Agree about Sam Winner. 55% of all starts at Cheltenham, won 4 times. 33/1 seems like a crazy price, il be having some of that

I'm beginning to come round to the idea of Smad Place running a big race. Good Cheltenham record, likes the course, improves for the Spring ground. He very nearly won the RSA last year and had lots of his Gold Cup rivals behind him. Slight concern in the Cotswold Chase, he never really looked like winning despite getting close enough to Many Clouds. You'd be hoping the course and the ground might lead to the form being turned around. Only other concern would he might suffer from place-itis in big races. I don't think we've the best of him though.

Anyone pleased by Rocky Creek's win with an eye on this race?

Nicholls said: "That is just what we wanted before Aintree. What happened at Newbury (when tried) with the tongue tie was that he seemed to spit the dummy out (pulled up).

"I was never going to run him before the National weights came out as Aintree was always the number one target.

"Sam Twiston-Davies just ambled round and then ran away with him coming to the second last.

"He jumped and travelled well in last year's National and now that we have got his breathing right, the National should be right up his street."

Thank you Benjy

Ah Conti.  I conveniently forgot about this thread, but thought I'd give my thoughts now the dust has settled.

This may make some people laugh, but...I still don't really subscribe to the view that he doesn't act round Cheltenham.  I think the reason that he got beat that he simply wasn't good enough on the day.  For me, whether that race was at Cheltenham, Kempton, Haydock or Sandown, I think he wouldn't have won.

I thought he travelled well for the majority of the race, so I don't put his failure down to the track, but then quickly found nothing when asked.

I'd say the ground would have been more of a factor than the track, and that's not making excuses.  The pressure Coneygree put on the entire fields jumping completely got Conti out of his comfort zone, whereas in the King George he was able to dictate at his own pace.  But then if he would have gone along with Coneygree up front, he would have been burned out long before the end anyway.

I'm gutted really.  Not the fact he would have been my biggest win of the week, but I really wanted him to win a Gold Cup, and I think his best chance has probably gone now.  Next year, on good/soft ground I still think he has an outside chance, but I'd be easily wanting a double figure price about him.  I know a lot on here probably wouldn't touch him at any price, but just like this year when I had a few quid on the Fly, sometimes the heart rules the head.

Those who had the King George down as a poor trial were spot on.  But then, in my defense, I didn't rate the Lexus as a good trial either, where I thought Road to Riches was the only one that I could ever take out of it.  I never considered backing any of the beaten ones in that.

You live and learn.  Next years race already looks like it has the potential to be a classic, and I think Conti's presence would be a boost for the race, so I'm hoping he runs at least anyway.  Nicholls said after the race about flat tracks, so it could well have been the last time we've seen him at Cheltenham? 

But then, it could be a Hurricane Fly scenario were it's purely conceivable that he could win the Betfair and King George, but still be unfancied and go off 5th or 6th fav; similar to the Fly winning all last year, but because of his festival record, was largely unconsidered by most.

I do think he gets 3m2 round Cheltenham on good ground, but I agree that against better opposition he doesn't get it well enough.

When I say its not the course, I'm referring to the undulations that Cheltenham has. I don't think they effect him at all, but the extra 2f against quality opposition on soft ground does.

His best chance was the one when he veered after the last. Decent ground and pretty poor opposition so his best chance is well gone now sadly.

Many Clouds and Silviano Conti 6th and 5th in the Gold Cup, both win at Aintree and the superb weight carrying performance of Many Clouds today in the Grand National, shows you just how strong The Gold Cup was this year, it will be a very very exciting season next year.