Cheltenham Festival
There is currently 1 person viewing this thread.
Who do we think can do it !!
sort by:
Show
per page
Replies: 107
|
By:
Weapons Amnesty!!
|
|
By:
diamond harry
|
|
By:
Weapons Amnesty
|
|
By:
Weapons Amnesty
if he don't make it Pandorama if he don't make it What A Friend |
|
By:
Imperial Commander for me. Would be worried about Weapons Amnesty if he turns up quick.
|
|
By:
Imperial Commander but I'll be backing him after Kauto Star hacks up at Kempton again. Main challenger is Planet of Sound (backed already) as I expect him to thrive over three miles and further this term.
|
|
By:
Al of the Weird variety.
|
|
By:
only best mate has retained his title in the last 40 years, so it always amazes me when we have this sort of topic people tie their colours to the previous seasons winner.even the great kauto couldn't do it
to be fair its not only this race people do it, its most non novice championship races its very hard to win a race at the festival let alone trying to come back and retain your title last season only big bucks and quevega could defend their divisions, but thats partly to do with them being so superior to their rivals |
|
By:
^ I would generally agree with you, BUT Imperial is probably one of the most confirmed Cheltenham lovers we have seen and confirmed himself to be on the coattails (at the very least) of one of the greatest chasers to have ever set foot on a racecourse. In all probability he had Kauto cooked when the latter came down in the Gold Cup and he pushed him to the absolute limit at Haydock as well. However you interpret that, he is plainly an absolute top-notcher.
I know a lot of people like Weird Al, and he is clearly a progressive, talented young horse with all the right qualities to suggest he will continue to improve. However, on what he has achieved to date, he is a mile behind Imperial. All aboard the reigning champ, and maybe a saver on Kauto... |
|
By:
Weird Al for me as he seems to have a liking for Cheltenham and is 2-2 at the track.I would have to disagree that he is a mile behind IC on what he has achieved to date.It took until NOV 08(as a 7yo) for IC to reach a mark of 156 where Weird Al has a mark of 152 already.I think these 2 horses are very similar in profile and although i backed IC last year to win the Gold Cup my money is on Weird Al this time.
|
|
By:
ah what the hey. Step forward Mr Don't Push it.
:) |
|
By:
the jigger
I would have to disagree that he is a mile behind IC on what he has achieved to date.It took until NOV 08(as a 7yo) for IC to reach a mark of 156 where Weird Al has a mark of 152 already. I agree with you that the profiles of the two are similar and Weird Al clearly has the potential to be where Imperial Commander is now. But at present, potential is all it is. How many beautiful prospects rated in the 150s fail to progress beyond that? More importantly, Imperial Commander is rated 185. Weird Al, on 152 at present, doesn't just have to improve, he has to improve over two stone on those figures to be within touching distance. That's an awful lot. |
|
By:
Imperial commander looks best ..... but somersby could be dangerous
|
|
By:
1st What a Friend
2nd Imperial Commander 3rd Burton Point You can only dream........... |
|
By:
Joncol and Pandorama are the two for me.
|
|
By:
Pandorama given cut, otherwise most probably wont run?
|
|
By:
it seems strange to me that most are going for the up and coming chasers.id prefer those that have been there and done it i know they could be regressing but we'll have a better idea of that come march.if say ic ran 10lb below last year he could still be good enough same goes for kauto
|
|
By:
Pandorama or Weapons Amnesty if he comes back.
|
|
By:
Burton Port was staying on in last years RSA Chase; looks an uncomplicated sort, and could possibly be ridden by BG, which would be a huge positive! For me Long Run is not a Cheltenham horse, and it's a credit to his ability that he managed to finish 2nd in the RSA last year, and victory over Kauto on Boxing Day would give the Burton Port form a huge boost! All this is assuming Weapons Amnesty will not take is chance because if he does he could be very hard to beat. Denman should run a place.
|
|
By:
panda,
 |
|
By:
Joncol [;)]
|
|
By:
China rock at a price be interested to see how he performs against Kauto tomorrow
Progressing youngster sound enough form step up in trip could easily run into a place if kauto and Denman dont turn up for whatever reasons |
|
By:
Albertas Run could mow need 3 miles plus. Won an RSA Chase 3 seasons back and Ryanair last year. Loves Cheltenham in March and his owner's best chance of a Gold Cup winner. McCoy riding would be a boost as he gets on really well with him.
|
|
By:
....or Kauto isnt an all-time great over a trip above 3 miles when there is pace on. 2 Gold Cup wins, one a 5 length win over Turnip Green and a second over a Denman ridden in a subdued way but still managed 2nd after heart problems. Any time the pace has been on over a staying trip above 3 miles Kauto has failed. He is an all-time great at up to 3 miles but definitely not above imo.
deane Joined: 29 Jul 04 Replies: 105 20 Oct 10 08:09 ^ I would generally agree with you, BUT Imperial is probably one of the most confirmed Cheltenham lovers we have seen and confirmed himself to be on the coattails (at the very least) of one of the greatest chasers to have ever set foot on a racecourse. In all probability he had Kauto cooked when the latter came down in the Gold Cup and he pushed him to the absolute limit at Haydock as well. However you interpret that, he is plainly an absolute top-notcher. |
|
By:
.. so lets not elevate Imperial Commander way above his station before the ratings boys ignore the obvious I just posted and get carried away again.
