I think that pace is not really given its true meaning in a lot of these discussion. They don't have to go hell for leather to make the GC what its is..a proper 3m2.5f test. They pace only has to be efficent to ensure that truly staying is really necessary. Its only if there are large lulls in efficient pace that allows such as the KS type of winner..ie one that we would say has more speed than stamina
If they go faster than would be described as efficient..then it depends how much faster..if they go daft pace like at Leopardstwon..the pace collapses..but there is the pace where they go just a little faster than ideal where you need extra reserves. But for a doubtful stayer to win a GC there has to be a decent lull somewhere for a decent distance...thats usually at the start..the first few fences of any GC actually set the trend for the rest of the race...but you do get the hole in the middle races if one horse can boss the pace...if more than one want it..the hole in the middle probably won't occur
These are the pace lines for the last few GC's..in each section the pace is measured against ideal pace which has been calculated using the avergae pace in the section using numerous GC's. If the figure is a minus it means they went faster than ideal pace in that section..the figures are lengths
| | | F1 – F7 | F7 – F12 | | | |
2008 | DENMAN | | -1 | -8 | -3 | 0 | 13 |
2009 | KAUTO STAR | | 10 | -2 | 3 | -4 | -5 |
2010 | IMPERIAL COMMANDER | | 13 | 1 | -7 | -4 | 1 |
2011 | LONG RUN | | -1 | -2 | 4 | 4 | -3 |
2012 | SYNCHRONISED | | -5 | 7 | 6 | 4 | -9 |
2013 | BOBS WORTH | | -4 | -4 | -3 | 8 | 5 |
2014 | LORD WINDERMERE | | -8 | 4 | 14 | -2 | -6 |
2015 | CONEYGREE | | -8 | 2 | -1 | 9 | 2 |
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F12–F18
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F18-F21
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F21-FIN
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In Denmans year the pace up to F12 was run 9 lengths faster than ideal pace...then even the mid section is 3 faster than ideal....look how it damaged his finish..13 lengths slower than you would expect.
9 lengths doesn't sound much..just think of its as speed above or below efficent instead of just x lengths ..consider they have run a fair distance to F12..at a pace faster than ideal..then again stronger mid section....it canes you later. Anyone that runs distance races knows you only have to go a stride faster for a good way early or mid in a race to damage your final time. Denmans win was a grulleing race..and they "only" went 9 lengths faster pace early on...but there was no lull mid race either
KS had the type of pace that i'd imagine Vautour would love..10 lengths slower pace early on helped him..look at his finish...5 lengths faster than par..he had petrol left and used his speed to win.
Imperial Commander was a mixed bag race..slow early but mid late pace strong..finishes race in near on efficient manner
Coneygree is interesting..strong early..then evenish..then a lull to make sure he got home just a little slower than par. If jock had kept him going at the pace he went in the middle section..in the next last section....he wouldn't have lasted home.
Bobsworth year was pretty tough pace as well..the first 3 sections all run faster than par..thats a lot of petrol used..hence slow last 2 sections are slow..a tough old race.
most races pace wise can be split into 3...then you get slow/even/slow etc..Denman would be fast/fast/slow..KS = slow/even/fast...Bobs worth Fast/fast/slow
lord windermere + syncronised are "hole in the middle" pace jobs..fast/slow/ fast
For this years race you have to ask is there a lack of early pace enough to get the KS type of race?..i personally don't see that..will there be a lull to get the fast slow fast scenario..thats hard to see with such as OHO in there..even if he doesn't lead..he will at some point..and as we saw at Leopardstown..doesn't really do lulls.
this years race could be even/even/even if you take a neutral view...but its more likely that one of the first 2 sections will be fast..which imo means that the end will be slow..playing to stamina not speed.
Usually if just one horse wants that lead he can get the lull somewhere where the jock wants it.....but if you are leading and want a lull in pace..you are buggered if a hoss like OHO is prepared to pass you to maintain that pace..there is then no lull...that means the end of race is slow and tiring.