Midnight Chase

Totally agree, improvement hand over fist this season. Proven front runner to go stride for stride with the tank and NC. May be found wanting but at least he'll be up with the pace and give you are good run for your money. I backed him after connections made their intentions clear and think he is good value for place money and may catch a few by supprise because as we've seen this season he keeps finding more up front and wont lie down. Will be fasinating.

Very open championships (bar the stayers as imo BB will always find more) makes this a great festival. Cant bl00dy wait.

Nor me, just think its easy to pick holes in all bar IC who should win cosily, but as you say Midnight Run will be right there at the top of the hill

Hopefully he's there at the top of the hill yeah! [:D]

Totally agree with the sentiments regarding all at the top of the betting bar IC. I've taken an e-way chance on Neptune Collenges on top of my main bet of IC to win.

I'm amazed at the number of people who make IC an easy winner yet he can still be backed at 4/1!

Me too, I just cant pick holes in IC's chance, I really dont know why he's so long.

Neptune is a good shout too, but Nicholls must know where he is in relation to his main 2. I'm desperate for an ew bet hence Midnight Chase

On at prices up to just over 400's, totally bricking it.  There's got to be one in there that'll pick him off, but you never know.

The last half mile will be awful but good luck

Cheers blackburn!

Good luck to all. I asked for Midnight Chase to be added to Gold Cup market at the beginning of August, a bit of a leap of faith, but was taken by his win at Chelt last April.  Quite a few of lads at work and a few mates are on at huge prices(have to admit I have layed some now)and we can't wait. It's been fantastic each race this year.  Re Imperial Commander, only Best Mate has won 2 on the bounce for 40 years!!!.

Agree that the stat of only Best Mate retaining the Gold Cup in 40 years is worth noting, but I feel that it will be a case of years down the line people will say that IC beat nothing to retain it i.e. Denman, Kauto past it, and for the younger ones it came a year too early for them.

Some people crab Best Mate's achievement in saying that he beat nothing.

bullying HANDICAPERS with his bold front running tactics is a far way from bullying GRADE 1 animals with front running tactics,
how he is 16s really does beggar belief imo,fair enough if he won a hennessey or a similar handicap off a big weight then id respect his chances,but he has not done anything of the sort to warrant his current price of 16/1,wouldnt win if it started now im afraid

if he won his last race as easy as his previous 2 or three then i could give him the benefit of the doubt because it would be hard to know how much was left in him but hes now exposed and hed have to improve in leaps and bounds to be gold cup standard. mulholland is being very naiive imo and id be very surprised if mc can go the pace needed.

agreed rev,he's 9 now,hardly still improving is he??and also agree re pace,will he have what it takes to take a grade 1 field along at the ferocious gallop he does in handicaps and last home??extremely doubtful imo.
will struggle to complete imo

Totally outclassed,if youve backed it heavily,buy some rope.

I agree- can't have this one at any price. Glorified handicappers don't win many gold cups - far too many class horses to beat.

Charwell, as it happens I doubt that Midnight will be good enough. However, you've only to think back to the likes of The Thinker, Cool Ground, Norton's Coins and Charter Party to realise it does happen.

Reve- I think that's a bit harsh. He made an absolute howler that totally knocked the stuffing out of him about 3 out last time. I think the fact that he recovered and got up to win shows he had plenty in hand but the bare winning distance obviously doesn't show it. The vast majority of horses would not have been good enough to recover from that. If he doesn't make that mistake, he wins easily enough imo. He was also giving a stack of weight to Presenting Forever. While I agree it'd be a suprise to see him win, I think there are far worse e/w shouts.

16 days and we find out, cos we just don't know as there is little form to tie in!

all bar IC who should win cosily

He was a good very worthy winner last year,though head to head with Denman until the last fence,finally winning pushed out by 7L (it was never cosy)

He is a very genuine fav though and has less holes to pick in than most,though if his prep has been A1 i'm not so sure.

As for Midnight Chase,not a chnace of winning he's a v good horse and may well have a say in the outcome as he only knows one way to run and with him and Neptune they WONT be hanginga round in anyway whatsoever.I'd imagine that would tee things up for IC and KS,IF they can catch Denman and providing Long Run doesn't start to stay on late.

On a side note the forecast weather is dry for the next 2 weeks at least for that area so could well be watered (daft though that may seem)Temps will be cool though so it's looking like "Chelthnam" good ground whcih may not favour the trailblazers.