Quito De La Roque ( Gold Cup 2012 )

fact the 2nd fav is 16-1 says it all stevo for me. if long run got injured he'd be 8s

Rare for a horse to win the Gold Cup without past festival form. Exceptional with no course form at all - though there's time for that.

This is a horse I really like. Has proved he can win on better ground which was initially a worry. I just wonder if the owner has a better one with proven course form, if he's as good as before he got injured

Resner, good point but re Weapons backed it last 2 festivals it won at, unfortunately it is very rare they come back as good as they were? But i hope he does, agree Quito was the most progressive of all novices towards end of season.

Quito beat a load of non-entities, would have been interesting if Quel Espris had stood up LTO. Bostons has done the business time and time again, not saying i think he'll win but the price is a joke.

Weapons Amnesty out for season again, lets hope this fellow makes it for March 2012 in Giggingstown colours.

Just watched a few of Quito's races again and I really like this horse and his battling qualities. Never gives up, and is a real trier.

Won the Mildmay on supposedly unsuitable ground and despite making 2 bad mistakes which might have knocked the stuffing out of lesser horses. OK, brating Sarando might not have seemed to be the best bit of form, but he did have Wayward Prince in behind who was a fast finishing 3rd or 4th in the RSA.

Then won in Ireland quite nicely to follow up.

He's a horse I'm looking to have on my side, especially as he may find a decent bit of improvement after the Summer off.

Respect to Bostons Angel, and was also taken by Jessie's Dream's run in the RSA.

I think this looks a really interesting race this year - Kauto scared off most opposition in previous years. Quito, Sizing Europe, Midnight Chase, The Nightingale, Bostons Angel makes this the race of the season so far. Many different form lines and angles, make it difficult to predict mind you.
I really liked Quito last year, he's certainly one I'm most looking forward to seeing this year to see if he can find the necessary improvement to be a Gold Cup contender.

Hopefully this should also make connections minds up about Sizing Europes path this year (and hopefully for good). Last year he ran second against Kauto who at the time was still rated the best in training and never made the KG, there shouldn't be any excuses - he will need to be there or thereabouts this year.

The Nightingale won well there last year but should find at least one too good. As should Midnight Chase, I still can't see him as top class.

Bostons Angel is the one I can't work out. Was he flattered by the RSA win, was that a weak race? My first impressions were that it was. He does have a win over Quito though and looks to relish a battle.

Overall I would like to see Quito come out and win this before going on to prove himself a genuine contender. Think he's a reasonable price tomorrow but then again I think whoever wins will look a good price in hindsight, and will no doubt shorten for the Gold Cup.

Some race in prospect here, a pity there's only seven runners though. Quality rather than quantity it would seem.

BOSTONS ANGEL: a thoroughly likable sort who refuses to go down without a fight. His chase wins include three Grade 1's and an easy win over the smart Royal De La Thinte. He's as game as a pebble, as seen when fending off all comers in the RSA last year at Cheltenham. In one meeting with Quito De La Roque, he won by a fast diminishing 3/4 of a length. He always pulls out more when something comes to him though, so who knows what would have happened had Quito got to him. Western Charmer was third that day and in one other meeting with that horse Bostons beat him by over thirty lengths but Western Charmer's run seemed too bad to be true that day. Quito De La Roque faced that rival twice since the Fort Leney, slamming him twice by 14 lengths. Take from that what you will. Jessica Harrington's horses seem to be needing the run, and Bostons Angel has himself needed his seasonal debut to blow away the cobwebs so it's likely he'll improve from tomorrow's outing. Still a major player though. ****

COOLCASHIN: Good stayer on his day, and only finished a couple of lengths behind Sizing Europe last time out, although it seemed a case of Rubi Light first the rest nowhere until that horse fell at the last obstacle. This should be too hot for him. *

MIDNIGHT CHASE: Ran up a hat trick of wins in handicap chases at Cheltenham last year, before running a good fifth in the Gold Cup. A far better chaser than he ever was a hurdler, he hacked up on his first start last season so fitness shouldn't be a problem. However, I for one don't think the form of last year's Gold Cup is anything special in the context of this race, and think the likes of What A Friend would struggle. Therefore I'm not backing a horse who finished eight lengths behind him in the Gold Cup. ***

QUITO DE LA ROQUE: Wasn't much between this fella and Bostons Angel last season, but I think Quito was a shade unlucky the day he was beaten in the Fort Leney. He lost a fair bit of momentum when he hit one down the back straight and struggled to make the ground up thereafter. When they met the rising ground he was finishing faster than anything and there would have been nothing between them in another fifty yards. He again made a couple of awful mistakes at Aintree but found making the ground up a lot easier on the better ground to even defy slipping on landing over the second last to win a shade cosily imo. Like Bostons Angel, he's as tough as they come, emphasized by his win in a handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse two seasons ago when everything else was crying no more. I've just taken the 25/1 for the Gold Cup, and imo he's the one to beat. *****

RARE BOB: Grade 1 winning novice chaser but hasn't really made the grade at the top level since. A big staying handicap might be more within his compass, but he would have place prospects on a going day. Whether that'll be tomorrow is anyone's guess. **

SIZING EUROPE: Second in this race last year behind the mighty Kauto, he then reverted back to two miles and took the Champion Chase at Cheltenham. Connections seem intent on making a Gold Cup horse out of him, but it's hard to see him even lining up in that, given how he won the Queen Mother last year. He looked well beaten when left infront last time out but he will surely have come on a lot for that run. A reproduction of last year's effort would probably see him go close. Undoubtedly has the class but still question marks over his stamina. ****

THE NIGHTINGALE: Won the Ladbrokes.com Chase on the same card last year when hosing up from the decent Roberto Goldback. Nicholls has targeted this meeting in recent years and I'd say The Nightingale will be straight enough for this. He handles soft ground but has doubts surrounding his stamina given the speed he has shown over 2m4f in the past. If it turns into a log others will out battle him imo. ***

Just been watching last years GC - one of the worst quality wise for may a year??

Denman and Kauto great servants but well past it last season -

Looked in trouble turnin in too when Denman and Kauto kicked, them dying  a death on the run in, made the win look more impressive than it was

In my opinion only of course

Entirely my opinion. look at the rest of the field, they also 'ran on well' at the finish (ok that's how Tidal Bay always runs )

He's very opposable at this stage imo, although, could be proven well wrong

I love this horse (Quito) - hard as nails and showed it today. Looked beaten, but never gave up and stayed on well to score a little cheekily in the end. And this, despite the trainer suggesting he was a couple of weeks short of work!

Stayer beats 2 non-stayers at the death

think that was decent tbh

surely quito can't win a gold cup....long run would have it with far too much ground to make up!!

Duffy - that's my one reservation, he might lack a little bit of toe, and be left too much to do. Having said that, he went round Aintree all right on decent ground and that would be more of a spped track wouldn't it?

2.6 ^^^^^

One massive worry for me with this horse is the whip rules tbh

Can this win with 8 or less smacks?? No imvho

pandorama

Think hes the ideal type for 3m 2f round Cheltenham,imo its a case of whether he and indeed the rest of the staying novices of last season are up to beating the top GC horses,of which really theirs only one,Long Run.