2022 Gold Cup

[Joleg]

Any thoughts on Shan Blue here? Doesn’t look the most obvious stayer but was going to put up a very impressive performance before falling LTO. Been over 3 miles 4 times, 2 wins, a 2nd at aintree when most likely over the top on 6th run of the season, and then the last in the Charlie Hall when would of won at a canter. Might just be getting the trip a bit better now with age and goes very well fresh. That said I would like to know all is well?

He wouldn't be one for me in this, more likely an Aintree type

[Madmoose]

Henry de Bromhead reports Minella Indo to have returned to Ireland “shook” following his disappointing effort in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase.

Having made a promising start to his campaign when third at Down Royal, last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was well fancied for Kempton’s Boxing Day showpiece.

But after matching strides with defending champion Frodon for much of the way, Minella Indo soon weakened out of contention and was eventually pulled up by Rachael Blackmore.

Speaking at Leopardstown on Wednesday, De Bromhead said: “He was shook when he came off the lorry.

“When he came back from Cheltenham, he was as burly as he always would be, (but) I’ve never seen him as tucked up and tightened up as he was the other day.

“We don’t have any obvious reason, but he definitely didn’t come back the way he would normally come back.

“I might have been trying to put a square peg into a round hole, I don’t know.

“The most important thing is to get him back now and get him as good as he can be for the spring, which is when he always seems to turn up in fairness to him.”

A Plus Tard chased home stablemate Minella Indo in the Gold Cup – and having made a spectacular comeback in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last month, the Cheveley Park Stud-owned gelding was a warm order to make it back-to-back wins in Leopardstown’s Savills Chase on Tuesday.

After eventually mastering long-time leader Kemboy, the seven-year-old was denied in the last stride by Galvin, but De Bromhead is taking the positives out of defeat.

“There’s not a bother on him – absolutely great. He ran a cracker and I was delighted with him,” the trainer added.

“The winner was very good and obviously Kemboy’s record around here is second to none. I was amazed he was short (in the betting) as he was, our fella.

“But he ran a cracker and jumped great – they’re the positives. We just didn’t win, sadly.”

[Madmoose]

Henderson regarding Chantry House

The Seven Barrows handler also offered updates on Chantry House and Mister Fisher, who were both pulled up in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

He said: “Some horses just don’t like Kempton sometimes. Chantry House was always flat to the boards and was never really enjoying it. I would think the most likely place he will go is Cheltenham for the Trials day (Cotswold Chase).

[isitmarchyet]

Any thoughts on Shan Blue here? Doesn’t look the most obvious stayer but was going to put up a very impressive performance before falling LTO. Been over 3 miles 4 times, 2 wins, a 2nd at aintree when most likely over the top on 6th run of the season, and then the last in the Charlie Hall when would of won at a canter. Might just be getting the trip a bit better now with age and goes very well fresh. That said I would like to know all is well?

Things can always change but Dan Skelton did mention the Ryanair and then Aintree as potential targets for him in the spring. Can't find the article anymore, but you can see the quote on twitter:

https://twitter.com/Grant_Some92/status/1460711077763821569?s=20

[opatcho]

Ryanair would suit him well, a few have been able to win this from the front - the JP horse that AP won on, frodon, Allaho

[Carnage at Taunton]

Ryanair would suit him well, a few have been able to win this from the front - the JP horse that AP won on, frodon, Allaho

Uxizandre trained by AKing the JP horse.
Albertas Run was always prominent as well.
Vautour.

[Exar Essay]

ABP trots around Tramore, beats nothing by nothing, jumping only looked okay, and gets trimmed from 20/1 to 8/1 with 365 for this. Shows how weak the GC market is at the moment.

[Altior]

Thought he looked average enough tbh, certainly wouldn't have him in the top 3

[Kevloaf]

ABP trots around Tramore, beats nothing by nothing, jumping only looked okay, and gets trimmed from 20/1 to 8/1 with 365 for this. Shows how weak the GC market is at the moment.

I think the 20s had gone before he ran today, was 16s last night.

I wouldn't expect anyone to really think 8/1 is a good price, 14s is still available though - but most people I assume took 20s ago if they have more than 1 dart...

Thought he looked average enough tbh, certainly wouldn't have him in the top 3

Quite bold to rule out a horse with Gold Cup form of 113 to certainly not be in the top 3.

I wouldn't place lay him.

[Irish Rugby]

Farce of a race and total p*** take by B365. 14s with Betfair/PP. He certainly was rusty. Mullins always said he'd been running more this year before the GC. Wonder where he'll send him next?

