I took the comment about Bobs ceiling as a bit of slander to be honest, fair enough if it wasn't.
I think the debate over GDC coming here would be lessened if it was a 2.5m race as opposed to an extended 2.3m. His career so far is a prototype for 3m so would be breaking the norm for him to come here.
Looking back only 2 horses in the last 10 years to win the JLT (Black Hercules and Shattered Love) have ever raced over 3m before running in it - To memory SL was a soft ground and everyone with a pulse decided to fall in BH.
Again the MP is littered with winners who go on to be 3milers in Don Poli, Champagne Classic, Sire Des Champs.
Again the 3m race he won at Punchestown is typically a route to a staying chaser, Next Destination, Delta Work, Indo, Allaho (went RSA) etc.
If he had grade 1 form at novice hurdle level for the trip I think people would be a bit more understanding/on his side, but his whole career screams 3m novice chaser which will cause some - myself included - to be skeptical. I'm not the greatest jump analyser in the world but didn't Willie also say his jumping looked worse down the back the last day when he was going too quick? He will need to be moving at some pace to make Bobs jumping come under pressure so if his worsens at pace it takes a bit of his advantage away too?
Edit: would I be smashing into him now? No, because there is an element of unknown, if GDC comes here then they will
both drift out and I'd expect better odds on the day for both. I imagine I'd keep it a watching brief though and just enjoy the spectacle.