• HELP US - Become a Patron - Fat Jockey is a horse racing community focused on all the big races in the UK and Ireland. We don't charge users but if you have found the site useful then any support towards the running costs is appreciated ... a small donation each month would be a huge contribution. Become a Patron!

Cheltenham Gold Cup 2018

Hopefully all is well with Killultagh Vic over the next week and if that's the case - you have to give him a big chance in the Gold Cup after that? Hard to say exactly what would have happened but I think he may have won that by a good 2 or 3 lengths myself.

Coming off the back of a fall is far from ideal but Minella Rocco fell in this race last year to then finish second in the Gold Cup. You'd want KV to brush up on his jumping but again, like MR who is a very scrappy jumper - it doesn't always hold you back in this race. And more importantly that was only his 3rd ever run over fences. His last run over fences was in January 2016 and he ran over hurdles only 34 days ago. I'd expect his jumping to improve on his next run. He's got a huge engine! Won the Martin Pipe at the festival so no worries on the track either
 
At the moment my pick for the first three would be Might Bite, Sizing John and Killultagh Vic but what order they will be in I don't know!
 
jono said:
Hopefully all is well with Killultagh Vic over the next week and if that's the case - you have to give him a big chance in the Gold Cup after that? Hard to say exactly what would have happened but I think he may have won that by a good 2 or 3 lengths myself.

Coming off the back of a fall is far from ideal but Minella Rocco fell in this race last year to then finish second in the Gold Cup. You'd want KV to brush up on his jumping but again, like MR who is a very scrappy jumper - it doesn't always hold you back in this race. And more importantly that was only his 3rd ever run over fences. His last run over fences was in January 2016 and he ran over hurdles only 34 days ago. I'd expect his jumping to improve on his next run. He's got a huge engine! Won the Martin Pipe at the festival so no worries on the track either
Click to expand...

Would be nice to see him run. I know myself, kevloaf and poss others are on at 50/1 ew from a few weeks ago. (Ante post rules) I think he would have won going away easily today. But whether hed be ready physically for the gold cup or that's what they decide to do. Im hopeful but I'm not sure.
 
The Gold Cup winner is running on the 17th. At Ascot Coney island :) or Haydock couldn't remember after a brilliant day racing.
 
Robbie Power when interviewed on Our Duke:

Absolutely delighted with him. Down Royal was a non event for him so realistically his first run of the season. Very ring rusty will improve an awful lot
Click to expand...
 
Scooby91 said:
Would be nice to see him run. I know myself, kevloaf and poss others are on at 50/1 ew from a few weeks ago. (Ante post rules) I think he would have won going away easily today. But whether hed be ready physically for the gold cup or that's what they decide to do. Im hopeful but I'm not sure.
Click to expand...

Yeah i'm on the 50/1 ew as well so not sure whether my optimism is pocket talking!
If that lineup were to run again in March i'd be confident KV could come out on top if all is well, it's weighing up how strong that race was without Sizing John, Road to Respect and Coney Island who could have ran there and then Might Bite.

I'm also quite optimistic on how Our Duke ran today as well - can improve again from that run. But again my bets on him (25/1 and 12/1)
could play a part in my judgement
 
jono said:
Yeah i'm on the 50/1 ew as well so not sure whether my optimism is pocket talking!
If that lineup were to run again in March i'd be confident KV could come out on top if all is well, it's weighing up how strong that race was without Sizing John, Road to Respect and Coney Island who could have ran there and then Might Bite.

I'm also quite optimistic on how Our Duke ran today as well - can improve again from that run. But again my bets on him (25/1 and 12/1)
could play a part in my judgement
Click to expand...

Our duke ran well but he dosent jump well enough at pace for me. And they'll go alot quicker in the GC. Also likely better ground is a negative, a little easier to get back into it on soft / heavy.
 
It's nigh on impossible to draw any concrete conclusions from the race today and probably leaves more questions unanswered.

