Captain Chris's Festival target

I dont think this years Arkle has a lot of strength in depth and i was keen to take on the front 2 in the market. I took 23's on Realt Dubh b4 his Grade 1 win in Ireland and took the view that the Scilly Isles would produce another contender. I thought it was between Medermit and Captain Chris and eventually plumped for the 14s on Captain Chris. I think both are genuine contenders and i can see both being in there with a big shout. I agree with the comments on here about a more positive ride needed for Captain Chris but i dont think 2miles will suit Medermit any better than Captain Chris. In fact i have always thought 2.5m is more Medermits trip.I think the edge for me in the choice is Captain Chris is still fairly lightly raced and there is room for improvement. He has raced less than half the amount of Medermit and as good a runs he has produced at Cheltenham you would have to be slightly worried with no wins in 5 attempts at the track.
Any double figure prices about both horses will be a good bet come the day.

Trainer on ATR said he's leaning towards the Jewson, Arkle if Soft. Jockey prefers Arkle regardless. May run in the Pendil.

bit strange as we all know itl be g/s soft in places officially then ride like good ground.i actually think reyes post is the best option for the horse

Connections dont have a clue with this horse, just as well Hobbs is good with hurdlers and Johnson good at riding hurdlers.

Captain Chris won the Arkle in my dream last night... can't remember what was second but, disturbingly, a horse called Turtle Run was third - he's not entered and I was n't even sure he existed - he does though - unraced 8yo bought at Tattersalls Ireland sales for princely sum of 1,000 Euros in 2007.

I'll freak out if he gets a supplementary entry

Maybe P Hobbs should consult Eric Morris before mapping out his plans for his festival runners...Well at least the chasers or the ones Eric has backed for certain races

If Tarablaze runs OK this weekend,my guess would be:

Arkle Captain Chris
Jewson Wishful Thinking
RSA Tarablaze

magic carpet ... maybe Hobbs should consult punters like you with 10 quid at big odds on something else in the race before mapping out plans for opponents to your horse.

Eric-I'm not the person making comments on trainers inabilitys to place horses it was a tounge in cheek comment from myself.Eric you have no idea who i am, how i bet or what i do for a living so until you do(which rest assured you wont find out)keep your asssumptions to yourself please

You had the first dig mate so dont act all haughty now

Watching Finian's there you would fancy Captain Chris to be in the Arkle shake up with a positive ride.

Chaps you are wasting your energy thinking about CC in the Arkle move on....

Mate you have a big price Finian's Rainbow the Arkle and I can understand you dont want Captain Chris in the Arkle also.

He looks to be placed at least, possible winner i think with a good round of jumping. Some will make mistakes ON THE DAY as Finian's did today. Luck of the draw which they will be and which will jump well. Captain Chris tremendous chance of turning over your fancy Finian's Rainbow imo especially if Finian's repeats that jumping display in March.

I dont fear CC in the slightest for the Arkle....genuinley dont as he is too slow. I doubt connections of CC will consider my view so not trying to persuade anyone. FR may not win the Arkle, indeed there is a very good chance he will not. I just think that the chances of CC rocking up at the Arkle are remote at best so seems a waste of time talking about it. I will shut up now.

lol i know your game lad

It is very likely Captain Chris will be turning up in the Arkle now to take your horse on after his jumping display today.

2 mile chases:

Captain Chris:
Cheltenham - second to Ghizao the Arkle fav over Arkle course&trip, SLife states Captain Chris jumped eye-catchingly well on his chasing debut
Newbury - again no jumping mistakes over 2m 2f again 2nd to Arkle fav Ghizao. SLife states it's worth noting that he burst onto the scene on good spring ground last season

Medermit:
Aintree - won 3 horse race at 1/5f but blundered the 1st and mistake 3rd last
Huntingdon - refused to jump
Plumpton - won 7 horse race 6/4f but hit 4 out over 2m 1f

You forgot about his win at sandown Eric.....Medermit that is....remember when he beat Captain Chris?...and bytheway how you could see anything at Newbury when Ghizao beat Captain Chris is a mystery to me as i was there and couldn't see most of the race due to the fog!!!!

there is little doubt he will improve for better ground. he needs it desperately
but i dont agree about his jumping. he has looked very guessy at chelt(couldn't see at newbury) and awful at sandown. he is a novice but hasn't shown any improvement yet.
how you think his jumping was bad last time because he was stepped up in trip is mind boggling!!!

he will be a different horse on better ground , but whether he is fast enough for an arkle i'm not sure.

magic carpet are you th1ck, i have detailed their jumping over Arkle trips NOT when they were stepped up in trip when Medermit jumped much much better and Captain Chris much much worse.

