Paddy Power Gold Cup 2023

Grasshopper

Grasshopper

Senior Jockey
Joined
Nov 14, 2006
Messages
16,012
Have looked at this race every which way, and keep coming back to the same position: a mark of 155 might well underestimate the favourite.

Stage Star jumps great, likes the track (New Course anyway), goes on any ground, has the pace to lie-up with them/keep out of trouble, and has won big-field handicaps in novice hurdles and chases. It's not very original, but there's plenty to like about him, and I'll be hoping for a drift on the day.
 
You would have to forgive him his Aintree flop but that's not a hard thing to do.

He looks well in and the right fav to me as well.

Those below don't look that great and top weight might be his only danger but conceding 7 lbs is a big ask.
 
Some love (myself included) on the ante post thread for Easy As That for in form Venetia.

Take out his Sandown flop when last seen last season and he's hardly seen another horse in facile wins over all tries in excess of 2m. Soft ground will only help his chances, unlike some of those with big weights.

20/1 has duly been taken.
 
Wouldn’t necessarily put anyone off that one, Lee, but the form of those wins hasn’t really stood up, and he’s now rated 141, which looks a bit on the harsh side to me.
 
Sebastopol trounced Stage Star by 5 length's at Newbury giving him 5Lb, and he's in receipt of 8Lb..

4/1 or 40/1...There has to be some value ... Sebastopol carried 12-00 last time out against a rapidly improving horse....
 
The likely ground has to be a worry for Sebastopol.

Not sure I’d agree that the form of Easy as That’s wins hasn’t stood up GH but it’s not rock solid and that’s probably why he’s 20/1


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viking said:
The likely ground has to be a worry for Sebastopol.

Not sure I’d agree that the form of Easy as That’s wins hasn’t stood up GH but it’s not rock solid and that’s probably why he’s 20/1


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Fair.
 
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I liked Sebastopol when I first looked at the race but as above, he wouldn’t have wanted this rain and he’s always more than capable of tipping up.
 
I know a few have come out, but it seems there's been a fair bit of money for Easy As That anyway. Top-price of 14's now.
 
Aye but the declaration and thus NRNB concession will attribute to some of that.

and your semi plagiarised signature has been the story of my season (and beyond)
 
No doubt, Lee.

I decided to take a bit of the 9/2 Stage Star, just to get a foothold.

Unusually for me, I'm actually thinking about combining the three top-weights in forecasts and tricasts. Just feels like a handicap where class might prevail, though it's also possibly down to a degree of laziness on my part. I haven't really got my mojo on for the Jumps season yet.
 
Two ways of looking at in IMO; 1. Stage Star and The Real Whacker take each other on, which seems quite likely and set it up for something off the pace, 2. Their class takes everything else out of their comfort zone and they have it between them.

I can't help but thinking 162 for the Real Whacker is a hell of an ask though, as much as he reminds me of one of my favourites of all time in Dublin Flyer who had a similar way of going about things and won this off 163.
 
Grasshopper said:
No doubt, Lee.

I decided to take a bit of the 9/2 Stage Star, just to get a foothold.

Unusually for me, I'm actually thinking about combining the three top-weights in forecasts and tricasts. Just feels like a handicap where class might prevail, though it's also possibly down to a degree of laziness on my part. I haven't really got my mojo on for the Jumps season yet.
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365, Sky and Betfair have him into 9s now though and blue across the board. Any chance he goes of fav ? Only 2 points longer than The Real Whacker with 365
 
I plan to have a closer look at the race this evening but I do recall being very impressed with how Stage Star travelled and won a nice race last season.

He could well be the class act in the making.
 
With STD reuniting with the Real Whacker and Charlie Deutsch riding for Ventitia Williams

Johnathen Burke comes in for the ride on Angels Breath 12/1.

Sam Thomas has his string in good form and could be a good EW investment with 5 places on offer
 
Caught up a wee bit last night with my Weekender. Expect Easy As That to shorten again from this afternoon. It looks like Tom Segal will put it up in his Pricewise column.
 
I don't know if TS did put up EAT but it's back out to 10s.

I've covered my other bets with Stage Star. I have Il Ridoto top rated on raw figures so if Cobden prefers Stage Star...
 
Well done Stage Star backers. But of a fright at the last but other than that he simply outclassed them


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Grasshopper said:
Have looked at this race every which way, and keep coming back to the same position: a mark of 155 might well underestimate the favourite.

Stage Star jumps great, likes the track (New Course anyway), goes on any ground, has the pace to lie-up with them/keep out of trouble, and has won big-field handicaps in novice hurdles and chases. It's not very original, but there's plenty to like about him, and I'll be hoping for a drift on the day.
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Well done!! amazing how he kept going after what was a shocking last fence blunder that would have gutted most horses.......one tough cookie
 
Good winner of a very good race.

Well done GH and anyone else who backed it.

Easy As That's owner was pretty honest this morning when he said the horse might struggle. It did look to me, though, like it was a prep for something else but it has no immediate engagements.
 
Grasshopper said:
Have looked at this race every which way, and keep coming back to the same position: a mark of 155 might well underestimate the favourite.

Stage Star jumps great, likes the track (New Course anyway), goes on any ground, has the pace to lie-up with them/keep out of trouble, and has won big-field handicaps in novice hurdles and chases. It's not very original, but there's plenty to like about him, and I'll be hoping for a drift on the day.
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Good thinking, sir :) (and desert for covering himself)
 
2017diary said:
Change of underwear for DO? Edit - also GH
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:)

(Nah, I seldom get that involved and I don't recall thinking it was going to fall. Also, I've scaled down my punting since I recently pretty much 'retired' from studying the form. A big bet these days would be with a view to drawing £100.)
 
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