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2026 Gold Cup

Surely fact to file runs gold cup ?
Inothewayurthinking ran terribly again and his jumping was awful.

Gotta feel for all the ryanair fact to file antepost punters though 😂
 
Grey Dawning is 12-1 Ladbrokes NRNB and can be boosted also.
Already on for plenty on exchange myself.
still the most likely to switch IMO, unless skelton really is as stubborn as he looks
 
I'm going to throw Panic Attack out there again at 20s NRNB. If Skelton were to switch one.

As much as the others named are better, I don't think they'll go. I've still backed Jukebox Man, Gaelic and Grey Dawning due to the NRNB prices but I'm expecting money back for all.
 
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Quevega said:
Grey Dawning is 12-1 Ladbrokes NRNB and can be boosted also.
Already on for plenty on exchange myself.
still the most likely to switch IMO, unless skelton really is as stubborn as he looks
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Grey Dawning hasn't run at 2 1/2m since his novice days, is a 9yo so this is probably his only crack at the Gold Cup and he stays on pretty well over 3m. Fair enough NRMB but I can't see him going there and I can't see him having the pace to win in any case.
 
Runragged said:
Grey Dawning hasn't run at 2 1/2m since his novice days, is a 9yo so this is probably his only crack at the Gold Cup and he stays on pretty well over 3m. Fair enough NRMB but I can't see him going there and I can't see him having the pace to win in any case.
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Yep I know you've backed him for the gold cup. :rolleyes: on the strength of beating the pig at haydock.

It makes no difference whatsoever him not having run mid trip since novice days. Not to me anyhow.
He would go off favourite against any other horse in the ryanair if they all stand their ground in the Gold cup and fact to file supplements.

I find it hard to believe all these trainers and connections will all go gold cup.
Someone, and probably more than one will defect.

Race you have the best chance of winning and all that. Or go for the hottest most competitive gold cup in years as 8th Favourite in the betting. Some of these horses in the top 10 of the betting if they all line up will be going off 20-1+, they have to really. He'd be one of them for sure

IMO :ROFLMAO:
 
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I know Willie talked two or 3 times after that. Was it the RTE interview where he said GW could still go ryanair. What a tease. But then he also said he would stay the gold Cup distance. .. What does this tell you.....he has us all on strings.. Just puppets to JPS plans until two weeks before. GW should be in the gold cup if he stays.... Surely ricci well want gold cup?
 
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I've taken the 12/1 Jukebox NRNB

I suspect it will just be a temporary loan to Skybet though

Unlike my usual gifting of money to them!
 
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punterorplonker said:
I know Willie talked two or 3 times after that. Was it the RTE interview where he said GW could still go ryanair. What a tease. But then he also said he would stay the gold Cup distance. .. What does this tell you.....he has us all on strings.. Just puppets to JPS plans until two weeks before. GW should be in the gold cup if he stays.... Surely ricci well want gold cup?
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There was definitely 1 interview where he mentioned dropping back first for him

Always think its something to note to listen to what he says first
 
“That was a helluva performance, both from Mark and the horse,” said Mullins.

“Terrific, he jumped from fence to fence and it was something to watch.

“He just jumped his way to the front and Mark didn’t want to disappoint him and he kept galloping.

“I was wondering would he stay the trip going at that pace, because they went a fair lick from the start.

“He stayed every inch of it and galloped right through the line.

“I think it was one of the best chases run in Ireland or England this year. The class of horse that was in it was fantastic. It turned out to be as good as it looked.”

Owned by JP McManus, Fact To File is only in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, but Mullins said: “We had him in the Gold Cup, he was withdrawn, but he could always go in as a supplementary entry. I think that’s what last year’s winner was. We haven’t spoken and we’ll see what happens.

“The first thing Mark remarked to me when he got off the horse was that when he hit the front he pricked his ears, which tells us all that he had more in the tank.

“From the first day he came into the stable he just exuded the fact that he was a racehorse and he’s proved it today here.

