I agree with Foyleswar's comments about DD above.

However, having been a massive DDS fan throughout, recent events have persuaded me that CPS is the likeliest winner.  Altior and DDS have awesome Festival records, so you would have to trust that CPS can also produce his best, because he will need to.  But the combination of his most recent win and his defeat of DDS last season, albeit that the latter no doubt peaked for Cheltenham, and may not have been at his absolute best, convince me that he has the strongest overall form now.

Clearly, no sane racing fan would hate to see Altior do it again, but just based on how he is running right now, I think he is vulnerable.

DDS has looked better and better, and it would be unwise to take a dim view of his runs based on what he beat: he can't help how the others run.  But I think CPS might just be a bit better.

If I had 20s DDS on a slip I would be very chuffed.  I am not sure I can see any huge value in any of the top 3 right now, I do think CPS is slightly too big, and even more so if therebis any significant chance of DDS going to the Ryanair.

One thing is clear IMO, if you haven't already backed any of the front 3 at bigger odds you couldn't get involved now at their current prices, you can have your idea about the winner and mine is that CPS is the most likely winner, but the negatives that the front 3 all have outweigh their prices.

At the current prices the value has to be Cilaos Emery, he has a big enough question to answer on his jumping and we're not to know how the last day will stack up, he's entered in the red mills so it's obviously been decided that he does need to have a run into before the festival.

What we know about him suggests that he may well have the innate ability to operate at the level required. If we accept that the front 3 have little between them you can consider the line of form that suggests he has the beating of CPS, it's tenuous as there's a few parts involving APT, CPS and Ballyoisin but it's there and you're getting a price for it.

Well time will tell on that Imp. As I said before to my eyes watching the JLT again the other day the way he finished that race off over 2 and a half mile,suggested to me he would have no problem stepping up to  three miles.Maybe he will at some point,if he flops in this race he would I think.
Still hes running decision made, and to be fair he's looked ok jumping so far over 2 m this season,I hope he can do it in this race which will be a proper test for all of them,no hiding place that's for sure.

I can see the reasoning behind CE being a bit of value,especially if one is thinking the Irish form is better than the British,or at least as good as.
Dynamite Dollars is more than twice the price though.
Actually one could back both,think i will add CE.

Agree it did show he had more pace than LIT.
It also showed to me that DDS would stay further.
Think he looks tailor made for a King George.
Anyway,hes running over 2m, lets see how he does.

Altior never been one for quick times......he just wins.

3m plodder?? Been plenty of KG winners I would not describe as plodders.

DDS is not running in the Ryanair because he excels over 2 miles and he won’t run in the King George because he excels over 2 miles.

By the end of this thread you will be putting Defi up for the Grand National.

Why you being such an &rse Hibore?

Ive said im glad hes in the QM,and I think if Altior is not within 3lb of his best,i have said I think DDS will win the race, but its certainly possible I am wrong on that and its certainly possible that he does not excel at 2m. First he has to beat proper 2 milers(according to connections UDS has not been one for at least two years now).
   
And I can still give opinions I have when I watch last years JLT.

My reply was to your one below.

buddeliea
buddeliea 11 Feb 20 21:04 Joined: 19 Mar 04 | Topic/replies: 15,128 | Blogger: buddeliea's blog
Something that really pleases me is that UDS is apparently still a big form guide to the Champion Chase.
Being such a big fan of the horse over the years,its nice to know that at the age of 11/12 hes still seen as a scalp over 2m. That's despite connections running him in the Ryanair.
Maybe connections will look at the joint fav and give UDS one last hurrah in this years QM.Maybe my pennies on him for the QM should not be torn up just yet Wink

thats the thing with DDS,some see beating UDS over 2 miles as a scalp,some dont

Well that was a tad tongue in cheek.But it is the form that has Defi as the price he is, and I am convinced it would have been a lot closer had UDS not missed the 2nd last.
Anyway UDS wont run in the race,and Defi may win the race.

As for the future I am just trying to summise where Defi will end up running,not crab his 2m credentials this season.
Ive seen evidence that hes comfortable over the 2m distance,ive also seen evidence that suggests to me he will be effective over further than the JLT distance.

Fact!!   Tired now !

what distance he is  effective over is for the future but for this race i think he may need it pretty soft going over 2 miles to win this,still think altior is the one to beat but CPS jumping could get them in trouble and i'm sure ken pitterson in the weekender said that he didnt think CPS was fully fit on his last run when beating Min which if correct might make him the one to beat,a great race if they all run but as someone put earlier probally not a betting race unless already on

Altior is a cert , for a place, the question is who is going to beat him ? Henrys has to have soft, willies are right at the top of their game and there are three to chose from if not four,  hobbs at 2\1 not for me and nichols in wrong part of the world. Its hendo v willie again

The guy is an ejit, he would want them to do three cartwheels and a triple salko before they crossed the line

Imp, Kemboy was going to beat Delta work in the Irish Gold Cup if I remember rightly. Length here and 3 lengths there...luckily it's not that simple.
I'd watch "Upping the Ante" when they say anyone saying they know who wins the Champion Chase is lying...how can you know when they are so closely matched.

I don't know about lightning acceleration but you do have to admit that he was positively spritely up the run in, he scooted away.

But the stereo typical comment we repeatedly hear about Altior, "if he's close at the last etc etc etc", that means little in isolation. If he's close at the last but the pace that CPS made him go through-out the race was such that he was forced to go into the red zone earlier and for an extended period of time then that finishing kick won't be there.

We know that Altior hits a flat spot against significantly lesser rivals, but they could never apply enough pressure to stretch him at that point to capitalize. Douvan aside CPS and DDS are a better class of animal to what he's faced so far.

Yes Altior may well be "there" at the last, but it's only by seeing how he has absorbed what's gone before will we know what comes next.

The finishing kick isn't going to be able to be deployed regardless!!.

Looks like he's a goner...

could be supplemented to the champion hurdle

I think its not that myself Foyles
Hes 25 for that last I looked.

He is entered over hurdles at Gowran tomorrow