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2026 Ryanair Chase

Croke Park will win a big race somewhere but I'd feel confident in saying it will be a handicap as opposed to a Grade 1.

He's a cliff horse of mine that I avoided today, but I've accepted he doesn't dine at the top table. I think there's an element that the price tag / reputation of him be Barry the Butcher from the P2P has kept his name in loftier heights than deserved.
 
I'm quite content in his run yesterday. Giving nearly a stone to last year's Ryanair second. If you allow a pound per length (that's what I usually do) then he only got beat a couple of lengths. Ideally could have finished a bit closer but first run of the season off a big weight, blow the cobwebs away, I'm still going to have a speculator on him. Ballyburn, Marine Nationale et al, I am happy to write a horses first run off. Probably daft but big Gordy says he is a spring horse (notwithstanding somebody pointing out his spring form) and I don't see what else gigginstown would run here unless they step King Of Kingsfield up and into open company or maybe Karniquet. KOK is a novice but only in name only, he is pretty experienced
 
It's not a big weight though, it's the weight he will carry in any grade 1, the hope is Heart Wood slows as Croke won't be any better off in grade 1 for his own running.
 
Gaelic warrior must have a chance of being entered here ....
 
BigL said:
Gaelic warrior must have a chance of being entered here ....
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Entered here 100%
But all his recent form suggests the further they go the better he’s performed. Gold cup all day long for me
 
Just have a feeling rich ricci will want to try and win the gold cup, a race he has he to win, and it’s not like he’s got much else to target the race, and doesn’t look him he’s struggled recently with buying future GC types
 
Would gw really be good enough to win a gold cup though ? Feel like his 170 rating is extremely exaggerated ? Anyone else feel the same way ?
 
Ground conditions could have a big say along with how his other 'Ryanair/CC ' hopefuls perform. Deep ground and he could end up in the Ryanair or even CC.
 
Kautostar said:
Entered here 100%
But all his recent form suggests the further they go the better he’s performed. Gold cup all day long for me
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I think the King George is his 'Gold Cup' race. 3m, right handed on generally decent ground. Plenty in his favour. Expect connections will have Aintree on their mind again as well. Mullins likes the tried and tested method.
 
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I'd imagine the word 'Soft' will have to be in the Going description for both FTF and Garlic to run in the KG.
 
Lobos said:
I'd imagine the word 'Soft' will have to be in the Going description for both FTF and Garlic to run in the KG.
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Don't think Gaelic Warrior is a soft ground horse. It just brought his stamina in to play more when over shorter trips. Aintree was good to soft and Sandown was declared good on his last two starts. I'm hoping they give Dublin Festival a miss, not convinced Leopardstown is his track. Would then look to a similar finish to last season, just maybe GC/Ryan before Aintree and Sandown instead.
 
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….Nicholls re Caldwell Potter;

‘He will be in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Betfair Chase. If I have to go there fresh I don’t mind, but the Colin Parker is there as well in just under two weeks time if we wanted to give him a prep, should we go down the Betfair Chase route. I know he won over three miles one furlong last year, but I'm not convinced he is a true out-and-out stayer, but he will tell us that as the season goes on.

“I don’t want to run him over three miles in a bog, but he will be near the top of the handicap in a Paddy Power so let’s make the decision further down the line. He is a nice horse that is in great shape. His feet are in good order as we have learnt how to deal with them now. I had to live with lots of different opinions last season.

“I was delighted for the horse and the guys who own him to see what he did at Cheltenham and Aintree last season. He came from Ireland and, as he won on heavy ground, everyone thought he wanted that which is often the case, but he loved that better ground and he floated on it. He would probably win on any ground though. Olive (Nicholls) has been riding him and when he schooled the other week it was like he was on springs.

“He would have two options at Cheltenham as he'll have Ryanair Chase and Gold Cup entries. It is all very well and good thinking what he could be though as he has got to take the next step up this season.”
 
Wayward Lad said:
Doesn’t give you much confidence if you think he’s a GC consideration at this stage of the season !😄
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100%.
It’s be interesting to know how many (modern day ish) Gold Cup winners took in handicaps en route to the blue ribband ?
I know racing was different 30+ years ago when many of todays top graded races were handicaps…
 
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