Cheltenham Festival
There is currently 1 person viewing this thread.
These 256 comments are related to the topic:
THISTLECRACK
THISTLECRACK
sort by:
Show
per page
Replies: 256
|
By:
I'm guessing POLLYBOURNEMOUTH got some of the 14/1 Thistlecrack when it was around courtesy of this lovely operations sportsbook
 And if he did, he backed it for completely different reasons to me  If you got anything less than 14/1 and 6/1 CC in a dutch (one of the best at the time occasions to dutch two horses) then am sorry but i think you missed the boat called mug   |
|
By:
Looks pretty assured they will be going King George route now and fair play to them. Hope he bolts up.
|
|
By:
According to the market he is at least. Last piece of news that emerged from them was that the owners were keen and why not pitch him in. I ain't getting excited yet, but, i think the thinking might be heading down the find out here first if not RSA or back to the WH at the fez and if he dots up he'll surely go CGC where he'll be surely too short a price for betting purposes.
|
|
By:
I don't know whether Thistlecrack will run in King George or not but it's definitely in his connections interests to keep the opposition guessing as Mullins would do.
Gary Moore actually said they would n't bother supplementing Ar Mad if Thistlecrack is going to run so all they have to do is leave him in at the 6 day stage and that's one less opponent for both Thistlecrack and Cue Card to worry about. |
|
By:
Its first real test over fences is a grade 1 king george
The connections will be kicking themselves if this goes t1ts up Fiddles ditches and is a bit low at some fences Thats without the pressure of decent horses around him Lay lay lay |
|
By:
Couldn't agree more. Was big fan and love the horse but I think this race is a different ball game, as also the Gold Cup would be. Might end up seeing him back in the World Hurdle
|
|
By:
Agree with Irishone & Hannibal. The way i see it if he gets beaten convincingly by Cue Card then there is 50/50 chance he goes World Hurdle. I've done the Cue Card (Gold Cup) & Thistlecrack (World Hurdle) double @ 48/1 with BF Sportsbook. Huge price considering. imo
|
|
By:
Cue Card (GC) and Thistlecrack (WH) double at 48/1 could prove to be an astute bet if things do not pan out for the latter on Boxing Day.
|
|
By:
I truly believe we are going to see Thistlecrack produce something spectacular on Boxing Day.
|
|
By:
Patterson92
I hope so despite my negativity towards his participation here unless there was an ulterior motive by his owners. |
|
By:
Paterson92 21 Dec 16 23:39
I truly believe we are going to see Thistlecrack produce something spectacular on Boxing Day. Just hope it doesn't involve turning a somersault and getting carried off the track in a horse ambulance. |
|
By:
Thistlecrack has a high cruising speed, a beautiful change of gear, finds plenty for pressure, quite possibly still improving AND has a great leap in him as proven at Newbury. His jumping actually looked more assured the deeper into the race they went. The small field can only be another huge positive. His layers will be hoping he makes a bad blunder early on and yes them first 3 fences come up quick, but i feel if he negotiates the first 3 fences safe and sound then the writing is on the wall for his opponents. Cue Card will put it up to him turning for home but he simply wont be able to stick with The MIGHTY One. Too much power .
|
|
By:
In the unlikely event of a series of unforced/forced errors Thistlecack would be pulled-up - he'd not be risked any further - and Stayers Hurdle beckons, I think. But I hope not.
|
|
By:
Most of you are total mugs . Thistlecrack haha World hurdle what a joke you people are .As for impossible 123 you are a total bore who goes from page to page day an night boring people to death .Also you have no understanding of horseracing or anything else ..Pub bore becomes Forum bore !!
|
|
By:
Well the owners have said the only options at the festival for this horse are the Gold Cup or the World Hurdle. Obviously the Gold Cup is the plan and hopefully that's where it ends up, but it is not beyond the realms of possiblity that Thistlecrack, in only its 4th race over fences, could get found out by one of the top 10 rated chasers in the last 20 years, one of the greats.
You've obviously pinned your colours to the mast but personally I think the 48/1 is a pretty smart play. |
|
By:
Mary The Snooks are good friends of mine and I can tell you He wont be lining up in the World hurdle .Thistlecrack is a great jumper and wont be going back He will win the Gold cup with some luck
|
|
By:
So if he is totally outjumped by Cue Card, or if he takes a horrible fall he will still be in the Gold Cup?
|
|
By:
It still amazes me how someone claimed to be close to connections or not can be so sure about the participation of a horse so far in advance of a race. If any evidence is needed may I remind the person the indignity and mickey-taking that befell Rich Ricci (RR) with regards to Vautour and the Ryanair Chase this year? And RR was the owner of Vautour - one cannot be closer!
|
|
By:
Shame such a poor turn out for such a prestigious race. Thistlecrack vs Cue Card adds a lot of intrigue, but the Cue Card/Don Cossack/Vautour race last year was a lot more exciting in my view.
