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The 2025 December Gold Cup Handicap Chase

jinnyj said:
You're not wrong there - Chads is prime red trouser land! There will be a lot of braying going on behind car boots. We're not like that down here in the West Country so much - you can drive a tractor into my town, park up on the double yellow lines and pop into the Co-op in a pair of wellies caked with mud and nobody bats an eyelid.
But have no fear! Gordon and I will protect you although I suspect G is secretly harbouring a wish to be "Blue Micc'd" - I on the other hand have an alternative suggestion as to where the Blue Mic could be inserted!
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No way do I wish to be Blue Micc’d my problem would be if they interview you Jinnyj think that you might let them have both barrels 💪💪
 
What chance Hoe Joly Smoke
Same mark as when finishing third to its stable companion Panic Attack.
Harry Skelton had ridden it in all of its eleven previous starts but Kielan Woods took the ride and gave the horse a lot to do.
Harry back on board and we all know they like to target these big Saturday handicaps.
 
I used to track Panic Attack when Pipe had her and I always had her down as a 3m plus mare, born out by her Hennessy win. For that reason I think the PP was a bad renewal for her to be able to score and so I'd be against HJS and Vincenzo.
 
Euronymous said:
I used to track Panic Attack when Pipe had her and I always had her down as a 3m plus mare, born out by her Hennessy win. For that reason I think the PP was a bad renewal for her to be able to score and so I'd be against HJS and Vincenzo.
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I'd agree in the main. Vincenzo didn't do much wrong so I can't really see how he can improve much on what he did there. However Chaumi pointed out to me when we were down at the course that he thinks Joe holy smoke was unlucky. Having watched the replay I tended to agree he made a mistake at a vital time and when he went to make his run a gap closed on him and stopped his momentum. That said my main concern here for him would be drying ground I can't see it being much worse than gd-sft looking at the forecast and as he has form over 3 miles and the way he ran in the Paddy power leads me to think that he probably needs testing ground in a race like this to bring the trip back to him a bit. I could be wrong but if he finds everything happening a bit quick for him on Saturday I wouldn't be too quick to write him off as I think there is still some juice in his mark. I'd probably have similar worries for Colonel Harry he seemed to hit a flat spot in the Sefton and looked beat a few furlongs out before staying on well to win. Despite the low numbers I think it's an interesting race and I could make a half decent case for a fair few of them just hoping I've bet the right ones.
 
Danny said:
I'd agree in the main. Vincenzo didn't do much wrong so I can't really see how he can improve much on what he did there. However Chaumi pointed out to me when we were down at the course that he thinks Joe holy smoke was unlucky. Having watched the replay I tended to agree he made a mistake at a vital time and when he went to make his run a gap closed on him and stopped his momentum. That said my main concern here for him would be drying ground I can't see it being much worse than gd-sft looking at the forecast and as he has form over 3 miles and the way he ran in the Paddy power leads me to think that he probably needs testing ground in a race like this to bring the trip back to him a bit. I could be wrong but if he finds everything happening a bit quick for him on Saturday I wouldn't be too quick to write him off as I think there is still some juice in his mark. I'd probably have similar worries for Colonel Harry he seemed to hit a flat spot in the Sefton and looked beat a few furlongs out before staying on well to win. Despite the low numbers I think it's an interesting race and I could make a half decent case for a fair few of them just hoping I've bet the right ones.
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Skelton wrote on Monday re Joe Holy Smoke on ATR:
"The forecast looks to be working out for him, there's not too much rain around so the ground should be perfect he'll have no excuses"
Mind you he is not averse to putting punters away is he?
 
Barnestormer said:
Skelton wrote on Monday re Joe Holy Smoke on ATR:
"The forecast looks to be working out for him, there's not too much rain around so the ground should be perfect he'll have no excuses"
Mind you he is not averse to putting punters away is he?
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is it on the new course which puts more stamina on the trip
 
luckyme said:
is it on the new course which puts more stamina on the trip
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Going/Tracks​

Good to Soft (Soft in places)

(New Course)

Going Stick 6.0 on Thu 14:00pm

Rails: Chase bend rail +5y Hurdle bend rail +4y

  • 12:10pm: Race distance is now +25y to 2m 204y
  • 12:40pm: Race distance is now +62y to 3m 1f 118y
  • 1:15pm: Race distance is now +46y to 2m 4f 173y
  • 1:50pm: Race distance is now +46y to 2m 4f 173y
  • 2:25pm: Race distance is now +31y to 2m 93y
  • 3:00pm: Race distance is now +50y to 3m 43y
  • 3:35pm: Race distance is now +37y to 2m 4f 93y
Low sun could result in obstacle omission at this fixture

Weather​

34.5mm rainfall Friday - Tuesday. Dry on Wednesday and forecast to be dry on Thursday. Light showers possible on Friday morning (1-2mm) with sunny spells during the afternoon (10 degrees). Dry forecast for racing on Saturday.
 

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