Don Poli

Do not overlook his cousin, the Russian Don - this one is real deal!

Mar 3, 2016 -- 2:55PM, jimeen wrote:

I think everyone is quite aware of Don Polis running style by now, the notion of him going to five times his sp in running and actually winning is a rather fanciful one.

not when he's against a monsters like vautour who travels like it has wings... unfortunately those wings come off around 3 miles.

To be fair to the horse,he has never failed to lay up near the pace yet over fences,and I don't think a gold cup pace will change that myself.
If Cue Crd stays I think he wins,if not Don Poli.

Really? Each to there own but can see him being all at sea, then coming home strong. Hence my IR play.

Each to their own indeed. It's really hard to call this race hence so many differing opinions.
I really don't see DP hitting much bigger prices , but of course it could happen.

vautour is a key horse in that IF he runs, don polli would be in trouble as there is no way he could go that KG gallop (or slightly less than that) but it would also pay into his hands if his jockey doesnt panic and gives him time as V and CC dont stay for me and it could set the race up late for hm. However imo its DON COSSACK for me!!!

Out of all the contenders I would actually be surprised if Don Cossack won, he is simply not a Cheltenham horse and when asked for that big jump he will most likely mess it up.

Mind you I was surprised last year lol.

Don't buy not chelt horse at all, Jockey gave him a stinker last year and ws flying home after mistakes (due to jockey), against a horse that broke track record.

Whilst im not sure whether hes suited to Cheltenham or not,he has been more impressive on flatter tracks to my eyes.
His current price tells me to be wary of backing him in this gold cup.
Will see what his price is on the day.

If Don Poli hits 5 times his sp in running, it will be just as hes about to be pulled up.
Never heard such nonsense in all my life, we all have seen Don Poli run before now.
The chances of Don Poli going to 25/1 and actually winning is a million zillion to one.

If Don Poli hits 25-1 , his chance of winning are roughly 25-1, not a million zillion to one , YDFC Hope this helps

I don't think the horse has progressed from last season and he may be lazy as feck but he does have ability and form on quicker ground. He's no forlorn hope, just not for me this time.

The last time something was apparently "a million zillion to one", it was Cue Card to win the £1M - I'd be careful of bets like that!

Think what the poster meant was no way it hits 25/1 in running and only way is horse is not right and being pulled up etc;ffs the traders know it's style of running. Super7 that's the 1st time in all the threads that I've read on cheltenham 2016 a comment with crude retort,absolutely uncalled for now I hope this helps

LOl thanks Super7hans looks like mincer has never seen an in running winner hit bugger than 30 with an s on 30 before Decalec think mincer got reply he deserved for his ignorant post

Budd, when you say flat tracks do you mean Aintree where he came off the bridle about halfway round the final circuit? Although Leopardstown is classed as being reasonably flat,Kevin Blake from ATR published an article (I think it was last year) saying the uphill finish there is roughly the same as Cheltenham in terms of gradient. Also why would you think a two time festival winner would not be suited to the track?

I think I have mentioned on another post that in a previous gold cup Bob's Worth came off the bridle a long time before Sir Des Champs who looked the most likely winner 3 furlongs out but it didn't stop a dual grade 1 winner over 3 miles being outstayed(take note Don Cossack fans) . His highest price during the race was 10 and so if DP was to come under pressure towards the end you would hope his price would not be too much bigger than 10. If he hits 25 I would agree that his chances of winning are likely to be very low.

Hello Mich.
That was in reference to Don Cossack.
By the way I think Don Cossack is a lot better than Sir Des Champs was,would be a tad careful comparing those two.

Apologies Budd. I would agree that he appears better on flatter tracks with his performance at Aintree as a standout.

