Imperial Commander

why would a cut leg in november increase chances of winning gold cup in march.

I think running at Kempton worked out ok last year. I think he won the Gold Cup.

Doesn't seem any point giving a horse a hard race in a grade 1 on the wrong track the wrong way round against an all time great if you dont need to in prep for a Gold Cup (IMO of course).

See CVByrnes post ^^^^^^^^ maybe you will see the point....

yes - sorry I do see the point. Unwise to take chances on these things IMO

He did his racecourse gallop before GC last year at Kempton and absolutely flew round... who says he doesnt like the track?!

It only ikes 1 track. Imperial Commander has a 1 track mind so to speak.

Likes!!!

But why would anyone say that? Sure he runs well at Cheltenham but to my knowledge he has run very well twice at haydock, newcastle and kempton in his pre-race racecourse gallop. every other run he has had a physical reason for bad performance. And he did actually once bomb out at cheltenham in his novice chasing season so would you then say he doesnt like Cheltenham?!

Surely a pre race gallop is different to 3 mile Grade 1 Chase pace. He's a great operator round Cheltenham but, if he does act elsewhere, he must have been wrong a good few times in his career. I'm not knocking the horse as I backed him for the Paddy Power, Ryanair and Gold Cup but do think he's a proper Cheltenham horse whose form doesn't really travel.

Booster - he is a very difficult horse to get right, hence his limited appearances on the track. He is being trained to peak in one race alone, and that is in March. Fit and well he is capable of running his race around any track, and if you watch his winning GC performance you will notice he doesn't really care which leg he jumps the fences off either, (which would hardly suggest a preference to which way round he gallops). The plan was 80-85% Haydock, a little fitter at Kempton and 100% in March and that remains the plan. I cannot see any sense in spending a week ferrying him back and forward to Ireland, with uncertain but likely rough seas, and bottomless ground a racing certainty. Better he takes his chances at Kempton and we crack on with his Gold Cup prep. He won't be held up this year, he will sit three wide and be allowed to run, jump, and enjoy himself. We will probably take him for a racecourse gallop at the end of next week to sharpen him up after his lay off - at the current price he is the best value in the race IMHO.

An interesting point of view, Bobby and it's often better to get the inside info than rely on form available to everyone. As you say, he's a massive price if he runs his race and very good luck to you.

I wonder if it is also worth saying about IC that, for quite a big horse, he takes those tight turns at Kempton pretty well. Exotic Dancer found it much tougher at Kempton, as he had a tendency to drift out at the turns, as a few of the longer striding horses have over the years.

So I am not sure the tightness or the right handedness of the track are going to inconvenience IC. I wonder more about the fences, not specifically in relation to IC, but generally they do come fairly quickly at parts of the track and are comparatively stiff by current UK standards. There have been a lot of good horses in the KG down the years who have just not been able to get into a good jumping rhythm there,

In IC's case, Bobby's point about taking a different tactical approach with him this time, could be the way to see the horse's jumping in its best light. If it works, that would clearly be a big plus in terms of his chances in the race.

Since his first KG attempt I've been pretty confident Imperial Commander does not care for Kempton.  In that race, I counted six good jumps by him, he was ponderous, at best, at the others, certainly nothing like his normal exuberant Cheltenham self.  He faded rapidly once challenged - very unlike him.  The yard was under a cloud at the time, and that might account for his quick submission.  But I know, Bobby, that you have a strong theory that horses who are not fluent pay a substantial price in oxygen deficiency as the race progresses.

Last year, IC's early blunder makes it difficult to interpret the rest of his performance in that race.  Whether it is the layout of the fences or going right-handed, or a sharp track, I don't know, but until I see evidence to the contrary, I wouldn't back IC in the King George.

What does give me considerable pause for thought, is BD's conviction that his horse can prove previous Kempton performances all wrong.  Bobby is very pragmatic.  Witness his serious reluctance to IC running at Aintree "I'd much rather he was in a field in Ireland", he said several times.  Bobby, very much against both instinct and experience, gave the trainer the benefit of the doubt at Aintree, something I know he will not do again when convinced of the best target for IC.  So that tells me an awful lot about Bobby's confidence regarding Kempton and I'm slightly tempted to snap up some of the value he's already pointed out.