It is obvious to Neanderthal Man that Captain Chris has jumped way way better than Medermit at an Arkle trip AND under pressure against the beautiful jumper and Arkle fav Ghizao AT CHELTENHAM over COURSE and DISTANCE not making a mistake in his 2 runs around an Arkle trip whereas Medermit has blundered his way around at the minimum trip against camels when not under pressure (or refused to jump).

brandyontherocks there is a reason why Captain Chris's jumping was worse over the longer trip just the same as there is a reason Medermit has made mistakes/blundered/refused in every one of his 3 runs around an Arkle trip but got much much better when stepped up in trip.

its been well noted that cc will be going for jewsons

isnt it possible one has improved for racing while the other hasnt eric.?

see cc as needing a trip myself.....to the schooling yard if he is to be breaking his maiden tag at the festival.

No it hasnt ... you lose.

Eric we may beg to differ one thing i am not is THICK.I like to think i can have a constructive discussion about a range of issues within racing without having to brow beat or insult people who dare to differ from my humble opinion, that from what i have seen from you is where we wildly differ

I think the best 2 milers are lightning quick jumpers, Medermit has been anything but that over the minimum trip. He has most to prove jumping around 2 miles at Chelts for sure. Captain Chris jumped the course and distance really well with no mistakes on his chase debut with immense pressure applied by Ghizao yet he finished very strongly on slowish ground. Quicker ground he will storm around there and Dickie Johnson knows it which is why he wants him to run in the Arkle.

Medermit has had 3 chances to jump well at 2 miles and been poor each time. IMO he has improved because he is going slower and jumping slower over the longer trips. The evidence is there above, ignore it if you want.

denman85 ... Captain Chris currently has the most money waiting to back in the Arkle. Why is it still there mate do you not believe what you are saying?

3 runs over fences

everytime stepped up in trip..
everytime staying on at the finish....
needs a trip and will lack that kick that is needed to win over 2 miles..
another ante-post bites the dust..
bad day with mikeal letting you down again..

I dont know who Eric is trying to convince but he really lets himself down with all the mudslinging he does

Captain Chris will be the biggest danger to Ghizao on better ground. He has the kick on that alright read his form on spring ground.

gutfeeling you dont have a clue how I bet antepost, you wouldnt understand it mate however I can offer impartial views as I have the Arkle well covered at big prices dont worry about that. The PJ Moriarty was an excellent result for me however I wouldnt even try to explain why to you as it would travel through your vacuous skull faster than dark matter off a stick.

you have mdh permed in bets you said so thats down now imo

you talk up captain chris so must assume your on as all evidence points to him having no chance unless he improves no end for better ground which i think is unlikely as nothing has said he is a 2 miler yet this season.

won on the pj today with your big hope running...dutching against your fancy..cowardly and a little aftertiming but we expect nothing less from you you running joke who has ben teaching everyone lessons for years on here while only being on here 8 months..max out your old card did ya.?

magic carpet I offered a valid opinion earlier today which you didnt like as it differed to yours so like a pompous cretin told people to ignore me. Are you for real lmao. You started the mudslinging.

Now, I am right with my factual stats around the Arkle trip comparing the great jumping at that trip of Captain Chris and the poor jumping of Medermit the 3 times he has run at the shorter trips. You cant argue with facts so you come back with cretinous personal gambits.

There is more money waiting to back Captain Chris than any other horse in the Arkle why havent you laid it?

gutfeeling ... you will be the first to know mate dont worry.

