Although i've had a bet , Like you Jono, just not quite sure about Our Duke , I think maybe
it's because all his races have been in Ireland . ? , where as the others
Th. crk , m.bite , s.john have course form ??.
Course form would be ideal though it's not a major concern. He's performed going left handed and on undulating tracks and will relish the stamina test so no reason to think he will be at any disadvantage or not be able to perform to his best at Cheltenham so I wouldn't use that as a negative against him.
And he probably does have the least amount of question marks to answer out of the main protagonists this far out...
Thistlecrack - 10 years old and coming back from an injury
Sizing John - won the 3 Spring Gold Cups inc this one but it's VERY hard for a horse to retain a Gold Cup no matter how good.
Yorkhill - quirky as hell and stamina unproven
Might Bite - another quirky sort, 3m2 unproven
Native River - came up short this year and hard to see how he'll get any closer in probably a tougher year
Douvan - more likely to stay over 2 miles but even so stamina unproven and injury to come back from
I'm trying to write why in the back of my mind i have a slight doubt but will admit I am struggling. I remember before the race thinking if Our Duke was to become a Gold Cup contender he'd need to be winning this race based on there being a lot of exposed horses / horses coming off a long season / horses ran as an afterthought. He obviously did, and he did it very very well and now he's put himself right in contention. I guess he looks as
SOLID as an antepost bet right now could be but whether i'd be fully confident he'll win it is another question.
Hmm think i've just talked myself into backing him...:highly_amused: