Has Kauto one more Gold Cup in him?

Counting the days here. Against all logic, he must have a good chance - he's won the 2 British staying Grade 1's this season after all and he will be top rated (or very close) going in to the race. He's beaten the current champion twice. IMO will be close to favourite on the day if he turns up safe and well.

on very quick going, like when he won his second Gold Cup, he would have a massive chance

imo the extra 2.5f just a bridge too far now. He could do it in his pomp because he was that good he could win gold cups without truly staying if that makes sense... probably not. LR was closing again at the finish today, but if the King has another faultless round of jumping it could be fairytale stuff. Think I would weep.

I agree BTW - the extra distance will suit LR more than Kauto. But never say never, the way he's travelling and jumping this season.

He made me cry today.

This horse is quite something else. He is defying any kind of logic. A horse of 11 coming up 12 years of age shouldn't be doing this sort of thing surely!? I was of the opinion that Long Run was a cert today but I wasn't expecting that from Kauto. I will say I think LR would benefit from the extra couple of furlongs and could do with a balanced jockey but still.. Kauto is an alien!

Sure is. Was nicknamed L'Extraterrestrial as a young horse in France!

It's wonderful to watch. if you love sport for sport's sake, you've got to love Kauto.

No doubt LR was closing today but Kauto was there to be aimed at from a very long way out and had put the race to bed 3 out. There is no way he will be pulling up trees in that way in this years gold cup. I make the point again he appeared not to stay last year because he took it up with a circuit to run instead of being played late.

And was there toe to toe cutting Denman's throat and vice versa from the top of the hill.

But one explanation for his new lease of life and his fine jumping is his new front running tactic. Maybe he wouldn't be as good now if held up? I appreciate what you're saying - I doubt he can win the Gold Cup from the front - but it might still be his best chance?

Beaten like a red headed step child last year when he tried it. Haydock and Kempton are a far cry from going up that hill three times with the extra distance.

I've loved the horse for many years but he would need his main rivals to make mistakes or not show up to prevail, Long Run didn't jump a twig when Ruby stepped on the gas 6/7 out yet he still got to within a length or so, the stamina sapping hill will see the 7 year old outstay Kauto I'm afraid even if they do keep this clown on top.
I'd love to see it but a place is the best Kauto can achieve for me

Most definitely,at this moment it appears he has only 1 threat!!

Yes its 2.5f further and theres the hill to get up but think Kauto has to be up in the leading group and taking it up early on the final circuit. Firstly because he seems to have loved running like that at Haydock and Kempton jumping brilliantly. Equally Long Runs jumping has been put under so much pressure and Ruby and Kauto need to do that again in the Gold Cup

Head says Long Run outstays him from the last but the heart says go on Kauto jump him into the ground again!!

I basically agree with that Alan. Much longer and more stamina sapping run in after the last at Chelt than at Kempton. Mind you, with any luck LR will have been beaten by Kauto's jumping by then.

Well it didn't happen last year. He came home from two out like a drunk. This is a horse with the speed to win 2 Tingle Creek's in his younger days and you guys want him to grind them down in a Gold Cup?

On the new lease of life thing the stable are on record as saying that they just don't think they had him properly right last year.

That's certainly another possible explanation.

Kauto had the speed to win 2 Tingle Creeks but they were 5 and 6 years ago. He's still got a very high cruising speed but he no longer seems to have the real turn of foot. What he can't do is get in to a stamina battle with Long Run because he'll lose.

Maybe he will go from the front as he has so successfully this season? Alternatively, maybe Nicholls will put up something else (as Neptune Collonges did a couple of times) to make the pace and try to put Long Run's jumping under pressure. However, Kauto's new front running tactic seems to have helped his own jumping - he was almost flawless at Kempton and Haydock whereas we know in the past he's tended to belt one or two. There's little point him racing in the pack if his jumping suffers, because he'll only beat Long Run by jumping much better than him.

My opinion is that Kauto needs to be several lengths in front from the top of the hill to have any chance and they have to hope that for some reason he stays better than in 2011 - either because he wasn't right then or because he's happier now. I'm sure that if Long Run is still on his feet he'll be quicker up the hill than Kauto, so KS needs enough of a lead to hold him off.

I'm also sure that Ruby is the best tactical jockey around and he'll give Kauto his best chance.

I agre with much of that Strontium, an enjoyable read.

can't wait again, how many times in the last 6 or 7 years have we said that when it involves Kauto Star

how badly will he be missed

From what ive seen i wouldnt discount this horse of doing anything he truely is one of the all time greats

I can't see them doing anything differently in the GC, he will try and get them on the stretch from close to the start of the 2nd circuit like he has done successfully so far this year. The extra distance is a big question mark, but Kauto is better than he was last year maybe he can do the hill better than last year? 
My head still says Long Run but I've been enjoying being wrong about Kauto so much, I hope it continues one last time

He has to get in front of Long Run for sure,cos LR jumping is suspect,and Kauto has to try to get him at it,much like Denman did when he won his Gold Cup.Thats where LR is vulnerable as shown in his last 2 races.
Thats his best chance imo and it could well work again.
Certainly hope so,both for racing and my pocket!!

I can't have any 12 year old winning a Gold Cup, there's a reason why it's only ever happened twice in the history of the race and why no horse older than 9 has won the race in the last 13 years.
Kauto may be one of the greatest horses of all time but to expect him to outstay the field up the hill I think is a task too far.
I do feel that it may be a weak Gold Cup this year but I've seen other weak Gold Cups and I can only recall See More Business going close as a 12 year old, that said if Kauto did manage it he would surely be considered the greatest in history

beginning to think its a two horse race surprised prices have stood up

I agree with all of this thread, i think though Ruby must wait a little longer than just as they go out onto the final circuit than he has done at both Haydock and Kempton before turning the screw. Perhaps at the top of the hill it might be a little too late to do it as it will be expected and SWC will have LR in front to try and get him jumping at speed and into a rhythm but back straight somewhere surprising say 4 or 5 out could be a could place for Ruby to go for it? By waiting longer before turning the screw, he gives the horse more chance of getting the hill !

Or have i just noted the obvious lol

One things for sure though, i cannot wait

seems like destiny somehow...the opposition is drying up by the day.

Got to say I think with WA getting injured Denman retiring imperial Commander injured pandorama etc. it's left 2 horses well clear in the GC division. Last years RSA I thought at the time & still do think it was an awful renewal. Master Of The Hall will probs turn out to be best but he hates Chelt. Everything else is just not good enough or is running over the wrong trip. I mean Synchronised has gone over and shown the Irish lot up completely. Rubi Light doesn't stay 3 miles mind you and did well to come 2nd. Kauto has a great chance if Paul can get him there in the form he was KG day. You have got to think Long Run is fav based on his staying on effort in KG and also I thought Kauto ran near to his best (at this age) in the GC last year so can see a similar scenario. Got to think Ruby has an advantage over SWC though he rode him to sleep in the KG making sure everything went his way again. Sam does not have the skills or knowledge to dictate a race like the top pros can.

LR's untidy jumping has arguably cost him the last 2 clashes. King Kauto an old head at the game, and tho the legs not quite what they were (arguably??) all he has to do is what he has done twice already. That is force his younger rival with an inferior pilot aboard into the penal errors. The Gold Cup a sterner test of jumping than the 2 he has just failed, I am starting to believe