His Lexus win puts him behind SmadPlace,where is he in the pecking order??

A soft ground Gold Cup could see DP run a big race.
A decent ground one,on what I have seen he would not be able to keep up,and be too far behind when his stamina really comes into play.

After watching over Xmas,I feel the Gold cup will be between CC,DC,Djak and if he runs RTR.
Don't ask me which one though!!!

I read a lot about Don Poli being slow and a plodder. I have recently watched his last three runs over and over to see if I have missed anything and I honestly cannot see anything that says he is slow. I see a horse that sits off the pace, stays and jumps really well and looks 100% in control of what he is doing then comes alive when he sees the finish line. I think 3m2f at Cheltenham is made for this come rain or shine. I can't see past Don Poli as the winner of the 2015 Gold Cup. It may be rose tinted glasses but this was my view before I placed any bets and was totally impartial and I sit here now very happy with what is a significant, for me, investment in Don Poli winning the Gold Cup and proving their is only one true "Don" and this Russian impersonator should stick to the end of season April easy life he seems to excel in.

Him being in control is right, the jockey wants him to go quicker earlier and he says up yours mate

budd - not his finest hour for sure but again he got the job done and in ground no horse particularly likes. He aint no flash harry for sure. And I actually thought 1st Lt ran better than for some time. The handicapper agrees. It was a case of job done. I hope DP runs again against better opposition before GC to just close the one gap/niggle in my mind of who has he actually beat in open company and the answer to date is very little.

millions - sincere apologies for bringing so much dull in to your life.

fair enough Billy,thanks for answering.

hayling - apologies didnt mean to offend - its just there are only two arguments as i see it - detractors think he is slow and lacks class and fans think he just does enough and will continue to do the same even against better opposition - fans back him and detractors dont - fwiw i havent got a clue which it is - i think both interpretations have a fair chance of being right and it will be the finding out that is going to be intriguing not the back and forth of a and b - I for one are very happy that he is around because he is one horse i really am unsure about.

absolutely - all i can say is those with very strong views either way on DP are much cleverer than i will ever be

miltons - no offence taken. Fundementally you are right. Either you're a believer or you aint. I am. End of...............before I get too dull.

Where I slightly disagree with milton's assertion is that when we analyse we surely seek to do so on the basis of logic? This horse won't stay because of. This horse won't win because he doesn't jump well enough. This horse doesn't have enough class. This horse needs ground X. Don Poli is fascinating because a lot of people are taking entrenched positions but then conceding that when they really think about it they are far less sure than they have asserted for various reasons. He's a riddle wrapped inside an enigma and only have I have the answer. Mwwwaaahhhhhhhaaaa.

With a bit of luck (jockey permitting) and a clear round the most likely winner of the Gold Cup will most likely be Don Cossack, less sure if the other horse in contention is Don Poli, an enigmatic and yet unknown entity!

The fans of Don Poli must surely raise an argument about why he beat lowly rated horses, under ideal conditions for him, so unconvincingly. To maintain the faith is one thing, but to do so is to ignore the unmistakable disappointment from both Mullins and Cooper post-race. He's an extraordinary price for a horse whose reputation rests simply on one race, the RSA, which now seems not to have been much of a race at all. If he goes for the Hennessy, I fully expect him to be be overturned if anything of quality turns up and it would not surprise me to see him miss the Gold Cup. This seasons form puts him around a stone and a half behind the principals despite getting the ground he almost certainly needs.
Mystified

don polis reputation doesnt rely on one race !!! see his wins column

OR Mr Bud.....MClods had benefit of a run and Slow Poli was first time up not 100% fit (as betting suggested) and Lexus point (fair point yours) he just sits off the pace and does what he needs to. I fancy him big time for Gold Cup he's a lazy s0d who just does enough. .....ps/Hope your well son !

Lets hope Road To Riches (RTR) and Don Poli (same ownership) both run in the Irish Hennessy - I'd back RTR if so; I'd also like to see Djakadam run too but it will not as Djakadam has chosen to run in the Argento Chase at Cheltehnam instead, after sidestepping the King George and the Lexus, and now occupying favouritism on default, a wholly unacceptable position for a runner up of the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup!

March

I think Poli is a cracking horse and ive won on him but i agree with his price but would not be backing him TheVautor nrnb is the way to go and hold your powder dry

Don Poli is a ridiculous price imo, doesn't have the class to win it. He might be capable of winning a poor renewal of a gold cup a la Synchronised but not this year. He will stay all day though and would be a potential grand national winner if he was trained for the race.

Yes, impossible, some jolts in Djakadam's price recently. Been matched at over 7's though hard to see for how much.

His qualities are more suited to the slog fest that is a national, both races are a different type of test. If he wins a national though I don't think anyone will be putting him the current years GC winner though never mind Arkle and the likes as the greatest ever!! You certainly couldn't blame Mullins for aiming him at a GC this year, he deserves to take his chance. However when he gets outclassed as I expect, it wouldn't surprise me to see him being targeted at the national going forward.