Cheltenham Gold Cup 2020

[FaugheenTheMachine]

I’ve no idea what role Ruby actually holds at Willies yard these days but found it interesting he mentioned the 4 miler or the RSA for Faugheen; it’s a big if at this stage but if that’s the distance they are thinking and say he was still unbeaten come March surely they’d have to seriously consider the Gold Cup?

[Lostintranslation]

Altior vs Cyrname.

When Cyrname won his last race, he won by 17 lengths and was not really asked much.

It's hard to crab the rating as the horses in behind (all 5 of them) were all rated in the 160's, and had similar lines of form against each other, here and there. It's pretty much impossible to suggest they all ran below par. It's far more reasonable to say that they ran to their ratings actually.
From memory, none had any real jumping excuses on the day either (could be wrong on this)

Altior - since his First Champion chase win, where he faced four horses rated in the 160's (including Douvan who fell) - He has been rated in the 170's ever since.

In the 6 races he has contested since that race, he has only faced 5 horses rated above 160. And only ever ran in one race where he faced 2 at the same time (politologue and Min in this years champion), a race in which Sceaux Royal earned his highest rating and Altior beat him next time up at Sandown.

The horses he has beat in the 160's are. Last 6 races in reverse order.
Sceaux Royal
Politologue & Min
Fox Norton
0
Un de Sceaux
0


Basically he's been beating a bunch of inferiors, who've been getting closer to him. And he never beat Politologue and Fox Norton as far as cyrname did that day.
He's rubbish
Getting more and more convinced that Cyrname will win Saturday, but could be a fitness thing on the day.

I will be punting Cyrname too in this. Just think he will have improved over the summer and this is his track and trip.

Altior might have to post a career best here to win. Won't get away with jumping out to the left in this.

Anyway hope to see monumental performance from one if not both horses.

[Saxon Warrior]

Really he’s beaten absolutely nothing there

But good to see him alive and well and I think he will be pushed towards the GC this year

It’s the visuals not the form that are impressive, his jumping was brilliant as a novice, then lost it last year, and now it’s back. He is only 7 going on 8, and if his jumping is back to his best then his next race will be really interesting, especially if it’s the King George.

[Scooby91]

I’ve no idea what role Ruby actually holds at Willies yard these days but found it interesting he mentioned the 4 miler or the RSA for Faugheen; it’s a big if at this stage but if that’s the distance they are thinking and say he was still unbeaten come March surely they’d have to seriously consider the Gold Cup?

Theyd love to win another festival race with him, whether that's in Cheltenham or punchestown, and novice company is by far his best chance.
He's realistically no chance in a GC.

I don't think anyone wants to see him pulled up or tailed off at this stage of his career.

[Kevloaf]

Posted in the Ryanair thread but belongs here for now


https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/...ouncing/174315Footpad feels great in Boomerang

I made the trip over to Ireland to ride Footpad in the Boomerang Chase at Thurles on Thursday and he gave me a great feel when winning without breaking sweat.
I thought he put in a very polished display, it was great to see the old Footpad, he jumped fantastic and felt very fresh, it was mission accomplished and nice to see.

Obviously the opposition weren’t Gold Cup class, but the most important thing was to get him back onto the track, we didn’t want to throw him into Grade One company straight away.

He might well go for the King George on his next start, though, as Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and Anthony Bromley say Kempton is an option and it would be great to go for that race.




The 50/1 dream is still alive

[Scooby91]

Posted in the Ryanair thread but belongs here for now


https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/...ouncing/174315Footpad feels great in Boomerang

I made the trip over to Ireland to ride Footpad in the Boomerang Chase at Thurles on Thursday and he gave me a great feel when winning without breaking sweat.
I thought he put in a very polished display, it was great to see the old Footpad, he jumped fantastic and felt very fresh, it was mission accomplished and nice to see.

Obviously the opposition weren’t Gold Cup class, but the most important thing was to get him back onto the track, we didn’t want to throw him into Grade One company straight away.

He might well go for the King George on his next start, though, as Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and Anthony Bromley say Kempton is an option and it would be great to go for that race.




The 50/1 dream is still alive

He'll never stay 3m2. His attributes are jumping at pace. no doubt they'll cop out for the Ryanair when it gets to crunch time. Easy to forget he was 7/2 fav last year.

[Lobos]

He'll never stay 3m2. His attributes are jumping at pace. no doubt they'll cop out for the Ryanair when it gets to crunch time. Easy to forget he was 7/2 fav last year.

