Cheltenham Festival
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Like the 20/1 nrfb on offer for the Gold Cup.
Still need convincing that 3m2 will be ok for him, but he turns up on the day means hes proved he does,and he wont be that price.
Still need convincing that 3m2 will be ok for him, but he turns up on the day means hes proved he does,and he wont be that price.
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Have backed him for the KG
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Well if hes over his problems he must have a fair chance in the KG.
Wins that or goes close and stays well, then he will be a lot shorter than 20 for the Gold Cup. |
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agreed. he has top form in the book whether it be bumpers, hurdles or chases. loves cheltenham too
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No one better at bringing horses back from injury than PN either
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yep,hes a real Cheltenham type alright.
Just hope he comes back sound for this season,he could be one to give us some real excitement. |
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Although I backed Simonsig a good while ago (which I kind of regret now), I have Al Ferof as the most likely King George winner too.
Hopefully he'll come back A1, and he's a really exciting entry to the staying chasing division. The only issue for me is that the news of his injury broke on 17th December 2012, and John Hales said he'll be out for 12 months at least. I haven't read any stable tours, so I don't know if that's still accurate, but first time out in the King George after a year off, would be a concern for me. |
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We have given him the necessary time off and have been very pleased with him during the summer. The King George is his target once again but whether he has a run beforehand, i dont know. He produced an exciting performance at cheltenham in november and i dont see why he wont stay 3 miles.
PN,taken from MH's book. One of may favourite horses in training, hope he returns well. |
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Cheers Ibrahima
I'd be very interested after a prep run, but then his 14/1 price would disappear if he won a prep run. I still remember Taranis winning the Argento after 3 years off. |
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I don't necessarily think winning the KG means he will see out the extra trip at Cheltenham but his odds will certainly more than half if he does.
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Nicholls has since confirmed that he will probably have a run before the KG as he's ahead of schedule.
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I distinctly remember Ruby saying "I'd love to ride this one in the KIng George next year. He is a King George horse" when he won on him late 2011. I think it was at Sandown. Of course he missed 2012 King George but I am on him at 14/1 for this year. What a year between friends. I also agree with sintonian that winning King George does not make him a Gold Cup winner when Gold Cup looks ultra competitive with proven horses over course and distance.
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Ruby did say that but I think it was at ascot after he finished behind somersby and finnians rainbow.......... Not sure about him for the king George too many imponderables, will he be at the same level as before his year off? Is he going to be known as a Cheltenham specialist and not quite as good else where? Haven't had a go in the king George yet but I think their are better bets at this stage then al ferof!
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barnesey - I bow to your superior knowledge/memory. Thanks for the correction. I think if he comes back anywhere near as good then he goes very very close in KG. Which horses do you think are better bets ?
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It's memory definitely not knowledge!!!
I'm not 100% sure who the better bets are yet! I backed 2 last year Cue Card and Captain Chris (still livid!) and I love them both, Cue Card I think will go close on decent ground and would be my selection at the moment as I have read he will go for the race again. I will be looking to back the captain again as I would cry if he won and I wasn't on him!!! Hopefully they run him on a left handed track first time out and I can get some tasty prices again when he's beaten..............I also think Silviniaco will be aimed at the race and also one of sir des champs or first lieutenant with the other in the Lexus..... |
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Was gutted for Capt Chris last year. Really thought he deserved to win. I will be on him again this year for the exact same reason as you. I am not keen on Cue Card over three miles. Got a bee in my bonnet that he just is not a top notch 3m Chaser, especially in soft/heavy going.......and he has the added challenge of humping the village idiot around the track. Plenty of racing before then but good luck to ya.
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Has to be highly unlikely that Silviniaco Conti would go to Kempton considering Nicholls and Rubys comments regarding future plans after he won both the Charlie Hall and then when he won the betfair chase. They were both convinced that Kempton doesn't suit and the KG was ruled out pretty quickly.
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Totally agree with those that say AF may still not stay the 3m2 at Chelt,even if he stays at Kempton over 3,but it will mean hes a player and he aint 20,which is my main point.
