Cheltenham Gold Cup 2018

[Kevloaf]

I spent a lot of Saturday night following a rare QPR win drunkenly boring my other football attending horse racing pal about how Our Duke was the one, don't want to look too foolish now

General 8/1 at the moment... two spots of 9/1.

Trying to talk myself out of topping up :highly_amused:

 

[The Beast]

I sense a growing sustained confidence around Our Duke from people in the know (stable) bookies and pundits , he could be vying for favoritism if he wins well this weekend.

 

[BigChaang]

Where is he running ?.

 

[Kevloaf]

Down Royal ... 2.30 on Saturday

 

[BigChaang]

Thankyou . must watch it !.

 

[Kevloaf]

Plum spare ride for somebody if Coneygree and Might Bite arrive on Gold Cup day... both have been ridden by other jockeys but Nico looks to be first choice.

I wonder if he had a whisper in Hendo's ear about avoiding the Charlie Hall :highly_amused:

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Plum spare ride for somebody if Coneygree and Might Bite arrive on Gold Cup day... both have been ridden by other jockeys but Nico looks to be first choice.

I wonder if he had a whisper in Hendo's ear about avoiding the Charlie Hall :highly_amused:

I heard Daryl Jacob is available......

 

[BigChaang]

Interesting piece in the news section of Racing post . re Our duke . should be Music to Kev and jono's ears !.and anyone else
on the our duke Rollercoaster !

 

[robith]

Interesting piece in the news section of Racing post . re Our duke . should be Music to Kev and jono's ears !.and anyone else
on the our duke Rollercoaster !

Been in the queue for that rollercoaster ever since that Irish National run

 

[Kevloaf]

Interesting piece in the news section of Racing post . re Our duke . should be Music to Kev and jono's ears !.and anyone else
on the our duke Rollercoaster !

I actually had a tiny bit of panic that Power mentioned speed for a shorter trip.... Our Duke in the ULTIMATE slow-roll for Cheltenham 2019... .by winning the RYANAIR this season :sorrow:
.....
then I realised that would be stupid.

 

[The Beast]

Harrington must know who is best between John or The Duke , probably haven't galloped together or any serious work together but they must know.
The market suggests Duke the horse out the two of them.

Always remember Nicholls comparing Kauto and Denman on who was best , top trainers just know who is the daddy.

 

[Kevloaf]

Harrington must know who is best between John or The Duke , probably haven't galloped together or any serious work together but they must know.
The market suggests Duke the horse out the two of them.

Always remember Nicholls comparing Kauto and Denman on who was best , top trainers just know who is the daddy.

Doesn't mean he got it right though

 

[Kevloaf]

Early prices show Our Duke 4/6 for the race on Saturday...

That is too short for me to go bonkers on, on his reapperance against some good horses, race fit in some cases.

 

[Scooby91]

Early prices show Our Duke 4/6 for the race on Saturday...

That is too short for me to go bonkers on, on his reapperance against some good horses, race fit in some cases.

If he's an 8s chance for the gold cup he ought to be beating these easily. A shame disko and valseur lido don't run as it would have given me a better view on the form. If he wins this easily it dosent tell you much in relation to his chances of winning a GC

 

[archie]

If he has the choice I'd expect Robbie to go with Sizing John. I'd only prefer Our Duke if Cooper rides SJ.

For the weekend I think Sub Lieutenant is too long at 16/1.

 

[Faugheen_Machine]

There are such fine margins between the top horses that I'd be surprised if they knew 100% who was the best horse.

Robbie surely rides SJ all season. I don't think any jockey would voluntarily give up the ride on the reigning gold cup winner.

 

[Geordieboy83]

Dunno if I should make anything of this but a few weeks ago on Twitter Robbie Power put up a pick of Our Duke with the words 'love this horse' I replied 'Gold Cup winner 2018' which he replied with a wink smiley and liked tweet. Maybe I'm just thinking too much into it and he is just playing games. But he does seem quite straight up and honest with the public on social media etc.

 

[The Beast]

Before they both run this season , sure one of you kind souls will confirm this but isn't it only 1lb difference between the two?

When you consider that Duke was a novice last season achieving that rating , with any small amount of improvement surely he has to be the one.

 

[Kevloaf]

Before they both run this season , sure one of you kind souls will confirm this but isn't it only 1lb difference between the two?

When you consider that Duke was a novice last season achieving that rating , with any small amount of improvement surely he has to be the one.

Yes 1 lb on OR and RPR in favour of Sizing John.

I think people don't think Sizing John will improve on that figure, which might be a little unfair on the horse... who is still unbeaten over 3m+ in 4 attempts ..... in a straight match with Thistlecrack at any track or trip I actually think I'd back Sizing John! Thistlecrack getting outbattled and the actual time of his King George might over estimate him compared to a Gold Cup winner. Both cracking horses though, just thinking out loud.




*** edit

I always like to read what Andy Holding on oddschecker has to say... and he has previewed the GOld Cup here:
https://www.oddschecker.com/tips/ho...102-andy-holdings-cheltenham-gold-cup-preview

"one of the revealing features about that race back in February is that both Disko and Our Duke ran the last circuit four seconds quicker than Sizing John - who took the Irish Gold Cup over the same track half an hour later – so anyone who thinks the seven-year-old is short of pace, needs to think again."

 

[ryanh97]

Dismal performance there