in the same season he won the gc?

oh right

be even more of a hero in a few weeks[;)]

I'd love nothing more than to see either of the old warriors win the gold cup at 11. It would rank as a special moment in racing history. Hell while we're at it a dead heat 15l clear of the field

the stuff of dreams!!

I'd love to see Kauto win but think Denman has a far better chance of making the frame

On soft ground it's not impossible Denman could win,lets not forget he only lost out at the last fence and run in to Imperial last year and after his Hennessey (his best ever Hennessey technically)he's shown there seem to be no signs of decline.I've got 9's on the old warrior which i think is a very nice price as i'd say his true chances are around 5-6/1.He never had lightning pace to lose (age wise)though i fee he absoloutley needs cut in the ground and a war of attrition to win.

KS is still a very live challenger as his last race did show an infection and if he hadn't demolished the 2nd last would of been a lot closer as i believe he was starting to stay on.People forget that KS will always always be prone to jumping errors on a track like chelters if the ground isnt ideal and the pace is hot upfront.
He is still capable of winning without a doubt but i have a nagging feeling that the 11yr old french bred with plenty of miles on the clock may JUST have lost his change of pace(not an unreasonable assumption with a well raced french 11yo) At this level that could be crucial.

One small point often ovcerlooked in Denman's 2008 win was how well KS stayed on after being "miles away" once Denman broke away,KS can knuckle down and graft with best of them and woe betide anyone who underestimates this legend IF he jumps round well.

I still make IC a very worthy and "true" favourite though and beleive his 7/2 is a fair reflection of his chances in the GC.

Probably the most foolish thing anyone can do is write of Kauto Star. Many wrote Master Minded off as a flash in the pan and almost everyone wrote Denman off after his heart problem.

The King George isn't the first time for some reason Kauto Star has failed to shine. According to Ruby he wasn't quite himself when Denman won the Gold Cup something I find  hard to argue with when you consider he was beaten again 2 weeks later by Old Vic at Aintree.

Next thing you know he bounces back hacks up in the King George and follows that by puting up a breathtaking performance to win the Gold Cup.

A hot fav to win the Gold Cup for the 3rd time it's back to his old ways and decides he'll walk through a couple of fences just for the hell of it.

None of those defeats are as worrying as his latest defeat bit if it was down to a bug and he comes back to Cheltenham at the top of his game , what then?

Can't be running back and telling your bookie it's not fair horses aren't supposed to do that.

I'm certainly not prepared to write of the best chaser since Arkle. Even if he has gone backwards he'd still beat most of those who will turn up if PN can get him their fit and well. 8/1 EW seems like a bet worth taking to me.

As things stand Imperial Commander is a worthy favourite and if Kauto Star has gone he has very little to beat.

Denman no doubt will run his usual good race to a point but then he will run out of petrol when it really matters.

Nick Williams decided to put Diamond Harry away and bring him back for the Gold Cup. If he were mones I would have ran him in the King George and at least knew where I stood because winning the Hennsessy off 10stone is 1 million light years away from winning a Gold Cup. Just imagine if Imperial Commander or Kauto Star had run in tat race off 10stone. Kauto would have lapped them.

Diamond Harry is lovely horse but he's also a very easy horse to upset when taken out of his comfort zone. IMO He'll find the Gold Cup pace way too much to handle and be gone well before the home turn.

Long Run's win in the King George was impressive and he's improved a fair bit this season but Cheltenham's undulations and quick changes of pace upset him big time both in the RSA and in the PP. I think he'll run well but there's way too many question marks against him to be winning a Gold Cup. He's very likely to make bad mistakes, he doesn't find a lot off the bridle and I'm not sure his King George win is good enough form to be taking into a Gold Cup. He beat very little at the end of the day if Kauto Star was indeed a sick horse.

Kempes won't get the trip.

Tidal Bay is a high class horse not only did he win the Arkle but showed just how tough he is bye going to Aintree and winning there two weeks later. Not many horses do that. Some people have taken big odds about him winning the race because there are few horses who would beat him on the run to the line if he's anywhere near at the last. There lies the problem he very seldom is. Watching his last run you can see why people are willing to take the chance but he was so far behind Neptune Collonges after the 3rd last that makes me wonder how far would he be behind the likes of Denman. Imperial Commander and Kauto Star. The gold Cup will be a lot faster run than that race and it's a safe bet Tidal Bay will be so far behind Pegasus, wings and al,l wouldn't be able to make the ground up.

