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Sankara
19 Jan 17 16:40
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Date Joined: 18 Sep 10
| Topic/replies: 6,793 | Blogger: Sankara's blog
Worth going for the Gold Cup this year with this one imo - next year they'll have Douvan to beat in it, and this year the owners have Fox Norton as an alternative for the Ryanair. Already looks like he'll stay all day, and they can test his stamina by going for the Irish Gold Cup first. Looks an excellent bet anyway at 66s or 33s if you can get non-runner no bet.
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Report p_r_e_m_i_e_r__f_a_n_t_a_s_y January 19, 2017 5:05 PM GMT
I would say he is likely to end up in the Ryanair but as you say if you can get NR-NB what's too lose. He ran right to the line today and was as strong there as any other stage of the race and it appeared he would stay further so why not.
Report STELLAR MANIPULATOR January 19, 2017 10:33 PM GMT
Interesting that his new trainer has entered him in Irish and Cheltenham Gold Cups - also interesting that a lot of Potts' horses formerly with De Bromhead have also been upped in distance by Colin Tizzard this year most notably Viconte de Noyer. They might be tempted to trial him in the Irish Gold Cup to suss out his stamina still further so nrnb for the Gold Cup at 66s with PP is a limited downside no brainer imo
Report ReaseHeath January 19, 2017 10:56 PM GMT
Would only add that I thought the Tizzards bought Alary on behalf of the Potts' specifically as a Gold Cup contender so how he gets on at Haydock on Saturday might have an impact on the plans for Sizing John.

Impressive today, though and doing all his best work at the end.
Report barnesey January 19, 2017 11:30 PM GMT
Have always liked sizing John and feel he has been very unfortunate to be around the same time as douvan. He was very good today beating a good yardstick in second. When I watched him last year at aintree they stepped him up to 2 and a half miles to avoid douvan and he went off favourite but he was rather disappointing behind Arzal and looked a blatant non stayer to me, but another year older I'm pleased he has added a string to his bow by staying the intermediate trip but talk of gold cup is bonkers in my opinion Ryanair all the way for this one and I think he could go close!!!
Report unclepuncle January 20, 2017 10:24 AM GMT
Fox Norton is a Champion Chase horse and Sizing John has no chance of staying the Gold Cup trip - Ryanair all the way unless Douvan misses the CC.
Report Sankara January 21, 2017 2:28 PM GMT
Oh to be omniscient...
Report unclepuncle January 21, 2017 2:54 PM GMT
I can teach you for £5,000. Cool

Tbh given my prescience in the Liverpool thread I should put my price up.Laugh
Report the bloob January 21, 2017 6:27 PM GMT
looks Ryanair bound, and the 8/1 nrnb is very tasty thanks very much!
Report shockster January 23, 2017 10:09 AM GMT
Jessie Harrington says Sizing John runs in the Irish Gold Cup and depends on how he runs over the 3m trip as to where he goes at Cheltenham. This was on ATR yesterday afternoon.
Report Sankara January 23, 2017 10:23 AM GMT
Thanks - a good start.
Report wellchief February 11, 2017 11:06 PM GMT
Just had a bit of the 40/1 nrnb for the Gold Cup, too tempting to turn down.

Big run tomorrow and he's right in the mix and he could easily be single figure odds, if he doesn't stay then Ryanair bound and I'll get my money back
Report the bloob February 12, 2017 10:26 AM GMT
I've just had some of the 33/1 NRNB for the Gold Cup, just in case things go well today and they re-route. I love these NRNB bets!
Report duffy February 12, 2017 4:10 PM GMT
Things went wellCool
Report wellchief February 12, 2017 4:11 PM GMT
ExcitedExcited
Report buddeliea February 12, 2017 4:15 PM GMT
Well done lads,not me though unfortunately.
Report the bloob February 12, 2017 4:27 PM GMT
I would prefer to see the horse in the Ryanair, but happy with 8/1 and 33/1 both NRNB

I'm surprised by the over-reaction on here to the win, beat a bunch of horses by just a few lengths, albeit decent ones, but nothing you could really fancy in the Gold Cup. I worry about the trip, 2 races ago the horse had barely run beyond 2 miles
Report The Dragon February 12, 2017 4:29 PM GMT
stan james as shortCrazy as 7/1
Report wellchief February 12, 2017 4:32 PM GMT
Well he just beat Don't Poli who had Djakadam behind him last time.

Open to all sorts of improvement and unexposed at the trip.

Entitled to run in it and makes the race more interesting. 10/1 is about what his price should be imo
Report buddeliea February 12, 2017 4:34 PM GMT
Yeh,i would think hes booked his ticket for Gold Cup.
Werent stopping there,and who knows if he will improve for another 2 furlongs or so?
Report ReaseHeath February 12, 2017 4:36 PM GMT
he'll run in the Gold Cup - the owners bought Alary specifically as their Gold Cup horse and that one's bombed out twice so Sizing John will surely now be their runner - won one of the premier Grade 1 chases in Ireland over 3 miles on soft ground, well entitled to run in the Gold Cup.

