2025 Gold Cup

[Captain Chris]

Agree opatcho. I almost always go with the 2nd season angle for the gold cup but I'm looking for improvement through the season in preparation for March. Not many come out into open grade 1 company and start winning straightaway. Having had ~3 "warm up" years on a racecourse through bumpers, novice hurdling and novice chasing, proper grade 1s against seasoned horses can find them out. I thought Grey Dawning was good yesterday and will have learnt plenty. I didn't like the sound of Dan's comments after but hoping he'll go away, see how the horse comes out of it and get more experience in him ready for March. When was the last time a Gold Cup winner ran on heavy that season ...?

[Carnage at Taunton]

Grey Dawning’s jumping will keep him in a Gold Cup for a long way imo, but watching him I’m far from convinced he would be a strong enough finisher in a Gold Cup.
He did ok yesterday, but the opposition will be a lot stronger in March.
Hes interesting though.

[Lobos]

Grey Dawning put up a fantastic fight in what was a titanic grueling struggle up the long straight in deep ground. That was Pig's Gold Cup so mission accomplished for the season but Grey Dawning was probably a little short and that's when it can take a hell of a lot out of a horse . I'd want to see him again before backing him for anything at the Festival. He's a very good horse though and a brilliant jumper.

[ComplyOrDie]

Grey Dawning’s jumping will keep him in a Gold Cup for a long way imo, but watching him I’m far from convinced he would be a strong enough finisher in a Gold Cup.
He did ok yesterday, but the opposition will be a lot stronger in March.
Hes interesting though.

I just don't see Grey Dawning being a player for the Gold Cup.

That said, I was not expecting him to see out the race as well as he did yesterday, and better ground he probably wins it. The pig is a monster in the mud, so was always going to be difficult to break, not to mention Venetia is in flying form!

Grey Dawning will come across plenty better than Royale Pagaille though, and thats the first worry for him, the second is seeing out the trip, for me.

[Lobos]

Venetias horses are unstoppable when the mud is flying. All her horses seem to love it. Getting the Pig back to win first time up after fracturing his shoulder in January has to rank as the training performance of the season so far. Incredible stuff.

[Quevega]

I just don't see Grey Dawning being a player for the Gold Cup.

That said, I was not expecting him to see out the race as well as he did yesterday, and better ground he probably wins it. The pig is a monster in the mud, so was always going to be difficult to break, not to mention Venetia is in flying form!

Grey Dawning will come across plenty better than Royale Pagaille though, and thats the first worry for him, the second is seeing out the trip, for me.

Felt for the jockey yesterday, as he was holding and holding for his life's worth, and even though they were crawling home, he still went too soon
The horse was like - what the fuck ??

If Dan wants to win a Gold cup with this horse then he'll probably do well to have the balls to pull him from a race like yesterday.
However, good luck to him and connections as I'd rather horses run, than not - and he ran really well.

I hope that they can let him off for a while and bring him back in Feb for an easier prep and then have a go at the Gold cup.
Thought the horse ran a really good trial for the gold cup myself, it's just the mental effect it may have that is a concern.

Won't stop me backing him though if they give him a good rest and prep properly.

[DenmanSacre]

Big drift on FTF today - think he opened joint fav, now out to 5s. GDC 7/2 into 5/2 despite the reported interrupted prep. We saw Down Memory Lane win despite the drift but never good to see those JP horses drift.

[Lobos]

No TWAF on Spillane's today??

[Brooksie]

Big drift on FTF today - think he opened joint fav, now out to 5s. GDC 7/2 into 5/2 despite the reported interrupted prep. We saw Down Memory Lane win despite the drift but never good to see those JP horses drift.

yeah betting definitely suggesting he'll need it. he showed plenty improvement between his first two runs last season. might be a similar scenario this season.

[Lobos]

yeah betting definitely suggesting he'll need it. he showed plenty improvement between his first two runs last season. might be a similar scenario this season.

First time going that way round. Might be too sharp for him as well.

[Wayward Lad]

I just don't see Grey Dawning being a player for the Gold Cup.

That said, I was not expecting him to see out the race as well as he did yesterday, and better ground he probably wins it. The pig is a monster in the mud, so was always going to be difficult to break, not to mention Venetia is in flying form!

Grey Dawning will come across plenty better than Royale Pagaille though, and thats the first worry for him, the second is seeing out the trip, for me.

I think he was to fresh yesterday, jumping too exuberantly and maybe using to much energy in doing so

First time in open company and nearly beat a Haydock specialist

Long way until now and the Gold Cup, as I think he will still run there and although yesterdays race was a specific target, then he is still a player if you thought so before yesterday IMO

Not for me though as I think there are better staying chasers around at the moment

[Lobos]

Skelton's have Protektorat for Ryanair anyway so another reason GD will target the GC.

[Wayward Lad]

Great race to watch today as the John Durban who gains the first three in the Gold Cup betting, but what relevance, if any, does it have to picking the Gold Cup winner?

First run of the season for most over 2m 3f verses the Gold Cup over 3m 2f …..3 months away and nearly a different type of horse needed to win over each of the distances?

Which horses suit the trip better today than others, which are fit as a flea and which are running to get race fit?

Watch the bookmakers price reactions post race for various races as this is when I think there is an opportunity for getting a bit of value as most knee jerk react to one getting beat

Kevs 100/1 about Golden Ace as a case in point yesterday !

[Yosser]

I am going to be paying close attention to Grangeclare West. He has all the ability and is probably the last contender at a big price. I have already blindly covered him for the Ryanair and Gold Cup. Every chance he needs today though but the biggest question is if he stays sound afterwards.

[Wayward Lad]

I am going to be paying close attention to Grangeclare West. He has all the ability and is probably the last contender at a big price. I have already blindly covered him for the Ryanair and Gold Cup. Every chance he needs today though but the biggest question is if he stays sound afterwards.

100/1 to win today and the Ryanair is very tempting methinks just simply based upon the way he won before injury and the way in particular he beat Corbetts Cross twice in his novice year and what that horse went on to win, run well in etc

There has been a bit of blue on oddschecker !