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2014 Gold Cup
- Thread starter Old Vic
- Start date
cant see the ground getting any better so im going to have an ew punt on harry topper i think, nicholls bullish about rocky creek but wants better ground
The weather is predicted to improve over the next week,With sunny spells and warm temps and chelts dries up pretty quick.
mayo
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Good news and bad for Mayo 
Bailey, who won the Gold Cup with Master Oats in 1995, wrote on his blog on Thursday morning: "Harry Topper undoubtedly did his best ever piece of work for us yesterday.
"Shane Collins, who looks after and rides Harry Topper everyday, was thrilled with him.
"Sadly Harry Topper's participation in this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup is so ground related, and the weather forecast is not looking too helpful."
Bailey, who won the Gold Cup with Master Oats in 1995, wrote on his blog on Thursday morning: "Harry Topper undoubtedly did his best ever piece of work for us yesterday.
"Shane Collins, who looks after and rides Harry Topper everyday, was thrilled with him.
"Sadly Harry Topper's participation in this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup is so ground related, and the weather forecast is not looking too helpful."
I wouldn't be backing any mudlarks for next week. I'll stick my neck out and say it will be good to soft, I won't be surprised if they turn the sprinklers on by thursday.
I think mayo will be keeping his kecks on
I think mayo will be keeping his kecks on
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Paul Kershaw @Pkersh52 35m
@RacingPost #RPQA is Boston Bob a live outsider for the gold cup?
Tom Segal
Vibes I was getting from preview last night was he probably won't run with On His Own more likely to. So based on that, no #RPQA
@RacingPost #RPQA is Boston Bob a live outsider for the gold cup?
Tom Segal
Vibes I was getting from preview last night was he probably won't run with On His Own more likely to. So based on that, no #RPQA
If Last Installment doesn't run then this could be walk over for BW on the probable going. Don't see SC enjoying the ground.
The giant bolster is looking good for a place, He loves quick ground.
The giant bolster is looking good for a place, He loves quick ground.
mayo
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I wouldn't be backing any mudlarks for next week. I'll stick my neck out and say it will be good to soft, I won't be surprised if they turn the sprinklers on by thursday.
I think mayo will be keeping his kecks on
yeeeees
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Unbeaten in both starts this year, On His Own will be added to the field when the six-day forfeits and supplementary entries are made later on Saturday, and Mullins, writing in his exclusive column for the Racing Post, said: "I can confirm On His Own is being supplemented for Friday's big race.
"Having had to rule out both Sir Des Champs and Rubi Ball during the season due to setbacks, it looked as if we would not be represented in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, but that has changed.
"After talking things over with his owners we have decided to put him in the race. He's had a good season winning the Goffs Thyestes Chase and the Bobbyjo Chase and has been in good form since his Fairyhouse win.
"We've been happy with what he has been doing at home, so we're taking the bull by the horns and are going to let him take his chance in the hope he can pick up some prize-money."
As a result of On His Own joining the field, Mullins added that Boston Bob, also entered in the race for owners Graham and Andrea Wylie, is now more likely to take in the Ryanair Chase.
"Having had to rule out both Sir Des Champs and Rubi Ball during the season due to setbacks, it looked as if we would not be represented in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, but that has changed.
"After talking things over with his owners we have decided to put him in the race. He's had a good season winning the Goffs Thyestes Chase and the Bobbyjo Chase and has been in good form since his Fairyhouse win.
"We've been happy with what he has been doing at home, so we're taking the bull by the horns and are going to let him take his chance in the hope he can pick up some prize-money."
As a result of On His Own joining the field, Mullins added that Boston Bob, also entered in the race for owners Graham and Andrea Wylie, is now more likely to take in the Ryanair Chase.
mayo
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Geraghty, who owned Bobs Worth for three years before selling him to Nicky Henderson, said: “I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to being flat for a while after the announcement that Sprinter Sacre wouldn’t be going.
“He’s lit up the festival the last two years and is an incredible horse. But once Nicky knew deep down that he wasn’t at his *brilliant best on the *gallops, it was the right decision to make.
“Hopefully an *extended rest will see him back on top form and ready to wow the crowds again next season.
