You could have 11/1 after he won the KG. I am not sure today proved much, except that there is a minor worry about his control of his back legs... would not be bombproof landing at downhill fences imo.

I think he is a leading contender... but I wouldn't take fives now.  I am not sure he will be shorter on the day.

Presenting Percy shorter than Clan Des Obeaux even after yesterday's performance? Bookies need certification, and sectioned for sure!

anibal fly did run well, a good prep ,it looks a case of if the 2nd season chasers are superior to the established chasers if ya think its one or the other then it narrows it down but its still a puzzle to sort out ,i am favouring the 2nd season chasers myself ,clan des obeux ,bellshill,elegant escape ,kemboy barring the betfair chase have took the won best  trials and with improvement probable i will favour  last seasons novices just the matter of sorting which one ,already backed shattered love and elegant escape .

I'm a big fan of Percy but CDO is a serious competitor in this, said before but the impressive part of the KG was through the race, they were going a stride too quick for him throughout, that's what gets stayers who need a stiffer track beaten, he suffered that and still had the quality to survive and finish the race off, coming back on the bridle if you will!! That's a real sign of his class IMO.

I don't think Anibale Fly went completely under the radar as the pre-race 33/1 is no longer available. I thought that was the closest thing to any value in the market.

With a little bit of cut (the ground wasn't that testing on Saturday) he must have a chance of equalling last year, if not better. Might Bite is no certainty to beat him again.

I am not sure Native River has had as good a preparation as last year. He has basically hit his head against a wall in two unsuitable races. Presenting Percy could be the class act but it is hard to argue he has had a great preparation and Gold Cups are rarely won by horses with his run style. There has never been any value in his price since he crossed the line in the RSA.

Two out of the last 3 have won with his run style haven't they

a huge amount of horses have won with his run style differentdrum so i think you are talking nonsense

in fact the spread over runners since 2000 is fair whether you are a front runner, prominent runner, mid division runner or a complete hold up horse, so pretty fair all round

Bellshill big chance imo.

If this was a 2-horse race it would be NR and CDO ie the defending champion against the pretender; PP does not even come close, I firmly believe unless one is a supporter.

I couldn't have Kemboy, his big piece of form was a joke race, they crawled and in a 3 mile chase coming off the home bend you could throw a large horse blanket over the whole field.

Not arguing that a hold up horse cannot win the Gold Cup but I don't think any of those mentioned won their Gold Cups in the same style to Presenting Percy cruising round on the bridle in last year's RSA.

Take a day off

More likely 4,5,6.

I cannot remember saying the RSA should be downgraded. However, I've consistently said PP beat a non-stayer in Monalee (I firmly believe that), and I read somewhere even his trainer hinted he'd have run him in the wrong race last Cheltenham. On the other hand Ballyoptic (B) and Elegant Escape (EE) are stayers, the latter a big fancy in the Grand National, and improving progressively.

PP could turn out to be a very good horse, but not until he's actually battled with Gold Cup runners; a Listed, RSA and Gd 2 hurdle winner does not automatically make him fav for the Blue Riband; he needs to find at least 7lbs to match NR, and probably CDO on what he's achieved so far.

Tiger Roll won The Triumph (Gd 1); Grand National; a Gd 2 hurdle. Does that mean he'll be fav for the Gold Cup (if running)? Of course not despite having much more experience than PP. However, one can safely and confidently deduce PP was "well placed" to stay unbeaten post his RSA victory.

It's a discussion board for horse racing thus all opinions are welcome, and accepted as genuine and sincere and nothing personal.

I hope once again I'll have my two principal runners battling it out at the last fence similar to last year; the reigning champion vs the young pretender and King George winner. And this time I may do a rfc.

I agree with muse here, Clan des Obeaux for me, at 7 years of age there is still more to come from him and the way he won the Denman, albeit against horses he should have beaten suggests there may well be more to come from him, backed him a few weeks ago at 10/1 each way and I'm quite happy to sit on that.

I agree with buddeliea. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Very frightened of CDO now but I have Native River as my ante post bet and still think he is the one to beat. Tizzard is in very good form recently and the King George is not his race. I also think that Thistlecrack is still right in the mix.

Watched a preview show yesterday and there are concerns over CDO's jumping to the right. On a left handed track with 22 fences it is expected to cost him 11 lengths minimum. Personally if he does jump right on the day I have noticed that when they get tired it costs them even more than that. All these little corrections become exponential. Not saying he can't win but the minimum winning number has to be OR170 - meaning he will need to run to 181 and more likely 190!  Kauto Star was rated 193 in his prime with Denman a miserly 182. That is the measure of the task for CDO. A visor may help.

ODC current BHA OR is 173.