I think the point I was trying to make with comparing SDC to Don Cossack is that they both had/have grade 1 from 2.5 to 3 miles and that SDC didn't appear to stay the gold cup trip. The pace that Vautour set in the King George looked pretty strong and Don Cossack was off the bridle, on a flat track, from the 4th last. He also came off the bridle earlier than you would have liked in the Kinloch Brae and to be honest I don't think either race should be filling people with confidence if they have backed him. From passing the starter to jumping the fourth last I have the leader of the KG at 288.88 seconds, whereas in the Feltham they got there in 298.28 seconds a total of 9.4 seconds slower. The visual impression of watching both races would also back the assumption of a fast pace up. From there to the finish in the KG was 73.36 seconds as opposed to 70.92  in the Feltham (only 2.44 seconds different) which I think points to the horses in the KG being a lot more tired at the end of the race. If Vautour does line up and and they ride Smad Place to be prominent or even challenge for the lead the likelihood of a strong gallop seems very possible and so over the extended trip I would be looking for a horse who plugs on at the end, a little bit like Djakadam or Don Poli, who would replicate the victories of Bob's Worth as I mentioned above, or Lord Windermere. Djakadam was clearly staying on better than Road To Riches last year and while people are saying RTR has good gold cup form I'm not sure he stays the trip either. The only reason I haven't backed Djakadam is that I'm still not completely convinced he likes Cheltenham having fallen on 2 out of 3 visits. DP seems priced about right to me at the moment and I am hoping the others in the market will shorten on the day pushing him out to 7 or 8 to 1, or even higher, as then I think he would be a very good bet.

PP and Coral are 1/2 on BC riding 'I plod on' now.

A week to go until Don Poli does the business in the gold cup and I was thinking of starting a market on what the responses will be from his detractors.

8/11 it wasn't a vintage renewal of the race
6/4 the best horse hasn't won
7/1 the real (insert losing horse's name) didn't turn up today
100/1 it seems so obvious now that a horse who stays better than the others,goes on any ground, jumps like an absolute stag and has great previous festival form has won that race. I can't believe he has gone off at 2/1, that was some plunge on the day, I should really have filled my boots the week before when he was still 11/2.

lol

where were you @Michrich couple of months ago, we would've had a real laugh! now we can't enjoy ourselves because its too close to the event and you might be right :) but nah the `Plod On I` will be a mile behind when the things start unfolding and you'll be left wondering why did you took 11/2 6/1 10/1 when his form pointed towards a Lord Windermere type of 33/1 50/1 or even 100/1

Haha. The same Lord Windermere that won the RSA and followed up in the gold cup the year after?

proving what? that he was a great price or that Poli is rubbish value? I don't believe this year's renewal will compete for the worst GC in the history like the `14 renewal so even at 33/1 i'll still be doubtful he's value to finish in the frame, unless he starts racing now with a week to go :)

You said his form points towards him being a Lord Windermere type and I then made the point that Lord Windermere won the RSA and then the gold cup. If he is, as you have said a Lord Windermere type, are you inferring that he will win?

I might have to adjust the prices for the reason market as you seem to indicate you're a definite 'the best horse hasn't won the race kind' of guy. I am too and I think Vautour is definitely a better horse but he doesn't stay 3 miles on a flat track.

To make it a bit more interesting will you give me £20 at 33/1?

I don't know from what you understood that I'm a best horse wins the race kind of guy, I even joked that you might turn out to be right and we can't make proper fun of your "responses from his detractors" post above because its too close to the event. I also mentioned the odds and the word value a couple of times and when I said LW type I made the comparison in the sense he's an outsider on form and should be 25/1 or bigger yet he's single odds. I won't lay you, my money is on the proper Don so I'm already laying the rest of the field. In an ideal world I would lay Poli at 100/1 win but in this world you'd simply trade it :)

Are you sure Don Cossack is suited to Cheltenham? His run at Aintree last year was breathtaking but only 4 weeks before that he couldn't even get past Ma Filleule in the Ryanair.

Good luck for next week Tim and let's hope the gold cup lives up to the billing.

If DP wins the GC then we will know he only does enough to win, and not a flash git like Vautour!

