I just can't see how he could make up 14 lengths with Conti and 11 with Cue Card to be honest.

As I said, he did stay on, but only when his chances were already long gone; to have a chance of winning a Gold Cup he would have needed to prove that he could stay on whilst being up with the pace imo.  He jumped the last about 1 length in front of MB, and ended up about 2 lengths ahead at the line, so not that big a difference.

I know that logic means he'd be completely outpaced in the Ryanair, but I think a strongly run race, leading from the front, would suit him better.

All a game of opinions though....

Considering his record around cheltenham he is entitled to show better form than at kempton.

Unless he runs in the Argento or AON, I'm not convinced with him over the Gold Cup trip. I think he is probably the second best horse over 2.5, but I think there are about 5 who are probably better over 3.

I know the Ryanair is not the most prestigious race, but his odds in that are half of that in the Gold Cup, ao it would seem to be his best chance of a win.

As you say, he will improve for Cheltenham, but as I said earlier, there's one thing staying on past beaten horses and staying on with the big boys at the front.

I accept that if Cue Card runs in the Ryanair, he probably won't have the speed to beat him, but Imo he needs to prove he stays better over 3m Championship pace.

You pay your money and take your chance though, so good luck to all that gave backed him in either race.

For lack of a better phrase...Gold Cup my arsse.his own trainer  says he thinks he should go Ryanair. Al Ferof backers  who done their money yesterday...please accept that your horse was way behind Cue Card and Silviniaco Conti. He's simply not that ****g good!!

I would not be writing Al Ferof off quite so easily. He's been off the track for a long time with just a training gallop of 2m3f at Ascot in last 13 months. This was his first time at a distance over 2m4f and he came 3rd in the second most important G1 3m Chase of the calendar. He is bred to stay. To me he looked like a stayer yesterday in the Bobs Worth mould. That'll do for me. Silviniaco Conti just turned round 10 lengths versus Cue Card from Betfair at Haydock. I reckon Al Ferof will get a whole lot better by March and over 3m2f going left handed he looks a great bet at 25/1. Surely he will make the first three at least. Almost as good as Champagne Fever at 10/1 for Jewson with NRFB. That looks a steal.

The winner's stablemate Al Ferof was 11 lengths back in third in a race dominated by just two horses, and Nicholls said: "I was worried about soft ground for him. He might be more a Ryanair horse than a Gold Cup horse this year, but I'll talk to John Hales (owner)."

Silviniaco Conti was beat 5 lengths in the Betfair.not 10

I think he would stay the Gold Cup trip but he's just simply not good enough to win. Wouldn't win Ryanair if Cue Card went for that either but think Cue Card will run in Gold Cup and be held up

Whatever about the Gold Cup for Al Ferof, I would think it would be poor decision making by the Tizzards if they don't go for the Ryanair after yesterday.

Run Al Ferof in the William Hill then if he don't want to go to Ryanair

Bally - officially was beat 5.75 lengths in Betfair and won yesterday by 3.5 yesterday. Thats a turn round of 9.25 lengths. Make that 10 for cash . Making sense ?

a year too soon for unioniste imo, but you never know....

Very true

In an ideal world we'd like to see them all in the Gold Cup, however I can see at least two of Cue Card, Alf, Unioniste and Dynaste in the Ryanair.

Nichols said he had Conti spot on yesterday rather than Haydock, which could explain the turn around.

I think the Gold Cup winner was one of the front two in the KG, no matter what happens in Ireland. Both seem to have the blend of speed and stamina (despite Cue Card fading).

If Tidal Bay runs well off a big weight in the Welsh National, he could be another possible Nichols runner.

Think the Welsh National might be Tidal Bays last race if he runs like he did at Haydock

Agree with Budd, he shaped like a stayer, yes he got well beat, but at chelts over further going that way round, he's a chance to improve over the extra distance, said earlier, the talk before was about his staying pedigree, well it looks even more like it now, I know BW has proved it, but this is why he doesn't run in this race and AF is shaping like a stayer himself.

You would be more than hopeful that he'd finish in front of CC and Dynaste now.BW and SDC have questions to answer in the next few days themselves, conti is obviously strong...but I have a hunch that the GC is going to thin out, that's the problem with the Ryanair, 3 of the top6 in the GC market may now not even run in it, they've all got somewhere to run to now and take away from the spectacle of the real big race.......25's is more than fair for me.

yep,Bob and SDC certainly have questions to answer,Bob after an awful run lto,and SDC fell lto.

Does Silviniaco Conti have a prep race so or go straight to the Gold Cup. He ran in the Newbury race last year - would have thought they'd have went the same route with him again.

Sounds like Gold Cup according to Nicholls on the Morning Line

Layed off a little bit of my Al Ferof Ryanair bet @ 12's and backed Wonderful Charm in it @110 on here.