IS THERE A DARK HORSE FOR THE GOLD CUP?

Of the horses waiting in the wings I think Joncol or Punchestowns perhaps have the most improvement in them but they still have some way to go. I am convinced Long Run will make a top class horse but he's hardly a dark horse and they need to get a professional jockey on him if he's going to fulfill his potential.

[;)][;)]of course there is

How's The Lad doing Swinnia?

Pandorama is the dark horse for me, his form lines are working well and think he would have ran well in the rsa last year.

looks set to be taking on denman early this year getting weight.

weapons amensty for 3 years in a row

backed weird al at 40s and 33s

maybe a blessing in disguise he missed the RSA last year

everyone seems to fancy him for the Hennesy so hoping its him

Re the RSA its all opinions on which will improve enough to topple the established G C horses.At the current prices I will put up Knockarra Beau as my "dark horse" in the hope that there is a jockey change !

I'm willing to endure the barracking - I've backed Don't Push It.

Can i add Carruthers?? Cooldine too.

Forpadydeplasterer.  Almost top class over 2 miles (though not good enough to persist for another season), bred and shapes like a stayer, loves Cheltenham, looks a certainty.

Copper Bleu. Very very speculative but I think 3 miles plus may be a real possibility.

Pandorama

got to be Weird Al, trainer words before the RSA were "if i backed him for the RSA i would not swap my ticket for any other horse" has 2 runs at Chelt and 2 wins, will return soon in the hennessy with Denman running in that he has a great chance.

I think with a good jockey on it, not too sure who at the moment seeing as Brennan will be on Imp Commander, McCoy maybe on Denman but perhaps Fehilly will get the ride.

ALBERTAS RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

^^^ agree with above could go close in King George too has finished 2nd

May I add Neptune Collegnes to the mix.

surely after 2 defeats in the race already and missing all of last season neptunes chance has gone

What A Friend.

A year older, bigger, stronger and more experience. He'll be primed to the maximum for the race as well.

yes i agree unless it's an open year then yopu could argue if he holds his form then he has a sniff.

Somersby......has been crying out for step up in trip

Cooldine is definitely the forgotten horse in the betting.

If he has an uninterrupted season (was sick for a couple of months last year) he's got to be thereabouts if there is any regression from the big 3.

Ran a cracker last year despite his health problems.

40's looks generous to me.

zaarito or long run for me

Albertas Run. Has won an RSA Chase and Ryanair, Loves the course and ground in March and got a feeling this may not be a strong race on the day.

mossbank[smiley:crazy]

i'd like to add that my love for kempes is growing ever stronger (the horse that is..not the footballer) so after he wins the hennessy...if he runs....he'll be in with an outside shot.

Not one mention of a grade 1 winner over 3 miles who beat two Gold Cup winners and an RSA winner on his last start, who has pretty good course form from the 2008 festival (perfectly valid excuse for poor show in '09) and is trading at 33/1


Think Henderson has the winner tbh, but none of them are dark horses really

^
Dark horses fft, not total no-hopers ffs.

what have I done to upset you this time please?

Any news on Trafford Lad?

[;)]VECTIS Down Royal in November...take on Kauto

Great news ,lets hope he can start to fulfil some of that huge potential.

has to be what a friend . some mentioned on here have no chance of winning a gold cup

FFT is surely talking about the Hobbs horse [;)]

beat by denman in the henny receiving truck load of weight... just beat errr carruthers at aintree? hardly inspiring.

had a breathing op . ruby got off and said he couldnt breather last time. and there isnt a horse in training whod have got past denman in the henessy last year

Nicholls said in the Weekender stable-tour last week that the horse (What A Friend) needs to improve to be a GC contender and they are hoping that the breathing op brings about the required improvement.
Clutching at straws if you ask me.

Weird Al my idea of the Gold Cup winner.

Should win the Hennessy first though.

i like weird al too.  course form is key for me
just dont think what a friend is good enough by any stretch

cant help thinking if henderson can persuade the cohens to get a pro aboard long run, then he is the gold cup winner.
people are kidding themselves if they think this animal wont stay. he hit 3 or 4 fences in last seasons rsa, and then the jockey set him alight at the top of the hill and only ran out of steam nearing the last. if a pro could get on his back and hold him together, coupled with another year on his back and hopefully improved jumping, he will win pulling a small onion cart.

Henderson feels that if they can get a professional on Long Run he would win just about every race he went for, Gold Cup included.  They have bags of confidence in him but they dont think he can do it with Sam on board.  I am sure we'd all pretty much feel the same

Childofmine [;)]

You could be right!

Hardly a dark horse but i fancy the mighty Sizing Europe to take the step up in distance in his stride...

Kempes at rather large odds and more obvious Pandorama if softish?