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“I would back Fact To File over Marine Nationale any day.”
Over 2 miles I’d stick with Marine Nationale, but if it’s 2m3f or further it has to be FTF.
A fit Sir Gino would be a different kettle of fish
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
“Sorry Ginge 2 winners , to be fair one was pretty much a match , if you want to say that’s it’s a strong KG then go ahead , I don’t , the French horse was well beaten today , Banbridge was well beaten in the Ryanair last year , there’s a real question of him staying , how do you see him being able to beat GDC , I reckon he will do well to be 3rd of 4th”.
Now that’s not what I said either, is it HDLG.
I don’t think the 2024 King George was particularly “strong”. But one thing is for certain it is not how you described it, “iffy”. I’d say it is at least up to the mean average for a King George and better than most recent runnings.
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I am just giving an explanation why all bar two of the runners ran below their best. Both Il Est Francais and Banbridge improved their form to be first and second. Il Est Francais had put up one of the best novice performances of the season at the same meeting the previous season. His two best performances have come at Kempton at Christmas. Banbridge had previously won a good novice there too. The Silviniaco Conti, beating subsequent multiple Grade 1 winner Pic D’Orhy pretty easily (albeit getting 3lbs). So he acts well at Kempton too. But if you want to know why Banbridge ran poorly at Cheltenham in last year’s Ryanair, just look at the going. Soft! If looking at his form you’ll see he’s kept prertty much to Good or good-soft. Previous year was a non-runner on similarly soft ground. So the poor Ryanair run can be ignored. He’ll get his ground tomorrow. We know Banbridge runs well at Cheltenham from his Martin Pipe Hurdle and Arkle Trial victories. However, he still needs to find 10 lbs to beat a top form GDC… And another thing to bear in mind is at the time of his King George, Joseph O’Brien was in not just good form, but remarkable form. On my trainer in form ratings a rare 10 out of 10. Right now he is in neither good or bad form, 6 / 10. Many horses are not at their very best unless the trainer is in good form.If he stays then Banbridge is the biggest danger to the fav. But that is a big IF. Personally I would not even make him second favourite. That’s nothing to do with his ability though. imo the most likeliest scenario is we’ll see him travel well until the turn and then fade badly. Possibly very badly.
Value Is Everything^
Having said all the above. Every horse has plus and minus points which make them either good or bad bets at the price. Banbridge is no longer the second favourite and imo @ 9.4 is worth chancing he’ll stay. As I said, he has 10 lbs to find with GDC, but GDC may not run to his very best (especially if it drys further) and Banbridge’s Kempton run was his career best, ie is improving. Townend will need to judge the pace. Too slow and Banbridge has more speed. Too strong and GDC will weaken in the closing stages. GDC should win, but the price is imo too short now.Value Is EverythingMarine was one of the easiest winners of the week , I doubt Mullins will realistically take him on with FTF
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