2022 Gold Cup

[darlojim]

Some bookies are 7/2 antepost. Does anyone really see that going off shorter on the day?

It should be a much more competitive race at Christmas and that's where we will see if he warrants being the price he is now. If you don't have him onside now, I'd much rather wait and see how his next race pans out, can't see him being stupidly short for the gold cup on the day though.

[Lobos]

APT not a virgin so not entertaining it.

[TigerRolllllll]

Henry has….APT, Minella, Eklat De Rire and Envoi ……could be like Dickinson all over again

Time rating apparently off charts for APT - much as those can be calculated

[charlie]

There was loads to like about that for APT backers. Not a deep race but he oozed class IMO.

[TigerRolllllll]

Henry has….APT, Minella, Eklat De Rire and Envoi ……could be like Dickinson all over again

Time rating apparently off charts for APT - much as those can be calculated

[Irish Rugby]

APT. Mighty impressive.................and then I'm reminded how Minella Indo had him out of his comfort zone last March. Whoever beats these two, wins the GC.

[Gloria Victis]

May be overthinking this or just utter tosh, but a reason I think A Plus could turn it around with Indo is that he is now more acclimatised to the pace of a 3m+ race. Last season was coming in off the back of just one 3mile run so could possibly have still had the tendency to run at a different tempo.

[TigerRolllllll]

Really buzzing after seeing some fab horses today

Maybe we have another Kauto / Denman generation? Minella and APT are same stable and form of last year looks pretty good.....quite likely 1-2 again this year

Throw in some other top horses coming through too....and staying division is pretty good

[DenmanSacre]

APT was top class today. Very much a G1 performance. Not looked at the time in detail but seemed very quick and one of the top 3m performances over the last 5 years. Hopefully Leopardstown next and keep him left handed.

[Lobos]

There was loads to like about that for APT backers. Not a deep race but he oozed class IMO.

Not a deep race ????

[Geordieboy83]

Lovely round of jumping from APT today. Henry looks to have such a strong hand in race.

[DenmanSacre]

Not a deep race ????

I agree. BDM and RP at Haydock have shown top class form. IA had the potential to be smart at 3m. Waiting Patiently has good back form.

And APT destroyed them. He's done 168+ without maximum effort

[charlie]

Not a deep race ????

It obviously wasn't a deep race.

BDM ran terribly. Maybe ground, maybe at 10 he's just not as good.
IA fell before getting involved.
RP wants a bog and trainer said as much.
WP just doesn't look very good, perpetual dissapointer
The 3rd and 4th wouldn't stand a hope in hell in a GC.

So yeh, for all APT oozed class, it wasn't a remotely deep race.

[jono]

Really liked that performance too.

Do you agree with the bookies that he should be favourite now?

I think you have to have him as favourite after today.
I'd have the Down Royal Champion Chase as being the better race (in terms of depth) and Minella Indo lost nothing in defeat.
I also have my doubts about Kempton suiting Indo so wouldn't be at all surprised with another defeat next time out.

It was just such an assured performance.
I have never had much concern regarding his jumping. But I could see why people raised the question.
The Gold Cup and better races will test his jumping more.
But he looks to have raised his game once again, on top of an already high bar.

2pts probably is the right difference between the pair after both seasonal debuts.
And although 4/1 and 6/1 may seem skinny.
We are looking at the 1-2 in last years race.
Both festival winners with form of 1-2-1-1-3-2 at the track.
And newcomers into the race looking extremely thin. I'm sure a few more may emerge between now and then. It is still early days.
But it wouldn't even surprise me if we get the same top 3 this year to be honest, just with perhaps a different order.

[Our_Duke]

I really think the placed horses have to be considered here. If beating RP, (not even on soft) CSL and CC is something to judge a horse on, then that's fine. But you presumably think Shan Blue will be a world beater too. I like the horse, but today didn't really change anything for me other than confirming Irish yardsticks are better than UK yardsticks. And we all kinda knew that.