Yeah yeah I've only been on here 8 months yeah yeah ... you got me

i'll be the first to acknowledge your insight if your proved correct eric dont worry about that..m man enough to admit when i've got it wrong.

just cant see where the confidence stems from is all with the horses runs thus far over fences but i'll give you this much....it doesnt look a vintage arkle so far and nearly any result wouldnt surprise me at this point in time apart from mkeal winning that would shock me.

this horse runs in jewsons

Lets get one thing straight Eric my opinion on this horse is different to yours that is Fact,The Evidence for your arguement is your perception on your part not Fact.people make there own minds up in life without either of our input.As for me being a cretin?thats your view i couldn't care less what you think.Oh and buy the way for such an astute pro gambler as you claim you are i would strongly advise you buy a racing post this sunday instead of having to take a quick peak at it in the supermarket when buying your lunch.Sorry i couldnt resist that one

Just watched CCs Ghizao races again to try and form own opinion . At Che he jumped the fences superbly but apart from the 3 from the top of the hill , all the others were jumped to the right , mostly just a yard or two , but enough .
The Newbury race was pretty fogbound but the course commentator decribed him as ' guessy ' at three fences and ' running down ' a couple more , again to the right .
No one disputes the horse has a hell of an engine and may get away with jumping right in March , but he wont get away with mistakes as well , at least not over 2 miles . Its been done over further , Rule Supreme was one , but fallers helped his cause .

magic carpet lol you havent a clue mate. Suppose you took the RPost headlines in on Solix and backed him down to 9/2 or whatever (18s'ish on here today). The benefits of getting the paper disappeared quite a while ago for me re antepost.

However your comments are pretty snide and show how desperate you are for your large Finians Rainbow bet you have been adding to over the winter (mentioned on another thread) to not be interrupted by Captain Chris re-entering calculations for the Arkle. He will run imo and on quicker ground and a positive ride has every chance.

paulo ... based on the form book evidence above, Captain Chris will jump around the shorter Arkle trip from a positive ride without mistakes where there is likely to be one or more of the others making mistakes either due to a drop in trip (Medermit) or lack of experience of fences at the undulating course (Realt Dubh, Finians).

This gives Captain Chris an advantage, we all know how important course form is especially at the trip. Ruby Walsh recently advised AP that Kauto Star likes to go slightly one way when approaching his fences yet it hasnt stopped him right or left handed not many horses will be straight as a die.

Eric you and i are not "mates",why don't you go away and stop bothering me.For your information quite what i have had on Finians is non of your buisness you really do make me laugh though as not so long back you were saying i'd had "10 quids" on outsiders in the race.You can't read people thats a racing cert i'm pretty disapointed that i've sunk to having to respond to your childish jibes once more but your a bit like an annoying fly that keeps buzzing around and i can't help but take swishs at you

Look it is annoying you that I am pointing out how well Captain Chris will be suited to the Arkle re jumping compared to others using facts from the form book when you have a large bet on Finians Rainbow you mentioned on another thread and are trying to shout me down ... let's not dress it up as anything else.

Asking me to go away is a bit rich when I started this thread yet you cant keep away from it for the reasons I just gave. Go ahead leave the thread then dont post on it again. Oh and while you're at it, Captain Chris has the most money waiting to back in the Arkle you can lay that as well I expect it will be laid within the hour.

The Arkle is virtually a 4 horse race now, they would be crazy not to run Captain Chris he is odds on to get a place at least and with his proven excellent jumping over course and distance has an advantage over all except Ghizao but with better ground it is likely to bring these 2 closer together.

1.Martin Pipe Reurns started this thread. FACT 
2.You know nothing about me or how or what i've backed.FACT
3.You do not own any thread on here and i will post whenever i wish to.FACT
4.Eric Morris is a bullyboy who can't have a reasoned arguement and has to devile people on betting forums.OPINION(though such opinions are backed up by FACT)

lol you must have a lot on Finian's to go this far and you must fancy Captain Chris if he does show up LOL

Dickie Johnson wants him to run in the Arkle and knows the horse best, seems a no brainer now when all the major contenders, bar Ghizao, have shown jumping fallibilities and there are only 5 of them with a chance.

Is this argument still going on?

yup and bizare as what does it matter what we think? we dont own the bloddy thing

The question was raised so we are discussing their jumping at 2 miles showing he has jumped well at that trip and at Cheltenham whereas Medermit who beat him half a length over a longer trip has not jumped well at 2 miles. Dickie Johnson knows this and wants to ride him in the Arkle. The field has cut up badly to just 4 with a chance he is very likely to go for the Arkle imo.

