King George VI Chase - Boxing Day, Kempton

Amazing race, amazing day, wonderful for the Tizzards

Fabulous atmosphere and was virtually in tears after the race. my kids have never seen me so excited as I screamed my lungs out, the up, down, up emotions after the last fence and the photo. mowed about 5 people on the sprint to the winner’s enclosure...

Vautour looked imperious and stamina the issue for me. Ryanair winner in a canter if they want

Don Cossack most likely winner if he'd stayed on his feet

My eldest son was 18 yesterday and had is first legal bets - Hendo winner of the nov handicap chase (Hills rep gave him 8-1 because it was his birthday) plus Cue Card. He has the game by the bollox

Can't imagine one person there watched the race and thought – ‘appalling whip happy jockey throw him out’. Didn't even consider it until read this morning

a few photos from the day to follow
 
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Al Ferof
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Smad Place
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Cue Card & Connections
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The Don
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Ruby & Willie
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CC
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Random others...
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Timeform have rated the race like Don Cossack won it. They've given him 183.

Seething. Makes Long Run seems underrated.

I'm taking them to task on Twitter.
 
Not buying it. The Don is a powder puff horse who can't cut it when put under pressure.

Sent from my MediaPad M1 8.0 using Tapatalk
 
Think Canford Cliffs, think Kauto at Cheltenham. Yes, both were capable of monster ratings but if they were taken out of their comfort zones, if they ran into Frankel's or Denman's in their pomp - they could not produce them

Sent from my MediaPad M1 8.0 using Tapatalk
 
I thought everything went wrong for him yesterday - why this happened is worrying of course for his fans - but that he was still there pitching at the second last says that he is a proper grade 1 horse. It looked a tired fall, but he was the most likely of the front three to finish least slowest. I wouldnt be giving up on him.
 
Frankel isn't the best example Euro
Excellebration was a weapon but he like everything else blew his bollocks when faced with the best miler ever

The Don hated Kempton,the fact he would have likely been involved in a 3 way photo had he stayed on his feet is testament to his brilliance
 
Bit disappointing he doesn't make any reference to Vautour's stamina, given it is the principal talking-point to have come out of the race.

He makes an oblique reference to the race being a proper test, but focuses far too much on the fallen horse......which suggests to me that old Prufrock has probably backed Don Cossack! :D

Anyone know if he has expanded since on Twitter?

EC, have you done your sectionals/analysis yet? if so, what is your view on how true a test it was? For me, it looks like a truly-run race (hence my lack of concern about Vautour's stamina), but no harm in getting a more scientific perspective.
 
I'd be interested to see how the race was run and then compared to how last seasons Gold Cup was run. Without evidence I'd say very similar, and if so you'd have to say connections would lean towards Djakadam for the Gold Cup. Vautour was legless at the end and I can't see a stiff 3m2f being what he wants. I reckon he has the pace for two miles, but the intermediate trip is perfect for him.

There are comparisons to be made to Florida Pearl. If the Ryanair had existed Florida Pearl would have been a multiple Festival winner. Connections must surely farm the the race for a couple of seasons with Vautour rather than send him to the Gold Cup when they've got better options, and where Willie could easily run four anyway.
 
Dunno, Maruco; connections - even including the lad who walked him out yesterday morning - made it pretty clear Vautour will be fitter for Cheltenham and given he was forcing the pace from a long way out, there are too many imponderables to state definitely he won't stay the GC trip. The only safe bet at this stage is that Ruby's unlikely to choose wrong on the day.
 
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Grasshopper said:
EC, have you done your sectionals/analysis yet? if so, what is your view on how true a test it was? For me, it looks like a truly-run race (hence my lack of concern about Vautour's stamina), but no harm in getting a more scientific perspective.
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*Times and calculations taken from crossing first fence

i've split the race into 3 sections....F1-F7...F7-F13.....F13-Finish

A decent test where energy was pinched from the first..and mainly 2nd sections...which paid a bit in the last section

In the first section Cue Card has run faster than ideal pace by a 2.5 lengths..the middle section...faster than ideal pace by 5 lengths...then the final section..slower than ideal pace by 7 lengths.

That might not sound much in lengths+ or minus but you are travelling a 3rd+ of the race in each of the first two sections and running faster than ideal for a very long way..that tells later when you can't maintain ideal pace at the finish..as in the last section where CC has run 7 lengths slower than ideal due to early exertions. Running any lengths faster than ideal for 5 furlongs in a race like this will cost you late on..ask any runner who runs distances..very small % shifts in pace damage or aid finish time.