“Now it’s all about looking *forward and, even without your best horse, if you can’t get *excited about *Cheltenham then you’re in the wrong game.
“I’ve got plenty of good, solid rides but Bobs Worth is the standout.
“I bought him unraced before *selling him on to Nicky, so we go back a long way and it’s been magic to watch and help develop him into a Gold Cup winner.”
The nine-year-old is unbeaten at Cheltenham in five visits and has three festival wins under his belt, having landed the Albert Bartlett novice hurdle and RSA Chase before last season’s gold strike.
Geraghty said: “There’s something about the place that really brings him alive. Mind you, he’s got a very good record at other tracks too – the only poor race he’s run was at Haydock on this season’s reappearance.
"It all happened too quickly for him on the sharp, flat track that day but I knew we shouldn’t get too worried about it and thankfully he proved me right in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.
“He was back to his old self there, doing just enough to keep in *contention and then going into *overdrive in the *closing *stages.
“He’s a real war horse – not flash or exuberant like Sprinter Sacre – and if he were *human, you’d love him beside you in the trenches.
“That’s why Cheltenham – and the festival in particular – suits him so well. They go a good gallop, it’s a *demanding track with all the *undulations and then there’s the long, punishing climb to the finish. He’s a classic example of the tough getting going when the going gets tough.”
Bobs Worth is as short as 6-4 to complete back-to-back wins, but *Geraghty is taking nothing for granted with Silviniaco Conti and Ireland’s chief hope Last Instalment in the field.
He said: “Silviniaco is an old foe and was still travelling well when *falling three out last year and he’s since won the King George in good style.
“Even so, Last Instalment is the one I fear most, mainly because he’s an unknown quantity at this level.
“He was a top-class novice before missing last season through injury and you couldn’t fail to be *impressed with his Irish Hennessy win.
“He’s always had star quality and a bit of awe about him, so I definitely rate him as a big danger. But one thing’s for sure – he’ll have to be tough as well as talented to take away Bobs’ crown.”
“He’s lit up the festival the last two years and is an incredible horse. But once Nicky knew deep down that he wasn’t at his *brilliant best on the *gallops, it was the right decision to make.
“Hopefully an *extended rest will see him back on top form and ready to wow the crowds again next season.
“Now it’s all about looking *forward and, even without your best horse, if you can’t get *excited about *Cheltenham then you’re in the wrong game.
“I’ve got plenty of good, solid rides but Bobs Worth is the standout.
“I bought him unraced before *selling him on to Nicky, so we go back a long way and it’s been magic to watch and help develop him into a Gold Cup winner.”
The nine-year-old is unbeaten at Cheltenham in five visits and has three festival wins under his belt, having landed the Albert Bartlett novice hurdle and RSA Chase before last season’s gold strike.
Geraghty said: “There’s something about the place that really brings him alive. Mind you, he’s got a very good record at other tracks too – the only poor race he’s run was at Haydock on this season’s reappearance.
"It all happened too quickly for him on the sharp, flat track that day but I knew we shouldn’t get too worried about it and thankfully he proved me right in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.
“He was back to his old self there, doing just enough to keep in *contention and then going into *overdrive in the *closing *stages.
“He’s a real war horse – not flash or exuberant like Sprinter Sacre – and if he were *human, you’d love him beside you in the trenches.
“That’s why Cheltenham – and the festival in particular – suits him so well. They go a good gallop, it’s a *demanding track with all the *undulations and then there’s the long, punishing climb to the finish. He’s a classic example of the tough getting going when the going gets tough.”
Bobs Worth is as short as 6-4 to complete back-to-back wins, but *Geraghty is taking nothing for granted with Silviniaco Conti and Ireland’s chief hope Last Instalment in the field.
He said: “Silviniaco is an old foe and was still travelling well when *falling three out last year and he’s since won the King George in good style.
“Even so, Last Instalment is the one I fear most, mainly because he’s an unknown quantity at this level.
“He was a top-class novice before missing last season through injury and you couldn’t fail to be *impressed with his Irish Hennessy win.
“He’s always had star quality and a bit of awe about him, so I definitely rate him as a big danger. But one thing’s for sure – he’ll have to be tough as well as talented to take away Bobs’ crown.”