Have to agree with this. Think he could well be a player in the KG though should they turn up.

[Kevloaf]

If he wins a King George and runs in the Ryanair I will start a petition to cancel the Thursday.

Pointless day.

JLT - pointless
Ryanair - pointless
Stayers Hurdle - who cares
Mares Novice - pointless
3 handicaps.


Cancel it.

Try him in the QMCC or GC - if he doesn't want either, wait for Aintree.



Footpad wins all.

[TigerRolllllll]

If he wins a King George and runs in the Ryanair I will start a petition to cancel the Thursday.

Pointless day.

JLT - pointless
Ryanair - pointless
Stayers Hurdle - who cares
Mares Novice - pointless
3 handicaps.


Cancel it.

Try him in the QMCC or GC - if he doesn't want either, wait for Aintree.



Footpad wins all.

Wow....prob first time on forum disagreed with anything you have written....but v strongly disagree here

Last year Thurs atmosphere was one of best in 20 years I’ve been going....the JLT, Ryanair and Stayers were awesome races.....and the day was a real example of what festival is about

The form of the JLT looks to be along with the Bumper as the best from the 4 days

To me, the festival is the cup final of each division all out together on one card and losing races like Stayers would be terrible

All about opinions.....and on this rare occasion I disagree

[Morley Street]

If he wins a King George and runs in the Ryanair I will start a petition to cancel the Thursday.

Pointless day.

JLT - pointless
Ryanair - pointless
Stayers Hurdle - who cares
Mares Novice - pointless
3 handicaps.


Cancel it.

Try him in the QMCC or GC - if he doesn't want either, wait for Aintree.



Footpad wins all.

There have not been many King George winners that were not then aimed at the Gold Cup out of choice. Personally I think that he has every chance of staying the trip. 100/1 KG / GC double with 365... there are worse bets to chuck a tenner at.

[Scooby91]

There have not been many King George winners that were not then aimed at the Gold Cup out of choice. Personally I think that he has every chance of staying the trip. 100/1 KG / GC double with 365... there are worse bets to chuck a tenner at.

Not that i think hell win,
But your Far better off backing him for the KG and rolling it over. 100/1 very short comparatively.

[Kevloaf]

Wow....prob first time on forum disagreed with anything you have written....but v strongly disagree here

Last year Thurs atmosphere was one of best in 20 years I’ve been going....the JLT, Ryanair and Stayers were awesome races.....and the day was a real example of what festival is about

The form of the JLT looks to be along with the Bumper as the best from the 4 days

To me, the festival is the cup final of each division all out together on one card and losing races like Stayers would be terrible

All about opinions.....and on this rare occasion I disagree

I was being very tongue-in-cheek but...

I do think though without the JLT, you just have a stronger Arkle and stronger RSA.
Without the Ryanair you have a stronger (or more interesting is probably the right word) QMCC and Gold Cup
Without the Mares Novice race you have those mares in the Supreme, Ballymore and AB getting weight...

Stayers is fine, just the least exciting of the 4 championship races... whack it on the first day instead of the novice handicap chase


Cheltenham being all about THE BEST is the point, and the more diluted it gets with extra divisions/distances the more avoiding happens.

When we go to five days you'll probably want it to go back to 4.... same as most people that remember 3 days prefer it to 4 *generally?

[Lobos]

Not that i think hell win,
But your Far better off backing him for the KG and rolling it over. 100/1 very short comparatively.

Good shout. If he wins KG I can't see him going lower than 5's for GC. Just take your KG winnings and have another think.

[Morley Street]

Not that i think hell win,
But your Far better off backing him for the KG and rolling it over. 100/1 very short comparatively.

Maybe Scoob, though if he lines up for the KG (did take 20s yesterday as thought this was big), I reckon he’d be single figures. Then there’s always the chance that he could win impressively and go single figures for the GC. I don’t think 100s is a bad price on the off chance and for some change. Also tomorrow may have a big impact on both markets.

[Morley Street]

Maybe Scoob, though if he lines up for the KG (did take 20s yesterday as thought this was big), I reckon he’d be single figures. Then there’s always the chance that he could win impressively and go single figures for the GC. I don’t think 100s is a bad price on the off chance and for some change. Also tomorrow may have a big impact on both markets.

That said and just for clarity, I’m not refunding any tenners if it doesn’t pan out