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Thread: 2018 Gold Cuppin'

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    Super Moderator Diamond Geezer's Avatar
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    2018 Gold Cuppin'

    From bet365 website

    Trainer Jessica Harrington says Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Sizing John will need plenty of work in him before he can return to action.

    The seven-year-old roared to a stunning victory in March, seeing off the likes of Native River and Djakadam to claim one of the biggest prizes in national hunt racing.

    Following that he also claimed first place in the Punchestown Gold Cup, again beating Djakadam - as well as Coneygree - having previously claimed victory in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.
    Since then he has enjoyed a break from racing, but he is now back in the fold in County Kildare, but Harrington is not expecting too much too soon from one of her most prized assets.
    She told the Racing Post: "I think Sizing John is going to have to go to Weight Watchers, as he's come back in looking fantastic and really enjoyed his summer break.
    "For the next couple of weeks he'll do a lot of walking and will be kept on a long rein.
    "He's still a long way off running and won't be ridden for another few weeks. We'll just build him up slowly. He's done very well and hopefully things continue to go to plan."
    Sizing John is currently 5/1 to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup again next year, with Djakadam priced at 16/1 and Douvan 12/1.

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    Senior Member granger's Avatar
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    Reckon SJ will have a chance to take in the million pound series in the Uk
    Some people say he’s the best since Arkle and that’s certainly true when you look at what he’s done

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    Senior Member Grasshopper's Avatar
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    I reckon SJ won't see which way his stable-companion goes in the Gold Cup.
    "Beat the price and lose. It's what we do".

    SlimChance, March 2018

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    Senior Member Euronymous's Avatar
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    The iffy jumper who's never been to Cheltenham?

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    Iffy schmiffy.

    The whole 'never been to Cheltenham' argument is massively over-played, imo. Any such form is a bonus, of course, but I would never let it put me off backing a horse there.

    The Gold Cup is absolutely tailor-made for Our Duke, imo, and I think he will run the established lot ragged.
    Last edited by Grasshopper; 23rd July 2017 at 11:11 PM.
    "Beat the price and lose. It's what we do".

    SlimChance, March 2018

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    Quote Originally Posted by Euronymous View Post
    The iffy jumper who's never been to Cheltenham?
    His jumping at Christmas was very iffy but what an engine

    His romp of the Irish national put to bed many fears for me
    Some people say he’s the best since Arkle and that’s certainly true when you look at what he’s done

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    Senior Member Euronymous's Avatar
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    Fair points, and he's not as short as I thought he was:

    SJ 6s
    Thistle 6s
    Yorkhill 8s
    Might Bite 10s
    Our Duke 11s

    The front three are terrible value at this stage.

    This is all very distracting though in mid July. I have the Ascot KG and Goodwood to think about.

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    Senior Member granger's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Euronymous View Post
    Fair points, and he's not as short as I thought he was:

    SJ 6s
    Thistle 6s
    Yorkhill 8s
    Might Bite 10s
    Our Duke 11s

    The front three are terrible value at this stage.

    This is all very distracting though in mid July. I have the Ascot KG and Goodwood to think about.
    Yorkhill is one of the biggest monkeys I have ever seen on 4 legs

    Might Bite and Our Duke are pretty decent prices in comparison
    Some people say he’s the best since Arkle and that’s certainly true when you look at what he’s done

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    Took 14/1 OD shortly after the Irish National. I'd be surprised if he isn't favourite by race day.

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    Would Arkle be the only Irish National winner since the war to go on to win a Gold Cup afterwards? Desert Orchid did it the other way round and Tied Cottage lost his very poor edition later. I'd tend to think that a horse that stays 3m5f so well at 7 may be more of an Aintree type.
    The older I get the better I was.

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    Senior Member Grasshopper's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by granger View Post
    Yorkhill is one of the biggest monkeys I have ever seen on 4 legs

    Might Bite and Our Duke are pretty decent prices in comparison
    I think it's fair to say that Might Bite wouldn't look entirely out of place at any chimps tea-party Yorkhill chooses to host.

    I'm also on OD at 14's, Benny, and have involved him heavily in my early ante-post multiples too.
    Last edited by Grasshopper; 24th July 2017 at 11:17 AM.
    "Beat the price and lose. It's what we do".

    SlimChance, March 2018

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    Quote Originally Posted by archie View Post
    Would Arkle be the only Irish National winner since the war to go on to win a Gold Cup afterwards? Desert Orchid did it the other way round and Tied Cottage lost his very poor edition later. I'd tend to think that a horse that stays 3m5f so well at 7 may be more of an Aintree type.
    It's a fair point, I suppose, but I wouldn't rule him out on that stat alone. It's also worth bearing in mind the manner in which Our Duke won the Irish National. He looked like he'd joined the race a half-mile out, and won with an absolute stack in hand. I'd say he is way classier than the type that usually wins the race.

    What's the record of novices in the Irish Nash? I've tried Google, but nothing explicit.
    Last edited by Grasshopper; 24th July 2017 at 11:17 AM.
    "Beat the price and lose. It's what we do".

    SlimChance, March 2018

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    Not sure if they were novices but, in the last 20 runnings, there was one winner aged 6, eight aged 7, six aged 8, two aged 9 and three aged 10 so it's a fair bet that there were other novices including the last one to carry 11-4 to victory, Commanche Court.
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    Again, fair enough arcie, but worth noting that OD won from a mark 19lbs higher than Commanche Court did.
    "Beat the price and lose. It's what we do".

    SlimChance, March 2018

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    The headcase that is Might Bite will do for me.

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    I don't think there is very much at all between MB and OD........it's the seemingly much-more straightforward attitude of the latter, that pushes him ahead in terms of my Gold Cup preference.

    Might Bite will hack-up at Kempton though.
    "Beat the price and lose. It's what we do".

    SlimChance, March 2018

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    4 of the first 10 winners this century ran in the 4m Novice Chase at the Festival

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    Hard to see that stat being improved upon next March. This year's was a weak renewal.
    Alcohol, because no good story ever started with "I was eating this salad..."

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    Quote Originally Posted by Euronymous View Post
    Fair points, and he's not as short as I thought he was:

    SJ 6s
    Thistle 6s
    Yorkhill 8s
    Might Bite 10s
    Our Duke 11s

    The front three are terrible value at this stage.

    This is all very distracting though in mid July. I have the Ascot KG and Goodwood to think about.
    Aye, it's sad that some can't see anything less than 9 months away.

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    Senior Member Tanlic's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Grasshopper View Post
    It's a fair point, I suppose, but I wouldn't rule him out on that stat alone. It's also worth bearing in mind the manner in which Our Duke won the Irish National. He looked like he'd joined the race a half-mile out, and won with an absolute stack in hand. I'd say he is way classier than the type that usually wins the race.

    What's the record of novices in the Irish Nash? I've tried Google, but nothing explicit.
    He'd have to be classier than class to win this Gold Cup..........He didn't have enough toe to beat Disko over a shorter trip then he certainly wouldn't see the way Mite Bite went nor would he run SJ or Thistlecrack ragged who have bags of speed and stamina.

    Future Aintree horse if he can learn to jump
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