If it were a 'normal' King George, I might succumb to a small bet.  But if ever 'bearding the lion in its den' was appropriate in racing, it is here.  Kauto Star goes round Kempton as though he's on rails.  He is imperious there.  He looks like a machine that has been in development for years with one objective - cover three miles at Kempton in the optimum fashion.  We never got to see the prototypes, just the perfectly designed finished article.

His four King Georges have resulted in a total winning distance of 63 lengths - unextended.  I rarely bet horses below 5/1 but am finding it very difficult to resist the 11/8 about a horse who, if he turns up, should be 4/9.

I know there is a betting without market, but I am going to hold my ground on IC while wishing him and Bobby the very best of luck in trying to pull off a giant-killing act that will outdo David V Goliath

Steeplechasing - As ever nothing with horses is straight forward. IC is just very difficult to produce in A1 condition on any given day. He is not the most enthusiastic work horse, and it is often difficult to judge just how fit he is. If I am truthful we thought we had him fitter for Haydock than it turned out was the case - although we cannot know how much the cut was troubling him as opposed to him tiring. He needed a bit of work on his back after the race as well. One feature of his training this year will be frequent visits for racecourse gallops as that gives a very clear picture of where we are, and he loves it. I think we will know a lot more about his chances in the King George once we take him to a race course and get a handle on his level of fitness after his short break. That will hopefully happen next week.

But given the difficulty in getting him into A1 conditions and his variety of niggles, it would simply make no sense to increase the risks by adding a return ferry trip to Ireland and bottomless ground to his agenda. I agree entirely with the 11/8 to 4/9 price differential - but would add IC is the only horse in the field with the ability to beat KS. The track, time of year, our training strategy (his key target is March) are all potential negatives, but as the rest cannot beat KS unless he beats himself then to me IC is still great ew value, and when I backed him at 16/1 he was exceptional value.

Bobby, I agree entirely about Ireland and it's all right for me to say I'd miss the KG is he were mine when he's not - I suspect I'd be very very tempted!

With all eyes aimed at the Gold Cup, I'd just hate to see a fall or back-wrenching error at Kempton - that's my main fear. By way of consolation, I realise that mine is only an opinion whereas nobody knows the horse better than you and the team.  I will be roaring him on come Boxing Day - if he beats KS at Kempton nobody can ever question again what a true champion he is.

After consulting with the vet and trainer I am afraid the wound has not healed in time, so regrettably we will not be appearing in the King George at Kempton. He will now be targeted at Cheltenham in March. He will be scratched tomorrow and the trainer will make the announcement at lunchtime.

Sorry to hear that bobby. Wish he could have proved people wrong about not acting at kempton. Thanks for keeping us updated. Much appreciated.

Commiserations, Bobby. that is bad news. Best of wishes for the rest of the season.

Bad luck, Bobby, truly sorry to hear it but let's hope it won't detract from his chance of proving himself once again at the festival.

I still think you have had a result there.

^^^^

Bobby looking forward to toasting another glorious Gold Cup win in March. I am sure it will dissapoint your Christmas plans a tad but boy do the majority of you wish you luck

Bring On chelt / Booster - I have nothing to complain about being luckier than most other owners, and he will be fine for March -  as for Xmas I plan to cheer on KS really hope he wins a 5th as he has been great for this sport.

Agree Bobby, It will be great for Racing to see a landmark with KS.

It takes a real man to admit I am right and you're wrong Bobby[;)]

Well done Panto Prince for voicing what 98% of racing fans think.

YFSC

Interesting that you say that after the owners have withdrawn the horse Flyingbolt. 98% of racing fans may agree with me  but they aren't neccesariy stupid enough to repeatedly expose themselves as aftertiming guessers.

You are very crabby today - nothing down the Job Centre?

Please start a thread on something based on a positive well thought through opinion which runs the risk of being incorrect (we cant all be perfect) and let's see what lurks behind the cynical aggression of Britians most revered £2 punter.

I've been saying that IC doesn't like Kempton for about 2 years you dopey aftertimimg prat.

You are the ultimate aftertiming guesser.

Pathetic.

Got to go now. I am going to have a really good study up tonight to try to work out which Grade One races Hendo is going to send Sprit River to at Chelts, Aintree and Punch.

Are there any Grade One chases on those cards where there arent any fences and where a horse that's probably worth about 145 at best can regualry win? If so I am steaming in on this Grade One beast and no mistake