2016 Gold Cup

[loveracing]

My post at 0928 this morning



Tweet from Red32 / Betfairs Tony Calvin at 2:52

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">More you look at pace-less Gold Cup, more they must fancy Vautour from front. 7s NRNB goes 7-2 if/when they make decision, as Ruby will ride</p>— Tony Calvin (@tony_calvin) <a href="https://twitter.com/tony_calvin/status/687648526562623488">January 14, 2016</a></blockquote>
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There are a couple of good horses in this race that can sit just off the pace. The questions is whether Vautour can stay in front the full 3&1/4?

[iainmcf]

The only way Vautour goes QM is if UDS dosent...thats obvious...Ruby isnt going to choose between those two it just wont happen.No doubt as well if both Vautour and Djackadam rock up for Gold Cup Ruby will choose Vautour and why wouldnt you run your highest rated chaser in the big one.Why do so many doubt Mullins and Ricci when they say that is the target for Vautour..maybe I'm being niaeve in thinking this but we shall see.

[mayo]

I think Ruby rides Vautour if he goes here. He is horse most like Kauto in training in that he could win at any Cheltenham trip.

Djakadam could be Denman II ( i.e he could pick the wrong one).

[loveracing]

The only way Vautour goes QM is if UDS dosent...thats obvious...Ruby isnt going to choose between those two it just wont happen.No doubt as well if both Vautour and Djackadam rock up for Gold Cup Ruby will choose Vautour and why wouldnt you run your highest rated chaser in the big one.Why do so many doubt Mullins and Ricci when they say that is the target for Vautour..maybe I'm being niaeve in thinking this but we shall see.

I think if Vautour did go QM he would have "no choice" but to ride him being owned by Ricci's. I would feel really sorry for the O'Connell's.

I would actually like to see him run in the GC cos the field looks pace-less without CG now. But Ryanair looks like a certain win for him.

[loveracing]

What I love about the FatJockey forum is that we can all have debates without anyone throwing toys out the prams (unlike other forums).

A great racing community.

[Istabraq]

There are a couple of good horses in this race that can sit just off the pace. The questions is whether Vautour can stay in front the full 3&1/4?

Don't forget that final 110 yards LR....

[loveracing]

Don't forget that final 110 yards LR....

Says Cue Card...

[iainmcf]

With some fantastic horses in his stable I am surprised Ricci hasnt targeted Vroom Vroom Mag at the Ryanair and left the two big ones for Gold Cup.All possibilities still I suppose, any one of Vroom, Djackadam or Vautour would probably win that race,(Ryanair).

[Istabraq]

Yep, but if Cue Card doesn't stay it won't be the final 110 yards that does him, he'll be doing his best One Man impression at the bottom of the hill or staying to the line...

[MrMcGoldrick]

In a season without Vautour Djakadam would be the clear and present danger to all in the Gold cup, second last season to what is widely regarded as the best winner of the race in years, and closing all the way to the line. A year on we have a stronger horse, guaranteed to get the trip, a near foot perfect jumper and has shown nothing but progression yet we are debating whether or not he would even be a jockeys first choice. With the evidence that we have I think Djakadam wins, going away, whatever runs against him, and if they run the two with Ruby choosing to ride Vautour I think he will look at the evidence retrospectively and wonder what he was thinking. This is the way I see it right now, if Vautour runs again at 3 miles, and gets better ground, and the evidence points to him staying then my view would probably change. Having said all that I hope Vautour wins whichever race he runs in.

[Istabraq]

I'm convinced Ricci will duck a clash of his pair and Vatour will run elsewhere, I think Ruby will have the choice between Djakadam and Don Poli assuming Cooper rides Don Cossack, and I think as others have pointed out Ruby is far more likely to stick with last years runner up, the only question may come is if Mr Claisse loses his hosepipes and the ground comes up quick, I'm not sure how Djakadam would perform on a quicker surface...

[iainmcf]

I think all at the head of the market have ifs and buts about them but theres less ifs about Djackadam I suppose.Ive backed Vautour and had a saver on Road To Riches two wks ago as the forgotten horse as I said back then tho both could easily go Ryanair.What a shame if they do.

[MrMcGoldrick]

I think all at the head of the market have ifs and buts about them but theres less ifs about Djackadam I suppose.Ive backed Vautour and had a saver on Road To Riches two wks ago as the forgotten horse as I said back then tho both could easily go Ryanair.What a shame if they do.

Totally agree with that Iain, RTR is made for the Gold cup and Vautour should run in a championship race.

[roose88]

I'm convinced Ricci will duck a clash of his pair and Vatour will run elsewhere, I think Ruby will have the choice between Djakadam and Don Poli assuming Cooper rides Don Cossack, and I think as others have pointed out Ruby is far more likely to stick with last years runner up, the only question may come is if Mr Claisse loses his hosepipes and the ground comes up quick, I'm not sure how Djakadam would perform on a quicker surface...

I think the decision RE vautour goldcup/ryanair wont be made till the festival. If the ground comes up soft then i think vautour ryanair but if it is good to soft then vautour i think will go gold cup.

[iainmcf]

Paul Nicholls on ATR last nite when asked by Matt which of the Gold Cup contenders he wud like to have in his stable...Vautour.....he said in his opinion hes a stayer and if Ruby rode the KG again he would have won it....