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Best Mate did have a truly great horse to beat but his form fell off a cliff when taken out of Ireland.
The real problem with Best Mates era is all the other great or potentially great horses got career or life ending injuries.
Cyfor Malta
Nick Dundee
Looks Like Trouble
Gloria VictisWhat a Gold Cup era that’d have been between 00 – 03 if they’d stayed sound. The Foot and mouth would’ve still ruined one Festival though.
I still think Nick Dundee could’ve been the most special horse since Arkle. He was making Looks Like Trouble look like a handicapper before the fall but we’ll never know.
To Looks Like Troubles credit though, he did find plenty under pressure and could come up that hill like a torpedo.Is he the number 2 behind Arkle – at Leopardstown definitely. Overall – well maybe. – 3 Gold Cup wins surely beckon ,for as with Arkle in ’66 there’ll be nothing to take him on- expect 6-8 runners. Will he rank above Kauto ? Not for me,as he’s beatable going right handed and over less than 3m . But, rather than all the superfluous comparisons, let’s just enjoy March 14 now.
Kauto is my favourite horse of all time but I do think there’s not much between him and Galopin.
As a 6yo Novice, Galopin was much flashier and I think he (like Kauto) could’ve beaten anything between 2m – 3m that season.
Kauto has the advantage though in that he actually did it. A Tingle Creek and Gold Cup in the same season is Phenomenal. He’d also have won an Arkle and Queen Mother but for injury and falls.
It’s Kautos final 2 wins that cement him as the greatest of the modern era for me though.
After near breaking his neck 18 months earlier, to come back and put Long Run in his place twice at 11 nearing 12yr old, I’ll never forget it.
He had a heart like none other I’ve seen.I’d have GDC a better “Gold Cup” horse than Kauto Star. Nailed on if he wins another GC
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
GDC is good, not great despite his record. He keeps beating the same trees race after race…..For me, he’s the least slowest of the current lot. I think we’re in a pretty average period of NH racing, so the top horses look better than they are.
And lets remember, he’s a big fish in a small pond.
Is Kauto a better stayer than GDC or Denman , no , but he won tingle creeks as he had so many gears so that’s why id put him above GDC , he was a freak , I put Denman above Kauto as he finished in front of him head to head , my issue with GDC is he’s a one trick pony , that’s not to knock as he’s extremely good at it but Fastorslow has been able to beat that trick numerous times , the truly best have everything , how would GDC jump if having to compete with peak Dessie , Denman , Arkle , maybe the question is can GDC win 4 gold cups ? , if he did then he,d have to go to towards the top of the lists
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
Andy, GDC is far from slow. He’s just been trained to relax the past 3 years to make him the best possible Gold Cup horse he can be.
Go watch him in his novice chasing days or the 2022 John Durkan and tell me if you see a slow horse.
GM Fastorslow has shown that he doesn’t have that pace now , GDC grinds horses down with his galloping , there’s no gear change , that’s his trick and he’s very good at it , Fastorslow has the gears and has been able to beat him with them
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
HDLG,
How anyone can think Denman was better than Kauto is absolutely beyond me. Nicholls and Ruby have both said on many occasions than Kauto was the greatest and who would know more than them.
16 G1’s vs Denmans 4 and unbeatable on his day anywhere between 2m – 3m. The only horse to regain a Gold Cup, The only horse to win the million pound bonus and the only horse to win a G1 in 6 consecutive seasons.
To come back and beat a prime Long Run in those last 2 G1’s at almost 12yr old is the stuff of legends.He’s the greatest NH horse of all time for me but that’s a discussion for another day.
Also. I know Denmans weight carrying performances in the Hennessy were magnificent but he was only even placed in the handicap Hennessy because he’d have been no match for the mighty Kauto in the G1 Betfair chase.
HDLG, FastorSlow is the quicker horse now for the reason I stated before. Willie has been training GDC for years to be the ultimate Gold Cup machine. After his novice campaign, he stated that he was going to train him to relax and be put to sleep in his races with the Gold Cup in mind.
The novice chasing GDC was a flying machine.
It’s a view GM , let’s also take into account Denmans heart condition , to come back from that and do what he did after that was special to , head to head Denman finished in front of Kauto to , that’s a fact , as for your comments on GDC while he may well have been trained to switch off I think you’ll find most horses are trained similarly , why would u want a lit up stayer , I get you love GDC but what I’m saying has merit , Fastorslow has taken advantage of his lack of gears a number of times , I love Denman , have him above Kauto but I understand why others have him above Denman , views are what the forum are all about , I respect yours
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
I can see why some like Denman more than Kauto as everyone has their favourites. I just can’t see how some think he was overall greater than Kauto. For me it’s no contest in that regard.
I respect your opinion either way HDLG and it’s all just a bit of fun anyway.
“How anyone can think Denman was better than Kauto is absolutely beyond me. Nicholls and Ruby have both said on many occasions than Kauto was the greatest and who would know more than them.”
Depends on what is being asked. Kauto was the better horse regarding adaptability of trips, longevity, and what he achieved as a result. But when the question is asked ‘at their best who was the best’ it’s a bit more complex because it depends in what race, e.g. why didn’t Kauto Star beat Denman in the 2008 Gold Cup? They were both 8 year olds and Kauto was the title holder. Arguably, it may have been the best Gold Cup performance I’ve seen because of Kauto’s reputation of being a superstar. And I backed Denman as well which was nice
. Denman started suffering with heart issues from the summer of that year and wasn’t the same beast and oh my was he a beast in that Gold Cup.Mike, as has already been stated several times Kauto was not at his best in the 2008 Gold Cup. If he was, then his best is only a short-head better than Neptune Collonges and 9l better than Halcon Genelardais.
Kauto was a far better horse than that and palpably underperformed in that race.
Fair point. Denman was relentless in the run and it would have been a good watch to see what they found up the run in.
. Denman started suffering with heart issues from the summer of that year and wasn’t the same beast and oh my was he a beast in that Gold Cup.
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