“We had so many horses in the race that any one of them could have put up a performance. That was far and above what he had done before.”

Despite the reverse for Galopin Des Champs, Mullins was not too downhearted, saying: “Galopin Des Champs ran a terrific race, he just got a little bit tired. I just thought the exertions at Christmas might tell on him and they did, but that will put him right now for Cheltenham – I think he’ll come back a lot stronger after that race.

“I was afraid that the Christmas would have an impact. He ran maybe two races if not three at Christmas and that has to tell on a horse. I think today’s race, coming the way that it did and what he did in today’s race, that showed me he’s still got plenty left in the tank.

“Gaelic Warrior was just doing too much throughout the race. Going to the fifth-last I thought he had every chance of winning but his exertions early on in the race just told.

“Whether that means he goes back for the Ryanair Chase (I don’t know), but he definitely stays, so I’d have no problem if we want to go for the Gold Cup with him.”
 
If Ricci gets offered Townend to ride in the Ryanair that looks likely to me, if Paul sticks with Galopin as you'd expect.
 
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Quevega said:
If Ricci gets offered Townend to ride in the Ryanair that looks likely to me, if Paul sticks with Galopin as you'd expect.
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Who else would Paul ride in the race

He's literally no ride in the race - maybeee Impaire - but sure he was missing it
 
darlojim said:
Who else would Paul ride in the race

He's literally no ride in the race - maybeee Impaire - but sure he was missing it
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I know,
It's more to do with them discussing rides in the gold cup.
If fact to file supplements and makes it to the race then Willie would be happy with his gold cup team and would happily persuade Ricci to go ryanair if he tells him pauls not riding Gaelic in the gold cup,
he was available to back at 16's a few days ago for the ryanair, and obviously PP went 6-1 NRNB the other day also.
 
Quevega said:
I know,
It's more to do with them discussing rides in the gold cup.
If fact to file supplements and makes it to the race then Willie would be happy with his gold cup team and would happily persuade Ricci to go ryanair if he tells him pauls not riding Gaelic in the gold cup,
he was available to back at 16's a few days ago for the ryanair, and obviously PP went 6-1 NRNB the other day also.
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How I see that too - if F2F goes GC, Gaelic will come back to a Ryanair PROVIDING Galopin is A1. But Willie seemed like he would improve from today again
 
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Gaelic Warrior stays but is so keen that he's more effective when given his head over the shorter trip. I think that Q is spot on that, provided GDC looks to be firing when the decision is made, Townend will definitely stick with him and will want to ride GW in the Ryanair. Willie rarely goes against the stable jockey's opinion which is one of the reasons that it's such a successful partnership.

People bang on about Willie being a creature of habit but then get outraged when he takes a decision based on previous experience. He had 3 runners going for it today, several running with a view to Grand National marks and at least one where he was pointing the owners to a particular race.
 
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When it comes down to it, i think Willie would rather go to the Gold Cup three pronged with Galopin, F2F and Gaelic (all different owners) than try and take a Ryanair into that much consideration. It's the showpiece of the NH season on par with the Grand National. If he was fit and well, i see no reason Il Etait Temps couldn't step into the Ryanair picture. 2 and a half miles is probably his correct trip anyway.
 
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archie said:
Gaelic Warrior stays but is so keen that he's more effective when given his head over the shorter trip. I think that Q is spot on that, provided GDC looks to be firing when the decision is made, Townend will definitely stick with him and will want to ride GW in the Ryanair. Willie rarely goes against the stable jockey's opinion which is one of the reasons that it's such a successful partnership.

People bang on about Willie being a creature of habit but then get outraged when he takes a decision based on previous experience. He had 3 runners going for it today, several running with a view to Grand National marks and at least one where he was pointing the owners to a particular race.
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I find it hard to hold any rhyme or reason behind what Gaelic needs. I think he's such an enigma haha

But I suspect they'd rather go for a Ryanair with Paul on then a GC with Paddy or summert on
 
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