King George VI Chase

Practically confirmed now that Noble Yeats won't go to Kempton, and will run in either the Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield, or the Cotswold Chase, as his Festival prep.

Sam Twiston-Davies is likely to take the ride on Hitman, should Harry Cobden opt to ride Bravemansgame, and Lorcan Williams is being lined-up to replace Bryony Frost on Frodon, should she not recover from injury in time.
 
While I wouldn't for one minute think I know better than the man but I am really surprised at Willie Mullins not running Galopin Des Champ.

The Choice seems to be take on Bravemansgame and L'Homme Presse who have yet to prove they are up to King George level and I have huge doubts about the former.

Or take on the Irish and English Gold Cup winners for 100k.

Seems a no brainer to me a trip across the Irish Sea would have been a better choice but Willie knows best.
 
Grasshopper said:
Practically confirmed now that Noble Yeats won't go to Kempton, and will run in either the Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield, or the Cotswold Chase, as his Festival prep.

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I think they are dreaming and he has no chance of winning a Gold Cup,,,,,,,,The National is much more up his street, he's a great jumper and even the increase in weights probably wouldn't stop him going very close if he went there without a hard race beforehand.


That race he won at Haydock was a pile of shyte IMO and talk of running in the The Gold Cup is nuts' All they will achieve is to knock the stuffing out of the horse and all chances of a 2nd National will be gone.
 
Think you meant Aintree (rather than Haydock) - a race I'm not particularly blown-away by either.

My suspicion is Noble Yeats is best suited by a flat track, which is largely borne out by his overall record. He was beaten 20L in the Ultima last season, and was PU'd on his only start at Naas - though he did win a maiden hurdle at Navan.

If I was training him for a Gold Cup, I'd go to the Cotswold Chase. The stiffer test of the New Course would be in his favour, and it might help demonstrate he handles the track better nowadays. Lingfield would probably not tell them very-much in comparison.

Either way, it's a bit of a double-edged sword for connections, as both races come prior to the National weights being announced. If he wins his prep (regardless of which option he takes), he's a cert to get saddled with a stopping-weight in the Nash - without necessarily being good enough to win the Gold Cup. Lose his prep, and his Gold Cup chances are rendered pretty barren, and he'd likely not be dropped an ounce for Aintree.

It's a tricky one, and my gut feel is that they'd be better-off going all-in on one race or the other.
 
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Tanlic said:
While I wouldn't for one minute think I know better than the man but I am really surprised at Willie Mullins not running Galopin Des Champ.

The Choice seems to be take on Bravemansgame and L'Homme Presse who have yet to prove they are up to King George level and I have huge doubts about the former.

Or take on the Irish and English Gold Cup winners for 100k.
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I dunno about this, Tanlic.

Mullins had already pulled Galopin Des Champ at the last forfeit stage, so the option to run at Kempton isn't there - unless he supplements him on Monday, that is. Whilst that's not impossible, it has to be considered highly unlikely if Punchestown race and the Durkan goes ahead the same day.

As regards BGM and LHP, the latter's handicap mark is probably already around what's needed to win a typical King George (OR 170 very-much in the ball-park), and the former wouldn't be miles away that level either (OR164). Whilst I can understand why you might have reservations about them, both are improving young horses that very-likely haven't reached their potential yet - which makes them both pretty-much the same horse as GDC (but with the added benefit of having proven themselves to a degree outside novice company).

The final decs for the Durkan didn't include the Irish/English Gold Cup winners, and was going to be - and still probably will be - a straightforward affair for GDC. Of the two races, it's a much easier race to win FTO, than the King George......imo.
 
As I understand it, Galopin was pulled from the KG when the decision was made to go for the Durkan. At the weekend, Willie said that the Durkan was plan A but he was also entered in both Savills (Leopardstown and Tramore). He wanted 2 runs before Cheltenham and the implication was that the Irish Gold Cup would be run number 2. If the Durkan doesn't go ahead, I have the strong feeling that he'll go to Tramore for run number 1.
 
I think the King George is going to cut up massively this year.

From a personal point of view I think the race degrades year upon year.
 
tiggers1972 said:
I think the King George is going to cut up massively this year.

From a personal point of view I think the race degrades year upon year.
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I reckoned we'd end-up with a field of seven....which is probably about par for the race, tbh.

Class-wise, I dunno. Recent years have looked a bit soft, in terms of horses that can go on to win something at the Festival, so I can see where you're coming from.
 
Tanlic said:
I think they are dreaming and he has no chance of winning a Gold Cup,,,,,,,,The National is much more up his street, he's a great jumper and even the increase in weights probably wouldn't stop him going very close if he went there without a hard race beforehand.


That race he won at (Aintree) was a pile of shyte IMO and talk of running in the The Gold Cup is nuts' All they will achieve is to knock the stuffing out of the horse and all chances of a 2nd National will be gone.
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Plenty of good National horses have used the Gold Cup as a prep for it, not least Hedgehunter, who was trained on the same gallops used by Noble Yeats.

He’s already rated 167, and the handicapper is likely to add an Aintree tax to that for last year’s win, so how much higher could he be put up if he was placed in the Gold Cup? I think they might as well give the Gold Cup a proper go.
 
Listening to Mr Cohen during the week, he is most certainly going with the intention they have a chance of winning in March

Is Hewick going to be this generations Danoli?

It is fascinating these two may run on the day as pretty much unknowns on the G1 scene
 
Grey said:
He’s already rated 167, and the handicapper is likely to add an Aintree tax to that for last year’s win, so how much higher could he be put up if he was placed in the Gold Cup? I think they might as well give the Gold Cup a proper go.
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Any Aintree 'tax' (which won't happen given his already lofty rating) would be irrelevant to his Gold Cup prospects, though. He'd still be a 167 horse. If APT were to turn up in the same form as last March the 17lbs difference on ratings would equate to about 23 lengths on good ground.

Then again, there's been no shortage of horses rated lower than 167 to have been very competitive in the Gold Cup (but maybe not against 180+ ones) and Sir Rembrandt nearly nutted Best Mate so why not have a go.
 
The lack of potenial in this renewal is shocking. mind you it hasn't been great for the last couple of years either.

The only horse I see with real potential that could go on to reach the very top is L'Homme Presse.

I have no idea if they intend to run him, has anyone else ????
 
Tanlic said:
The lack of potenial in this renewal is shocking. mind you it hasn't been great for the last couple of years either.

The only horse I see with real potential that could go on to reach the very top is L'Homme Presse.

I have no idea if they intend to run him, has anyone else ????
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I hope so as I took 7/1
 
He would need the rain to come, and the more the better, according to the last owner quote I saw after his win at Newcastle.
 
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Indeed. I actually backed Miranda ante-post for this and my angle was Champ is best fresh, both he and PP had hard races at Newbury, and this was a quick turnaround. If the top three in the market all run it gives the OAP's nine extra days. Thankfully my bet has been voided.
 
L homme Presse is an intended runner according to a Sporting Life article which I can't currently seem to attach.
 
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Now that he looks like running I will have to jump ship go with L' homme Presse over Envoi Allen and do a RFC as well

As for Bravemansgame I wouldn't touch him with a barge pole as I think he's a good horse but grossly overrated.
 
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