I'm not sure how anyone could make the case that CC goes better left handed than right? If you watch him closely round the bends at Sandown he really flies round them right handed, and if you add this to the right handed jumping it is clear to me at the moment at least that he has to go right handed. Anyway, I think the Scilly Isles was set up perfectly for him (good ground/2m4f/right handed), and will turn out in time to be a very high class result as a Grade 1 contest in time I'm sure of that. And I tend to agree that jumping into the back of Medermit at the third last looks like it lost him 3 to 4 lengths as well as momentum which ultimately cost him the race and did very well to finish where he did. But having said all this (and having been talked into backing him small for the Arkle) I could just not have him for the Arkle whatsoever, the whole race just will not suit him at all. I'd be keener on him over 2 miles at a wide riht handed galloping track like Punchestown, but what I really think he is going to suit perfectly is The King George in a couple of years.

There is absolutely zero doubt Captain Chris has jumped better left handed than right handed and he has jumped really well over 2 miles the only 2 times he has run at the Arkle trip. Really anyone citing jumping left handed as an issue is having a laugh. Walsh told McCoy before the King George to let Kauto run down his fences to one side as he liked that, it hasnt stopped him winning left handed Gold Cups and right handed King George's.

Dickie Johnson wants to ride him in the Arkle he knows best from the saddle what he is capable of and his runs behind the best jumper we have seen, Ghizao on ground softer than CChris wants, which will be faster March and bring him and Ghizao closer together possibly switching the result.

eric im with you mucker.why is everone against running capt chris in the arkle when he was a whisker from beating medermit who is know joint fav.the race is cutting up for fun with better ground and a more forcful ride cant see him being out of the frame.

Listening to Eric Morris is very boring....has no one else got an opinion or can they not be asked to listen either..

My take on Captain Chris is. He does look like a horse that is crying out for better ground, but he does look a horse who is trip less?? and is going to be hard to place, in the top end races, at either Cheltenham or Aintree.

He doesn't jump well enough to win an Arkle and does not appeal as a betting medium. He just doesn't jump with any fluency. He has obviously got an engine and I like him but he could be an expensive horse to follow in the festival races.

When people say about bouncing a horse out, that horse still needs the tactical speed, and jumping fluency to hold that position. Captain Chris has neither of these from what i have seen. The Jewson would be the best target for him just because it is a Grade 2 race and his jumping won't be put under the pressure it will be in the Arkle.

I'd say he is a horse to be slightly wary of, despite showing he clearly has an engine. On better ground he will need to jump at an even faster pace. This is what also worry's me about what his best trip will be.

Be warned.

It's very boring if you have a bet on something else in the race and dont want Captain Chris in the race reducing your chances of collecting.

tony2914 ... most of the posters coming on here have something else in the race and obviously dont want him running. In a badly cut up race they know he has a chance of winning it if he runs.

By the way I have backed him for the Arkle, so I do want him to run, but how anyone can possibly argue he is better going left handed is beyond me. At Newbury he must have lost 10+ lengths going out to his right.

You have backed others for the Arkle for more as well? That is irrelevant tbh.

He has jumped way better left handed and over the Arkle course and distance than he has right handed. He doesnt lose much ground at his fences total over-exaggeration unless he makes mistakes which he has done right handed.

Trainer Philip Hobbs believes that it could be the Jewson Novices' Chase that proves to be Captain Chris’ Cheltenham target and the trainer explained:  "I think it's going to have to be very soft to run Captain Chris in the Arkle but Richard Johnson probably disagrees as he feels he could be equally effective in either race. I'm leaning towards the two-and-a-half mile race with him.”

bit of a clue? start your prayers and raindancing Eric

He's been very slow to come to himself Captain Chris but all the right signs were there he's getting there now. My worry would be he'd be taken of his feet in the Arkle as Ghizao is going to be going a lot faster than he did when the 2 met last time with Finian's Rainbow involved. One mistake behind those two and your tea is out.

Common sense would say go for the longer race with a lot less pace to it. Or they could play silly beggars, go for the Arkle and pray to the heavens he doesn't clout a couple.

I still reckon it's 50/50 which race he goes for, even if the going is normal Chetenhma first day stuff (over watered good to soft) and while he may have a slightly better chance in the Jewson (say a 7/1 shot instead of 12/1 for the Arkle) the extra kudos and money for winning an Arkle, especially in such an open looking year, may well tempt them.

still fancy Turtle Run for the Arkle,myself. [;)]

eric morris is just **** himself as he's backed him for the Arkle and wants him to run. I'm not having a go at you for backing him in the Arkle, personally don't fancy him at all, just get sick of your blatant talking him up just so you get a run.

