Cheltenham Gold Cup - 2019.

[Kevloaf]

Not a HUGE amount of love for Terrefort, so at the same price another one I am keen on (and I think Scooby even keener) is Al Boum Photo -

I thought he was perhaps one for the Ryanair but:


I imagine he’ll go down the Cheltenham Gold Cup route. We’ll send him down that road and if he tells us he wants to come back to shorter trips, we’ll do that, but I’d be surprised if that transpires.

Has to turn form around with Presenting Percy, has had a few non completions and isn't in the 'right colours' to ever really capture the imagintion but he's a belting horse.

Mullins has had the 2nd in the Gold Cup 6 times - surely this year..... :very_drunk:

His other well fancied horse is Bellshill.... the right handed comment is interesting!

Bellshill has come back in looking good and strong. He did particularly well out a grass. I’m very happy with him and he’ll run in Grade 1 staying chases. He has a better record going right-handed than left-handed and there could well be something in that. That said, it won’t stop me running him left-handed, as some of the biggest races there are for him are that way around. In terms of right-handed targets, the King George VI Chase could potentially be considered for him.

 

[Innoko]

Is it me or is Might Bite looking weak on the exchanges?

 

[mayo]

Gigginstown benefit race

(2:30) 315D JNwine.com Champion S'chase (Grade 1)
€82,600.00 ( 3m - 5yo+ )[MAX 16]
FIRST FORFEIT: 30-OCT-18
SUPPLEMENTARY ENTRY: 30-OCT-18
NHFrm
6-46f 1 Alpha Des Obeaux (FR)(154) (GElliott) - . ......................... 11,10
32-14 2 Balko Des Flos (FR)(169) (Hde Bromhead) - ....................... 11,10
3 Black Corton (FR) (PNicholls (in GB)) - . ................................ 11,10
4 Clan des Obeaux (FR) (PNicholls (in GB)) - . ................................ 11,10
-2-3- 5 Coneygree (GB) (MBradstock (in GB)) - . ................................ 11,10
p2-3- 6 Don Poli (GElliott) - . .......................... 11,10
-1182 7 Monbeg Notorious(151) (GElliott) - . . 11,10
-2pp8 8 Outlander(161) (GElliott) - . ................ 11,10
5-002 9 Sandymount Duke(153) (MrsJHarrington) - . ............ 11,10
45451 10 Sub Lieutenant(158) (Hde Bromhead) - ....................... 11,10
37151 11 The Storyteller(155) (GElliott) - . ........ 11,10
29111 12 Woodland Opera(154) (MrsJHarrington) - . ............ 11,10
1-125 13 Shattered Love(153) (GElliott) - . ....... 11,03

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Gigginstown benefit race

(2:30) 315D JNwine.com Champion S'chase (Grade 1)
€82,600.00 ( 3m - 5yo+ )[MAX 16]
FIRST FORFEIT: 30-OCT-18
SUPPLEMENTARY ENTRY: 30-OCT-18
NHFrm
6-46f 1 Alpha Des Obeaux (FR)(154) (GElliott) - . ......................... 11,10
32-14 2 Balko Des Flos (FR)(169) (Hde Bromhead) - ....................... 11,10
3 Black Corton (FR) (PNicholls (in GB)) - . ................................ 11,10
4 Clan des Obeaux (FR) (PNicholls (in GB)) - . ................................ 11,10
-2-3- 5 Coneygree (GB) (MBradstock (in GB)) - . ................................ 11,10
p2-3- 6 Don Poli (GElliott) - . .......................... 11,10
-1182 7 Monbeg Notorious(151) (GElliott) - . . 11,10
-2pp8 8 Outlander(161) (GElliott) - . ................ 11,10
5-002 9 Sandymount Duke(153) (MrsJHarrington) - . ............ 11,10
45451 10 Sub Lieutenant(158) (Hde Bromhead) - ....................... 11,10
37151 11 The Storyteller(155) (GElliott) - . ........ 11,10
29111 12 Woodland Opera(154) (MrsJHarrington) - . ............ 11,10
1-125 13 Shattered Love(153) (GElliott) - . ....... 11,03

Like Balko Des Flos for this Mayo. Think he will be the top Gigginstown horse for the GC.

 

[mayo]

Like Balko Des Flos for this Mayo. Think he will be the top Gigginstown horse for the GC.

Nicholls has done a great job pot hunting at this meeting in the past but if its the plan for BDF will be informative. Rachel and Byrony battling it out after last

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

Nicholls has done a great job pot hunting at this meeting in the past but if its the plan for BDF will be informative. Rachel and Byrony battling it out after last

An interesting entry for Clan Des Obeaux. They were planning on going to Wetherby but it looks like being fast ground at the moment so maybe a change of plan

 

[Kevloaf]

A nice spin out for the Grand National winner 2019 too.

