This is going to be the worry with the horse going forward, it seems sporadically that something goes wrong with the horse, mullins alluded to him having excuses for his poor run over Christmas, his muscles being all wrong!! but he (mullins) was at Kempton that day, implying that if he'd clapped eyes on him pre-race he'd not have run him.......seems that perhaps something similar has occurred.......a concern for anyone who wants to punt him long term for next year...you'll have a concern right up to the tapes going up with him.

Massive fan of the horse daveygfc,but will have its work cut out beating coneygree round Kempton,and has thrown two bad runs in around Xmas on bad ground.

another change of a plan now with the bonus announcement ?

cant see willie wanting to start him off over 3 miles thou,

next few weeks could be interesting

Catch me if you can.
Not my personal fancy but Milsean 16s to win any race at sky bet if you fancy it.

Hoping for a good run from Ptit Zig tomorrow - backed him at big(ish) odds for the Ryanair, so if he can get within 10 lengths or so of Vautour, giving him 5lbs, I would be happy with that.

Think he is better than what he showed in the JLT last year.

facking hell ladcrokes the horrible waste of space have cut him for the Gold Cup on the back of that

Just to clarify what I was saying, I'm not knocking him or his ability, I think that the edging out to his left is what gets him beat in the KG, not the opposition, if I knew that it was a one off today I would be on him as I think he'll stay around Kempton and don't think another horse would touch him.....it's just I worry that the tendency to go out to his left  is probably a trait that will remain and that has to seriously compromise him and consequently brings other horses back to him ability wise.

what about the left at practically all fences...it wasn't drastic today but that was probably because he wasn't under pressure today....has to be a worry, it would restrict the horse from hitting any sort of rhythm in his races as well as negating any sort of benefit from jumping cleanly as he wouldn't be meeting his fences with momentum.....all this against better horses going right handed and he'd have to be even better than the best horse in training superstar that I already think he is.!!

Yes that was the only negative I took from the race Duffy. How many times has he run right handed though? Can't be many? Maybe twice at Punch? First run over fences right handed and maybe he will learn a bit from that today?

Ruby didn't seem to be worried, he said the Ascot fences are not as straight and it looks exaggerated on camera the jumping to the left as the angle of the fences are inclined to the right a bit. He also said Vautour has to improve an awful lot to win the KG.. we'll see if he'll find a dozen pounds to put it up to the Don.

I still think Vautor is a monster on good ground. His best 2 performances were on goodish ground at cheltenham.

Well yes,it's possible he will be as good as some obviously think he is.
Those 2 races you mention were a 2m novice hurdle and a 2 and half m novice chase.
What is ahead is a totally different ball game.
yesterday, however one looks at it , was not convincing for what lies ahead.
Don Cossack has achieved so much more,yet not as popular it seems.!with bookies and pundits.
I have to wonder why.

Dismissing what Paterson?

Apologies should have been clearer. Last couple of years I've dismissed Paddy's standout prices. All last year their prices pointed to Vautour going for the JLT and Un De Sceaux for the Arkle. Given their direct link to the yard, any significant prices with regards to a horse in Mullins yard should be taken into consideration. It just so happens they are a standout 4/1 Vautour Ryanair and 6/1 Gold Cup so nothing significant at the moment. But their prices are worth keeping an eye on as the season progresses.

Not for me either and not once have I stated that. I just think it would be unwise to rule him out as a danger given he's fully unexposed as a stayer. As a punter and racing fan it makes sense to look at the bigger picture and not dismiss any opposition on the back of a 50% fit seasonal reappearance.

Oh absolutely not dismiss him on a reappearance run,of course.
He's just not value for either the KG or GC. That's pretty much what I am saying.
I have always been wary of taking too much notice of jockeys comments,although in this case the evidence points to Walsh making sense with those commentsl.
Look he is no doubt a goodun,just not sure what he's best at yet.
And not sure if he is as good as others around at distances he's not ran at.
If his prices reflected that I would be more interested,I don't think his price does reflect that.

I try and not listen to jockeys, especially Ruby regarding horses targets or what they are capable of. Was only this time last year he was saying Champagne Fever could stay 4 miles if he wanted to. Look how that one worked out. However, Ibrahima Sonko, you can't honestly tell me that wasn't a half fit Vautour yesterday? He looked big and he certainly didn't run to form. Mullins, like many trainers don't train ther best horses for a stroll round Ascot in November with the schedule they have planned for the rest of the season. Do I think Vautour will stay 3 miles round Kempton? Possibly. Do I think Vautour will stay 3m2 round Cheltenham with the hill? No. If that's the case, he won't be the first and certainly won't be the last to do so. Conti the prime example.

Bearing in mind Ibrahima, look at Djakadam's run in last years Hennesy compared to his run in the Gold Cup. Did anyone think he was a Gold Cup horse after that run? Absolutely not.

For me little changed yesterday. I think he's better left handed and gave away several lengths during the course of the race whereas at Cheltenham he gained ground. I'd also be reasonably confident that he wasn't near fully tuned up yesterday. On the other hand Nicholls horse was well primed, was race fit and was carrying a degree of confidence. They left well behind a 160 rated horse. I'd have him as a strong favourite for the Ryanair. The jury remains out on the gold cup with me still just leaning towards it being too far.

Vautour was back after 7 months, needed the run,not fully fit,jumped left and still beat Ptit Zigg who Paul Nichols said was as fit as he will ever get him.   

Willie will have time to try and correct the above by the KG.

Also important to consider that last year how Vautour performed at Christmas had little bearing on where he would run at Cheltenham. This year is completely different and I expect Willie to have Vautour fitter and better come December 26th.

Having watched the race back he jumps 11 straight, 1 badly to the left and 5 slightly to the left. Interestingly, Ptit Zig and Third Intention followed the exact same line on the 14th (4.26) which makes me think the fence angling may have some truth to it because both jumped straight enough the rest of the time.

I think fitness will be fundamental to KG success. He won't get away with being unfit and jumping slightly left but at full fitness with a bit more prep I don't think it will be an issue.