probably a national winner in waiting just think unless ground comes up very soft he will be found wanting for toe dont think the downhill run to 3 out plays to his strengths.

I feared he might just be a bit too far behind the likes of Native River when they meet the hill,and I still think that after today.
But he certainly finishes his races well,and at near 40/1 I am quiet happy and think I will get a run for my money.
At a guess I would say he could well run into 3rd or 4th.
He does seem to be improving though,so you never know!!

Slow horses seldom win Gold Cups and they only do so if conditions are very testing. Synchronised and Native River being two cases in point. I don't know of other winners in recent memory who do not have a tremendous cruising speed and are well able to sit with the pace.

I would give NR and EE no chance unless really soft going prevails (and little if it does - Presenting Percy is far classier and has handled bad conditions happily in the past).

NR got some good form on going better than soft

Elegant Escape surely isn't fluent enough over his fences to win a Gold Cup?

The only horse that was ever going to be competitive in the Gold Cup, over 3m 2.5f, in Saturday's race.

You've got a decent price, beatent he market and will be the only race he'll run in if he goes to Cheltenham. Cn see him running on past beaten horses up the hill and who knows where he'll finish in that sort of scenario?

Good luck anyway.

sam ...........nor was synchronised !

cyclops i know you put a lot of effort into the gold cup and i like one quite strongly at a price but wanted to pick your brain as it isn't a race i normally get involved however i am this year ante post, i just wanted your views to put the final jigsaw pieces in my bet together

who are the horses that interest you and any thoughts on the race if you can find any time...

i have the same thoughts in regards what you think above in regards the 2 horses mentioned on the ground but what are you're feelings on some of the others as we stand?

do you think he is going to get it easy on the lead this year budd on better ground?

doubt that with frodon, might bite and potentially kemboy all likely prominent racers

not sure they will ruin there chances tbh as native river will be shovelling on the coals himself to keep up, all the horses mentioned will make life very tough for him this year, of course he may get another soft ground cheltenham and in which case he will get loose on the lead imo

Interesting reading the comments on his run behind Sizing John which was good ground.
He was up with the pace pretty much all the way,but was headed for a fair part of the race.
As long as hes in a good jumping rhythm he may not have to dictate as he did last year.

All in all....do I think hes more chance on softer ground....yes
do I think he can still win on good or good/soft....yes.

Have plenty of respect for this horse but cant understand anyone backing him for the gold cup
firstly he needs it soft minimum , OK so claisse plays to the media but its unlikely going
secondly he is not fluent at his fences
tizzard has had plenty of time to sort it out and hasn't done so
thirdly the stress of watching him try to negotiate 20 odd Cheltenham fences at pace
would have your hands over your eyes by about halfway
he is a great horse don't get me wrong , he will run through a brick wall for you
but hes no denman and seriously think frodon would be a much better bet
the jump at the last was unreal on saturday

Ive backed him for the Gold Cup, mainly because I thought his price may be value if the ground comes up in his favour.
When a horse is around 40's their are always going to be question marks.
He was 25's when I last looked.

think soft will be fine for elegant escape not sure why some think he needs it on the heavy side of good ,tizz said after he won the welsh nat "it was soft but but there was good in it ,it was very similar ground to when native river won his welsh nat . a lot saying he is a slow boat and visually he did look short of pace in the cotswold but i suspect that race was slowly run (still havent seen the time of race ) with frodon setting  the fractions at a pace to see if he got the trip , he didnt look slow when the pace quickened  and his stamina kicked in on the turn for home and was the one finishing with a lot of purpose up the hill ,in another furlong do many think he wouldnt have passed frodon ? he made 1 or 2 niggly mistakes on saturday but i put that down to the slow pace ,in the very fast  fast run welsh nat he  jumped much more fluently and was strong at the finish. look i am nt saying he is going to pish up on the bridle he is double figga odds but if he is in contention at the last he is one who will get up that hill .

just had a look at the time of the cotswold...... 20.5 seconds slow

the time was as i thought very slow. elegant escape is an out and out stayer and the dawdle round in the cotswold would not play to his strenths ,contrast that to the welsh nat when the went a very fast pace on ground just on the soft side,jumped and travelled better off the fast pace in a time 3 secs faster than native clocked 2 season previous . the gold cup test  should be right up his street .

billy no mates on here

Well Foyles, that run behind Frodon looks pretty good now!
Any more rain will help,but hes a chance.

i reckon frodon ran to around 171-173 yesterday . puts ee right  in the mix going into todays race .