Yup, I left him alone last year at the prices but it turned into a shocking race. His jumping issues are nothing new so it's just something to accept as risk imo. He's still a CD winner and they still evidently see him as top of the tree. Last year, he ran 169+ on all three completed starts despite Willie supposedly never really being happy with him and went off 2/9 in the race. Not saying he'll be that price this year, but if he gets there as PT choice, it's hard to see how he doesn't go off evens having won the DRF Grade 1 over 2m and maybe even the Xmas Grade 1.
Added to that when you look at the race, every other horse has doubts as well:
- Jonbon better elsewhere (Aintree and Sandown in particular)
- Energumene has it all to prove coming back from injury and could easily face off against Jonbon in Clarendon House so we know where they both stand
- Marine Nationale has a beginners chase to his name and will struggle on winter ground (for all he might come good on spring good ground)
- Gaelic will be split by the trainer/jockey combo from one of El Fab/Energumene and goes King George when he could go Tingle Creek if he was seen as a 2 miler
- Il Etait Temps surely goes Ryanair
- I'm struggling to see any other dangers?