What was flash about Vautour in his run at Christmas 2 years ago, or in his comeback this season or in his run in the KG? People imagination about this horse is way too much. If DP wins then it means all other real contenders fell or took the wrong course, otherwise Poli won't be coming home sooner than the Foxhunters start.

@Michrich I and many others have analysed his last year run to death, opinions divided of course but my feeling is that without all the bad luck during the last part of the race he would've gone alot closer. The time was a good one as well and he was making ground at the end so I can't conclude he has a problem with Cheltenham because he fell once and was unlucky another.

How did Elliot describe one of BC rides on DC at Cheltenham? Diabolical, was it not?

lol, poor Coop, maybe he makes it up by winning the GC and people forget about those rides aboard Cossack.

Im all over Don Poli and i hope to God BC chooses Cossack and Davy is on DP.

If BC chose DP, Davy hinted he'd be on DC - he alluded to a sort of agreement (verbal) at the Betfair preview evening. However, if BC chose DC then no agreement for Davy to ride DP.

correct @impossible, he'll only ride Cossack if Coop chooses Poli, otherwise he's not guaranteed to be on anything else in the GC

I don't see any reason why Vautour won't stay. Both he and Cue Card were 13L clear of the third and Ruby went for home a long way out. More importantly Vautour was only 6 years old when running in the Kempton race. Now cast your minds back to 2001. A horse called Best Mate was a 6 year old running at Kempton on Boxing day. Best Mate finished a close 2nd to Florida Pearl,both were 6L clear of the 3rd placed horse. Best Mate went on to win the Gold Cup the following three years and finished about 40L in front of Florida Pearl. The Racing Post said the following of Best Mates run at Kempton... Settled in touch, tracked leaders going easily after 4 out, ridden 2 out, pressed winner last, ran on but always held Sounds like it may not have stayed? Come March Best Mate won the Gold Cup and the Racing Post described the run as going well from 4 out, quickened to lead approaching last, ran on well

One could argue that Best Mate needed the extra distance and test of stamina but both times he was cruising 4 out so plenty of time to assert. What further enhances Vautour's prospects is Ruby admitting he rode the race wrong, it was almost as if he was too confident and is on record saying Vautour could win over two or four miles. They have always thought Vautour was something very special and add to the mix that Mullins horses tend to come on a bundle from December to March I have to back Vautour at around 4 or 5/1.

I would be concerned if the rain came though. I would then be looking to back Djakadam (actually backed him at 25/1 day before he ran in GC last year as thought he would be better as a 7 year old) and watch Vautour win the Ryanair.

Of the contenders I think Cue Card is the master of the likes of Dynaste and won't live with those at the top of the market. I have Smad Place and Road to Riches ahead of him but I'm just not convinced by Cue Card's improved form..... yet. Don Poli doesn't impress me as much as others. I see Don Poli all out when beating First Lieutenant and Foxrock and just think they wouldn't even be on the scene in this years Gold Cup finish but Mullins' horses come on a lot from Christmas. The clincher for me is the stables opinion. I have never once heard Don Poli mentioned as a possible superstar. Douvan Faugheen and Vautour have long been touted as special with Walsh taking the view Vautour is exceptional.  Don Cossack is a live threat but he is a different horse in Ireland compared to UK. Don Cossack's UK race history reads F231F and he is in danger of becoming this generations Silviniaco Conti with his Cheltenham performances, incidentally his only win here was at Aintree beating Cue Card with ease but with a horses for courses view he has to be overlooked at the price. Talking of horses for courses the horses with the stand out Cheltenham form are Vautour and Don Poli both being unbeaten with no horse getting close in last two years. However whilst Vautour was winning the Supreme Don Poli was winning a handicap and last year it was a weak RSA with none of the other runners looking like they will get to run in a championship race never mind contest one.

So many horses you can make an argument for or against I can't see Smad Place front running tactics working at this level, Road to Riches needs better ground but can be in the mix if he gets it. Has to be the strongest Gold Cup in a long time and it wouldn't be a shock if any of the top 7 in the betting won and with all the leading condenders having question to answer, DC poor Cheltenham form, Vautour stamina, Cue Card wind op success, Djakadam jumping and DC defeat last year, and Don Poli laboured victories and a bad defeat since impressive Cheltenham victory last season.

