so you don't pay attention to trainers records when punting then? or is it only that Nicholls is a powerful trainer that we should ignore his record in the race?

of course I do but this is Paul Nicholls - lies, damm lies and statistics.

and Granit Jack was hosing up when he was tragically killed. (and he was good looking)

If Al Ferof can run like he did at the beginning of last year then he has a huge chance.  I too thought he was too high in the weights, but as Festivalfanatic has said, his mark now does look workable after FNS and Cue Card's performances.

However, if he runs like he did at Cheltenham or Aintree then I don't think he has much of a chance as he very much had a season of two halves.

I personally wouldn't have started him in a big handicap, but Nicholls knows a lot more than me.  To me it looks like they need to get AF's confidence back, and a nice little eye opener to the season would have suited.

He was running a big race at Cheltenham chief,and that mistake would have prevented ANY horse from winning.

As for him being slow,simply laughable.
He won what turned out to be a real good supreme hurdle,and has since won good 2m chases.
FNS has come out and ran well.He werent far behind the top 2milers in his prep race for the Arkle.
Hes made one mistake in his chasing career,ending all chance of winning,and that race should not be where he is judged,anyone that does is shortsighted and extremely harsh.
Aintree as ive said many times could be the Aintree after Chelt factor,or the mistake has left a mark.
We shall find out soon.
If hes ok i expect him to be contesting the top races over 2and half to 3 plus.

I expect Grands Crus to win this but think the one that is slipping under the radar of most people (some have mentioned him on here) is Divers.

If the ground is decent he can play a major role, running off the lowest mark for some time and with Timmy Murphy the perfect partner. He needs to be waited with and not hassled throughout the race as his jumping usually takes time to come together and he can hit a flat spot. With a pilot that knows exactly how to ride like that, and how to ride Cheltenham, he looks way too big at 16s. I's be surprised if he's out of the first four.

I hate these horses that go 00F0PP0001 with the 1 in a top race. It makes a mockery of the sport. I'm happy not to back them and if they pop up so be it.

walkon wont be far away with that weight,right profile just hope his jumping holds together

Cracking performance.  He travelled so much better than anything else, and pinged the last in horrible ground.

I hope his biggest fan (we all know who he is) backed him today.

If Grands Crus had something to prove beforehand, he definitely does now.

Onwards and upwards for this years second season chasers - looks as good a crop as we've seen for a while

GCW, I was with you with QE & POQ, couldn't have got it more wrong myself

Just so good to see a horse that finished the season like he did,come out the following season and show hes much better than that,and it was so wrong for people to judge him by that,in particular the Arkle.

Just a small wager lads,but for me it was really all about watching him and seeing how he ran.

Good,was'nt he.

well done ibrahim hope you had enough on . i am biased but  after bwinning such a competetive race off that mark he must have a shot at the gold cup ,the course is made for him and he should improve a good few pounds for that ,plus the extra distance of the gold cup should hold no fears and he is without doubt a genuine contender who jumps travels and battles ,what more can you ask for .

Great effort from AF in horrible ground....wouldn't have made carrying a big weight any easier. That Lomg Run failed to win this race off a lower mark just emphasises waht a good effort it was. Collateral novice chase form for AF, Cue Card, FNS shows just how smart Sprinter Sacre really is.