Flemenstar V Cue Card at Aintree

I think CC has proved himself on Soft ground and a testing 21f so whatever the conditions are at Aintree he'll be alright. It just depends if he can win THREE Grade 1's on the spin after starting his season in October. Riverside Theatre tried it last season and failed at Aintree, albeit in the Bowl over 3m.

Flemenstar should be slightly fresher, and is every bit as good as CC, but there are some peeps who seems to think he is a poor traveller?

Don't forget if the ground is Good then Finians Rainbow may come into the reckoning.

From what I've seen visually and just the sheer impression of him through his races I think that Flemenstar is a different class horse to CC altogether...a higher one that is before anyone asks.

Thats very unfair on Bobs Worth.

Flemenstar wouldn't get the chance to beat those horses in Ireland, I'm probably deluded admittedly but I don't even see where the debate is,over his correct trip, Flemenstar is an absolute monster, CC shouldn't even be spoken in the same sentence as him

sirfresh,
You forgot to mention that Bobsworth against Cue Card was over a trip too short for him,although you did remember to include that fact when talking about Flemenstar and SDC!!

Personally think Cue Card is one of the best chasers around,although i do think the same about Flemenstar to be honest.A race over around 2m4 would be one to look forward to for sure.

Cue Card beat First Lieutenant quite easily and Flemenstar finished 1/2 length behind it in Ireland.

I know you will say that 3m wasn't Flemenstars ideal trip but it wasn't for FL either and FL was going just as well as Flem throughout that race...not like he outstayed him up the straight.

Just hope all 3 (Finians included) turn up.

How would you price it up if they all turned up on good to soft?

^
I'd have flem and cc the other way round

Flemenstar @ 9\4 would be christmas come early !!!!!!

Interesting. Cue Card's long season worries me, but I think he's much faster than Flemenstar and on good ground could lose him round Liverpool. Flemenstar is a bit like Sir des Champs in that he was hyped out of all proportion on the back of a sequence in novice company, but his best form in the book over 2.5m is probably a 5l beating of SDC in soft ground. That's not good enough, SDC wouldn't see which way Cue Card went over 2.5m.

Don't agree that the ground doesn't matter. While CC handles anything, FS looks much better on soft.
If Finians could repeat what he did last year he's be in the mix, but I don't really buy the soft ground excuse for him, I think he's gone.

Couple of points about the Cue Card defeat by Bobsworth. It was BW's first start over fences and he's probably much better now. But it's worth remembering the CC was very free and didn't get home - as they started up the run in it looked like Cue Card was going to win 10 lengths.

Duffy - please tell me you meant the 2nd best CHASER in training, otherwise I'm going to have to take you outside for insulting Big Bucks:)

FL= runs well against the best but doesn't win anymore, and wants further.
Champion court= not top class by any means.
riverside = beaten by half way ( and not from anything cc did)
for non stop = flatters to deceive apart from one race a year when people thought he was the 2nd coming.
albertas= past it
ghizao= never was it.

In fact, back in november this race looked to be shaping up to being one of the strongest fields of the whole festival, it was a bit disappointing in the end....CC of course did it well, but did anything really run a race.

I just said that I would think that sdc would beat that those horses last week in the ryanir, not as easily as flem would have beat them though, basically I'm suggesting that CC didn't beat as strong a ryanir field as it turned out as we had thought likely a good few weeks ago...he did it well though and I'd question if they all ran to their best as well.

You can throw Sprinter Sacre into the mix as well - Looks like he runs!

I understood that's what you were saying Duffy. I was just - respectfully - disagreeing with you. I think if SDC had run in the Ryanair against the same field he'd have been third at best.

According to Nicky Henderson, Sprinter Sacre is heading there as well. An afterthought to ensure the trainer's title?

i,ll be all over flem for this, monster or no monster

SF - I certainly hope so but Henderson seems to enjoy leaving us in the dark...never mind the paddle, we haven't even got the canoe!

I'd assume he'd be a bit shorter than that...if all three turned up, then probably around 2/7 perhaps?
I wouldn't be happy to lay Sprinter Sacre at anything over 1.2 but maybe I'm a coward.

I'm far from sure about the price but I'm relatively confident that Cue Card won't be up to challenging Sprinter Sacre, even over HIS optimal trip!
I was very disappointed by his fencing in The Ryanair, though winning that so comfortably emphasises the size of his engine.

Conversely, if Sprinter Sacre opts for Punchestown instead, then I wouldn't be surprised if Cue Card can beat Flemenstar though I do slightly favour the Irish horse, as he's a natural fencer with plenty of class.

The possibility of a faster surface may be troublesome, as well as the reservations his connections have stated about travelling - as a potential duel (without SS) it's a sit back & enjoy race for me.

FF - I don't think the track matters at all to a class act like Sprinter Sacre