Interesting if The Storyteller gets his chance too?

 

[darlojim]

Rumpurs floating around on twitter that theres a strong possibiloty Footpad will be aimed at the King George this year? Whats peoples thoughts on this and do we think he will end up being a GC horse this year too? Big step up in one season from 2m to GC distance

 

[Kevloaf]

Rumpurs floating around on twitter that theres a strong possibiloty Footpad will be aimed at the King George this year? Whats peoples thoughts on this and do we think he will end up being a GC horse this year too? Big step up in one season from 2m to GC distance

I believe they came from the Mullins in the Racing Post saying he's a poissible for the King George.

If he won a King George you'd be safe in assuming he'd go for a Gold Cup but it seems a little unlikely to me - he's made no secret that he personally wants the horse to step up in trip but the owners make the final decision and until I heard their views I'd probably assume he'll stay at 2 miles.

I'd like to see him tried at 3m, but I'd prefer to see him up against Altior...

 

[charlie]

Rumpurs floating around on twitter that theres a strong possibiloty Footpad will be aimed at the King George this year? Whats peoples thoughts on this and do we think he will end up being a GC horse this year too? Big step up in one season from 2m to GC distance

Willie said after he won the Arkle that he would step him up and sees him as a gold cup horse so not sure why everyone seems so surprised. It’s a big step but doable #sizingjohn

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

Not just Sizing John. Best Mate, Kicking King, Kauto Star and War of Attrition were all two miler novice chasers that went on to win a gold cup.

 

[somer1]

Not just Sizing John. Best Mate, Kicking King, Kauto Star and War of Attrition were all two miler novice chasers that went on to win a gold cup.

But isnt Paul N on record saying he messed up at running Kauto at 2 miles?

 

[Quevega]

But isnt Paul N on record saying he messed up at running Kauto at 2 miles?

Made a right mess of winning tingle creek as well

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

But isnt Paul N on record saying he messed up at running Kauto at 2 miles?

Not a quote I've ever seen Somer. I'd be surprised if he said that given how he won two Tingle Creek's and went off fav for the Champion Chase.

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

Made a right mess of winning tingle creek as well

2 x Tingle Creeks

 

[Quevega]

2 x Tingle Creeks

indeed he did

 

[jono]

Mullins said: “I haven’t discussed things with (owners) Simon Munir, Isaac Souede or indeed (racing manager) Anthony Bromley yet.

“He can do any trip from two miles to three miles. I’m thinking we might start him off over two miles and then let him out to two and a half.

“Three miles at Christmas for the King George is a possibility, but a lot will depend on how he comes out of his first two races.”

The first sentence is key here - it's no secret Mullins thinks of Footpad as a potential Gold Cup horse - that is nothing new.
I still think the owners will make the final call with the horse so until they speak to Willie and confirm a plan, personally I don't think the chance him going for the Gold Cup is any more likely than it was a few weeks ago. We've just got the trainers opinion today. Let's see what the owners say...

 

[Kevloaf]

The first sentence is key here - it's no secret Mullins thinks of Footpad as a potential Gold Cup horse - that is nothing new.
I still think the owners will make the final call with the horse so until they speak to Willie and confirm a plan, personally I don't think the chance him going for the Gold Cup is any more likely than it was a few weeks ago. We've just got the trainers opinion today. Let's see what the owners say...

Mullins might be so keen to get Footpad up in trip because he has ALL of the decent Irish 2 mile chasers this year anyway... Elliott doesn't have anything that'd give Min or Great Field a fright. If Footpad is top class over further, he takes away some of the strength in numbers that Elliott will inevitably have in the staying chase divison (albeit no super star at this stage).

The Irish Trainers Championship may be a key factor in all of this chatter too.

 

[Viking Flagship]

But isnt Paul N on record saying he messed up at running Kauto at 2 miles?

This is the 2nd comment I've read on here in recent days suggesting Kauto wasn't an effective 2 miler, which absolutely baffles me. He annihilated Voy Por Ustedes to win a SECOND Tingle Creek, a horse who then went on to win the QM later that season. I was adamant that year that Kauto could have won the QM and GC if there were a couple of extra days rest in between.

 

[OldPersian]

Road to Respect ran a brilliant race yesterday at Down Royal putting serious distance between itself and Balko Des Flos / Outlander.
4th in last years Gold Cup and currently best price 16/1 for March - I will be having a really close eye on this horse and if it runs like yesterday again in decent company I’ll be pushing the button on an ante post bet.