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Quite possibly, Gus, and at seven Neptune Collonges is hardly on the downgrade either, but I’m put off him by the fact he’s nought from four at Cheltenham. Further, he had reaffirmed as recently as his previous run, when getting three out wrong in the Cotswold Chase, that the last few fences at HQ have sometimes tended to present a bit of a problem for him.
I’d suggest a speculative each-way tickle on Star De Mohaison right now, on the premise that a big run in the Racing Post Chase could see him shortened to likely third favourite and also see the prospect of a Nicholls 1-2-3 capture more punters’ imagination.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
5/4 says this reaches 100 pages
No chance whatsoever if people will persist in starting new threads: "Kauto Star mania to end tomorrow?"; "Kauto – what is wrong with him?"; "Kauto OK?"; "Rivalry in the Paul Nicholls stable."
Definitive? No.
At the time I felt gutted by the injury or what I was sure was an "excuse" by Ogdens vet and just thought he’d slipped down the Ditcheat pecking order somewhat. Clearly with the way Nicholls has been happy to have both Kauto and Denman on his books this year there couldn’t have been any skullduggery involved in the decision to pull him out so long, it was just my big bet thinking!
With three, possibly four, 160+ rated 3m chasers on his books, I think Paul Nicholls would have to argue a very strong case with his owners not to run all of Kauto Star, Denman, Neptune Collonges and Star De Mohaison in the big one! I think all the owners concerned know exactly where their respective charges currently stand in terms of likelihood of winning, simply by virtue of Nicholls having been rod-straight with both them and the press as to their respective chances.
Don’t b*gger your owners about – it’s a blindingly simple concept so infrequently practised.
I do still think if this horse can show he can do it in a chase after his injury then potentially he could grow to be just as good as a horse like Exotic Dancer and that might be the big dilemma for the owners. If he wins [the Racing Post Chase] on saturday surely he’s booked his place for the GC?
Perhaps! The first hope is that we don’t have a replica of last year’s substandard renewal. The second is that Star De Mohaison wins in the style of the progressive horse he was 14 months ago. Nothing else will really enhance those Gold Cup claims sufficiently.
In terms of a dilemma for Robert Ogden, I’d presume he would be entirely happy for Choc Thornton to get the leg up on SDM if McCoy is on Exotic Dancer. That would make for an uncommon jockey booking for Paul Nicholls, although that partnership is 2-8 over the last five seasons. If not Thornton, then Tony Dobbin or Mick Fitzgerald could presumably enter calculations if not otherwise spoken for judged on existing owner-jockey stats.
Jeremy
(graysonscolumn)Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
If that is the position, Marb, and it remains the position even after a suitably convincing Racing Post Chase win, then the Ogden camp is a fool to itself.
I’d regard it as common sense to go into battle with an animal still demonstrably on the up before his setbacks, and still capable of ascending to championship class until expressly proven otherwise, as well as just one who has had an interrupted last few weeks and still hasn’t found a way to beat the champion in five tries.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
Does anyone know what the new plan is for Exotic Dancer? He was supposed to be Kempton-bound after missing the Cotswolds Chase, but he’s not even in the Hills market for the race. He’s the horse I’d be cheering on money aside in the GC, but I’ll be avoiding him vigourously if he turns up without a run since the King George, his record when fresh is horrendous.
Very true on all counts, Friggo, and if he isn’t Kempton-bound then they really ought to find him a 3m hurdle – or something similar – pretty darn quick for him to get that last piece of prep into him that we both agree he’d be in trouble without.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
There is no suprise the bookies are not quoting ED for The Racing Post Chase. It was a possibility but it’s too near to the festival
He’ll now most likely go straight to Cheltenham.
I wouldn’t worry about his form when fresh Friggo if you fancy him.
The couple of races you are talking about weren’t The Chetenham Gold Cup
it’s too near to Cheltenham.
I can’t see why. There would be three weeks between Kempton and Cheltenham. His best performance over hurdles was at Aintree in 2005, three weeks after running in the World Hurdle, and he won the 2006 Paddy Power five days after a poor performance at Carlisle. As has been pointed out, he doesn’t seem to go well "fresh".
FoF, it’s a bit disconcerting replying to a post and then finding that said post has subsequently been edited.
He’s coming back from injury albeit a minor one. Would you want him to have hard race 3 weeks before the big one and perhaps knock him back?
The most important thing is trying is getting to Cheltenham 100% fit
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Maybe we all "need a run" if it improves us as much as it did Exotic Dancer in the 5 days between his Carlisle trouncing and his Paddy Power romp?
Or might it have been the addition of cheekpieces, which had brought about such a remarkable transformation in the previous season’s World Hurdle?
"I thought Kauto Star looked real special on Saturday," said Findlay.
That just about sums him up as a judge
No Harry….he looked near enough like his early to mid season self on Saturday………. he looked really special in the King George V1 Chase at Kempton and you’ll see that horse at Cheltenham (from behind) he’ll do the same to your horse as he did to them on Boxig Day………Denman a certainty?….ya!!!! you wish
You should listen to Paul Barber. That’s all I’m saying. Wise man that he is.
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
With him being the owner and no doubt a little excited i’d prefer not to..
Kauto was electric on saturday and I’m now convinced he’ll turn Denman over..
You get the impression from the Nicholls stable that they all think Kauto is the better of the two.. Masterminded must have beaten Kauto when schooling and this must have concerned him somewhat but then after the game spirit he reaslied why.
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