Pandorama is a horse I really like. I wasn't a huge fan of his last season but this year a year on he looks the real deal now he's fully matured.
They say he needs very soft or heavy ground to be seen at his best but he still manged to fend off Weapons Amnesty on yielding. While that form may not be up to Gold Cup standard I think he's improved out of all recognition since then. The way he travelled and quickened in the Lexus in my eyes was as good a performance seen on any side of the water this season.

Pandorama seems to have unlimited stamina and while he may not get soft ground but that doesn't matter so much at Cheltenham as it would at other courses. As long as there is some cut we know he's still capable of winning races and if you add that to the fact Cheltenham is the most stamina sapping course in the coutry I think the Gold Cup even on Good to soft will be right up his street.

Much depends on which Kauto Star turns up but I'm pretty sure the winner will come from a group of 3 horses, Pandorama, Imperial Commander and Kauto Star.

I'd love to see Kauto Star win and I think he could, so I will back him but my main bet will be one of the other 2. Imperial Commander looks the one on paper but the fact he like Long Run ended up not having to beat the real Kauto Star makes him beatable IMO won't be easy but perfectly possible. I'm waiting until NRNB is in full flow and backing Pandorama as I think he has Gold Cup written all over him.

Nice write up.
I too think Pandorama has what it takes; too many people write him off as a heavy ground horse, I think he just doesn't want firm!
Between him and IC in my view.

I think pando likes soft ground over 3 miles on flat tracks because he is less likely to be out paced. The thing with the gold cup is it's over further and will be run at a fast gallop which will suite him down to the ground.

He'll be an excellent ew bet when it's non runner no bet.

I've had him backed since october for this race and will add him again. Kauto at 10/1 is my only other bet.

No really big plays in the race so I can enjoy it more. IC is too short for me to back but is a deserved fav.

Well yes I suppose you could think that 4s is value. I'd take out myself if he'd proven himself better than Kauto in last years gold cup. But there's that nagging doubt with me.  Denmans runs either side of his gold cup run were not the best and IC's rep is based off beating Denman.

It'd put me off going in at 4s especially given there are a few unexposed improving horses in there too.

Great being able to back basically all the horses at a decent price in the race isn't it?

Pando and Kauto 25/1 and 10/1 are my two bets so far. Will have to get Denman on board too, think he deserves a 2nd Gold Cup. That'll be my lot.

I think I'll absolutely smash into Kauto to place in running after the first circuit. You know if he's beaten after that, if he's tanking then it's hard to see him out of the places if crossing the line given it's never happened before.

Or I could just enjoy it I just don't want Long Run to win, I was a big fan of his until the Paddy Power and now can't really warm to him again.

I'd take Kauto now nrnb or even ap as he'll shorten all the way to the off. Never has he ever drifted before, he's a public horse and you know Nicholls will get him right and then be super bullish. Lots of not well informed punters will steam in and he'll go off 5/1 even 9/2 possibly.

I was thinking of taking a huge bet at 12/1 on here after the King George and laying it off closer to the day for a free bet. Just took 10/1 with lads instead.

Hey,CVB,somebody has just had their form franked.

his form is not in question,well not by me,but his ability to act at cheltenham in a gold cup certainly is!!

agree with you 100% hussard if i remember rightly " p. nicholls said  kauto has never been better" or words to that effect  day or 2 b4 king george, long run wins well " oh kauto  had an infection and was not right ".................still i cant complain too much keeps the price of long run and others high    d

i think youre right, kauto will only shorten but i cant see him winning it tbh

yep... id be laying so that if he loses you profit and if he wins ur break even

Denmanism, I think it's important to not a sick kauto not travelling from the start would have been about 6l ahead of riverside theatre had he not ploughed into the second last. So that win by riverside, though not that great given pride of dulcote died, is  still a good thing from my perspective for kauto.

No setback bobby said he's fine and all systems go.