And after yesterday, the owners will have Fox Norton in the Ryanair surely...
Report Deptford February 12, 2017 4:38 PM GMT
I have backed for Ryanair nrnb, if he were mine, Gold Cup, 100%
Report unclepuncle February 12, 2017 5:13 PM GMT
Interesting dilemma  - would have a favourites chance in the Ryanair but be about 5th or 6th best in Gold Cup with doubts about staying the trip.
A bird in the hand and all that.

Empire of Dirt is very interesting for the Ryanair at double figure prices (won the C&D h'cap last year) if SJ goes for Gold.
Report delsie777 February 12, 2017 5:15 PM GMT
Grand National is the Grand Plan for Empire Of Dirt, I think
Report impossible123 February 12, 2017 5:22 PM GMT
Don Poli finished 10l behind Don Cossack and Djakadam in last year's Gold Cup; the former finished just infront of Djakadam in the Lexus when the latter was given a quiet ride by Walsh.

I think Djakadam remains the one to beat of the Irish contingent; the winner Sizing John was trying 3m for the 1st time today, and the 2nd is an improving handicapper still about a stone inferior to Cue Card and Djakadam.
Report unclepuncle February 12, 2017 5:25 PM GMT
I backed Empire of Dirt for the Grand National back in November as they said that was the plan, but then entering him and running close up in a Grade 1 is going to ruin his handicap mark so I'm assuming they see him as a graded horse and will aim for Cheltneham given how much he loved the place last year.
Report the bloob February 12, 2017 5:52 PM GMT
I don't think the handicapper for the GN will be that harsh, don't forget they don't use official ratings
Report CheltenhamRoar February 13, 2017 12:19 AM GMT
Bloody hell what was colm murphy doing to EOD all these years! Fair enough he won a Cheltenham handicap with him last year but surely they've missed the boat with him given his age, a case of what might have been imo
Report That is all February 13, 2017 12:36 AM GMT
Excellent shout on here gents - price has collapsed since the 40s available on Friday, a real live GC contender IMO after that showing.
Report ReaseHeath February 13, 2017 9:42 PM GMT
Chris Cook in Guardian reporting that Jessie Harrington has confirmed owners have decided Sizing John runs in the Gold Cup.
Report wellchief February 13, 2017 9:46 PM GMT
Forgetting that I've a bet on him, I think it'a great they'd rather be fifth or sixth fav for a Gold Cup and still go for it, rather than be a strong second fav for the Ryanair.
Report ReaseHeath February 13, 2017 9:52 PM GMT
me, too, chief - but also they have a handful of other entries in the Ryanair but only Alary - who clearly is n't going to run - in the Gold Cup.

I don't think Sizing John will win personally but it's right that he has a go - and of course it would n't be unusual for me to be wrong Happy
Report Graeme83 March 16, 2017 8:42 PM GMT
Some fellas holding some nice prices. He has a shout for sure.
Report duffy March 17, 2017 3:42 PM GMT
Cool
Report ZenMaster March 17, 2017 3:45 PM GMT
Excellent call OP, well done SJ backers.
Report FOYLESWAR March 17, 2017 3:48 PM GMT
well done great call !
Report geoff m March 17, 2017 3:54 PM GMT
Great shout love this hoss. took 33s e/w in jan unfortunately it was for QMCCLaughLaugh

Was laid in Ante Post market for £23 @ 999/1
Report unclepuncle March 17, 2017 4:09 PM GMT
My efforts in this thread sum up my entire Festival - couldn't have been more wrong.CryCryCry
Report geoff m March 17, 2017 4:21 PM GMT
what made you think he had no chance of staying the trip uncle?
Report unclepuncle March 17, 2017 4:25 PM GMT
Maybe I'm not so **** after all - posted this on the horse racung thread:

unclepuncle 17 Mar 17 16:08
Pasha Du Polder might have won it last year but for Pendleton - 20/1 not a bad e/w price.
Report unclepuncle March 17, 2017 4:27 PM GMT
Geoff - bear on mind my post was well before he ran in the Irish Gold Cup.

He'd only run at 2m and 2m4f before that and while he was impressive when he beat Sub Lieutenant (so impressive I lumped on for the RyanairCry) thinking he'd be just as good or better over 3m2f on a stiff track wasn't on my ind. Even connections said the Ryanair was most likely until he won the Irish Gold Cup. I was obviously very wrong - not the first time.Laugh
Report impossible123 March 17, 2017 4:32 PM GMT
Very well done to the backers of Sizing John. He was a deserved winner, and he is still only 7yrs old. More of the same to come, I hope. And many congrats to Jessica Harrington too!
Report unclepuncle March 17, 2017 4:33 PM GMT
Yep - delighted for Jessie.Cool
Report impossible123 March 17, 2017 5:06 PM GMT
His winning time was faster than the standard time too, the only one today, and for the entire meeting (I believe).
Report unclepuncle March 17, 2017 6:26 PM GMT
^ If true that's very impressive.
Report CheltenhamRoar March 17, 2017 7:44 PM GMT
Can anyone name me a midnight legend who isn't a stayer? That's all they do is stay. And I'm not after timing as I've said on here numerous times he was wasted at 2 miles, it's testament to the horses class and resolution that he got so close to Douvan so often
Report lewisham ranger March 17, 2017 9:12 PM GMT
seriously impressive. however I have a feeling he will be a one time gold cup winner.