For me Vautour's question mark is the most straightforward so I will say he does stay and lacked race fitness in the King George just as he did the previous Boxing Day when losing to Clarcam

The only way Vautour can get up that hill infront of Don Poli and the field is in the back of a Taxi !

the taxi even if it comes from central london will get there faster than Poli at the line

Good stuff Michrich. I'll take all that 8/11 available please.


Never subscribed to the tosh that Don Poli is the worst value horse at the festival at between 5/1 and 6/1. Like heck, everyone's jumped on the bandwagon with that one. He's not value but his price is right. I think there's plenty of horses priced up worse than him. DP's got loads going for him. He's not ground dependant for a start. His jumping is something that's very underrated. He's not big and bold at his fences like your Cue Card's or Vautour's  but he stays a lot lower and is very economical, very consistent, a horse that incredibly rarely fluffs one. I'd have more confidence in him putting in a clean round over anything else in the race.

People also talk about last years RSA being a poor one, maybe yeah. But I just had a feeling he still had loads in the tank. He idled coming to the last then just shot clear when asked for it. Another thing that seems to skip people by is the gold cup is a further 2.5 furlongs than the RSA which is a very big plus.

The two negatives I see in him is his form isn't great at all this season, but then on the flipside I do wonder how much relevance it bears to this race. Lord Windermere had poor winter form prior to his gold cup. I'm already hearing replies of ''it was a shocking renewal'' but I refuse to accept Lord Windermere is as good as Don Poli, the ratings will back that up as DP is rated over a stone better at the same stage of the season. Plus DP's winter form is still far superior to LW's. Again LW's form obviously has no bearing on this race of course but it just proves that it's not a must to have beaten something of top class in the past. If you're right on the day you have every chance.

I've been tossing and turning my thoughts on the gold cup and I shan't be getting heavily involved as I just can't form a strong enough opinion to go out and lump on anything, but I try and pick valid holes in all of the horses and although of course many disagree the one I find the least amount of holes in is Don Poli, so he's my likeliest winner, but again couldn't be too confident with it as it's so competitive.

Just struggling with Vautour, I see the arguments that it takes a real dour stayer to win the Gold Cup and you can only agree with that assumption, it takes more than class to win it. Vautour isn't proven either way yet but I have too many doubts to class him as a proper stayer. Cue Card I just don't think will get the trip well enough either, although he's in the best form ever maybe a bit too exuberant for me, plus he clouted a few down the back in the Betfair and one or two in the King George, you need to be foot perfect at your fences to win this. Djakadam I just can't have any more with only one real run this season and being a last time out faller I don't like that, plus I think he could well be ground dependant and I think he may need to improve on last year. Smad Place is arguably a value bet as he looks rejuvenated this season but I just think he'll be outclassed to win it. I could see him coming up short to at least two or three but he does have place claims. You do have to wonder how much improvement he could have in him from the Cotswold run, I struggle to see much.

I am giving Don Cossack a lot more respect of late and I now see him as the biggest threat. Good form of course but 9 times out of 10 I take the side of the horse who has done it at Cheltenham. He may be a good jumper in the main too but all it takes is one bad mistake and it's goodnight vienna, and we know he's prone to that. A clean round and he will be right there but I haven't seen any evidence at all yet that he's quicker than Don Poli. If DC can live with the front runners so can DP in my view.

Bring it on.

lord windermere's gold cup was a dire renewal. The only way a horse that ordinary could win such a race.

vautour could win this gold cup like kauto won his second one. just raced away from the gallopers and staying types. a lot depends on the ground though.