They tired late on a bit and the finishing speed from 3 out was 94.9% compared with an even pace finishing effort of approx 97.0%. This isn't a mad pace..Coneygree finished in just 87.5% when winning his feltham..basically walking..relatively

another comparison..when SC won it in 2014 his figures varied from ideal pace very little and his finishing speed was 97.8%..likewise Kauto Star in 2011 when Ruby rode absolutely perfectly with little variance from ideal pace with a finishing effort of 96.7%.

It would have been no advantage to lead in this years race though..in fact it could be argued that a stouter stayer than the first or second really should have relished those last two fences..so its surprising that Don's fall did look tired...as he really ought to have been outstaying the first two late on in the pace scenario he faced at that point..they were slowing down more than par ..not running evenly late as per the 7 length loss on par in that section tells you.
 
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Maruco said:
I'd be interested to see how the race was run and then compared to how last seasons Gold Cup was run. Without evidence I'd say very similar, and if so you'd have to say connections would lean towards Djakadam for the Gold Cup. Vautour was legless at the end and I can't see a stiff 3m2f being what he wants. I reckon he has the pace for two miles, but the intermediate trip is perfect for him.

There are comparisons to be made to Florida Pearl. If the Ryanair had existed Florida Pearl would have been a multiple Festival winner. Connections must surely farm the the race for a couple of seasons with Vautour rather than send him to the Gold Cup when they've got better options, and where Willie could easily run four anyway.
Click to expand...



Florida Pearl was a multiple festival winner.
 
Thanks, EC.

Vautour was clearly going faster overall than CC over those first two sections, given he was in the lead. In your view, would this have played against Vautour ever more than CC, in term of lasting out at the end?

Also, put the gun to your head, and tell me if you think Vautour is a 'stayer' at 3m at Grade1 level, based on the King George.......and whether you think he has a chance of getting home over 3m2f at Cheltenham (assuming an even gallop that is appropriate for trip and class of race).

Cheers.
 
Grasshopper said:
Thanks, EC.

Vautour was clearly going faster overall than CC over those first two sections, given he was in the lead.
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Yes but CC was always going to sit in behind, take a tow round the bend into the straight and see who's fastest over the final two furlongs according to Tizzard pre race.
 
Grasshopper said:
Thanks, EC.

Vautour was clearly going faster overall than CC over those first two sections, given he was in the lead. In your view, would this have played against Vautour ever more than CC, in term of lasting out at the end?

Also, put the gun to your head, and tell me if you think Vautour is a 'stayer' at 3m at Grade1 level, based on the King George.......and whether you think he has a chance of getting home over 3m2f at Cheltenham (assuming an even gallop that is appropriate for trip and class of race).

Cheers.
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worth bearing in mind..that once horses have taken their position in a race..the leader will be going the same speed as the rest of the field..otherwise the leader would get further and furher in front. The energy used to get the lead will count aginst..but from then on in..they all in the same boat speedwise unless they want to make a place or drop back.

i feel that Vautour and CC do stay 3 at G1 level...had they not then they would have been beaten given they were basically sitting ducks from 2 out..the fact nowt could get near them tells me they both stay that trip at that level.....its too difficult to tell if they will stay further..a guess would be i doubt it..particularly at Cheltenham..its such a different ball game.
 
Don't listen to him Grassy :lol:

Seriously Vautour loves Cheltenham and his style of running is more suited to there than Kempton IMO.

He has shown the ability to wrap things up from the top of the hill with a sudden burst of speed at Cheltenham and that catches so many good horses out.

I think they will take their chances with him...I would want him to run......friggin Ryanair is for horses not good enough to win a Gold Cup and that's not Vautour
 
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Can't agree with either of the last two posts. Cooper had to get serious a few times with DC during that race and he responded every time. He was also staying on better than anything before he fell.

Tanlic, have you ever watched a Gold Cup? It has nothing to do with sudden bursts of speed! What you need is a horse with the ability to sustain a gallop that the others can't operate at for a prolonged period of time. Also, I do recall Cue Card winning the Ryanair and he looks plenty good enough to win a Gold Cup.

Grassy will no doubt be pleased to hear connections today saying they are still considering a tilt at the GC with Vautour.
 
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