Was Imperial Commander better than Bregawn, Forgive'N'Forget, Burrough Hill Lad etc .. no imo ... the ratings are a totally inflated joke now imo. |
|
By:
To put it in context Kauto has only won 1 of his last 4 runs at a trip above 3 miles. The win was when Denman was under par yet he still managed 2nd such was the poorness of both fields that Kauto won a Gold Cup in. He was allowed to travel within himself in both. Contrast that to when his stamina has been called upon. Arkle would pulverise him out of sight at trips above 3m but less so at under 3m.
Lets look at the facts instead of the hype. Do you really believe Imperial Commander is a better horse than Burrough Hill Lad? Would love a price for that one. |
|
By:
Eric
I was always of the impression that BHL was rated higher than IC and even Denman on Timeform figures: not sure about official ones though. That was a golden era in the early to mid 1980s. I was at Newbury in 1984 when he won his Hennessey and I rate that above Denman's two wins in the same race. |
|
By:
The Sawyer, yes I think the ratings boys get well carried away now. With a pace on at a staying trip above 3 miles Burrough Hill Lad would hammer Kauto and Imperial Commander. Obviously a less stiff 3 miles speed test around Kempton Kauto in turn demolishes them.
|
|
By:
Burtons Port
Planet Of Sound Weird Al Pandorama Imperial Commander Kauto Star/Denman/Long Run absolutely no chance |
|
By:
What A Friend is a bottler whose Cheltenham record is garbage.
|
|
By:
horses rated 192 and 180s no chance in the Gold Cup
 |
|
By:
hahaha Kauto Star has "no chance" based on what? his unbeaten record when completing in Grade one chases since March 2008? Form 1U1111F1
I hate morons who say "no chance" about the Gold Cup fav. You can say I don't think he'll win, which is a totally fine opinion. But "no chance", do shut up fool. |
|
By:
I dont think he will win :D
|
|
By:
I think he'll be beat by one of the younger ones myself too. At 11yo it's just too old, sands of time to have taken their toll.
But to say he has "no chance" is simply because Ballydoyle doesn't like the horse, as we know from endless remarks about him over the years on here. I hate disrespect for great horses, has me seething sometimes. |
|
By:
Kauto Star has NO chance in the Gold Cup and anyone taking 5s at the moment is simply stupid.
Too many hard races Beaten when fell last year Has been beaten in race twice before Will be 11 years old Competing against younger, up and coming, faster horses So yes, Mr CV Byrne, he has NO chance and for Howdi, you can include Denman in that also. The reasons why I'm hardly on here anymore CV Byrne is cos it is tiring arguing with the 98% who dont make it pay and who ain't got a clue, preferring to cosy in with their online mates saying "baaaa" to each other. Anyway, your beloved Kauto Star would've struggled to make it in the top 3 last year when it fell - I told you before the race it would get beat and duly backed Cooldine and Imperial Commander. It's not disrespect my friend, it's just fact. Yes, great horse etc but even if he wins the King George by 100 lengths, he has NO chance in the 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup. |
|
By:
Imperial Commander has it to lose. Well clear on ratings but has to prove that he is the same horse this year. I will be watching his run on Saturday with interest. Planet Of Sound is one who might continue to improve and threaten the best this year. He has the speed to win a Haldon Gold Cup, stays 3 miles and has low mileage.
|
|
By:
It will be Ireland this year.
Weapons Amnesty loves Cheltenham and last years RSA is by all accounts a great race judging by how everyone thinks Long Run is so great. Pandorama was trained by a Mr N Meade last time I looked - therefore forget it. Joncol just doesn't look a Gold Cup horse to me. Looks a typical Irish small field soft ground type horse and is a bit on the gross side.Mansony, Notre Pere, Knight Legend etc. Of the British Denman and IC stand out - Kauto just can't be relied on arounnd Cheltenham these days and in any event his two Gold Cups were 1) set up by Neptune so the stable could get the bonus and 2) against a below par Denman not even ridden to win the race. If things pan out it coud still be that Punchestowns lines up (Hendo thinks Ryanair at this stage) and he remains the most exciting unexposed chaser in training (aoart from Big Bucks of course). |
|
By:
5 horses capable of winning it imo.
IC,Denman,Kauto Star,Cooldine and Weapons Amnesty. Of those IC and WA most likely to. Nothing else good enough. |
|
By:
Pandorama better than WA. Joncol will have more improvement this year. He is a danger too. IC and Kauto obviously have a chance given their ratings. Can't see Denman winning given his 3 runs this year, but such a talented horse can never be ruled out.
|