I won't be having a bet in the race, but I'd pick Cue Card every single time ahead of Thistlecrack at the prices. I think Thistlecrack has a bigger and better engine than Cue Card, and will travel between his fences easier, but I think Cue Card will simply out jump him all the way round, and that's where most lengths will be won and lost. |
|
By:
Pretty much think the same as you wellchief, except I'm going to put some money down
|
|
By:
I wouldn't bet either if I had not backed Cue Card much earlier and Thistlecrack at 10/1 as a saver.
I'd like to see Cue Card win as compensation for falling in the Gold Cup and cement his scintillating performance in the Betfair; I would like to see Thistlecrack run well too (win if he can) as he is a horse for the future over fences (forget hurdles) as there is no up-and-coming 3m chasers. May the best horse win. |
|
By:
Paterson92 21 Dec 16 23:39
I truly believe we are going to see Thistlecrack produce something spectacular on Boxing Day. Merry Christmas one and all  |
|
By:
That was truly spectacular, one of the most exhilarating displays of jumping and galloping seen in a long time. Visually he is such a brilliant chaser and if he gets to the gold cup in one piece I don't see anything getting close to him. That said, the market has typically over reacted and he is certainly not a punting proposition, just watch and admire this great specimen.
|
|
By:
It was a fantastic performance for one with such inexperience over fences - jumped and travelled great and without doubt is the deserved favourite for the Gold Cup now.
5/4 is very skinny, but you'd have to think that the winner of the Lexus would be the only one to stop Thistlecrack. The bunched finish behind him has me scratching my head a bit, with Conti making up 42 lengths on Cue Card from Haydock, but I had my doubts about the Haydock form before Kempton, and I think it'd be difficult for Coneygree to reverse it with Cue Card, then improve again to beat Thistlecrack. Whether Cue Card ran to form or not, I don't know, and maybe Thistlecrack broke him, but he was beating horses by a short head rated 13 and 26lbs inferior. Probably Thistlecrack vs Djakadam for me over who will be the new champ. |
|
By:
Will he have an other run
|
|
By:
Believe they are going to trials day at Cheltenham at the end of the month for the Cotswolds
|
|
By:
28th I believe
 |
|
By:
On another subject surely Yorkhill will go for the Champion hurdle ! Would if he was mine ..Form with Yanworth is brilliant and he is 6-1!!!
|
|
By:
Don't see any way back for Cue Card after that performance and as impressive as Thistlecrack was he didn't actually beat the other mugs by that much.
|
|
By:
He stopped riding it two out FFS,he almost stopped the horse to a walk at last to make sure didnt fall,Thistlecrack imo couldve won by at least a fence! he was absolutely tanking/sprinting round final bend
|
|
By:
Obviously a very good performance, especially for a novice, but the bare form is hardly earth shattering if you use Teaforthree as the reliable yardstick - even if you give him another 5 lengths or so for Tom taking it easy. Silvinaco Conti should have been retired by now, Cue Card is getting old and has had a lot of very hard races and seems to need really soft ground these days, and Josses Hill might as well have been pulled up once he failed to get the early lead.
He has a terrific engine for sure and if he jumps well then he will take the beating and (even though I will lose money) I'll be delighted if we have another superstar to replace Kauto/Sprinter etc. But no Stayers Hurdle winner has gone on to win the Gold Cup in my time following racing (1992-2016) and from a cursory glance only Dorans Pride has even been placed which seems a strange stat - is the extra distance a problem?. Physically and in style he reminds me a bit of Florida Pearl who of course failed every time he tried to win a Gold Cup. A lot will depend on who else turns up, but if we get a half decent double figure field and Coneygree and Native River are in the race then he looks worth opposing at the prices. I'm aiming to place lay him at very short odds so I hope he hacks up in the Cotswold.  |
|
By:
^ Tea For Two - not Teaforthree.
 |
|
By:
@unclepuncle re: Stayers Hurdle winners going on to win Gold Cup.
I think the real reason for this has nothing to do with the extra distance but merely the way Gold Cup horses are campaigned throughout their careers. Most future chasers are identified early in their careers based on size and scope, probably as early as their PTP runs. Therefore most future chasers will embark on a career that only entertains one season over hurdles, the novice season. They will then proceed directly into novice chases without ever having a second season over hurdles and a potential tilt at the Stayers Hurdle. This will obviously not be 100% accurate but would certainly explain why there is even a lack of runners in the Gold Cup that have previously won the Stayers Hurdle. |
|
By:
I too have got my doubts about the King George form as well - not with the visual performance of Thistlecrack or how well he jumped and travelled, because he was awesome, but of how the four behind finished so closely, and I think talk of a new Kauto is extremely premature.