Like I said lewisham ranger, Don Poli is a far better horse than Lord Windermere, the ratings tell you that. He's 15 pounds a better horse than Lord Windermere at the same stage of the season. Don Poli is rated 167, Lord Windermere was never rated that even after he won his gold cup!

uhuh.

he is an incredibly lazy horse, no doubt about it loads of ability and keeps finding. I was talking up the chances of barter's hill for similar reasons earlier, so I guess it would be hypocritical to write off the chances of don poli. Just think there's a class difference between the gold cup and the albert bartlett, and the opposition is clearly of a totally different level.

I just think if it's good, spring ground don poli might just struggle to keep tabs with the likes of vautour when he quickens

I think there's a possibility that vautour could just control the race like he did in the king george.  But not tie up like he did in that race.

control the race and go away from them and blow us all away producing a performance that we'll be talking about for years to come.

but maybe I'm just dreaming.

I hope to hell he stays, if he is a real stayer I think he will blow them all to pieces but he has to have one large tank in him. Believe me, if Vautour wins I very much hope to be in dreamland too.

I'd really like Don Cossack to put in a clean round though just to put the whole Cheltenham thing to bed one way or the other. Just hope they all run to the best of their ability and the race lives up to the hype.

no rain till friday will certainly help vautour to stay.

to be honest I wouldn't be worried on that score. both the trainer and the jockey thinks he won't have any problems so that's good enough for me.

well built in front which is normally a sign of a strong stayer.  If he runs like he did in the JLT, I reckon he might just end up blowing the race to pieces.

I'd also write off the horses like don cossack who have a poor record at cheltenham. Ok they might end up winning anyway but you have to eliminate something, otherwise you end up fancying everything in the race. if it's good a bad record here there must be a reason for it, and to be honest I'm not completely convinced about his jumping.

What qualities must a horse have to win a Cheltenham Gold Cup? There are two in my opinion, they are a high cruising speed and the ability to stay. Looking at the top 5 in the betting starting with Don Cossack. Proven speed and can stay, his UK form is a concern but if he puts it all together on the day he will be a major player.

Vautour has the highest cruising speed in this race. Will he stay? The trainer and jockey say yes, also his breeding points to it, His sire Robin Des Champs has Sir Des Champs in same race who beat Long Run at the same age as Vautour twice in that season and came second in that years Gold Cup on soft going. When you hear Ruby say this horse gives him the same feel that Kauto Star did you have to take note, well at least until it's disproven. Vautour is a major player.

Cue Card. The breathing operation has transformed this horse. I ruled him out of the equation at Kempton but I'm am still not a believer. I think Walsh went way too early and Don Cossack had passed Cue Card when falling. Another negative is he was primed for Haydock, then again for Kempton and now he still has to be on the boil for the biggest of them all. I expect Don Cossack to pass Cue Card again at Cheltenham and Vautour to be a lot fitter as Mullins trains his horses to win in March, anything else is a bonus in his eyes.

Don Poli. This is my least favourite of the main players. Last season Mullins was toying with running him in the 4 miler, he is also seen as a National horse. I see the pace being too hot for him and it's all well and good storming up the hill but a little pointless when you are 25 lengths of the leaders. I would back Don Poli to be pulled up as I am sure they have one eye on the National and once any chance has gone they will save as much as they can for April.

Djakadam. My only ante post bet in the race, placed on the 12th March last year at 25/1. Listening to Ricci gushing about the horse's potential led to me backing it last year at 40s down to as low as 20s but I also thought I would have a bit on for next year as he was only 6. He's proved he has the cruising speed and stays all day, the softer the better. Prone to the odd error. He is a 7 year old and fell twice same amount of falls as Kauto Star had at that stage of his career, although both have happened at Cheltenham so it's a definite concern.

Will probably be backing Vautour on the morning of the race. If he doesn't stay hopefully it's Djakadam who prevails rather than Don Cossack.

Do not write off DC on his Cheltenham record, why? One was a "diabolical" ride (Ryanair last year) by pilot according to its trainer and the other he fell in the 2014 RSA. ,

I believe DC jump better with a clear view of the fences at a fast pace which he showed in the gallop with NMH at Punchestown, and good ground (anticipated on friday) is in his favour too.

