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Cheltenham Gold Cup 2020

That fall was the single most crushing moment of my punting career.

I was stood with my mate at the last hurdle and that fall done us for 4k - which is a lot for two 20 year old students.

Cost me 2 grand. Had a very good fez but that would have made it brilliant. That's racing though. Someone please tell me how she is handicapped to receive good weight even from the likes of OK Corrall if she takes her Ladbroke chance ??? Madness!!!
 
On the King George front, i can't get away from Le Bague au Roi. With big doubts over both Altior and Cyrname staying, she is a standout ew bet for me at 16/1. Her novice win at the course beating Topofthegame and Santini stands out and her Mares allowance is totally unfair but I'll take it !! She is a top, top mare and Dickie loves her to bits.
 
Not at all surprised as he would be trying to do the impossible giving nearly a stone and a half to Benie Des Deiux. How the hell she is rated 147 over fences I shall never know. Think she will scare most of the field off in the Ladbroke if Willie does the right thing and declare het. Off that weight he would be an idiot not to. With Santini very doubtful, Lostintranslation going for Betfair chase, Le Bague au Roi targeting King George and Topofthegame sidelined, the 12/1 on offer for Benie could be the bet of the century. I'm on already to win a grand at that price. She owes me for her fez drop so I am banking on compensation. Steam in boys and girls !!

She won’t get to run off 147, she’ll be re-rated which I would imagine would be top weight. I can’t see her running personally
 
She won’t get to run off 147, she’ll be re-rated which I would imagine would be top weight. I can’t see her running personally

Re rated ?? Not sure they can change too much based on 3 lowly Mares only chase wins.
 
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She will be reassessed if running in a chase over here, she won’t get in off her Irish rating is my understanding of it
 
She will be reassessed if running in a chase over here, she won’t get in off her Irish rating is my understanding of it

Still think she'll be thrown in on her hurdles form whatever the British handicapper does. Mullins has said she'll run over fences this season and this will be a great place to start.
 
On the King George front, i can't get away from Le Bague au Roi. With big doubts over both Altior and Cyrname staying, she is a standout ew bet for me at 16/1. Her novice win at the course beating Topofthegame and Santini stands out and her Mares allowance is totally unfair but I'll take it !! She is a top, top mare and Dickie loves her to bits.

That is a very good shout
 
To be fair Benies chase mark is 10lbs lower than her hurdles, that is the cut off. In the UK you can’t have a difference of more than 10lbs between a hurdles and a chase mark. The Storyteller was 16lbs hence why he would have been reassessed. There is the potential she would be left on 147 as the hurdles mark is based off races in the UK.

Not sure if the handicapper could use the fact that she’s never run over fences here as the tool for change
 
Back in February, Jack1092 posted this about The Storyteller:

***

'I've been pestering the handicappers a little lol BHA's response on TS below:

Hi Jack,



As this horse is Irish trained we don’t have any published marks for him at present. We only give marks to Irish horses when they are entered for a race over here or connections inquire as to what their mark would be in GB.



We keep our own ratings for all Irish jumps races. Therefore, when an Irish-trained horse is entered for a race over here, we use our own ratings to formulate a handicap mark for the horse in question rather than rely on the Irish handicap mark.



Regarding hurdle/chase ratings, we can (and do) take account of form shown in the alternate code when assessing a horse. So a horse’s hurdle mark could move up or down depending on how it gets on over fences, and vice versa.



Hope this helps.

Andrew'

***

This would imply that Benie Des Dieux's mark for the Ladbrokes is a guessing game at best, as is her eventual participation. I think that entries are about 30/10 and weights about 6/11 so patience possibly a virtue.
 
Many thanks guys for your responses re Benie D D chase rating and potential participation in the Ladbroke. On what you've said I fully expect her mark to be increased from 147. I can't imagine they would increase it by more than 10 pounds which would still put her half a stone behind the likes of Santini and Lostintranslation which would put her in with a serious chance. Mullins has said he is looking to put her back over fences and is not afraid to take on the boys. She'll never get a better chance to pick up a big handicap chase and Mullins win it recently with Total Recall who incidentally also ran off 147 in the race. I have a huge hunch they will go for it and have backed her accordingly with Hills at 12's. Should she be declared she will start a strong favourite.
 
Many thanks guys for your responses re Benie D D chase rating and potential participation in the Ladbroke. On what you've said I fully expect her mark to be increased from 147. I can't imagine they would increase it by more than 10 pounds which would still put her half a stone behind the likes of Santini and Lostintranslation which would put her in with a serious chance. Mullins has said he is looking to put her back over fences and is not afraid to take on the boys. She'll never get a better chance to pick up a big handicap chase and Mullins win it recently with Total Recall who incidentally also ran off 147 in the race. I have a huge hunch they will go for it and have backed her accordingly with Hills at 12's. Should she be declared she will start a strong favourite.

I know I jokingly answered on the stayers thread but you probably ought to try and tweet the Ricci racing manager guy (forgot his name, chambers or something) and just ask if she's in training at the minute or not ?
 
I know I jokingly answered on the stayers thread but you probably ought to try and tweet the Ricci racing manager guy (forgot his name, chambers or something) and just ask if she's in training at the minute or not ?

I've already backed her so the 'damage' is done. Thanks for your info though. Fingers crossed and got OK Corral as a back up just in case.
 
I've already backed her so the 'damage' is done. Thanks for your info though. Fingers crossed and got OK Corral as a back up just in case.


This OK Corral intriguing alright Lobos , Hendo recent stable tour positive comments helps also. Valid reason for his festival flop and way he won his earlier two novice chases certainly was eye catching at the time.

If he wins the Ladbrooke , he will not be a general 66/1 anymore. I am on Santini but after rereading comments by Hendo , I took a little 130/1 on exchanges last night as a back up. His previous Cheltenham form behind Kilbricken Storm stands up well with Santini back in 3rd so worth throwing a few quid on him.
 
Elegant Escape is ready this time. Firdt he wins the charlie hall then he wins haydocks betfair chase then he wins the gold cup.
 
Cuckoo:

"Someone who has lost the plot and has no idea what time of day it is. Often talks incessantly about nothing in particular, regardless of whether you are listening to them or not. Also bonkers and hatstand."

:highly_amused:
 
Cuckoo:

"Someone who has lost the plot and has no idea what time of day it is. Often talks incessantly about nothing in particular, regardless of whether you are listening to them or not. Also bonkers and hatstand."

:highly_amused:

Very good SC :highly_amused:
 
Elegant Escape is ready this time. Firdt he wins the charlie hall then he wins haydocks betfair chase then he wins the gold cup.

You'd give Stevie Wonder a run for his money in the blind optimism stakes ET, time to phone home!

Delta Work wins this for me, was only a 6yr old this year, jumped horribly in the RSA, jockey done everything wrong yet still finished close up!
 
Just watched the RSA back - what a belting race.

They pulled SO far clear of the rest.

Such a shame TOTG is out... there really doesn't seem to be much between the 3 of them.

I don't think you can fancy Delta Work without thinking Santini is also a good bet, and vice versa