[Supermaster]

It seems like the leading contenders are beating each other (except Galvin?) APT narrowly beats Kemboy in the Savills as last year - and was a good 2nd in the 2021 GC. by Minella Indo. Galvin beats a less than fully fit Minella Indo at Down Royal then narrowly beats APT. ABP following the same timetable as last year so far but was only 3rd in 2021 = downward trend? So maybe the real question is who is best suited by the race - and I think APT just falls short. He should run well again but only be placed. Will Minella Indo get over the KG? The anti-Frodon tactics backfired for a horse that usually tracks the leaders rather than leads. We know Galvin likes Chelt and stays and now has proved himself in Grade Ones. The leading contender for me at the moment.

[Milbear0]

It seems like the leading contenders are beating each other (except Galvin?) APT narrowly beats Kemboy in the Savills as last year - and was a good 2nd in the 2021 GC. by Minella Indo. Galvin beats a less than fully fit Minella Indo at Down Royal then narrowly beats APT. ABP following the same timetable as last year so far but was only 3rd in 2021 = downward trend? So maybe the real question is who is best suited by the race - and I think APT just falls short. He should run well again but only be placed. Will Minella Indo get over the KG? The anti-Frodon tactics backfired for a horse that usually tracks the leaders rather than leads. We know Galvin likes Chelt and stays and now has proved himself in Grade Ones. The leading contender for me at the moment.

Pretty much agree with all of this post, except I’ve still got a little itch to scratch with Chantry House. The positivity shown in the betting for the King George suggests there’s real confidence behind the horse, and his price might just be big enough to coax in those willing to find out despite the arguments on here to the contrary.

25’s already under pressure again.

[Benjy23]

Think there's a big horses for courses aspect going on here isn't there. In that horses have either run below/above themselves at courses away from Cheltenham compared to what I'd expect them to come the festival.

Chantry falls into that category of potentially not being suited by Kempton, when we know Cheltenham suits. Tend to agree that 25s is verging on an interesting price to forgive the last run. MI also in the same category.

And I wouldn't mark down any horse for finishing close to Kemboy at Leoparstown, whilst also expecting the two in front of him to finish way ahead if meeting again at Cheltenham.

[isitmarchyet]

3:30 pm Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) 3m 2f 70y - Friday 18th March


A Plus Tard (FR) 8 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE

Ahoy Senor (IRE) 7 Mrs C Wymer & Mr PJS Russell Lucinda Russell

Al Boum Photo (FR) 10 Mrs J. Donnelly Willie Mullins IRE

Allaho (FR) 8 Cheveley Park Stud Willie Mullins IRE

Angels Breath (IRE) 8 Walters Plant Hire & Ronnie Bartlett Nicky Henderson

Asterion Forlonge (FR) 8 Mrs J. Donnelly Willie Mullins IRE

Aye Right (IRE) 9 Geoff and Elspeth Adam Harriet Graham

Carefully Selected (IRE) 10 Miss M. A. Masterson Willie Mullins IRE

Champ (IRE) 10 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson

Chantry House (IRE) 8 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson

Chatham Street Lad (IRE) 10 Mr V. Healy Michael Winters IRE

Conflated (IRE) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

Delta Work (FR) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

Eklat de Rire (FR) 8 Mr P. Davies Henry de Bromhead IRE

Fiddlerontheroof (IRE) 8 Taylor, Burley & O'Dwyer Colin Tizzard

Franco de Port (FR) 7 Bruton Street V Willie Mullins IRE

Galvin (IRE) 8 Mr R. A. Bartlett Gordon Elliott IRE

Imperial Aura (IRE) 9 Imperial Racing Partnership 2016 Kim Bailey

Lostintranslation (IRE) 10 Taylor & O'Dwyer Colin Tizzard

Melon 10 Mrs J. Donnelly Willie Mullins IRE

Minella Indo (IRE) 9 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead IRE

Mister Fisher (IRE) 8 James & Jean Potter Ltd Nicky Henderson

Mount Ida (IRE) 8 KTDA Racing Gordon Elliott IRE

Protektorat (FR) 7 Sir A Ferguson G Mason J Hales & L bHales Dan Skelton

Remastered 9 Brocade Racing David Pipe

Royale Pagaille (FR) 8 Mrs S. Ricci Venetia Williams

Run Wild Fred (IRE) 8 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

Saint Calvados (FR) 9 Kate & Andrew Brooks Paul Nicholls

Santini 10 Mr & Mrs R. Kelvin-Hughes Polly Gundry

Tornado Flyer (IRE) 9 T. F. P. Willie Mullins IRE

[Kautostar]

Fakir doudairies, envoi allen and janidil notable omissions