A bit disappointed if i heard Gary OBrien say Don Poli was empty in the Lexus when foxrock came to claim him - i thought as soon as he knew there was a horse by his quarters the Polinator went again and there was more in the tank for me and no way was he going to be passed. Did anyone hear the same as me ?

the Polinator

My goodness.

Who rides now?

THE POLINATOR.
Ha ha that is class,i needed cheering up after yesterdays hammering.

Could be RJ but id give it to DR - Not Too Far the POLI-NATOR a Short Head will do

Very diss with the Polinator, got taken off his feet the poor thing, Grand National winner 2017 !

You've got to be able to travel in the National too, he'll be run right off of his feet there too

Considering the fast pace and good going today DP ran a very respectable race; no match for DC and Djakadam but was making ground all the way to the line. The question is which Grand National, 2016 or 2017? Only 12/1 with Boylesport but 16/1 PP and Laddies but more with others.

The thing is the Polinator ain't a hancapper and I dunno if Giggis are that interested in the Grand National.

has been entered for the this year's GN.

I didn't thought he would finish 20 lengths off the GC winner, so he really impressed me by staying on into 3rd. The GN I always thought will be right up his street so GL

I cant see him rocking up in this years GN tbh

he looks to me tough and game, a GN this year will be perfect. You have to remember that GC was put the last day to enhance its reputation as in the past it was used a prep for the GN(the Champion Hurdle was always the bigger race) so horses that come off the GC and are true stayers are bound to do well in the same year GN, best recent example Many Clouds. I hope you didn't lose faith because I saw how well he stayed at the end and with a mile to go he would be very hard to get by. Still Polinator is an awful nickname. Plodi would be my preference

Riding instructions were???????

"Just make sure you set off before the foxhunters go to post"

The darkest day for NH ever seen,fact.

DP got closer at one stage but then dropped back again which made me think DR was looking after him when DR knew he was outpaced - maybe that was the instruction from WPM as DP had been entered in the GN.

He will be pulled out the GN.He ran poor after the festival last season and his last two races have been gruelling.
The Polinator ran a good race but he ran the race many on here said he would.

Silly me......now you have explained,it makes perfect sense.

"This fella will win the national Davy,we will be kings for a day,look after him."

No disrespect..........I could not have put a more salient case forward,in effect, your saying today was not the day?

Disgraceful....... this was not a maiden at sligo,there are questions that need answering,never put in the race at any point.

including me @jasey, but as I explained the GC is made as a perfect prep for the GN, that was its function and it still works-Many Clouds. Don Poli is just that type, to get 3rd in the GC is big and if Mullins sends him GN next month, he'd carry my money if the price is right.

Rhyme 'N' Reason did the same, did it not?

As I said - I cannot speculate why all concerned did not give the horse the best chance to but that they did not is beyond question.

In all of his chases DP has raced no worse than 3rd i.e.prominently - he stays well - he seems to enjoy a battle - he has Grade 1 winning form on Good ground.

I say again - there is no way DC would have won the race given the same ride and without question DC supporters would have been up in arms given the same ride and set the same impossible task.

In my view , there is absolutely no doubt that DP was not given the best opportunity to win the race , in fact given no chance to win the race - the intrigue is why?

I am amazed and disappointed that sections of the racing media have not explored this puzzle.

*best chance to win

God Almighty didn't gave Plodi the ability to win the GC, not his rider. DR was pushing on him from the get-go but the lesser horses just couldn't keep up with the ones up-front. I was surprised to see him stay on for third, I think he received the best possible ride as he wouldn't get anywhere near that close to Djak or Cossack if those two hadn't gone into a battle so far from home.

Ekbalco...I like Don Poli but not a single line of form gave him a chance of beating Cue Card Djakadam and DC.
On all his runs he comes out a similar horse to Many Clouds and many would agree that horse would have a chance of placing in a Gold Cup.
DP needed to improve,it was possible he loves Cheltenham and stays all day but the pace of the race killed any hopes DP had.
He was up against the  quality of horse he as never raced against,i can't have it he was a non trier.

