@DO the article doesn't but Timeform has given him a higher figure for that performance than both CC and Vautour so they've taken the view DC would've won. I'm only saying he wasn't tired, he got up in matter of seconds and the fall wasn't because he was tired, it was because Cooper asked him for a big one and he wasn't yet at that stride so when Cooper inertia went down DC was right about the fence and forced him to make a mistake.

*right above the fence

Just watched their next race and Cooper asked him for some big leaps in the back straight and he jumped those like a buck so I'm positive and hope that Cooper is finally in sync.

I read the timeform article, and it does make me think again. An interesting read.
Did Don Cossack expend additional energy in that last furlong to get on terms, or did he have more to give.
I couldn't say for certain, I don't expect anyone can.
We are led to believe that Vautour has more weight to lose, and he will get those lengths back from jumping left. Conditions and the track will be more in his favour. Each to his own.

just watched it again, cue card wasn't headed, but noted that Don Cossack was pushed a little wide turning in.
I would be disappointed if the race didn't involve those three horses at the end, who wins from that is all about opinions.

I expect W Mullins was secretly delighted with the King George actually, having been very coy before it saying they would give it a go, but the ground and track not ideal and the horse was being trained to peak in March. Having got beat the pressure was taken off, saving 3 months of hysteria as we all waited for him to claim Gold.

I can just see a smug grin post race, as he lets us all in on the fact they would've been very disappointed had he got beat.

I would prefer Colin Tizzard's rosy cheeks (now purple with excitement) as he sheds a tear for the horse in a million!

Gigginstown would like to win their own race as much as possible so will field a creditable representative eg RTR, in the Ryanair especially so if Vautour (very unlikely) or VVM runs in it; if WPM asks to run Valseur Lido in the same race then two will represent Gigginstown.

I firmly believe there will not be three representatives for Gigginstown in the CGC with RTR being the fall 'guy', all being well with the two Dons.

Al ferof and valseur lido imo go off joint favs in ryanair

STS

Gigginstown know the pecking order of their three stars, and DC has been geared towards the CGC with DP (the unknown), hence DC has been campaigned accordingly eg KG, with the other two taking in the 'minor' but appropriate races; RTR has already shown twice he is no match for DC and Djakadam despite a sterling effort in the CGC last year.

This season Gigginstown has been dictating which races RTR should take in, and also instructed RTR's trainer to enter RTR for the Ryanair, as such I'm more than hopeful RTR will run in the Ryanair however, a firm decision would only be made a week or so prior to race day in case something untoward happens to any of the two Dons; RTR is a worthwhile substitute for the Ryanair and will have the best chance of winning its owner's own race unless Vautour turns up I believe.

impossible I think you've summed it up in a nutshell, RTR is very much the third string and unless something happens to one of the Don's will more than likely go to the Ryanair. Remember Mouse Morris wanted to go for the GC with First Lieutenant but O'Leary made him go Ryanair which is his right as he's the man paying the bills.

Nothing but if you think the other two will beat RTR then he may as well take his chance in the Ryanair.

They'll leave it late as possible surely?

slower/impossible - do you think the pecking order is the same irrespective of going because i dont

Can't choose between Vautour, Don Poli and Cue Card. Therefore i've called upon the trusty scientific method of "Who do I most want to cheer on?!" and backed Cue Card.

Gigginstown (stud owner) is more savvy and knowledgeable about horse racing than RR (hobby/leisure) hence will do what is right for them and/or the horse taking into consideration the trainers' input, but the final decision will always be their's.

If I was Gigginstown, plus given the 'clear' evidence from the Punchestown Gold Cup (PGC) last year I'd not have more than two of my star horses running in any one race even the CGC, why? I'd like to try and win more than one race with them using with the clear evidence derived from the PGC as a guide. As such I'd only run two of them and saving the 3rd for my own race ie the Ryanair - RTR could not be a better candidate given its versatility between 20/24f.

Next year there could be three (NMH) again depending on how DP performs in the CGC.

Where do you think RTR would have finished in last years race had it been Good/soft?

I agree with Impossible, but don't get me wrong, RTR fully deserves to take his place in the Gold Cup lineup.  I really like the horse; good attitude, good jumper and has got a good blend of speed and stamina.  Good ground will see him at his best.

I agree Budd and think that if he'd be waited a bit more, he would have finished in front of Djakadam.  I backed him at 40's back in September, but that was when I thought Valseur Lido would develop into a live Ryanair contender, which he hasn't really, so I fear theor hand may be forced.

I think RTR is milers clear of the Ryanair field (if Vautour goes GC, which looks increasingly likely).  I know that the Ryanair really splits opinion on here, but I personally haven't got an issue with it.

Obviously, if you asked me would you rather have a Ryanair winner or a Gold Cup winner, it's a no brainer.  But going into a race, I'd rather have a 6/4 Ryanair favourite than a 7/1 Gold Cup 5th or 6th favourite, especially when I already have two market leaders in my colours.

Looking at this year's novices, they'll have a live chance in the Gold Cup next year as well in No More Heroes.  However, looking at the JLT and Arkle, they appear to have nothing at all for next year's Ryanair.  I know that's looking a bit far ahead, but RTR is probably the best chance they have ever had, with nothing in the pipeline for next year.

Closer budd well Coneygree is a much better horse on a softer surface, so he may not have been as effective?

I don't either but if I had to guess 1 DC 2 DP 3 RTR but 2 and 3 would swap on better ground. But like you say opinions and the thing is horses have off days which is another case for running all 3.

So Chief,you think he would have finished in front of Djakadam,which brings him very close to winning the race against two horses that would have relished the going. So it's fair to say had it been better ground RTR would have won the race as Coneygree prefers soft.
In that case then, we could now be talking about the Gold Cup winner running in the Ryanair.
I wonder what his owners think of last years race?
Maybe they think it weren't much if they are thinking about putting him in the Ryanair.maybe they think DP and DC are a lot better than last years.

Or put it another way the softer the ground is the more chance RTR will go the Ryanair route.

If RTR won the Gold Cup last year, there would be zero chance of him going the Ryanair.  If he was in any other racing silks (eg Andy Stewart for Paul Nicholls, Simon Munir for Henderson etc), he would 100% be in the Gold Cup.

I have absolutely no issue if RTR runs in the Gold Cup, I think he should.  All I'm saying is, I think he won't.

Because he wears those famous maroon silks, and they alreafdy have two for the Gold Cup who cannot be dropped in trip, they have to turn to the only one who can drop in trip.  He has won over 2.5m this year, pretty easily beating the likes of Felix Yonger in the process.

They can rely on Valseur Lido if they want to, but he has proved to be not up to the level required.