC for an incredible third time.
This is enough to consider him a legend of the sport, but to think he has also won two Tingle Creeks and three Betfair Chases. Incredible.
It would be incredible to see him come back again next year and add to this tally. Can you imagine a fifth consecutive King George? A fourth Gold Cup?
I’m a huge fan of Kauto Star, but even if I were neutral on the matter, I would like to say one day that I saw the most decorated horse in NH history create this legacy.
Kauto all the way.
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Wanted to get this in before the King George.
A few of the lads are keen on Imperial Commander and I must say I can’t blame them.
No matter what happens at Kempton I saw enough at Haydock to suggest that Imperial Commander will get the trip at Cheltenham and could be a bigger danger to Kauto than Denman. I don’t buy into Kauto being better on flat courses but I do buy into the probability that Imperial Commander is a better horse at Cheltenham than he is on a flat track.
Much depends on him keeping tabs on the big two but if it comes down to who is going to come up the hill best my money would be on Imperial Commander every time.
I’ve saw Denman struggle with the hill twice not just because he is a bit one paced but because he uses himself a lot more than the others during his races.
Kauto comes up the hill ok but in both Gold Cups he’s used his speed and gone well before the last then ran on pretty much at the same pace.
So for me it’s all down to Ruby having enough in the locker at the 2nd last to kick far enough away from Imperial Commander and the rest as he wouldn’t want to be fighting this horse up the hill. Kauto for me but this Imperial Commander is a huge danger.
Wanted to get this in before the King George.
A few of the lads are keen on Imperial Commander and I must say I can’t blame them.
No matter what happens at Kempton I saw enough at Haydock to suggest that Imperial Commander will get the trip at Cheltenham and could be a bigger danger to Kauto than Denman. I don’t buy into Kauto being better on flat courses but I do buy into the probability that Imperial Commander is a better horse at Cheltenham than he is on a flat track.
Much depends on him keeping tabs on the big two but if it comes down to who is going to come up the hill best my money would be on Imperial Commander every time.
I’ve saw Denman struggle with the hill twice not just because he is a bit one paced but because he uses himself a lot more than the others during his races.
Kauto comes up the hill ok but in both Gold Cups he’s used his speed and gone well before the last then ran on pretty much at the same pace.
So for me it’s all down to Ruby having enough in the locker at the 2nd last to kick far enough away from Imperial Commander and the rest as he wouldn’t want to be fighting this horse up the hill. Kauto for me but this Imperial Commander is a huge danger.
Pure poetry there milbear0,i mean Fist!I agree with every word!
Whatever Imperial does in the King George, he is a different horse at Cheltenham, if by some chance he actually beats Kauto fair and square,he goes 9/4fav for the Gold Cup,grab the 12/1 now!Imperial Commander finished in front of Kauto Star last time out, and no amount of photographic (non) evidence will convince me otherwise. I suggest a big dollop of crowd appeasement was factored into the judge’s call that particular afternoon.
Imperial Commander a bigger threat to Kauto Star than Denman, Fist.
Hmmm ?! Methinks you’ve started early on the xmas sherry trifle.
For what it’s worth, I happen to think Imperial Commander is a big Gold Cup threat… to Denman –
and an even bigger threat to Kauto Star’s aspirations of a fourth King George win at Kempton on Boxing Day.
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Suddenly the race is starting to look more interesting; add to the mix a jockey with a point to prove.
Imperial Commander finished in front of Kauto Star last time out, and no amount of photographic (non) evidence will convince me otherwise. I suggest a big dollop of crowd appeasement was factored into the judge’s call that particular afternoon.
That you or your pocket talking, Himself?
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He be talking fram da heart me thinks
Don’t forget I backed Denman at 8/1 and was about 1 in 50 who said he’d be back "H" so I’m not talking through my pocket.
Imperial Commander looked very comfortable at Haydock in the sense he wasn’t taken off his feet. I don’t feel that Denman has the pace to take either Kauto or Imperial Commander of their feet and if he can’t he hasn’t got the toe to beat either in a finish.
I’ve resigned myself to the fact Kauto is simply a far superior animal to Denman and no matter how you cut it Denman was much nearer his best in last years Gold Cup than Kauto wwas when Denman beat him. He beat Neptune roughly the same distance but Kauto turned the form round with Denman by 20 lengths. Even allowing for the setback that is some amount of ground Denman has to make up.
So he wasn’t 100% lasy year but that far out surely he should have been able to offer some resistance….no matter what the ground is like if Kauto gets there 100% then I can’t see what Denman can possibly do to get Kauto of his back andit will just be a case of when Ruby says go. Passing Denman will be easy IMO but this Imperial Commander really worries me, he’s one tough cookie and a proper racehorse with a good engine and he’s got a bit more kick than Denman in a finish.
Imperial Commander finished in front of Kauto Star last time out, and no amount of photographic (non) evidence will convince me otherwise. I suggest a big dollop of crowd appeasement was factored into the judge’s call that particular afternoon.
That you or your pocket talking, Himself?
Not at all, Grasshopper – I actually backed Kauto Star that day, as I always do – when I think he’ll win.
I assure you I heaved a huge sigh of relief when the result was announced.
I was utterly convinced KS had just lost out as they passed the winning post, and countless re-viewings of the photograph in no way offers conclusive proof to the contrary.
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Which photo have you been looking at?
I love a conspiracy but it’s near on impossible to move the line and they dare not even try. It can be checked again and again……… Kauto clearly won no if or buts about it.
What throws people is IC’s head going down on the line while Kauto’s is down………..the freeze frame which I have, as well as the above, also shows the position of the horses is exactly the same in both.
Next case please
Judge Fist
Clearly won? Cearly won??
Hmmm, for fist sake, get yourself along to Bangkok’s finest optician… and pronto ma old china !
If that’s not a dead heat, then I was a rubbish footballer back in the day.
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