Although I can't understand why the other jockeys never out champ under any pressure, you'd still have to be happy with seeing him there over 2 miles ?

how can you say he don't like the new course?
he's only ran there once when he fell and was
in front in a race where he'd probably won.

He put in a short one at the last but on the whole I thought he jumped well, the key to him I think is making his mind up and not allowing him to fiddle them, positivity on him is half the battle.

Hibore, I have Champ and ABP in my 10 to follow and will probably stick with those 2 but I can't see either of them shortening in price before the overnights so I am not tempted at the moment. There is no rain forecast for 2 weeks after tomorrow so it might be on the fast side after all.

I hope I am wrong but I think the three fences that willl cause Champ problems will be the last, the last open ditch and the dreaded fourth last. Especially if the site of the fourth last is closer to the bend.  If NdB starts to go for it down the hill, he will not get back up it. I think he could be in a spot of bother on yesterday’s evidence. He was not clean at his fences. He didn’t get a ten out of ten for me for his jumping. If I was on Champ, I would just let him get him a rhythm and then let him freewheel down the hill. Then even if at the home turn I would not worry being ten lengths down. but NdB I do not think will out do Kennedy, Townend, Walsh, or a good few others in a finish as he seems to get his hands in a mess at key moments. I still have him six pounds below on my handicap to Al Boum Photo. But in saying that, I am green, so if he wins it’s a few quid.

I'm much less worried after yesterday. I was very concerned about his jumping last season, and his long holiday since. The longer Gold Cup trip will mean a slower pace than yesterday as I do not believe Native River or Frodon will dare tear off infront like a pair of whippets.

All sweet with me, if he stays sound. I'm not even perturbed by ABP on a line with Santini; Hendo 1st and 2nd (hopefully), but either will do if 1st to the finishing line.

Duffy is right though. Champ has less form to go on than any GC runner for a very long time. One chase run over 3 miles which he won from an impossible position 2 out. Otherwise he is a 2-2.7 mile chaser-or is he? The defeat of Dashel Drasher over 2m 6f looks OK now.

the two he beat,Allaho & Minella Indo have'nt exactly
franked the form.Well beat against top opposition.

since that fall he's improved,he's record speaks
for itself.Al Boum Photo is a top class stayer.

what top class horses has Champ btn?

What price will champ be on the day?

If he is going off anything like that price, I will have a lumpy place lay.

What I don't get, impossible123, is that ABP's 2 Gold cups are a fluke; the (arguably) best staying chase performance this season - by A Plus Tard - is a fluke; the King George winner fluked that race; and yet the winner of a very ordinary looking RSA, who has only managed to make the racecourse once since, is the second coming?

To put it another way: the 1st, 2nd and 4th in the Ryanair have since won Grade 1 chases, and the 3rd came 4th in the King George.  How many Grade 1 winners have come from the RSA?

It is not  that Champ will turn out to be better than he has shown, but there is no way he is a good value bet at current prices, and his price compared with that of ABP and APT is a joke.

The 2 wins of ABP is no fluke, but nothing better than mediocre against Santini (disrupted prep) and Anibale Fly who were 2nd; King George's winner Frodon was definitely gifted the race; APT probably improved up in trip.

Has ABP improved massively since running in The RSA? I think not given the 2 horses he beat in the Gold Cup. Champ may only have run once (no fault of his) this season but it was a jolly fine run against seasoned 2m chasers. He's also a RSA winner something ABP could not achieved.

I think 6/1 is a decent price.

he will send you dizzy muse.

Champ gave the field 10 lengths start and still won easily in the RSA. I seem to remember that at the time, Minella Indo and Allaho were considered to be top class, and we know how good Aye right is.

Ludicrous ?

The only ludicrous thing about it is the fact that the rules or conditions of the race, as per the BHA allow Willie to do that.

Every race run throughout the world has conditions of entry and every trainer throughout the world use those conditions to construct his training programme for his horses. The system appears to work.

What do you want ? A gold cup preliminary round, qualifying ties like the F A cup ?

Fact is people were shouting Mullins hasnt ever won the Gold Cup a couple of years ago on this forum  and what is ludicrous now is the amount of sour grapes being spouted !

Because he is generally seen so little, he doesn’t get near enough the credit he’s deserves, 3 Gold Cup’s in a row would be a quite ludicrous achievement.

I assumed that part was just ignored?

Personally, the two telling indicators of how good ABP is his running in the RSA where he was held, and eventually fell in the race won by Presenting Percy with Monalee 2nd. ABP (after winning the Gold Cup) was 2nd to Kemboy (had his ground) at Punchestown; Kemboy is a good horse away from Cheltenham esp with ground to suit. 

On 2 occasions ABP in a competitive field - I disregarded Santini (disrupted prep/probably mediocre) - and Anibale Fly (more mediocre than Santini) had every chance; fell in one (RSA) and finished 2nd (to Kemboy) in the other.

Nevertheless, ABP managed to win 2 Gold Cup. Fortuitous or merit? Let's hope ABP can retain his crown come March against Champ, APT and Royal Pagaille - the new adversaries with yet unquantified potentials.

Kemboy does not like Cheltenham; PP (hyped/mediocre) has had a bizarre prep and fragile; Monalee does not stay 3m 2f.

Punchestown was a level playing field eg no negative for ABP or Kemboy on the ground and course; ABP had every chance, and beaten fairly and squarely.

I hope ABP, Champ, APT and RP will make the gig. Then we'll find out one way or another, all things being equal.

Absolute garbage
No doubt when we do find out you will learn the errors of your ways
....and stop posting absolute garbage like that