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2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup

I expect Djakadam to be in the mix coming up the hill. EOD would have already run in the Ryanair, and lost.
 
I've made my thoughts on Djakadam clear all season - I have nothing further to add:highly_amused:
 
Just to clarify I don't want Empire Of Dirt in the Gold Cup. The extra two furlongs are too much of a question mark. That isn't to say he couldn't win.

I have been arguing his case to win the Ryanair since he bolted up at last year's Festival. The first bookmaker quote was a result of me asking the question.

Given a strongly run race I think he would have won the Irish Gold Cup on the bridle. Had he not lost impetus at the last he would have gone very close in any case. The winner had not long stepped up from the minimum and would have been best suited by the slow pace. Had Empire Of Dirt won on the bridle I think that would have been the strongest staying chase form this season. The horse has dipped under the radar because the trainer has spouted endless nonsense about a Grand National entry. Fortunately, that idea was shot down by the horses performance. If he has fully recovered and granted luck in running I will be very disappointed if he doesn't win the Ryanair comfortably. As far as I am concerned he is the only 170 horse in the race.
 
Willie's full quote on Djakadam:

He’s in great form. Going into the Gold Cup last season he had to come back from that bad cut he got at Cheltenham and we only just had him ready in time, but we’ve had a much clearer run with him this season and fingers crossed it will stay like that. We decided to not run him in the Irish Gold Cup as the fact that it was a week closer to the Cheltenham Gold Cup wasn’t ideal. I think he is a more mature horse this season and is the age that many chasers are in their prime. I was happy with his run in the Lexus, but afterwards we felt we could have used different tactics that might have worked better. The most important thing is that everything has gone right for him lately. I don’t know if he’ll need to improve on what he has done in the last two years to win the race this year.
 
kinloch brae said:
Just to clarify I don't want Empire Of Dirt in the Gold Cup. The extra two furlongs are too much of a question mark. That isn't to say he couldn't win.

I have been arguing his case to win the Ryanair since he bolted up at last year's Festival. The first bookmaker quote was a result of me asking the question.

Given a strongly run race I think he would have won the Irish Gold Cup on the bridle. Had he not lost impetus at the last he would have gone very close in any case. The winner had not long stepped up from the minimum and would have been best suited by the slow pace. Had Empire Of Dirt won on the bridle I think that would have been the strongest staying chase form this season. The horse has dipped under the radar because the trainer has spouted endless nonsense about a Grand National entry. Fortunately, that idea was shot down by the horses performance. If he has fully recovered and granted luck in running I will be very disappointed if he doesn't win the Ryanair comfortably. As far as I am concerned he is the only 170 horse in the race.
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He's my fancy for the race KB and I think he'll give UDS a proper race.
 
It's the day of Thistlecrack's 'second' scan isn't it?

What are we expecting?
 
Djakadam into 9/2
The bookies must be laughing their tats off, 9/2 for a horse that's only won once over 3m, and that was an awful race. The weight of money wagered on Djak must be more out of hope than confidence, if he wins then i lose, but tbh i can't see him staying with N River, of whom Tizzard reports to be in the form of his life! So take heed guys and dip ones bread!
 
9/2 for a horse that has finished 2nd in the last 2 GC's doesn't seem that daft to me, especially when you look at the field.

Just can't have him out of the frame myself.
 
donka said:
Djakadam into 9/2
The bookies must be laughing their tats off, 9/2 for a horse that's only won once over 3m, and that was an awful race. The weight of money wagered on Djak must be more out of hope than confidence, if he wins then i lose, but tbh i can't see him staying with N River, of whom Tizzard reports to be in the form of his life! So take heed guys and dip ones bread!
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The only horses that have EVER beaten him over the Gold Cup distance, aren't lining up. He's been a cracking each way price for ages based on actual C&D form and he'll keep getting backed until that each way value is gone.

*Trainer is bullish, in the Supreme thread we're talking about how that MUST not be ignored... however in this race it is different? Alright he has more wins in the Supreme but it isn't like he hasn't been VERY close more than a handful of times...

*FM - that question is to you* :devilish:
 
He still hasn't proved that he can win a decent race over & beyond 3m. Good luck, but a Place at best imo
 
Can't Catch Me said:
9/2 for a horse that has finished 2nd in the last 2 GC's doesn't seem that daft to me, especially when you look at the field.

Just can't have him out of the frame myself.
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Im with you on that CCM, have been backing it since November and is now my main bet of the Fez, With very few exceptions the quality in this race isnt what it has been and i am more than happy with the tickets i have, some at decent E/w prices. Has been aimed at this since finishing behind DC last year and age is right. I cannot see Djakadam out of the frame
 
Kevloaf said:
The only horses that have EVER beaten him over the Gold Cup distance, aren't lining up. He's been a cracking each way price for ages based on actual C&D form and he'll keep getting backed until that each way value is gone.

*Trainer is bullish, in the Supreme thread we're talking about how that MUST not be ignored... however in this race it is different? Alright he has more wins in the Supreme but it isn't like he hasn't been VERY close more than a handful of times...

*FM - that question is to you* :devilish:
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We know how good Djakadam is though - and imo that isn't good enough to win a Gold Cup. He is exposed as being just below top class over 3miles+.

Tell me the last horse to be beaten in two Gold Cups before being crowned the champion? The Fellow?

He's not for me and never will be. I'll hold my hand up if he proves me wrong :highly_amused:

You can't compare WPM comments on Melon and Djakadam. One is completely unexposed, the other has already shown his limitations. He may have Djakadam better than ever but I don't believe that will be good enough.
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
We know how good Djakadam is though - and imo that isn't good enough to win a Gold Cup. He is exposed as being just below top class over 3miles+.

Tell me the last horse to be beaten in two Gold Cups before being crowned the champion? The Fellow?

He's not for me and never will be. I'll hold my hand up if he proves me wrong :highly_amused:

You can't compare WPM comments on Melon and Djakadam. One is completely unexposed, the other has already shown his limitations. He may have Djakadam better than ever but I don't believe that will be good enough.
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I'd definitely disagree that Djakadam is fully exposed. He is 8, not 11. Cue Card is fully exposed. Native River is unexposed, but he'd need not to be. Native River hasn't put in a figure yet that would have beaten Coneygree or Don Cossack either... You are very likely right that Djakadam is just below top class over 3m+ ....but there isn't anything top class at 3m+ in this race that we know of yet.

How many really have the unexposed potential to have beaten Djakadam in either of those Gold Cups... NR, Sizing John, Outlander, Minella Rocco and Champagne West.

That is 5 horses that I'd say have a chance of being.... but isn't it more of a leap of faith that 3 of those 5 would have filled the places behind the last two gold cup winners but ahead of Djakadam than it is that Djakadam has AT VERY LEAST netained his ability from 6 and 7?




***edit, I absolutely will make a public apology if incorrect... although my legions of fans should have been taking the 16s and 12s :highly_amused:
 
I'm on Outlander ew at 12/1. Been given a proper preparation.
 
I'm with FM on Djakadam.
He may be 8 and with few miles on the clock but as a French bred he is far more aged than Irish/GB bred 8yo.
He's won 3 of his 11 non novice chases and just 2 from 9 G1s chases, a Djakadam win would be a trends buster of some magnitude....
 
Personally, I think Djakadam peaked at 6. It isn't a given that two years later he has improved. His form doesn't suggest any progression.

The Fellow was a different model. He won plenty of races outside of Cheltenham. In comparison to him Djakadam has won next-to-nothing.
 
I still believe he won't need to improve. If he repeats his performance from either of the last two years, I think that will be good enough to win
 
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