Edwulf - His odds reflected his pre-race chance and jockey bookings suggest he was the third string too. You cannot deny the performance although has the race fell into place for him?

Outlander - He has proven Grade 1 form over the trip in Ireland and ran another consistent race. His Cheltenham record is pretty poor and was beaten out of sight last year. Has anything changed? No.

Djakadam - Improved on recent efforts but if he ain't won a Gold Cup by now, he isn't going to.

Our Duke - Vast improvement on seasonal reappearance but that was not difficult. Was running a good race until a bad mistake stopped him in his tracks. Can his jumping be trusted at Cheltenham on good ground? For me it can't.

Killultagh Vic - Apart from Edwulf, was travelling the best when fell in the home straight. I'm not sure it was a foregone conclusion that he would have won as he does not have the proven record over 3m in chases. Would he have won? Would he have pulled clear? I think he'd have been in the finish but may have been edged out due to his lack of recent runs and the fact he has not had many tough finishes over 3m in his career against seasoned stayers.

All in all I think the Might Bite camp will not be losing any sleep tonight. But a lot can change before the big day and some performances (if mistakes are ironed out) can be improved for sure.
 
Kilultagh vic


Mullins later reported “I thought we were unlucky. I didn't get a chance to talk to Paul (Townend, jockey) as he's gone away for x-rays.

“I imagine he'll go straight for the Gold Cup now and he seemed fine coming up here to towards the parade ring. He seemed to be walking good and loose but you'd imagine he'll be sore in the morning after it.”

Regarding Killultagh Vic's now seemingly improved Gold Cup prospects, he added “I'd rather have it (the Irish Gold Cup) in my pocket but he ran a cracker.”
 
Scooby91 said:
Kilultagh vic


Mullins later reported “I thought we were unlucky. I didn't get a chance to talk to Paul (Townend, jockey) as he's gone away for x-rays.

“I imagine he'll go straight for the Gold Cup now and he seemed fine coming up here to towards the parade ring. He seemed to be walking good and loose but you'd imagine he'll be sore in the morning after it.”

Regarding Killultagh Vic's now seemingly improved Gold Cup prospects, he added “I'd rather have it (the Irish Gold Cup) in my pocket but he ran a cracker.”
Click to expand...

Brilliant to hear. The more I think about it and having watch the race a couple of times more I think it really was an exceptional run from him, on only his 3rd run over fences and with his injury and preparation.
 
Scooby91 said:
Our duke ran well but he dosent jump well enough at pace for me. And they'll go alot quicker in the GC. Also likely better ground is a negative, a little easier to get back into it on soft / heavy.
Click to expand...

He gets in too tight to his fences and at the top level he's loosing 2 lengths a fence, it wasn't noticeable in the Irish GN but was clear as day today
 
Very happy with the comments about Killultagh Vic. Really happy.

I think JackieMoon is right, it was too early to know he'd have won and the stamina won't be known until the day ... however I'd certainly not like to be against him.
 
I was hot headed when KV came down at the last as I had a largish bet on him for that race, but I am so glad he is fine, I still think he is a wonderful horse but shouldn't have been pitched in at the deep end, he only just came back from an injury after a year, put in an hurdle race then straight into a top class chase race like this, I think thats madness.

Anyway I will be doing KV each way for this all being well, not sure he'll beat Might Bite but should get a run for your money.
 
KV will have a great chance in this as long as there is someone else riding Him bar Townend

I’m not a fan at all. So pleased when KV got up. It looked horrendous.
 
Kevloaf said:
Very happy with the comments about Killultagh Vic. Really happy.

I think JackieMoon is right, it was too early to know he'd have won and the stamina won't be known until the day ... however I'd certainly not like to be against him.
Click to expand...

Agree, but I'd have every confidence he wouldn't have a problem with stamina, given he is sired by Old Vic, who has also produced 2 Grand National winners. He also doesn't lack the pace for a Gold Cup.

I'd love to see him win it now, what a story that would be.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom