Stable out of form.

R Carver, exactly why do you think such a good jumper as IC made early mistakes? He jumped rubbish, Kempton is not his track. Will never beat Kauto or Denman in GC.

Ryanair must be the sane calll now. If stable can get back in form he's fav for the Ryaniar - he is running for 3rd at best in the Gold Cup.

A No Brainer imo.

R&W - how can you say his best chance to win at the festival is if he goes there fresh after haydock?? He won at the festival last yr after flopping (when the yard was in similarly bad form) in last yrs king george!!!!

Fair enough R&W - he probably faces an impossible task against the big two anyway + i agree he is much better fresh & the ryanair is probably (certainly) a softer race than the GC.

I think NTD proved last yr that the break between Kempton & Cheltenham is adequate tbh. But i have read somewehere that they are thinking of running in the pillar chase in jan - if they do that, i'll rip up my GC antepost!!!

Bobby........ Food for thought m8.

IMPERIAL COMMANDER (24) confirmed his trainer's opinion that he's best going left-handed by putting in a couple of dreadful jumps and failing to recover. Though I guess you could argue that the tight course didn't suit him as he's such a big, strong sort.

Imperial Commander is the only horse in training to have run as fast as Kauto Star on my ratings. Indeed he was unlucky to have the head bob go Kauto Star's way in the Betfair Chase when he too earned a rating of 45 from me.

Seeing that he's younger and more lightly raced I'd say Imperial Commander is more likely to show his best at Cheltenham in March. His chance is clearly going to depend on whether his connections have the bottle to keep him fresh for Cheltenham. If that photo against Kauto Star had gone his way he'd have won all seven times he's come into a race off a break of seven weeks or more. He's scored just once from nine tries when returned to the races more quickly.

One thing's for sure: The bookies have massively overpriced Imperial Commander at 20-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

tbf lads he ain't gonna beat both Kauto and Denman but he'd be my likely 3rd.

Suspect you could be right CVB - you can see him beating one, but both? Looks tough. Tbf, i started backing him before Denman came back (thinking he might not be the same horse now... looks stupid now!). I think he is a major player if putting his best forward. I'm certain he is still on the upgrade, much better at Prestbury Pk, and can run a big race. GC should defo be the call.

Agreed yes - just want to see te best horses running in the race, all running their races, no excuses, and the best horse wins. Going to be cracking sport!

He will go for the GC and fresh.

Obviously Kempton was not our finest hour - he hates the track and he hates going right handed. I think he made that abundantly clear on Boxing Day, irrespective of what the trainer or myself might think. He won't be asked to try again.

Despite the result it was a fantastic occasion and hats of to a true star. Kauto was awesome, a foot perfect round of jumping and a finely tuned engine - just played with the rest of the field. A joy to watch.

After Kempton watching the Lexus was like having root canal surgery - but that life !

Great decision bobby. Eyes down.

I have a feeling the GC will cut up to seven runners or less this year.

Good prize money for 5th, and jockey could be suspended for pulling up unnecessarily.

Know what you mean Barry but there's a book of excuses for pulling up and I doubt if many get fined.

Just give the horse to cokstar. Obviously has the game by the balls.

Obviously would have performed alot better at Leopardstown. You should write a letter to NTD.

It matters not now. The time has come to move forward and as Bobby has indicated the target now is to go straight for the festival and lock horns with the Nicholls bandwagon. In a race which may seriously cut up the 16s available for IC at 1/4 the odds a place is well worth considering. :)

Tbh, i don't care how it comes across. Never have on an anonymous internet forum, and never will.

The point I was making however, was that Bobby agreed with me, and quite a few others (so don't be thinking that i am saying i was the only one right and i am great) that IC should have went for the Lexus, were he'd have enjoyed the left handed track and more cut in the ground, plus the weaker opposition.

And I don't think it took a rocket scientist to come to that (correct) conclusion. Hence my opinion that maybe the owner(s) in this instance, or certainly if this situation was to occur next season, should overrule the trainer.

You dont seem to be getting the point Joe, Bobby himself wanted to run the horse in the Lexus.

I have no doubt the horse would have fared better in the Lexus but I personally would have gone straight to Cheltenham after Haydock and not run at all over Christmas, he runs so well fresh that this would have given him his best chance in the Gold Cup.

Nothing wrong with saying that it was a stupid decision in my view either. Plenty of times people have aired their views on such subjects on here in the past. Are we supposed to not say these things because a part owner of the horse posts on here?? Get a grip ffs, i'm sure Bobby Dazzler isnt the least bit bothered about reading things like that.