I can only assume if Cue Card didn't take Thistlecrack on so early, he may have finished well ahead of T42, Conti etc (similar to how Road to Riches was punished for taking on Vautour in last years Ryanair, and was chinned for second in the end). I had my doubts about how reliable the Betfair form was, as Cue Card only really had to beat one horse who had been off for a year in really heavy ground. I think we have to assume it'll take something special for Cue Card to win now, and talk of the Ryanair is stupid for me; imo he needs every inch of 3m2f these days, not chopping half a mile off. I was disappointed with Djakadam's run in the Lexus, but I'd still probably have him as the most likely winner from that race - he went to 25/1 for the Gold Cup straight after and gutted I didn't take it now. He has been there and done it, and his best career performances have been at HQ. These Irish G1 chases often throw up bizarre results that don't translate into Gold Cup performances, so I'd still think Djakadam will fare the best of that bunch. I wish the Bradstock's would keep their gob shut, trash talking in the media of how they are not scared of x or y, and Cue Card is over the hill; at least they made the gig and Tizzard keeps them fit! It's a shame Coneygree will most likely not make it, and if he does I can't see him winning it with 1 run in 18 months. I'd have to disagree with Impossible over Native River. Yes, 10/1 is probably a bit skinny, but he is a horse seriously on the up, and is now rated 163. Since the 4 miler, he has done nothing but improve, and seems to have a bit more quality that Synchronised who had a similar path. He stays well, is reliable and you'll get a good run for your money - he's just gone now a non sexy route. I think he's definitely progressed past Minella Rocco. I wouldn't be surprised if they run him with the handbrake on a couple of times to drop his mark for the old William Hill on day one, with a decent claimer on board. |
|
By:
Why not just say Thistlecrack is a Donkey ! The fact Scu could have have won 20 lengths and Paddy was stunned how good Thistlecrack was proves nothing -just a mug like certain cretins above .The Form was rubbish and he was so lucky as well
Happy new year Cretins Keep losing !! |
|
By:
PS yes I know you all backed Thistlecrack at 33s 50s and 100s ( 10 years ago ) just as a cover of course !You are all so modest with your after timing .
|
|
By:
I also the think the bare form of the King George doesn't look so good on paper. Scudamore did sit up but more than likely that's a luxury he won't have come the Gold Cup. I think he's the Gold Cup winner myself as it's hard to pick anything else out. One thing I will say is that when a horse puts up a visually impressive performance - and I would repeat what others have said it was a hugely impressive performance - then I get worried about them repeating it. I mean if he's able to improve on that, then the others haven't a hope. On that note, I think Tizzard won't overdo it for the Cotswold Chase and he may put in a less impressive performance there.
Of last season's novices, you're probably down to two - Native River and Outlander. Native River has a decent chance but he's after putting in two huge efforts to land two of the biggest handicaps this side of the season. That would worry me. He also looks like a horse that needs extreme tests and if he was to win a Grade One, it's probably likely to be in a less competitive race like at Aintree and Punchestown. I think Thistlecrack would have his measure easily. Gigginstown should surely target the Irish Gold Cup as a priority with Outlander and approach it with the view that anything after that is a bonus. The horse is 4/4 at Leopardstown. His Cheltenham form is ordinary enough - sixth and a fall. I can't understand why they haven't been running him over three miles more frequently. He looked a very strong stayer the other day. For all that they target staying chasers they haven't much else, Valseur Lido is very hit and miss and looks more likely to target the Ryanair and Don Poli surely isn't good enough. It looks like their best chance could end up being Don Cossack, who I would see as the main danger to Thistlecrack. With Djakadam it's a case of trusting that he'll improve again for Cheltenham. I think it's guaranteed even at this stage that he's Mullins/Walsh best chance of winning it. They have nothing else for the race. Cue Card will be better at Cheltenham but he's come up short in big races a few times now and it's hard to see him doing it at 11. Coneygree is a serious doubt to even turn up in the race. |
|
By:
Thistlecrack was awesome in the King George however, do not rubbish his performance on account of the others finishing in a heap and using Cue Card as a barometer; Cue Card was not ridden to run his usual race or achieve his best position even though he'd still be 2nd, if so.
A good rest for Cue Card and one final Gold Cup bid before retiring - he has earned it. And please, no Grand National! |
|
By:
Cue card = Ryanair
|
|
By:
The only horse capable of putting it up to Thistlecrack is Don Cossack at his best. However it is debatable if he can return in the form he was in last year at this stage. Native River is best of the rest if it becomes an extreme stamina test. I expect that he will be ridden conservatively a la Don Poli last year and with the hope of getting placed which I think he can do. Djakadam seems to have regressed in the manner typical of many French imports whilst I don't see Outlander as being good enough to win a gold cup. Coneygree I wouldn't be surprised to see retired whilst the only other interesting one I think is Valseur Lido who is hit and miss but on his day would have an outside chance. Cue Card I think could get placed if ridden to do so. If he tries to match Thistlecrack stride for stride he will blow up again.
I just hope that Don Cossack can get there in decent form and put it up to Thistlecrack as I don't really see anything else capable of doing so. It's fairly wide open for the places behind those two imo. |