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This is a serious contender for me. The way he jumps will have everyone in trouble! Putting 10l after the last between him and LHP on that kind of ground is a serious performance!
Nonsense Ruby. The horse is probably the best jumper in the field. And has the engine to go a good gallop on any ground.From the front, those attributes are huge in a GC.
I don’t see him winning a Gold Cup. That race has depth by the look of it this year and HC has beaten handicappers in a Welsh National, decent but its not a grade 1, and won a grade 2 where Jango doesn’t turn up and he beats an 11 yr old who ran 2 weeks ago.
It’s a shame they sacrificed a National campaign this year as i thought he was an extremely strong runner off his mark before today.
He is the best jumper when they go round Chepstow or so, but he had to put himself right on a few occasions today. The Gold Cup is a totally different competition. More speed and much less room for error.
Looked at his strongest at the end as his stamina kicked in and the others checked out but a lot more than that will be needed as even taking into account the quick turnaround from Cheltenham, LHP is clearly not the horse he was as at times (and quite early on) he was struggling and was being pushed along.
HC’s mid race jumping (which was a bit sloppy today) could be an issue as he could easily find himself getting out of position plus he will be going a much faster pace than he is used to in those long distance races. Will he also have enough early pace to be in front as we all know how much of a charge it is from the start to get a position.
To me he would need similar type ground as today to slow the other quicker horses down and turn it into a proper slog to where his key asset (his stamina) kicks in…on better ground his mid race pace and jumping at a Championship run pace is the big unknown for him. If he can handle that and is still in touch off the home turn then you know there are not many (if any) that will see the trip out better than him.
That’s a fair assessment Ld73. But I think he’s got more to come. There are massive question marks over the others around him and ahead of him in the betting.
F2F not certain to run, huge question mark around whether he (and the others who ran in the race) have left their race behind in Ireland.
Jango Baie another undertook to stay.
The jukebox man looks solid if unspectacular.
Grey Dawning I think is still a live outsider but will need to improve a ton from trials day.
Haiti Colouers has the least questions around him based on that run. If maybe not the most talented in the field, we know he stays and we know he jumps.
TC- he has just as much right to be in the field as the others but as I said the one thing most (if not all) of those he will face will have experience over him at is the racing/jumping at Championship level.
We have seen a fair number of National type horses that are taken out of their comfort zone early on at that pace (which is relentless and requires slick enough jumping to hold your position) and we will probably know quite early on if HC is able to cope with it.
To win a Welsh National and Gold Cup in the same season is a very big ask, Burrough Hill Lad (off just 10-9 in the Welsh National!!!) and Master Oats are the only ones to do it in recent memory with Master Oats winning both on heavy ground (his Welsh National was run at Newbury).
The one thing that is good for me is just how open the big three Championship races are looking at this stage with the QMCC having the shortest priced favourite at 13/8.
Anyone thinking he hasn’t a cracking chance in the GC needs to have a word with themselves , I’ll keep saying this horse has a touch of native river about him , if he’s in the game come the last nothing will get up the hill better
He has it to do for me from a win perspective HDLG he’s not been running in King Georges and Irish Gold Cups and i’m not convinced he will beat ALL of those who ran in those grade 1s. Bossing all of them is a different kettle of fish unless the ground is very soft. So no need to have a word with myself lol
Sean won’t have to ride him thinking will be get him he trip , that’s the question with the majority of the Irish horses , I’ve him well covered ante post so I’ll hope he delivers
He certainly stays…. Gaelic Warrior will be pulling a tank over two out in behind him
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
His time was five seconds slower compared to the Novices’ Handicap two races later. He won’t play a role in the Gold Cup unless it gets extremely testing. Otherwise he will be 100-1 in running with a mile to go.
Just think of other Welsh National winners in testing conditions, i.e. Nassalam who never had a chance in a truly run GC.“F2F not certain to run, huge question mark around whether he (and the others who ran in the race) have left their race behind in Ireland.”
But Haiti hasn’t left his race behind running 3 miles on heavy 5 days closer to the festival?
Wouldn’t you say F2F had the harder race though?
Haiti’s biggest question mark is class, I will freely admit that. And his form is absolutely not the strongest in the line up. But he’s loads going for him at the same time. People dismissing him as having no chance are naive at best. This is a classic case of “if it was Mullins training it he would be much shorter”
Gaelic will be in his box watching it Hughsie … You know deep down he’s going to the Ryanair ….
Yeah Welsh National winner would never win a GC…. He’s got 5 weeks to recover , plenty time
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