Cheltenham Gold Cup

[granger]

With no further news from Closutton, it would seem that Willie's early opinion that GDC wasn't letting himself down properly on the good ground is the main factor. This would also affect his normally efficient jumping. He came up against a good horse who was able to act on the ground and if you watch how uncomfortable horse and jockey were on the first circuit, it's a credit to his class and tenacity that he was in a position to challenge at the last.

New ORs are 175 for both horses and GDC's RPR for last week was 8lb lower than his victory last year which suggests that it would have been much closer on soft ground this year.

I imagine they leave FTF for punch and give GDC a few months rest before one last big campaign with one less race before March

 

[moehat]

Simon Rowlands in broad agreeement with my view.:
Sectional Spotlight: Cheltenham New Course review | At The Races

 

[moehat]

Do you think that, as a full sister to a Gold Cup winner they’ll now retire Limerick Lace and breed from her given that their mum has had quite a few foals?

 

[Desert Orchid]

Please, please, please let them run GDC in the Newbury Hennessy off 12-0 or even 11-12, top weight, 175. It would put anything under 149 out of the handicap and the decent second-season novices that sneak in off a mark in the mid-high 130s wouldn't have their advantage. He could go any handicap pace and beat them for toe from the last.