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If he’s A1 FTF is likely the be one of the last off the bridle , Haiti it’s likely to try and do a Native River , this should help FTF but as you say once he’s off the bridle then he’s in trouble , Jukebox won’t be far away and neither will the Henderson horse however I’m not sure he’s good enough , then there’s Galopin to
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
”Why didn’t the British come over for the Irish Gold Cup?”
Because they know it would empty their horses before the race that matters most.
Because they know it would empty their horses before the race that matters most.
Glad you see it the same way.
The Denman looks a three horse race right now, but I doubt, we’ll see all three of them. Most likely L’Homme Presse will bypass the race. The three other horses are at least a stone below Gold Cup class.
“Not Patrick’s worst ride green but he just can’t settle a horse at all. ”
Gaelic Warrior is a keen horse anyway. But I do agree with you (back I go to slagging Patrick). The man has heavy hands and an electric arse. He fought the bit out with Jimmy du Seuil yesterday, a more unpleasant spectacle of horse/rider disharmony you rarely see. I was just waiting for him to deck the horse and sure enough it happened. He has fallen off or floored some number of graded chasers: Jimmy, Ile Atlantique x 2, Quai de Bourbon, Ferny Hollow (RIP), Carefully Selected, Douvan, Chacun Pour Soi, Invitation Only (RIP) , Ballyward (RIP). That’s some going for limited rides. He’s better over hurdles.
GM23, this is why NH racing is dying; Arkle, Desert Orchid, Monksfield, Night Nurse, all built their legend over the NH season. I agree the Gold Cup is the ultimate prize in NH racing, but it’s the cherry on top, not the whole cake. The Irish Gold Cup is a great prize in it’s own right, and not just a prep.
I still think last season’s Gold Cup was a pretty average affair. 3rd placed Gentlemansgame was beaten 12 & 18 lengths respectively by Inothewayurthinkin & Galopin.
In his previous run in the Cotswold Chase he was beaten more than 16 lengths (admittedly giving a bit of weight) by L’Homme Presse & Stage Star.
Wales Haiti Couleurs was due to travel but with the bad weather last week and ferry delays, they decided against it as he hates standing for long periods while travelling. Newbury’s gain as he now entered in the Denman chase
Did the Irish horse Fast Or Slow not go because of the ground?, I know he was originally entered, though like Galopin Des Champs not the force of old
VF x
Don’t forget Dooneys Gate at Bechers in the 2011 Grand National. That had a lasting effect to the once great race.
Well reading through the thread- it’s pretty clear we’re all a tad confused as to what happens next and who goes where. My suggestion that Townend might even switch to GW was scorned a few weeks ago but now it’s a possibility. An impressive win by Haiti Couleurs or Jango at the weekend will shake up the market anew. The only two things I am fairly sure about are that GDC is not the horse of old and won’t regain the Cup at 10 and that last year’s winner won’t get to Cheltenham.
The stats for Ryanair winners in the GC aren’t that great – Imperial Commander is the only horse to double up though Cue Card might have,had Brennan not put him on the floor. Fact to File to me is a Florida Pearl type, a speedy, genuine G1 three mile horse who maybe is not quite good enough to win a Gold Cup.The stats for Ryanair winners in the GC aren’t that great – Imperial Commander is the only horse to double up though Cue Card might have,had Brennan not put him on the floor. Fact to File to me is a Florida Pearl type, a speedy, genuine G1 three mile horse who maybe is not quite good enough to win a Gold Cup.
I think there is a lot of truth behind that. Florida Pearl won this race four times, but didn’t stay the 3m2f at Cheltenham and FTF is just too speedy imo to win a Cheltenham Gold Cup. Having said that he showed plenty of stamina today, but with GDC easily 10 lbs. below his Leopardstown best and Firefox finishing upsides I wonder how good the form really is. Gaelic Warrior is a decent yardstick and I think both showed what they’re capable of in testing conditions and fully deserve to line up for the GC rather than the Ryanair.
I have always felt that Haiti would need truly attritional ground (a la a Master Oats year) to win a Gold Cup, as Welsh and Irish Nationals are run at a very different pace and styles to a Gold Cup.
Newbury could have been an acid test for him over a flat 3m but given the field (assuming they all stand their ground) it could actual turn rather more tactical as LHP seemed to take more interest in what was going on around him rather than front running, so likely to be dropped in and being the quickest in the field, Jango will be held up to use that speed to his advantage. Master Chewy and Riskintheground tend to be held up also, so that leaves just Leave of Absence (who races prominently) as the only one likely to take on Haiti (who will likely have to give weight to him) at the front end.
As we know the easiest way to get a proper stayer beat when they drop back in trip is to set a too faster pace early on in the hope of making it more of a stamina test but instead you end up taking the horse out of their comfort zone. Bowen will need to get the pace just right and hope LOA doesn’t press him for the lead and force him to go quicker than he wants, which could set it up for those sitting off the pace.
Not entirely sure it going to make the Gold Cup picture any clearer but it very well could be an interesting race to watch regardless.
“Don’t forget Dooneys Gate at Bechers in the 2011 Grand National. That had a lasting effect to the once great race.”
I deliberately excluded him as that was over the old solid core fences, could happen to anyone. Patrick was quite young then too. He’s old enough to know better now.
Agree with befair, had Galopin won a fourth Irish Gold Cup today that would have been an amazing achievement. The race isn’t merely a prep race for Cheltenham.
The comments earlier in the thread about his owners being greedy are not supported by the facts in my view. The horse has never had more than five races in the same season.
The reason he isn’t showing quite as good form now is nothing to do with him being overraced in the past. It’s because he is 10, and age is starting to catch up with him. He’s still achieving a very high level of form though, and I believe that’s because he has been looked after.
Paul will ride GDC at Cheltenham , there’s fewer questions about him than GW , he’s knows he will come up the hill , if they he ground isn’t as lively as lasT year then he will likely be in the 3
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
If Townend stays loyal to GDC and trainer supplements FTF which is more likely now, then a serious conversation is likely to take place to switch GW to the Ryanair as Townend doesn’t have a ride with a big chance in the Ryanair and Ricci likes Townend to ride his horses rather than Patrick, plus the race is worth 200k odd and Willie has a trainer’s title to defend.
I am not sure how much of a priority the British Trainers Championship is to Mullins this season. He is still behind Elliot in the Irish Trainers Championship but only by €400,000. He is probably close enough to overhaul him with a good Punchestown.
https://www.irishracing.com/statistics
If Gaelic Warrior was mine, it would be Gold Cup all the way. I wouldn’t have been discouraged by yesterday at all.
Fact To File looks like he will be supplemented but I agree with the school of thought that he could be another Florida Pearl. He might win the Gold Cup – but if he runs in the Ryanair he is as good as a certainty.
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