Paddy Power Gold Cup

Fontaine Collonges takes the eye as a potential Venetia Williams gold star horse this season (along with the others!).

But only 16-1 right now. Not quite big enough, but still could look attractive in a couple of weeks.

Haven't been able to find a stable tour, would be great if anyone has access to info that would confirm this race is an intended target.
 
I thought Ga Law was very promising in the Old Roan. He won't get away with the sketchy jumping of the first circuit there but it was his first run for a long time and I can forgive that for now.

We won't know until Tuesday how strong a view the handicapper has taken of that run but if they leave him on 142 he has to be a contender.
 
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Not convinced, PJ.

There's only 6 horses entered that are rated 150 or better, and the top-dog is only rated 156. It will be typically competitive, no doubt, but it looks a moderate race to me.
 
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Competetive is the understatement of the century

In 1984 I was at Market Rasen specifically to back a horse of Mick Lamberts.

Backed down to 6/4 fav he fell at the 2nd hurdle but before I left Malton that morning I had an equal amount on Brown Chamberlain at 9/2 early prices..

I was very dissapointed with Micks horse falling but by the time I gathered my thoughts and walked into the bar
staring me in the face was Brown Chamberalin on the TV jumping the 2nd last with the race well under control.
I then had a run on Galway Blaze Buroughhill Lad and Playschool

Since then I might have backed Denman but apart from him I've had 30plus loser in the race since the 80'S.
 
Thx for bringing back some nice memories, Tanlic. Maybe this is your reset year :-)

***

Let's all spare some thoughts for Midnight Shadow on the day.
 
Cheer but it would help if it was in the correct thread.Brown Chamberlain won the Hennessy not the Mackeson Gold Cup/Paddy Power.

Agree with Grassy wholeheartedly this looks like apoor renewal. When you look back and see names like
Dunkirk, Gay Trip, Cancello, Man Alive, Half Free, Bradbury Star etc

Dread to think what Bradbury Star off 11.08 would have done to the pile of shyte entered this year.

If that comes across as harsh it's meant to..........what they have done to what once were great races like The Mackeson, The Massey Ferguson and the Whitbread is shameful.
 
Aye, agree with grassy and tan. It’s all Cheltenham, Cheltenham, Cheltenham nowadays and it casts a long shadow.
 
Grasshopper said:
Not convinced, PJ.

There's only 6 horses entered that are rated 150 or better, and the top-dog is only rated 156. It will be typically competitive, no doubt, but it looks a moderate race to me.
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I think the balance has swung towards second-season chasers so the race nowadays is maybe more about potential than proven quality. There's a fair chance this year's winner will prove to be a mid-160s horse by some point in the season.

And Mister Fisher was rated in the 160s not that long ago.
 
Desert Orchid said:
I think the balance has swung towards second-season chasers so the race nowadays is maybe more about potential than proven quality. There's a fair chance this year's winner will prove to be a mid-160s horse by some point in the season.

And Mister Fisher was rated in the 160s not that long ago.
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I think there could be at least two of Nickys who will be 160 horse's
 
It's a run of the mill race now

The same horses that run in this will run against each other at the December meeting

Then again on New years day and then again January trials day, it's boring

It's Cheltenham's fault, they have to change the conditions of the race and add 100k to the prize money to get some good uns running in it again

They can afford it given how much profit they make on the price of a fookin pint
 
I'm just working my way through the race at the moment.

I'm only a quarter of my way through the card and already I'm seeing potential for 165 as the season progresses. It's looking hugely competitive but I've gone out on a limb - for now - and taken 12/1 Midnight River who has been raised only 8lbs for hacking up by 25 lengths last week. That has me thinking the handicapper is working on the assumption that the rest of the field ran below form. I'm not sure the evidence for that is there.
 
Possibly but it ran over 2.5 earlier in its career and finished in front of a couple of established 2.5 milers that day after dropping back.

I wouldn't have thought Kim Bailey is a downgrade on many trainers.
 
Don't rate him.


I'm eyeing up Nassalam for this. He was Brandy Love like at Ascot, Cheltenham will suit much more.
 
Yes, Nassalam certainly looked likely to be much better suited to this kind of track.

Kim Bailey is at 17% over the last five seasons.

Gary Moore 15%.

I don't attach much importance to that kind of thing myself, just checking to see what you had against Bailey. He's always a positive for me.
 
Tanlic said:
Competetive is the understatement of the century

In 1984 I was at Market Rasen specifically to back a horse of Mick Lamberts.

Backed down to 6/4 fav he fell at the 2nd hurdle but before I left Malton that morning I had an equal amount on Brown Chamberlain at 9/2 early prices..

I was very dissapointed with Micks horse falling but by the time I gathered my thoughts and walked into the bar
staring me in the face was Brown Chamberalin on the TV jumping the 2nd last with the race well under control.
I then had a run on Galway Blaze Buroughhill Lad and Playschool

Since then I might have backed Denman but apart from him I've had 30plus loser in the race since the 80'S.
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Some absolutely disgraceful aftertiming there chap:D:D Some real good old names there Tanlic. Takes me back. These big early season chases, I can't remember backing many winners in any of them at all. I can remember backing Ra Nova though in the Betfair hurdle, well, the real name..the Schweppes. Thats another race that has been a killer for me.
 
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Shocks me the amount of winners lately that have been quickly forgotton due to lack of class.

I suppose there could be an Exotic Dancer lurking in there. He won The Mackeson 11.02 and the Massey Ferguson 11.04
and as things turned out he could have given a stone to all the others in future races.

I put up GA Law last September as one to follow but he simply hasn't progressed like I though he might.


Fontaine Collonges will appreciate the ground if we get more rain so i'll take a chance with her EW if she gets a run.
 
Desert Orchid said:
Yes, Nassalam certainly looked likely to be much better suited to this kind of track.

Kim Bailey is at 17% over the last five seasons.

Gary Moore 15%.

I don't attach much importance to that kind of thing myself, just checking to see what you had against Bailey. He's always a positive for me.
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Moonlighter was with Nick Williams who was one of my favourite's.
 
NW only 13% over the last five seasons and best horses [on peak RPRs] 153 (Siruh Du Lac) and Agrapart (151).

That said, he is a target trainer and a good one.

Then again, why would the owners opt to switch both SDL and Midnight River away from him to Pipe and Bailey respectively?
 
Desert Orchid said:
NW only 13% over the last five seasons and best horses [on peak RPRs] 153 (Siruh Du Lac) and Agrapart (151).

That said, he is a target trainer and a good one.

Then again, why would the owners opt to switch both SDL and Midnight River away from him to Pipe and Bailey respectively?
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Because he doesn't train anymore? :)
 
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