The Road to the 2019 Cheltenham Gold Cup

Chris Cook just tweeted Paddy Brennan has reported rumours Monalee may be going Gold Cup rather than Ryanair :whistle:

All good fun.
 
We go back many years, Archie, and it gives me enormous pleasure to see you have a more than decent shot of having a Gold Cup winner. Iirc, Perpetual is the other Forum member of the syndicate and may you both have a brilliant day hopefully with a win. With the benefit of hindsight it seems an obviously good idea to join such a syndicate but you both seized the opportunity when it arose and are getting a deserved reward. Well done and the very best of luck to you both!
 
Yes all the very best guys. Fingers crossed for a big win, but most of all that you enjoy your day(s) and the horses run their race and come back safe.
 
Davy Russell seems very keen on Percy and he's a very hard man for me to go up against but like Buvi in the Champion Hurdle Native River has been there and done it in a race that was end to end.

Richard Johnson is no doubt his equal and he and Native River have done absolutely nothing wrong this season.

Neither the Betfair or the King George can be compared to a Welsh National or a Gold Cup test they are worlds apart.

It would have been great if Native River had won the King George and I like some thought he might but it was more wishful thinking than anything else.

Back in his element and with the ground softening it looks like it will be even more up his street this year than last.

The one thing I disagree with Davy Russell on is he said Might Bite was winning everywhere until the closing stages.

I think that is nonsense and wishful thinking on his part as he'll be thinking if he can match Native River on the way round Percy the speed and stamina Might Bite lacked and can.

Nothing wrong with thinking positive but only ever ran over fences as a novice straight into a Gold Cup has got to be a huge worry and he'll need to be one of the best ever to pull off a stunt like that.

Clan Des Obeaux sent shivers up the spine the way he disposed of Terrefort who, to be fair, couldn't even go the gallop in this. The King George form looks suspect and although PN has improved him I don't think he's GC material..not even close.

Might Bite? He must have a chance if he doesn't bleed which is in the family and the ground has gone against him.The more strain the morse chance he;ll burst again.

Bellshill has always appealed to me.............saw the Kinks there live LOL

The horse isn't so bad either and everything about him shouts Gold Cup.

No doubt in my mind Ruby will ride him if he is 100%

1. Bellshill

2. Native River

3. Percy
 
I'd be happy to see Might Bite win, as have him in my ten to follow list which I'm currently sitting about third, but I reckon Barry Geraghty has a fantastic ride on Anibale Fly, who looks as hard as nails having finished third in a quality renewal last year, (I am not sure whether Native River and Might Bite are as good this season), then running fourth in the Grand National. I can see him running another big race tomorrow. Whether he actually wins probably depends on what happens with the big guns and how good they turn out to be, but I reckon Anibale Fly is still good value at 25/1 each way anyway.
 
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A big IF but if Al Boum Photo can hold his jumping together, I'm hopeful he can hit the frame. I think he'll get the trip.
I bloody hope so.
 
I was talking through the race on the phone with the brother last night.

There's a glorious uncertainty about this year's race.

Taking the likely protagonists in betting order:

Presenting Percy - Just one appearance this season over hurdles which suggested considerable improvement from last season with more to come back over fences but has to translate that promise to delivery. Impressive winner of the novices' equivalent last year but the form doesn't add up to what Might Bite did the year before.

Native River - Last year's gutsy winner and top-rated in many places but on my figures just a good winner of an unsatisfactory race. Which interpretation will prevail?

Clan Des Obeaux - The young upstart who threatens to be the emergent Cassius Clay ahead of his ascension into Muhammad Ali. Has beaten up a few of these opponents on his way here and arguably should be favourite if those results can be taken at face value.

Bellshill - The choice of the best jockey around, Ruby Walsh, but no match for Might Bite in the novices' championship two years ago and no obvious signs of significant improvement in the last two seasons despite winning the Punchestown Gold Cup last season. Trained to peak here today but will find others still above him if they're at the top of their game.

Kemboy - Another improving young gun. Impressive winner of Grade 1 last time but the second and third were put in their place yesterday by Clan Des Obeaux's stablemate Frodon while Ruby Walsh sticks with fourth-placed Bellshill rather than twisting to Kemboy.

Might Bite - When he won the RSA (novices' championship) two years ago Ruby Walsh on Bellshill was in awe of his performance and so was I. There's a possibility that race took its toll on Might Bite and despite winning subsequent races he's never really looked as good as he was that day, seemingly giving up the ghost against Native River after the last in 2018 and he's looked a pale shadow of even that Might Bite in two runs this season. They've had his wind operated on and 'tweaked' a few other things, according to his trainer, and the vibes from the yard are very encouraging. They resurrected the two-mile sensation Sprinter Sacre from near oblivion a few years ago and if the old Might Bite returns to glory it will go close to eclipsing even Sprinter Sacre's emotionally-charged achievement.

The rest may be playing supporting roles but if the Bristol De Mai who treats classy rivals with utter contempt round Haydock can bring that kind of performance to this theatre he could steal the show.

If they all run to form it could be an orgasmic Gold Cup.

If they're all bubbles waiting to be burst it could be as frustrating as a convicted middle-eastern thief watching a porn movie.

(With apologies to those who find bits of that patronising - I wrote it for a non-racing readership - and to anyone who finds the closing remarks distasteful; it was an attempt at humour.)
 
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Might Bite shortened up with a few firms this morning as well, must be a good sign. I'm splitting stakes on him and Anibale Fly, will do two Trixie's with one horse in each (each way) Trixie.
 
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No excuses for the Biter today. Wouldn't say I was confident of winning, but it has all come in his favour ground-wise, and if the wind-op was a legitimate stopper in his last two races, he is right in the mix. I hope Nico bounces him out and makes all.

Can't have it that he "gave up the ghost" against Native River last season, DO - he was simply out-stayed on Heavy ground by an absolute top-class horse. His authoritative Aintree performance after the Gold Cup, also suggests there were no lasting after-effects of the Cheltenham run. Clearly, something has been very amiss this season, and you would hardly have your tank on him, but equally, it's a bit harsh to have him down as gutless.

Finally, best of luck to Archie, Ben and everyone else connected to Kemboy. Hope he doe you proud.
 
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Grasshopper said:
Can't have it that he "gave up the ghost" against Native River last season, DO - he was simply out-stayed on Heavy ground by an absolute top-class horse.

Finally, best of luck to Archie, Ben and everyone else connected to Kemboy. Hope he doe you proud.
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Yes, hence 'seemingly' as that's how it appeared, although I'm not convinced it was stamina; rather, I'm coming round to the idea that it was a physical thing rather than a Wayward Lad issue with the hill. I live in hope as he was certainly a monster in his RSA.

Echo the Kemboy sentiments.
 
I'm sticking with Might Bite.

If I backed something else and. Might Bite won I'd be.sick. I could stomach it the other way round. Plus most of my AP bets around this race are dead now, bar Might Bite ones.

Best of luck all.
 
Double J said:
I'm sticking with Might Bite.

If I backed something else and. Might Bite won I'd be.sick. I could stomach it the other way round. Plus most of my AP bets around this race are dead now, bar Might Bite ones.

Best of luck all.
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I’ve had some free bets on Might Bite as I’d also be sick if he won with nothing of mine on. But I can’t see him winning and happy with my CDO ante post bet


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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It's been chucking it down for the last hour - the ground will have gone against Might Bite unfortunately. I fancy Thistlecrack for a good run.
 
Leaning towards Native River at the very least placing

Hopefully one of the second season novices can better him but whoever finishes ahead of him wins
 
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