Not been off the bridle since April 2015, won 4 Grade 1s as he pleased since then with cumulative winning distance of over 25 lengths.

If that does n't make him a superstar then either all the horses he has beaten are n't very good and/or have run below form every time he's beaten them or the game does n't have a superstar since Sprinter Sacre retired.

They come and they go.

You exaggerate.

Look what happened to the 1992 Gold Cup involving the fav Carvill's Hill? Golden Freeze, an outsider, was rushed up to unsettle him and how successful that was. The same could happen in next year's Gold Cup, I believe.

As a bigger field almost a certainty it is prudent to expect several pacesetters in the field, probably from the Irish contingent, trying to do the same to Thistlecrack. If so, this could play into the hand of Cue Card (if running and soft ground) especially if Thistlecrack's inexperience surfaces. On the other hand if Thistlecrack jumps as he did in the King George there can only be one result ie Thistlecrack beating Cue Card and Djakadam. One should never be afraid of one horse in any race, and I hope Cue Card is given another chance in the Gold Cup despite having Thistlecrack as stablemate.

Thistlecrack can only win in the King George, and the proximity of others to Cue Card who most here think ran below par should not detract from the impressive performance of Thistlecrack - it was awesome from the most inexperienced racehorse in the field.

I'll desist from the tit for tat stuff 'cos it's a bit pointless.

I think the point I'm trying to make is that just because Thistlecrack is overhyped, it does n't mean he is n't a superstar. The two are n't mutually exclusive.

If you watched his recent races on mute without knowing anything him, I reckon most would be pretty impressed - the manner of his superiority is similar to Usain Bolt in his pomp - although maybe you don't think Bolt's opponents were any good either.

Cue Card did not flop,...he was beaten by a younger, inexperienced but extremely talented novice chaser who won the World Hurdle with ease last season. Also, Cue Card has had a hard season so far trying to chase the £1 bonus eg Wetherby and Betfair, and the season before; he is also getting on, almost 11yrs old. But he can still hold his own against the others as shown in the last Gold Cup until falling two out.

I'd back Cue Card without Thistlecrack in March on soft ground.

I'll bet connections of Native River hope the handicapper thinks that as well stewerty.

As for racing stars, the old guard fades and the new kid on the block takes over.

It's simply the racing cycle, and the media desperate for a superstar hypes the latest winner up for all they're worth as a new world beater.

It's never been any different.

And Cue Card was 23lbs better than Tea For Two who finished a head behind him at Kempton.

If you look at the bare form of the race the form is a bit muddled by the display of Cue Card but in saying that, two inferior rated horses got to within four lenghts of Thistlecrack.

Gold cup winning form? No for me but this could be the worst GC for a few years.

** Having said that, the choke wasn't pulled out on Thistlecrack. Some might say it could have won by further and I would have liked to see that given it's another two furlongs in the GC but no point in pulling out the choke if you don't have to.

The time was also good, (fast by 0.50 seconds) but it was good going. Cue Card likes some juice in the ground so it will be interesting to see what the connections have planned for the horse.

The Ryanair by the look of it now that he's gone back.

Only Tizzard knows how far that is.

CC's jockey was almost in tears - he knows the dream is over.

thistlecrack should still have a deal of improvement over fences, was a brilliant hurdler and undoubtedly has an engine not many horses have to call upon.

whether it jumps round in a hurly burly contest at this stage is another matter, some of them jumps so far he's taken off miles away.

outlander just won the lexus

And Don Poly was 2nd, I believe, with Djakadam 3rd - no worries for Thistlecrack and Cue Card connections at all.

I did Dr C. A big surprise to me also. I like them that says it as they see it. I didn't have a bet on the race but I hope Brennan also heard it watcing the replay at home.

I presume it was the connections that gave him the stint. Good jockeys are few and far between but although Brennan isn't a dud they could have picked better imo.


The Tom George route seems the only viable option to me nowadays.

Assuming he is the smae sort of price (Evens) on the day I will be place laying the arse out of Thistlecrack at 1/2 or less.
If Coneygree makes the gig, plus Native River pouring it on from the front he's as likely to fall as win imo so given the choice between evens or 2/1 I'll take the latter.

I may be a tad behind in the latest news/gossip but does anyone know the reason for the alarming drift on Coneygree?

It's only entry so far is the Gold Cup I may add.

Many thanks for that information.