next year seriously tough with likes of might bite and yorkhill likely to take part.
Report luckyme March 17, 2017 9:21 PM GMT
Don't know about that, faster pace, lob in behind them and pounce at the last, whats not to like about a faster pace,
Report unclepuncle March 17, 2017 10:06 PM GMT
Don't see any obvious reason why he can't win it again (and maybe again after that).

Looks a simialr type to Best Mate - lots of 2m form as a novice (hurdles and chases) but travels, jumps and clearly stays. Unless it's really soft he looks the one to beat.

I've taken some 8/1 already.Crazy
Report the bloob March 18, 2017 12:24 AM GMT
yes, the only race in the entire meeting won in better than standard time, I still can't believe it! what a day!
Report lewisham ranger March 18, 2017 8:47 AM GMT
I just think you need to be an exceptional horse to win more than one gold cup and my gut feeling tells me that while he's very good, he's not super special.

also if you look at the horses that have won multiple gold cups recently, they've been british trained, best mate and kauto star. Might not be relevant but still.. theory might be that a lot of the irish horses run a lot on soft ground in ireland which is taxing on a horse. throw in a gold cup win as well and it starts to take it's toll. Best mate was able to win 3 gold cups because he was wrapped up in cotton wool.

btw well done anyone who singled this horse out early!
Report wellchief March 18, 2017 11:24 AM GMT
Excellent performance, especially given the time, it shows it was a good Gold Cup.

Looking forward to next years already with Yorkhill, Might Bite, Our Duke and Coney Island to enter the mix.

Djakadam will win next years Ryanair.
Report duffy March 18, 2017 1:17 PM GMT
I think Yorkhill may end up in it but even without him I'd personally favour UDS over Djakadam.
Report impossible123 March 18, 2017 1:22 PM GMT
"Djakadam will win next year's Ryanair"

Over the death "bodies" of the O'learys, I presume! But there is UDS,...will he be gazumped by the self-obsessed Mullins/Ricci/Walsh combination next year?

What chance of Sizing John for the King George at x'mas? Might Bite is most likely but not sure about Thistlecrack (in my opinion) - he might not be ready given his present predicament.
Report wellchief March 18, 2017 1:32 PM GMT
The form of Thistlecrack's King George has worked out terrible.
Report impossible123 March 18, 2017 1:50 PM GMT
Will Sizing John go for the King George? He is a tempting 7/1 with 'Billies' especially so if Thistlecrack is not a certainty to show up; Might Bite is 5/1 for the same race. I'm unsure about Yorkhill or Douvan.
Report unclepuncle March 18, 2017 8:24 PM GMT
Assuming Min recovers he will surely be aimed at the Champion Chase so Douvan might go for the Ryanair next year - I know it's not considered as prestigious as the Champion Chase or Gold Cup but that didn't stop Mullins and Ricci running their best horse (Vautour) in it twice.
Report unclepuncle March 18, 2017 8:25 PM GMT
I'll be very surprised if SJ goes to Kempton.
Report bankit March 18, 2017 8:40 PM GMT
Hats off to the the op and others on at big prices
Report CheltenhamRoar March 18, 2017 9:26 PM GMT
Listening to Jessie after the gold cup they will defo look after SJ I'd imagine no more than two runs next season before going back to defend his crown hopefully. And would imagine they'll keep him in Ireland until cheltenham too.
Report duffy March 19, 2017 1:42 PM GMT
uncle

I'd be amazed if Douvan would ever be considered for a Ryanair, injury aside he's still the monster we all know he is and the CC is his race, Min will step up IMO.
Report impossible123 March 19, 2017 5:52 PM GMT
Douvan in the Ryanair next season? Very unlikely but if so, will be a massive downgrade and seen as Altior avoidance. I think Douvan will remain a Champion Chase contender next season but will also be entered for the King George, Gold Cup and Ryanair (similar to 2017); VVM in the Gold Cup now that Djakadam's Gold Cup journey is over but not Yorkhill, I believe.

Is Min permitted to run in next year's Arkle or JLT? Otherwise he may clash with one from Closutton over fences.
Report impossible123 April 26, 2017 6:25 PM BST
He looked beaten but just managed to get up to win the Punchestown Gold Cup beating Djakadam. It is not an exactly scintillating performance but the trip was 2f shorter than the Cheltehnam Gold Cup and he was doing his best work at the finish; Coneygree ran an excellent 1st race back from injury finishing 3rd.

There will be Thistlecrack (hopefully 100% recovery), Our Duke and Might Bite (young and progressive), and Sizing John (the holder) for the Cheltehnam Gold Cup again next season, all being well - what a prospect!
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