Is he not running in the Aon?

Although I'm not sure if Rocky Creek will alter any plans today.

If he wins the Argento well (poor renewal Imo) then he enters the Gold Cup picture, so would he run all 3 and a novice in the Ryanair?

The only difference this time Budd, is he had Poquelin as fav for the Ryanair in those days, rather than a novice.

I'm not disputing that he wont go mod handed in the Gold Cup.

Just trying to say that on those occasions he had a chance in the Ryanair and not having to rely on a novice.

In 2009 My Will was only there as a national prep anyway.  Also, the four he ran were out and out stayers, and none of them had an option of dropping back, where as Al Ferof gives him flexibility that he never had in those years.

only 1 race the owner wants to win and it aint no ryanair

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

Well,that was my opening post on this thread. Hope none of you took the 20's!!! Like I did.

I still need convincing 3m2 will be ok for him, and quiet honestly it don't look good at all.And one thing for sure if he turns up on the day he WONT have proved he does, and he WONT be that price...probably be bigger!!
Well you have to laugh.

So what happens now!! Jockey says Ryanair, trainer probably thinks the same, and owner wanted Gold Cup all season, not sure what he wants now though after yesterday???.
So how much of this is down to the ground?? Way he ran at Kempton and Yesterday suggests to me that whatever distance he would not have won, and it could be the ground.....but then again it was pretty soft at Cheltenham when he carried a big weight in an impressive performance in the Paddy Power.
Personally, I think hes a horse that prefers good ground as it was in his Supreme,but CAN act on soft when hes right and in form.
Im don't think his performances in the KG and Aon suggest hes right,and its hard to see him being right at the festival in 4 and a half weeks,especially after such a hard time yesterday.

As hes a big favourite of mine and I firmly believe hes a proper Cheltenham type, I am gonna give him a chance to prove himself back there on decent ground.
For my pocket I hope the owner gets his way if he still wants to have a go at the GC,but for the horse I just hope they do the right thing..... for him.

I've mentioned on here that I was all over him for the King George, but had him at a big price in the Ryanair in case he didn't stay in that.  His last two runs shows that he is in no way a Gold Cup horse.

Whether the ground was too soft for him or not, he was on his ar$e jumping the last two, and if he'd have gone down a length to a mud lover, that'd be one thing, but not 25 lengths to one that was a 50/1 shot in the Gold Cup.

He is definitely a good ground 2.5 mile horse to me.  He showed in his comeback race against French Opera that that is his distance.  He gave a good yardstick 6lbs and an easy 8 length beating, and then French Opera won well in a big handicap next time out.

I've also mentioned in this thread that Nicholls will want a Ryanair horse, without having to rely on a novice, and I'm certain Al Ferof will run in that now.  There's no way I'd be going in at 7's or whatever price he is, but despite the Gold Cup being more prestigious I'd rather put my horse in the race which he has the best chance of winning.

Nicholls has mentioned that the QMCC is not out of the question, and as mad as it sounds, with doubts about a lot of the leaders in that, he wouldn't be a no hoper.

I would think he is well presented with the King George winner, Twonky

I am a huge fan of this horse but QMCC  come on your having a laugh.

I am disappointed that they run this horse yesterday, trainer said that the bottomless ground wouldn't suit, so why did they run him ????

there is a chase at wincanton that Neptune collonges run in prior to his participation in a gold cup, why wasn't he re routed there is another id like to know.....

he also runs really well when fresh, as proven in the PP,  so just a racecourse gallop somewhere to just take the buzz out of him would also have been another option....

I think nicholls has some answering to do.....

good to see common sense prevail at forfeit today.
Ryannair, or if soft ground, might consider Champion Chase

Certainly nice to see him show so old sparkle, just a shame Ruby wont be riding him in the KG. They are made for each other.

will be interesting to see whether our old friend progresses this season...physical issues seem to have halted his progress since his supreme win and a few names have been called in the past but his first run back was a career best and if they can just get a clean run with him, will be interesting what he can do...

the king george will tell us where we are with him in regards him backing up his clear liking for going well fresh...there shouldn't be any excuses this time in the george if proving he can stay

form of his win at Ascot not done any harm this w/e by the performances of Al Ferof and Somersby.

thought you'd like that one budd

the george is interesting, as nicholls said he hadn't had him in long before ascot...it's just the question, can he back up? if he can he has to run a big race...i couldn't look beyond his next start betting wise/cheltenham myself as he has been known to run the odd hound of a race in the past but he looked in good form at ascot but he has flattered in the past

They just cannot make their mind up.
They been talking aboutb the Gold Cup all season.

They are talking about the Champion Chase now!! and thats a horse that won impressively against good 2 and a half milers at Ascot and stayed on over 3m at Kempton after getting outpaced-well thats how it looked to me. Hes just run a race that suggests going up in trip not down!!
How on earth does he keep up over 2m if hes outpaced at 3m??..............
Unless of course they just did not let him go earlier in the race yesterday, cos I did notice Sam pulling him back early on. Maybe he needs to go out and bowl along at 2m?? I just don't know, but I do know how it looked to me yesterday.
3m2f at Cheltenham.....I think its worth a go.

Smacks a bit of desperation to me, Nichols thinking he is a Champion Chase horse - Ryanair would suit much better.  Although Nichols has Dodging Bullets and Hinterland, so he probably knows the pecking order between them three.

If (and that's big if) Sprinter comes back to even 70% of his best, he'll be better than Alf over 2m.  He only has 5 lengths to make up with Dynaste, who is fav for the Ryanair.

I believe he,s best fresh as well budd, I also think when ruby is on board he is 7lbs better, just my opinion...

Queen Mother Champion Chase..............really???

was thinking that myself mate

Well I am rather unhappy with that to be honest.
He keeps running his best races after a good break,and now they are saying he will probably run at Ascot next month!!

I just don't get it.

They seem to making a bit of a mockery with the campaigning of Alf....bit like Mullins with Cfever imo.

About time connections of these 2 horses - in particular Alf - made their minds up about their optimum trip.

Personally I think Alf is a stayer,but if as they say he wont settle and conserve his energy,and wants to go faster, then maybe he should run as he wants over shorter distance.
Really at the age of this horse they ought to know by now!!