Cheltenham Festival
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What's gone wrong with Grands Crus?
What's gone wrong with Grands Crus?
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Replies: 102
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It has to be physical - there can be no other reason.
That was a season wrecking performance and the only hope for him now is a break then back in Feb for a prep - then Ryanair then Aintree. |
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The six-year-old, 7-4 favourite in Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup, was pulled up before the second-last fence by jockey Tom Scudamore after travelling well on the heels of eventual winner Al Ferof.
i missed that bit |
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Indeed. The commentator must have misled a lot of people with his comments in running.
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Hope he gets to the KG, but only if he's fully fit mind.
Sometimes breathing ops can be done under sedation, rather than anaesthetic, depending on the procedure followed. This would mean less training time lost. At least we seem to have a reason for his disappointing performance. |
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Did they not test him after the RSA??
That was disappointing as well. |
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Cannot thinking that this is a simply default reaction - must be his breathing. I could accept it more in the RSA as he finished weakly but in the PP he stopped much earlier. He needs time and a proper MOT/evaluation.
Unfortunately I take this as the Pipes rushing to get him to Kempton and that really could be end for him. If he is the quality horse they think he is, then treat him like one not a handicapper. |
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Yes, I've been reading up on breathing ops.
He'd not be running on Boxing Day if he were mine. |
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Well, as a big fan, I'll give him one more chance after the op, and think 12s is fair enough. He's either being hampered by his breathing or he's not, so it's reasonable to think the op will either make a big difference or none at all. Given my belief that he is a very good horse, I'll take a chance at the price if he does line up.
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It sounds crazy put I see parallels with the running of One Man. This horse was consistently campaigned as an out and out stayer but in a strongly run race races at Chelts, never performed. Perhaps a frop back in trip in a strongly run race may perk him up a bit.
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One Man travelled sweetly in the gold cup till he hit the final hill and the petrol gauge ran empty. He was totally consistent. In top class he just got 3 miles and travelled supremely until just before that point.
From relatively early Grands Crus was being asked to close up and by not much after two miles he was totally spent whilst still running downhill in a handicap getting weight off the winner. I think there is definitely a case for suggesting that he won't get the gold cup trip. I'm not sure you could use the trip as any excuse for his flop in the PP. |
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grands crus wouldn't be facing ask tom in the queen mum though would he.
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Grands Crus says "Ask Tom:
  , Sprinter Sacre:  ." |
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The David Pipe-trained grey was pulled up as the 7/4 favourite for the Paddy Power Gold Cup on his return at Cheltenham, but has since undergone a wind operation.
Pipe said Grands Crus, who won the Grade One Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day last season, is making good progress and remains in contention for the King George. Grands Crus still in King George frame Grands Crus could still run in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. "Leading wind specialist Geoff Lane found a problem and he has since had a minor corrective procedure," the Pond House handler told his website, www.davidpipe.com. "He is progressing well and there is still a chance that he will make the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, although we will give him all the time he needs. "He is far too good a horse to risk bringing back too quickly, so we will just let him tell us when he is ready." In BALLS DEEP on Grands Crus  for the KG. Fingers crossed he makes it, as this race should be his GOLD CUP. What do people think of his Feltham beating of SC now? A fluke, or has SC improved significantly  or has GC regressed |
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Thought Grand Cru's feltham effort was one of the top performances by any chaser in he UK and Ireland last season.
Willing to forgive one poor performance ,but the second one was the nail in the coffin for this horse imo. Pipe reckoned that Grand Cru's had strengthed up since last year prior to the PP ,but to my eye he looked like he had lost condition (something one or two other paddock judges commented on) and he looks on the decline. Send most horse's of Grand Cru's age to a wind specialist and they'll probably find a breathing problem on some level. The question is on what level was his breathing a problem. Martin Pipe was an expert at bringing horses back from injury and illness his son unfortunatly doesn't seem to have the same ability. |
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Surely he stopped far too early and quickly for it to be simply be a breathing problem?
I'm sorry stake but if the horse that won the Feltham is to come back, I think he'll need more time. |
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Stake
I share tinkler's view that even looking on the TV, GC's condition didn't look great. He looked very light. Francome also commented on this. I think he hammered them on merit last year but that was last year and I didn't think Kempton suited either SC or BW. I don't think he can win the King George. Obviously I hope I am wrong because I've backed him ante post but I think Long Run remains the one to beat in that race. |
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RP 1/1/12
D.Pipe "Grands Crus is having an easy time at present,just walking, but he seems fine after his operation" |
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Grands Crus is not a true stayer OVER FENCES which as we all know is completely different to a stayer over hurdles that take less energy from a horse.
In addition he isnt even a speed stayer OVER FENCES at 3m unless the ground is fast. Slowish ground at shorter trips off a strong pace find him out as the Paddy Power showed. No amount of breathing operations are going to fix these things. |
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.. in top class races.
The Feltham is a negative on a prospective top class stayers CV and connections are far from the best at producing top class staying chasers with years gone by including the fathers reign there is not much on the table without the handicap glory. Carvills Hill by far their best but inherited from Ireland and flawed they couldnt fix his jumping and Gloria Victis unfortunate then there were overhyped Therealbandit and others that couldnt reach the mark. |
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Grands Crus travelled a lot better today, but after that race it has to be the Ryanair for him.
He's 10/1 with Hills to win any race at the Festival, whereas most bookies go 8/1 for the Ryanair alone. Did make me laugh when he kept getting referred to as the best horse in the race beforehand. |
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Yeah I clocked that too and thought 'wtf?'
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Would be interested in his price for his next race. Wouldn't surprise me if he goes straight to Cheltenham now.
I still think there's more to come from this horse. Hopefully the breathing problem is resolved now and he can get used to the effects of the op. Don't think he's looked in the best condition the last couple of times I've seen him which is unusual for a Pipe horse as he usually has them super fit. |
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With Big Bucks out, surely back the stayers hurdle is the best option.
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