Just read the thread in full and I would say if Eric was a horse he would be a stayer as he is certainly persistant. That said I agree with him in that the race is cutting up and he should take his chance in the more prestigious Arkle.

He will have a great chance and if the heavens open in the 24 hours before the race I would go as far to say he would be favourite for this IMO.

I'm not sure about favourite... Especially if it rains....

Thread should be renamed "why Eric Morris thinks Captain Chris will win The Arkle"

Dull read, the life has been sucked out of the other contributions.

.

magic carpet, gutfeeling and bring on chelts!! yet again showing their cluelessness on this forum. I give them a masterclass and they throw it back in your face advising people to ignore me. Ah well there is no pleasing some. Read back on this thread and see who it is worth listening to and who not.

ttt for benefit of the clueless brendrew a day tripper on here shouting his mouth/keyboard off.

'And the award for humility' goes to............................

You're right gutfeeling said he'd come on and admit he was wrong ... has he suddenly gone into 'read-only' mode on the forum now he has been proven so miserably wrong?

Same with bring on chelt!!!

bring on chelt!!!
When: 12 Feb 11 16:08
Chaps you are wasting your energy thinking about CC in the Arkle move on....

Where are you gutfeeling?

Eric im right here well done on flagging up Captain Chris couldn't have had him for the arkle sorry i haven't been on here for the last two days unfortunatly i have been at Cheltenham for the last two days you should try it some times its quite good fun.We all get it wrong from time to time its just some of us can hold our hands up and acknowledge this!Hope you put a bit of your winnings on Buena Vista, happy punting!

No probs magic carpet hope your having a great time there with plenty of winners.

My favourite thread of Cheltenham 2011

All the usual suspects having a go and getting it wrong.

Are you getting on my double for next season Eric?

No, you need to read the situation deeper imo, cant say havent taken my position yet

You may be right but I would play the more likely scenario.

fairps

Albion Dan. .... also never place specials. If it is the same horse I see it as losing value compared to having 2 different horses in a double however if it is Kg and Gold Cup this is not too bad because as this year and v often in the past, impressive KG winners often go on to win the Gold Cup also.

I couldn't swear to it, but can anyone else not find a post on this fred where YBM says he had actually backed the beast with money?

i believe you wont find such a post from Eric.
He does seem to think that no one is allowed to make a mistake.
My mistake was thinking that CC would run in the longer race,and to be fair his trainer did seem to be hinting at that in the build up.
I along with others said well done to Eric after the Arkle,but he seems to find it hard to win with dignity.

No doubt if it had lost, Bud, he would've shamelessly claimed that he hadn't backed it after all, a la GMOOH (you couldn't ask for a better example of what YBM is all about than that).
It was a good call though, fair play for that, the horse wore them down nicely and won going away. Though I was surprised that YBM put up a grinder for the race when he previously stated that it was a race for speed horses with 'a kick'. 
BTW, dignity comes with both experience and maturity. He lacks both.

By the nature of his posts,it seems you are correct Des.

Albion Dan .... think you may be surprised where he will end up at the Festival.

Where do you think? Ryanair?

if he stays-gold cup,if not-QM
too good for ryanair

Could use it as a stepping stone a la Imperial Commander.

Wherever did gutfeeling go?

Just reminding magic carpet of this below due to his samey but obnoxious comment on the Peddlars Cross thread by Rock.O.Gibraltar.

magic carpet
When: 08 Feb 11 23:15

Maybe P Hobbs should consult Eric Morris before mapping out his plans for his festival runners...Well at least the chasers or the ones Eric has backed for certain races

lol ... you've got to laugh at the idiots with short memories on here. magic carpet is the obnoxious one imo.

magic carpet
When: 01 Mar 12 21:15

Maybe Mccain should have consulted Eric Morris before embarking on a novice chasing campaign! How obnoxious is this man? He comes on various threads spouting this and that about this trainer should do this or that horse is being campaigned wrongly here or there.I'm all for everybody having their say thats what an open debate is all about but this man has zero respect for anybody who dares to question his warped logic