As I said,i have my doubts about him staying 3m2,and hes also coming back from injury,and that's where I think the 20 nrfb comes in handy.Personally think it generous and should be taken imo. |
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Hayling, I'm sure Joe Tizzard is Cue Card's regular partner. Richard Johnson has never been near the beast(except when making a Horlicks at Ascot).
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call it a day - are you suggesting Johnson is the village idiot rather than young Joe ?
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Al Ferof has been out of action since November with a tendon injury, but he too is well on the way to making a return to the racecourse.
"Al Ferof is good and will start off over two and a half miles at Ascot next month," said the Ditcheat handler. "The King George is the plan after that. You'd suggest he'd stay three miles, so we'll try it." . http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/article/465/8976773/big-bucks-on-comeback-trail  |
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old john hales would love to win that race again with another grey R.I.P ONE MAN MY AULD PAL
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"He's been cantering quite a while," the trainer added. "I'm very, very happy with him. I suspect we'll find him one race before the King George and that might be at Ascot. There's nothing set in stone but that's where we're aiming."
Another quote from Nicholls Sonko..........fingers well and truly crossed!!! |
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I have to admit to taking the 14's for the KG after the positive updates we've had recently
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would be high on my shortlist for the king george, but i think cheltenham plays to his strengths more than the flat track at kempton. agree that stamina in the gold cup is a worry but dom alcos usually stay well
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Hayling...you are spot on, except Joe is no longer in the first flush of youth. He did give Third Intention a decidedly idiot free round yesterday, however.
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and TI had a breathing opp.
Shame i didnt know before he ran. |
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Can't see this running in the gold cup for some reason but could see this winning the Ryanair? Is this out the question?
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No.
Gets beaten in the kg by a long way. currently one the most likely Ryanair winners if you take away trainer/owner targets imo. |
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Can't see Nicholls wanting to enter this into the CG either. Seems the obvious thing to have Conti in the GC and Al Ferof in the Ryanair.
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Glossy
Mr Nicholls does as Mr Hales say's regarding his own silks. |
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Its all about him staying 3m well,if he does of course he will go Gold Cup route.
Only chance of Ryanair is he don't stay,simple as that for me. |
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He certainly shaped like a stayer in the Paddy Power last season. Best form is at Cheltenham and could be a Gold Cup contender if he runs well at Kempton...a course that wouldn't play to his strengths. I'm a bit more concerned about him coming back every bit as good as he was before the tendon injury (though I believe this was minor).
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Indeed Saxon, but Mr Nicholls will have his say. As a certain Mr Smith will testify to!
If he wins or goes close in the KG there will be the inevitable clamour to go the GC route but the fact remains that getting 3m at Kempton is very different to 3m 2 at Cheltenham. |
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PFN has had as many as 4 runners in the GC before, also landing the first 3 home. No reasons to suggest he wouldn't be happy to run AF & SC unless he really felt AF would win the Ryanair.
As far as I am aware the tendon injury was a small tear. The fact he has been back cantering for a while tells us it was relatively minor as tendon injuries go. |
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Does anyone know what the plan was last year before the injury?
It seems logical that a solid performance in a KG would lead to the Gold Cup rather than the Ryanair. It would seem only the non stayers from the KG would end up in the Ryanair, like Cue Card, Champion Court and Riverside Theatre from last years KG. |
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WellChief, if Silviniaco Conti is still fit around March, PN might want to send they grey to the Ryanair, but whether or not the owner is receptive to that is another matter.
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As Sint has said though, PN has had no problem running numerous in the GC before.
If he thinks both have a chance, Im sure he'll let both line up |
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Also, there is nothing to say AF will be the stable number 1 come March, rather than SC
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He has run multiple GC horses before because they were out and out stayers. AF maybe a bit more versatile, and as the weather has been good for novermber, it might just because that we are in a simlar situation to last year when we have threads about whether or not the festival will go ahead. If it's heavy, you never know. I should say though, that the owner will certainly want to run him in the Gold Cup, and that is the most likely target. He even said it himself. All i'd say though, is that i'd have a small bet on him for the Ryanair, as back up for any gold cup bet.
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