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I think this Indiana Dream is very interesting- Very inexperienced but has beaten a 143 rated chaser by 13 lengths on his only run over fences and could be anything. Worth a nibble at 8/1.
I reckon that’s probably Jonbon’s best performance. Unless something wins the 2 miler at the DRF by 20 lengths, you can’t really see anything to beat him in the QMCC if he turns up fit and well. Yes Energumene is 11 but he’s no slouch and if Edwardstone ran to his mark then Jonbon’s performance works out around 173, which is well up to the level of Altior and the older Sprinter Sacre when they won the Champion Chase.
I know what you’re saying HDLG, but the alternative view is that Reveley was looking after the horse – he’s only 6 with a history of broken blood vessels. If he knew Townend had him , there was no sense in pushing him too hard.
Lots of talk about Lossiemouth – I am pretty sure they’ll come back to Cheltenham for the January trial and if she hacks up there again I reckon they’ll stick to the Champion route. No one’s mentioned what a fine run Burdett Road put up. RPR had the winner at 162 so he’s run to around 153- 20lbs higher than his Greatwood mark . He’s still only a four year old so lots of scope there.
Bien dit, Msr Gladiateur. Johnny Dineen should take a look at some of the Gaelic names if he thinks French is difficult- but he’s a loud mouth know nowt’ anyway. As for IEF, it’s the owner who decides at the end of the day not the trainer. Mr Kelvin-Hughes has unfinished business with the Gold Cup- Santini would have beaten Al Boum Photo in another 50 yards in 2020, so I’ll still hold out hope that he’ll run on the Friday, whatever that other rent-a-gob Chappers may say. Don’t forget they fully intended to run in Le Grand Steep’ last May, before he disappointed in his prep run, so they clearly had no doubts about stamina then.
Delighted with the run of Gentlemans Game at a nice price. GDC super impressive again and will surely emulate Arkle and Best Mate and make it five members of the Triple club. Not sure FTF will get up the hill at Cheltenham and he and Gaelic Warrior look in between horses trip wise, but pretty sure only one will go to the Ryanair.
Il Est Francais still looks a potential monster to me and I hope they don’t swerve the Gold Cup. He came to Kempton off the back of a PU whereas Banbridge had 2 runs under his belt so I reckon it was fitness more than lack of stamina that told in the last 100 yards. His last furlong sectional was still as quick as anything bar the winner. .
Given the current mediocre form of the Mullins super stable I agree with the general tenor posted on here, to take the big 2 on at a price. I can see the logic for a punt on Conflated ,and the Cromwell horse but I am going to side with Gentlemans Game at 33/1 ew. The reasons are
1; He won at this meeting in 2022 after a 244 day absence, beating I Am Maximus by 8 lengths
2; he was only 4l behind Galopin in the Punchestown Gold Cup
3; His defeat of Bravemansgame in the 2023 Charlie Hall reads well as a piece of form , as BMG went on to finish 2nd in the King George won by Hewick, which was the Nicholls horse last decent run before his 2024 form slump.
He’s rated 9lb behind I am Max’ and FTF but with some of the Mullins hotpots running 7-10lbs below form , he has to have a squeak of making the podium.I/m not sure about 3 miles for Gaelic Warrior. He won a G1 novice hurdle at Punchestown but beat nothing of repute and the sire has a terrrible record with chasers running beyond 2m4f. I think he’ll end up in the Ryanair,
The idea that he’d have beaten Banbridge or Il Est Francais yesterday is one I can’t entertain at all.A big race double for Joseph o’Brien but what a puzzling result. Solness hammered by Jonbon at Sandown last time but puts away the great Mullins hope. Good comeback run by Marine Nationale though.
Absolute belter of a race. Let’s see IEf in the Gold Cup- granted good ground and a more conservative ride they’ve got to have a shot – Ryanair is a cop out race, there’s only one Gold Cup. I haven’t see a horse fly those Kempton fences like that in a long time. Once again a top Townend ride- I did not think Banbridge would stay the trip but he’s also some beast to win a KG 6 months after a grade 1 win over 2 miles. We want to see the best horses in the Gold Cup and the front two deserve their shot at Galopin.
Fab to see the true Champion hurdler back but mixed reactions to Nico’s comments about Paddy B. To me a little trash talk isn’t such a bad thing. He loves the horse and didn’t like the way some pundits hadn’t written them off -so it showed it really matters. Wouldn’t like to see it as a regular occurrence though- Nico is a gent after all .A bumper entry and here’s hoping we get the first double digit field since 2018. Indeed it could beat the record of 13 for this century from 2004 and 2009 . Three French entries make it really interesting and reminds of the halcyon period from 1987-1994 when les Francais won it 4 times in 8 years.
No stand out superstars but three young horses with potential to be , in Il est Francais, Grey Dawning and Spillane’s Tower. Very hard to pick a winner too. Il Est Francais seems to be like Auguste Rodin , a talented thinker who some days just doesn’t fancy it. Venetia is in flying form and I’ve always been a big fan of this horse, so I’ll chance an each way on L’Homme Presse. It may not have Galopin or Fact to File but it looks like a real Christmas cracker.She was impressive, but no more so than Sir Gino. Take a look at who was 3rd in each race.
Lossiemouth- 144 rated Beacon Edge beaten 10l -receiving 7lb
Sir Gino- 136 rated Kihavah beaten 12.5l at levelsLiteral interpretation makes Lossiemouth rating 147 and Sir Gino 148.5 . Both have bags of scope for improvement, but they are still well short of what Constitution Hill and State Man have achieved so far. What the last 2 Champions do at XMas will tell us exactly where we are.
I’m no medic but surely the continued reoccurrence of the same/similar injury indicates some structural weakness. You wonder how much longevity he will have poor lad
No need to panic- there is a lack of quality in UK 3m chasers and bar GDC and Fact to File I don’t think Ireland has that much strength in depth either. Grey Dawning is worth a shot in a weak year- but next year we could have Ballyburn, Caldwell Potter, and The Jukebox Man lining up. What we will get is a good sized field and competitive betting odds – 10 runners, maybe a couple of French challengers and 4/1 the field will make a nice change from a 5/4 shot taking on 4 opponents. These things are cyclical. Btw the average winning OR over the last 6 years is 164 and there are plenty of entries this year who have hit that mark . It’s not that bad.