Desmond Orchard
30 Mar 11 18:02
Joined:
28 Jun 04
| Topic/replies: 1,753 | Blogger: Desmond Orchard's blog
Eric Morris on Horse Racing Ante-post/Cheltenham etc Fora, is the current incarnation of perhaps the most preposterous poster anywhere. He too is given to heroic last minute trades, directly at odds with previously strongly argued positions in order to get out in profit (often 6 figures!), despite never posting an actual bet before an event. He is utterly incapable of getting anything wrong and has, to my knowledge, never had a losing bet. Anyone who disagrees with him is a 'stalker', to whom he will attribute imaginary statements, obviously without any evidence to back them up, which he then attempts to discredit. He labours under the misapprehension that he has then 'proved you wrong' - a peculiar obsession of his that gives an indication of his overall insecurity. On the rare ocassions that he does tip up a winner (without actually admitting to having placed any actual money on the beast), he then crows from the rooftops that he is some kind of guru and all should worship at his alter, clearly oblivious to the fact that even a blind dog will pi55 up the odd lampost.
He is great fun though and we would miss him over there if his Mum ever banned him for any length of time. That said, there is no shortage of contenders for Forum Idiot waiting in the wings

I find it quite sad really that Eric has had to go to such lengths of dragging up a thread from last year to prove that i got a particular race wrong.Anyone who takes the time to trawl through this will make up their own mind about the type of person he clearly is.

Funny post that ilwab

I strongly suspect that Eric has Asperger's Syndome.

He certainly has all the signs thieves

Yes hilarious OnTheSchnaps .... the irony will be lost on you and the other idiots that ilikewavinatbuses who posted DesmondOrchard's comments up argued with me over whether Frankel was a great horse or not pre Guineas (he thought he wasnt god knows what bet he had on against Frankel he has the IQ of a journalist) and looked stupid not long afterwards. He believes he is Phil Bull re-incarnated but perhaps he would have spotted Frankel. Anyway he follows me around like a puppy now posting this very relevant pap from Desmond Orchard.

I started a thread for last seasons Festival where I pointed out Celestial Halo was bad value at 10s the Arkle as he wouldnt jump fences well before he tried them. Desmond Orchard was extremely aggressive saying I was talking rubbish the highest rated hurdler wins the Arkle blah blah ... he disappeared quick once Celestial literally bombed over fences, took cover for a while, then spent most his time on here following me around trying to save face by posting slurring sh1t on threads I posted on.

Such is the price for getting things right on here ... the above 2 on the Arkle, who knows with Peddlars Cross going for the hat-trick eh?

yeah i was more than happy to take on frankel for the guineas.

as i said eric, i have 10/1 winners EVERY WEEK. lets see how good YOU are. start a thread with me and i will put u in your place like a good little girl

the REAL irony is that u were a seeting wresk after u had your house on him for the derby

oh dear, after i told you there wasnt a hope in hell he was turning up, yet u continued to back him because youre a silly mug. youre the single worst ante post punter on the forum ffs.


so are u gonna bottle it again or are u gonna allow me to blow u out of the water? the hilarious thing is that i pick big winners regularly and u wait all season for for odds on winners and still end up doing your balls because youve backed every horse entered for the race AP

steinbeck

youve been living off celestial halo , capt chris and frankel for the last few years

erics AP book up in flames. ahahahahahahahaahahahah


But your back catalogue of losing bets is horrific. Again, why would you mention losing bets by others when you've never posted a winner ..

STEINBECK - guineas
TIMEPIECE - 1000 guineas & oaks
ZAYNAR - champion hurdle
FLAT OUT - irish arkle
SALUDOS -irish arkle
MIKAEL DH -arkle
HAVANT - guineas
CARLTON HOUSE -derby
MOONLIGHT CLOOD - guineas
FRANKEL - derby
WORLD COMINATION -derby
RECITAL - derby
RELIABLE MAN - Arc de triomphe

Like I said, why would you even attempt to make fun of someone else when this forum is littered with all the above losing bets you've admitted to have backed. It is just very bizzare.

Anyway, said you wont post on here any longer so we all hope you can keep you word.




hard luck eric LOL

Little point in posting individual horses from my books idiot.



Looks like I was right about Peddlars Cross jumping  (lack of)

Absolutely shocking from Hobbs on Captain Chris target this year he would have been up there in the Gold Cup really great idea for them to p1ss a Gold Cup up the wall in favour of an immensely competitive Ryanair over too short a trip for him.

If you took your blinkers off and apply your PC analysis to Captain Chris too you'd agree he won't be winning any Gold Cup unless his jumping markedly improves. It doesn't matter what distance Captain Chris goes for, he needs to jump and on this season's evidence he hasn't: plain and simple.