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Road to the Gold Cup 2011

Irish Stamp said:
Bar was pointing out that 11yos have a poor record in the Gold Cup I think - merely observing that Kauto is a horse who breaks records Steve :)
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:) ...I'm being a bit slow this morning. I'd agree with this. As mentioned the likes of Kauto and Denman are exceptional and just the type to defy stats. Plenty of 10 year olds win this and it wouldn't at all be a stretch to see Denman or Kauto win at a year older, particularly as both are still running to typical ratings by their own high standards.
 
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Bar the Bull said:
Kauto maybe.

But I see no earthly reason why Denman will turn the tables on Imperial Commander. He is a year older, has had a few injuries, and he was hockeyed this season in his favourite race.
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...Imperial Commander is also a year older and Denman ran to a higher rating in this year's Hennessy than he did in the last Gold Cup... so there's your answer as to how he might reverse form.
 
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Bar the Bull said:
I meant Denman is a year older than IC.
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That's true but they probably don't know that. Denman hasn't been over-raced and has come through his spell of being below par as good as ever. I'd certainly prefer Denman over Kauto and especially at respective odds.
 
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Am I alone in thinking that Diamond Harry has a live chance after his hennessy performance? It was a seriously quick time on the ground, done pretty much on the bridle (Admittedly with a feather weight on his back).

With the right campaign (i.e. no more than one more race before the GC) I think he has a good chance.
 
King George entries:

Albertas Run
Burton Port (IRE)
Cooldine (IRE)
Deep Purple
Forpadydeplasterer (IRE)
Free World (FR)
Glencove Marina (IRE)
Herecomesthetruth (IRE)
Hey Big Spender (IRE)
Kauto Star (FR)
Long Run (FR)
Madison du Berlais (FR)
Mad Max (IRE)
Nacarat (FR)
Noland
Ollie Magern
Planet of Sound
Punchestowns (FR)
Riverside Theatre
Sizing Europe (IRE)
The Nightingale (FR)
Tranquil Sea (IRE)
What A Friend
J'Y Vole (FR)
 
Either read or another forum member suggested the Long Walk hurdle first time out to get a race into him (avoiding his first race being as competitive as a King George).
 
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To me its more a case of come March will any of these three be capable of running to their lofty marks -- of the three I think Imperial Comander would be the most likely. I have written off Kauto and Denman as I can't see either producing these type of performances at their age. If they prove me wrong I'll be the first to salute them. So that leaves IC who although a Cheltenham specialist has the task of retaining his title. This is the stat I'll be backing against. I'm not looking at who will post a mark of 180+ as I don't think it will take a mark that high to win it come March. I've yet to decide which horse I fancy yet.
 
Aragorn said:
Am I alone in thinking that Diamond Harry has a live chance after his hennessy performance? It was a seriously quick time on the ground, done pretty much on the bridle (Admittedly with a feather weight on his back).

With the right campaign (i.e. no more than one more race before the GC) I think he has a good chance.
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He'll have his supporters and is a nice horse, but he's not for me, this season at least. I included him in my TTF as I thought he had a good chance of winning the Hennessy. As I said before the Hennessy, Denman had more chance of winning the Gold Cup than the Hennessy off that weight. Nevertheless, Diamond Harry ran an almost flawless race to beat Denman so well.
 
swedish chef said:
To me its more a case of come March will any of these three be capable of running to their lofty marks -- of the three I think Imperial Comander would be the most likely. I have written off Kauto and Denman as I can't see either producing these type of performances at their age. If they prove me wrong I'll be the first to salute them. So that leaves IC who although a Cheltenham specialist has the task of retaining his title. This is the stat I'll be backing against. I'm not looking at who will post a mark of 180+ as I don't think it will take a mark that high to win it come March. I've yet to decide which horse I fancy yet.
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It's only three months away! I don't expect all three to have a dramatic falling off in form in that time, especially so as it seems two of them will be going to the race fresh.
 
For me I don't think Kauto is much of a factor and it's all about whether Denman going straight there sees an improvement from last March.
 
SteveM said:
It's only three months away! I don't expect all three to have a dramatic falling off in form in that time, especially so as it seems two of them will be going to the race fresh.
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It's only a personal opinion but I think the Hennessy will prove one hard race too many for Denman and fresh or not I think it will leave it's mark at his age.
Kauto to me has never been a Cheltenham horse but his brilliance was the deciding factor in his Gold Cups - I expect him to run very very well at Kempton as that tracks made for him but can't have him for Cheltenham.

I couldn't put anyone off Imperial Commander except for the stats on horses trying retain the the GC.

As always it will be a great race and questions will be answered but I'll be looking for a young improver to put my few sheckels on - Good Luck.
 
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Is there any chance of Cooldine coming across for the King George?

I'd be interested in hearing any views on him actually. Too lazy to go back and watch all of his races but I don't remember him racing keenly (or at least as keenly) as he did Cheltenham and Punchestown last year. Has an awful lot to find of course but might a strong gallop over 3m just suit him perhaps?
 
trackside528 said:
Is there any chance of Cooldine coming across for the King George?

I'd be interested in hearing any views on him actually. Too lazy to go back and watch all of his races but I don't remember him racing keenly (or at least as keenly) as he did Cheltenham and Punchestown last year. Has an awful lot to find of course but might a strong gallop over 3m just suit him perhaps?
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He's not all that big and I thought over hyped going into last years GC on what he has achieved - not a contender IMO and very difficult to see him travelling over for KG with two easier races for him in Leopardstown.
 
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Imperial Commander is the most likely winner for me , Denman could be the main danger and Punchestowns and Cooldine could be an interesting ones.

Kauto is the one for the King George.
 
Kauto now 2.02 to lay on Betfair -I'd be amazed if you couldn't trade out of that at a nice profit before the big day.
 
He is ready to run in the Durkan next week and will do. Mullins rarely has his horses out early - very much aims them for Christmas onwards.
 
Just watching his RSA Chase win again, he does takes a grip (albeit nothing as fierce as in last year's Gold Cup) going down the hill and in the straight on the first circuit off what was a seriously strong gallop. The fact Mullins campaigned him at shorter prior to that race also might suggest he's quite a free type.

I'm just not entirely sure what to make of him. As impressive as he was that day, the form looks pretty average at this stage.
 

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