Lexus

The ground will slow the leaders up giving him a chance to stay in touch.

Think Cooldine will leave his last run behind. What beats him will win.

Pandorama, 10/1, Hills, will give him another chance after the Newbury disaster.

A copy of my post from the Cheltenham forum

This mare looks the value bet to me for the Gold Cup.  She’s been available at 200 + for some days now and, on form, that offer strongly suggests she won’t run in the race and that the Ryanair will be her target again, but I'm hoping minds will be changed tomorrow in the Lexus.

She could be considered unlucky in the Ryanair back in March.  Having travelled well, she was given a very hard time of it by Ruby on Poquelin.  Just as she was coming to deliver her challenge, Ruby decided to close the gap Condon had seen.  Condon persevered but Ruby bumped and bored the mare, knocking her almost sideways at one point, killing her chance and not doing Poquelin’s much good either.

J’y Vole battled back but made a mistake two out and took an accidental bump from Poquelin on landing.  Still she battled on and was run out of second by a nose, staying on well enough for one who’d met so much trouble in running.

She went into the Ryanair on the back of an easy victory over Watson Lake in a Grade 2, her first win for almost a year - Mullins quote was that she’d finally been showing at home she was on her way back.

After the Ryanair, she was turned out at Punchestown and was moving sweetly in the 26f ****ss Gold Cup when unseating five out.  On her reappearance this season she really impressed me in how she travelled, jumped and stayed on to run Tranquil Sea to under a length in a Grade 1 on soft ground over 20f.

She disappointed in last year’s Lexus but went into the race in much poorer form than she’s shown lately, a fact reflected in her being third favourite for tomorrow’s race.  Heavy ground will test her stamina more than her action - she’s won 3 from 5 on heavy going (2nd and 3rd in the other two).  But I think she has every chance of getting the trip and if she runs well tomorrow and stays on stoutly, she will surely get a Gold Cup entry.

She certainly has a lot to find with the major players but I think she is quite a bit better than her 153 rating and, about to turn 8, she has, I believe, considerable improvement in her.

A strong traveller with an admirable attitude and a dose of tactical speed, my main concern would be how low she gets at her fences at times, though her jumping last time looked very solid.

Anyway, I’m hoping she wins or goes close tomorrow to merit a Gold Cup entry and a dramatic reduction in price

think ryanair was J'y Vole's easily last year if hadnt been bumped a few times. hadnt considered for the gold cup but i guess a decent performance could help, still think will go ryanair again though

Thoughts are that Kempes mightn't want ground this soft and that despite her Ryanair run J'y Vole might be better right-handed. Pandobeast for me who will love the conditions.

I agree with you steeplechaser. I think J'y Vole wants the trip, I dont think the ground will be a problem as you say and she clearly wants further than 2 and a half mile. Her last run was great all things considered. Good luck

I am suggesting the problem with his jumping has become the difference between winning and losing as it has deteriated drastically over his last 5 races. Definately cost him this race last year.

Joncols jumping problem is more pronounced when the top speed race for home starts. The heavy ground will negate a lot of that.

Steeple I also hope that JyVole wins or goes close today but thats casue I backed her at 40s plus for the Ryanair. Ive been keeping an eye on her since the summer and even if she does win today Im 95% sure that Mullins will send her to the the Ryanair.
Hopefully she wins today either way though ;)

Thats not heavy ground

I'd say she's a definite for the Ryanair now abbott - didn't see that out at all today

10/1 ffs , cheers willy