I one of davy russell's biggest fans but that wasn't good enough and anyone who watched the race could see the horse was never given a chance to win,even when the horse was out the back he never gave the horse a slap down the neck,the horse us lazy and if I remember rightly needed a a reminder in the rsa last year,the horse finished full of running and should have been nearer the pace,don't know if it would have won but better to have loved and lost rather than never to have loved at all,might come back next year and win.

Was it being saved for the Grand National or did it have too hard a race to be considered with just three weeks recuperation? I'm sure it will plod on to win a supposedly competitive race one day when least expected.

Giggis have said he ain't running in the National "to young and to much weight" and that the Aintree bowl is likely.

I agree, apart from age and weight DP is too promising a horse to be aimed at the GN now. But if it was owned by one of WPM "elite" owners WPM would have DP earmarked for next month's GN for sure.

There is money to be made if one chooses to on the Exchange - there are still willing backers of DP for the GN - unless of course the O'Learys' do a WPM/RR later on!

Absolute garbage timters - he was never pushed along at any stage prior to being in an impossible position - you patently cannot read a race.

Jasers - statistically you are correct - but my point is they never tried to play to his strengths - reverse the rides/tactics and DC could never have won the race.

He was a non trier without doubt - the intrigue is why - and one has to admire their chutzpah in doing it in the Cheltenham GC..

Factual note - he drifted 4.6 to 6.2 in the 6 mins before the race.

Don Poli (DP) drifted to about 12 here in running but I backed him at 5.8 when he made ground towards the leaders Smad Place (SP) and O'Faolains Boy (OB) coming to the 14 fence. Soon after, the pace quickened and by the 15 fence DP dropped back again. DP then ran on passing the two front runners ie OB and SP coming to the 2nd last fence. Between the 2nd last fence and winning post DP made no further ground on Djackadam or Don Cossack. It was evidently clear DP was outpaced and was running past tired front runners to secure 3rd place, his best position.

Whatever peoples opinions anybody who has Racinguk should go back and watch the ride McCoy gave Synchronised in the Gold Cup and compare it to the inaction of Russell. He never moved a muscle. What was he expecting to happen?

The only excuse davy might have is maybe he thought the race might have went the same way as it did when Lord Windermere came past everything,the only thing us this was a much better race,to me the race was lost after a furlong!

The horse never stood a chance of the tactics for me, could not understand why he was held up and then why Davy was never really bothered to actually try and keep him closer to the pace, numerous times Cooper had to shake up Don Poli in the RSA to keep him with the pace (wake him up as many believe) but Davy seemed happy to stay on the bridle a mile off the gallop.
Maybe that's as good as he is and I am in no way saying he'd have won under different tactics but who here thought going into Friday's race he would be held up way off the pace near last? Even Poli's biggest fans I doubt would have been backing him had they that information to hand.

premier,

Dp ran as well as he possibly could in the GC; Davy rushed him up to be closer to the front 4 (sp here tumbled) but DP could only managed that for just 1 fence, and immediately dropped back until reaching the 2nd last fence. But DP never made further ground on Don Cossack and Djakadam after jumping the 2nd last and the winning post ie 3rd was his best position.

His previous races at Cheltenham were against much weaker oppositions none of which (I believe) had won a decent race since.

Davy didn't rush him,didn't give the lazy horse a reminder or 2 to be closer to the pace,I haven't a clue what you've been watching!

Ive watched the race back a few times, and I think there is some pocket talking going on in this thread to suggest he wasnt trying! In fact, its just plain daft to suggest that. Anyone suggesting that a jockey with as few chances in the big races as DR gets these days, wouldnt want to win, must be on a wind up. Think he gave him an OK ride. I can see why some would have liked him closer to the pace, but he wasnt that far back. He certainly wasnt sat tight.... he was nudging and cajoling from a fair way out. But once he'd slipped 5 or 6 lengths behind the main back, he just couldnt seem to close the gap. And I guess he felt he didnt want to use all of his energy up early in closing that gap.

