I know there was a thread discussing this in detail last week but I am still trying to find the angle for the King George.
I am convinced that Clive Smith sent a message out last week that he didn't want to run Master Minded and Kauto Star in the King George and the long term plan was Master Minded. This would seem to be the interpretation others have taken as he steadily drifts to 9.0 Kauto star at Haydock appears to have taken connections by surprise and he is the apple of Nicholls eye and I find it hard to believe Nicholls would turn to down the chance to make history in the King George to keep him fresh for the Gold Cup. Surely Kauto Star does to have to be so rapped in cotton wool he can't manage Haydock, Kempton and the Gold Cup?
Looking at the Master Minded form over 2½m he hasn't bested Kauto Star form even if you only look his latest three completed races. The evidence of my eyes is that Master Minded is not going to be better over 2½m; he ain't going to win it.
If Kauto Star is ridden again from the front and can keep up the same relentless gallop we will draw mistakes out of Long Run and I can see him winning.
Anyway interested to know others thinking, in particular will Kauto Star run if he does run then would Master Minded be pulled out? Also my race reading of Master Minded capability over 3M?
MM has been trained for the race so pretty sure he will run. Kauto was trained for Haydock,which in previous seasons he was trained to peak at Kempton and then again at Cheltenham. As ive said on the other thread,i genuinely feel that if Kauto is trained for Chelt and misses Kempton,he stands a fair chance of winning the Gold Cup,i dont think he can be trained to peak at Haydock and then run at Kempton and Cheltenham,think that would be too much for him now.
MM has been trained for the race so pretty sure he will run.Kauto was trained for Haydock,which in previous seasons he was trained to peak at Kempton and then again at Cheltenham.As ive said on the other thread,i genuinely feel that if Kauto is train
Yes that is my opinion he didn't perform. In mid January when the King George was finally run Nicholls was going through a very quiet period by his standard; about a 10% strike rate from previous 50 runners, was it?
I've always though that Kauto Star does not jump for pressure and MCoy had little choice but to try and keep him in the race and he made several mistakes and a calamitous one two out. Also I think Ruby Walsh rides Kauto Star far better than anybody else. Kauto Star turning up and running like at Haydock i.e. making it and putting Long Run's jumping under pressure would make it close between the two and I would rather be on Kauto Star at 9.0 than Long Run at 2.6. I think Kauto Star has a much better chance of beating Long Run over 3M at Kempton that 3M3F at Cheltenham.
Big doubts about Master Minded and 3M, Somersby is tripless, Riverside Theatre hasn't run for a year. Diamond Harry, Weird Al not good enough.
The three I am concentrating on are Kauto Star, Long Run and Captain Chris who looks like a rapid improver.
Yes that is my opinion he didn't perform. In mid January when the King George was finally run Nicholls was going through a very quiet period by his standard; about a 10% strike rate from previous 50 runners, was it? I've always though that Kauto St