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2026 Gold Cup

How many years is it since Paul Nicholls didn't have an entry?
 
Runragged said:
Plenty to discuss here after the weekend. Gaelic Warrior looks the obvious place to begin. Travelled and jumped well. It was impressive the way he found more at the finish to hold off Fact To File who was ridden with more patience. He would look to have a strong chance if going to the logical next step of the King George. My worry if looking to bet at the price he is now was that he had a hard race and 5 weeks turnaround isn't long. Will the race leave a lasting effect? You are also going back to 2017 for the last time a favourite won a King George... Fact To File getting outstayed by Gaelic Warrior again makes it hard to think he will go the Gold Cup route. The pair were a long way clear and this was over 2 1/2m but he still has to prove he is a strong stayer at 3m for me.

Grey Dawning is in to 5th favourite for the race. He's not for me. I struggle to warm to him. His jumping just looks a bit laboured. Slow and airy and just doesn't look efficient enough to be able to jump and travel in contention. I also think he was flattered by his win on the bridle. Handstands and Royal Pagaille were taking each other on for the lead throughout and got racing a long way from home. Handstands looked a non stayer, fading out of contention, even getting picked up for 3rd. Grey Dawning meanwhile sat in behind leaving the front two to it and taking it up after the last. It was a good ride to bide his time then not take it up till after the last. It is worth remembering that he travelled equally as well last year, leading over the last before Royale Pagaille picked him up. Clearly didn't want to get to the front too soon, it also questions whether he really does find that much off the bridle? He's another year older and wiser so not unreasonable to think he has improved on last year. With doubts about many in the race maybe he could put in a good round of jumping and be in the right place at the right time? He's no world beater but with doubts about most in the race then it could still be enough.

I think Jango Baie is the classier horse and it seemed the further he went the better, the question is will he turn up here? Like Gaelic Warrior, the King George looks the obvious next race and a lot will depend on how he gets on there. If he wins, staying on well then it is hard to see him not going for the Gold Cup. I would have a slight concern on his ability to lay up in a Ryanair, which seems odd being an Arkle winner! He is still a little way of proving he is a Gold Cup, but the potential is there.

The Jukebox Man is in to 25/1 after his win but with his next run likely to be the King George then happy to let him get beat there. Got an easy lead setting slow fractions in front and was able to kick on from the best position. The form looks questionable with Iroko's jockey looking to get the horse round with no mishap and the 3rd rated just 127 (though getting 11lb and possibly fit after a run). He also jumped to the left which leaves a massive concern for right handed Kempton. Current backers for the Gold Cup will be glad to see him get round in front and is well but there are several in front of him for me at the moment.
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Just got round to this post. You have a similar view to me….utter confusion 😂😂 desperately want to have a pole or two at the prices but struggling to find one I fancy enough to pull the trigger.
 
Kauto’s star said:
Just got round to this post. You have a similar view to me….utter confusion 😂😂 desperately want to have a pole or two at the prices but struggling to find one I fancy enough to pull the trigger.
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Thanks for the reply. Yeah, currently I have a small personal WTAF bet on Gaelic Warrior from the end of last season for the Gold Cup and that is it. The favourite is vulnerable and has something to prove as currently it is a one off performance in this last year for him.

If forced into a bet today then I would probably go with Nick Rockett e/w. Wins the National off 163, jumps, travels and stays well. He is a winner of his last three races and you don't know how much more there could be to come from him.
 
A Boxing Day trip to Wetherby has been pencilled in for Myretown after he returned to Scotland relatively unscathed following his crashing fall in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

Having rounded off last season with a brilliant victory in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, the eight-year-old was the 4-1 favourite to claim another big-race victory on his return to action and was leading the way until coming to grief at the ninth fence.

Connections were left wondering what might have been, with Cheltenham runner-up The Changing Man not beaten far into third place – and while there was some concern in the immediate aftermath that Myretown had suffered a shoulder injury and he left the racecourse to be examined further, he made the long trip home on Sunday and appears to be none the worse.

Michael Scudamore, who trains Myretown in partnership with Lucinda Russell, said on Tuesday: “He’s back being ridden again. There’s just a bit of bruising (on his shoulder), but he’s absolutely A1 and back into exercise.

“It was obviously frustrating, as you want to know where you are and how good you are, but the positives are his form has worked out well and I’d certainly like to think he wouldn’t have been far away, which gives us confidence for the future.”

While keen not to commit to future plans, Scudamore confirmed the William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase as a potential next objective, adding: “That gives him plenty of time between the two races. We’ll see how he is, but it would just be nice to get a confidence run into him and then hopefully we can build and go forward from there.

“The important thing is that he’s come back well, we’ve got plenty of options, so we’ll regroup, decide where is best to go and try to find the answers.”
 
Fastorslow....

King George or Savilles next....

“We haven’t decided yet which way we will go and we need to keep an eye on the weather, and wherever we think will be the nicest bit of ground we’ll go. We also have to see what the opposition will be like as well.

“We don’t want it heavy, and yielding to soft would be fine. It will be one or the other that looks like being his next race.”
 
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Lobos said:
Fastorslow....

King George or Savilles next....

“We haven’t decided yet which way we will go and we need to keep an eye on the weather, and wherever we think will be the nicest bit of ground we’ll go. We also have to see what the opposition will be like as well.

“We don’t want it heavy, and yielding to soft would be fine. It will be one or the other that looks like being his next race.”
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Savilles it is then
 
With Jango Baie so impressive on reappearance, I fancy him to run well In The KG. Whilst winners of the KG dont usually follow up in the GC surely with a decent run JB goes here, making 20/1 look too big for me. Sure if he flops then he’ll be ryannair bound, but at bigger prices than he is today. I am getting him onside.
 
Kauto’s star said:
With Jango Baie so impressive on reappearance, I fancy him to run well In The KG. Whilst winners of the KG dont usually follow up in the GC surely with a decent run JB goes here, making 20/1 look too big for me. Sure if he flops then he’ll be ryannair bound, but at bigger prices than he is today. I am getting him onside.
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I backed him straight after his run at Ascot for the Gold Cup

Think he looks the perfect type for that trip and think there were positive sort of comments from Nico post race saying he could be a gold cup horse. If he runs well/wins the KG, must be every chance they roll the dice and he'd be single figures on the day
 
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darlojim said:
I backed him straight after his run at Ascot for the Gold Cup

Think he looks the perfect type for that trip and think there were positive sort of comments from Nico post race saying he could be a gold cup horse. If he runs well/wins the KG, must be every chance they roll the dice and he'd be single figures on the day
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Think at this stage it’s 50/50 which race for Jango.
I’ve been saying Ryanair all along, but 20/1 gold cup just has to be covered imo.
Was looking at wtaf with the KG and GC but 28/1 is not enough bigger than 20 for me. GW be tough but to crack , and I could see Jango running a big race, not winning and still go gold cup.
Very interesting to see where he ends up in March as I think he’s a huge player in either race.
Having him covered for both makes sense imo.
 
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Galopin looks a good bet in the savilles, I think he will be tuned up for this at home. He loves leopardstown!!
 
Very true, although seems to be a lot of confidence in the JP horse over past week. Looking forward to both savilles and king George
 
Guinness Village said:
Very true, although seems to be a lot of confidence in the JP horse over past week. Looking forward to both savilles and king George
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The real money is before the off, everything beforehand is nonsense I think
 
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