I did have to laugh at this comment from noctural

The darkest day for NH ever seen,fact.

He was more than 5 or 6 length back though ccm,more like 10 and no need to be that far back,it doesn't matter now anyway and davy is one of the best jockeys round Cheltenham,personally thought he could have made more of an effort that's all,pocket talking I had £75 on,I had a lot more on dc.

Watch the video again please.

Coming to the 14th fence DP was rushed up/made progress and at his closest to the chasing pack (sp here dropped from 12 to 5.8). However, after jumping this fence the leading pack quickened and DP dropped further back by the time they reached the 15th fence - it was clear DP could not maintain/adapt to the new faster pace. And the rest is history!

The point is he should have been closer in the first 6 furlongs,watch the full race instead of the closing stages,no effort was made whatsoever and he lost the race then,Don poli might not have won anyway but it would have been an even better race had he been given the chance to do so.

He's ran to form hasn't he?

14.5 lengths behind a horse rated 10lbs greater than him going into the race.  Don Cossack has his ground too, so at the weights he's ran to form behind Don Cossack, and had good horses like Smad Place and Carlingford Lough well behind.

I'm sorry I watched the race like a hawk at the off, and several times after in-full in anticipation of a bet in the Grand National. By the way, I believe the 14th fence is about 8 fences from home. Don Poli (DP) ran to form but was outpaced because of the ground. I believe if Davy had asked DP to go with the pace earlier on DP might have finished very tired instead of passing tired runners by the 2nd last fence. I might back DP against Cue Card at Aintree (and others) at Punchestown if the ground is very soft.

Blimey never heard so much pocket talkign twaddle from DP backers.

I backed the horse for months prior to the race as thought it was tailor made for him. The danger was always being outpaced and the ground went against him. On softer ground his stamina and jumping would have come into play more.

However, on very good ground he simply was no match for the pace of DC, CC and Djak. Simple as that. I had a perfect view in the stand and DR rode him well.

Would be all over him for the GN where he to run.

A heist of Hatton Gardens proportions.

I had a perfect view in the stand and DR rode him well.

Not the first time Davy has ridden a horse like that in the Gold Cup. Jim Culloty said he was thinking of sacking Davy at halfway two years ago, but then he won so he decided to let him off. Last year he didn't win, so he did sack him.
If nothing else, at least he stayed out of DC's way. So did RTR and VL come to think of it.

The best racehorse that has ever lived found a way to tweet this:

Clear evidence of @_Davy_Russel_ dropping his hands on Lord Windermere when in contention last yr #wheretheresblame

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdJN-VUWwAADl0R.jpg

https://twitter.com/realfaugheen/status/707713841677864960

I Plod On is an apt anagram of Don Poli

Can't Catch Me 22 Mar 16 11:27

Ive watched the race back a few times, and I think there is some pocket talking going on in this thread to suggest he wasnt trying! In fact, its just plain daft to suggest that. Anyone suggesting that a jockey with as few chances in the big races as DR gets these days, wouldnt want to win, must be on a wind up. Think he gave him an OK ride. I can see why some would have liked him closer to the pace, but he wasnt that far back. He certainly wasnt sat tight.... he was nudging and cajoling from a fair way out. But once he'd slipped 5 or 6 lengths behind the main back, he just couldnt seem to close the gap. And I guess he felt he didnt want to use all of his energy up early in closing that gap.

"Closer to the pace"

Dear oh dear.......now that did me laugh,another apologist post.

No, you're right noc. It was the darkest day ever seen in National Hunt Racing.

Stand by that comment.

It is an opinion,you are very much entitled to yours,which I respect fully.

Time to move on.

GL

Time to move on indeed,...it is only a game after all!

Indeed. The game is afoot again. Onwards to next year and another puzzle.

I Plod On is an apt anagram of Don Poli


Well played Sir.