The Road To The 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup

in fairness to mullins, he's only given him the kid gloves approach as a prep for his 2 gold cups, think he got a pretty normal prep for the rsa (where he fell when beaten) and he ran him at punchestown in the spring after his first gold cup win and imagine would have done the same last season barring the pandemic.

he obviously thinks he needs to be fresh in march and it shouldn't detract against the horse much. we'd all like our top horses to have the constitution of an ox as well have high class ability but it's not always the case.
 
Mullins clearly following similar approach to Hen Knight.

No denying that it’s effective and both might end-up winning three Gold Cups, but their campaings leave their legacy open to criticism, in the way that (for example) Denman’s or Kauto Star’s aren’t - despite them winning less Gold Cups.
 
Frankel said:
Who are the five? Is this on price or chance you give them?

I get the age thing and potential class of race this time round. Not sure he was lucky in March mind.
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Prices.
I've got Minella Indo and Delta Work backed already and at current prices would sooner back Santini, Presenting Percy now he's at Elliot's.


Actually make that four on reflection









 
Euronymous said:
Prices.
I've got Minella Indo and Delta Work backed already and at current prices would sooner back Santini, Presenting Percy now he's at Elliot's.


Actually make that four on reflection
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you'd want minella to actually show some attempt at getting up the hill this year. santini definitely interesting. stronger runs race might suit.
 
JamesRB said:
you'd want minella to actually show some attempt at getting up the hill this year. santini definitely interesting. stronger runs race might suit.
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Minella I’d have no issues getting up the hill. Was pissing around with Allaho after the last, when Champ actually went past Minella, he chased after him.
 
Euronymous said:
Prices.
I've got Minella Indo and Delta Work backed already and at current prices would sooner back Santini, Presenting Percy now he's at Elliot's.


Actually make that four on reflection
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Interesting that Champ is not in the list. Was it how he went through the RSA (even though he won), or you see more improvement from Minella Indo?
 
Gold Cup means more fences. I see this as a negative for Champ. Wouldn't rule him out though. If he was with Nicholls I'd be less sure of being against him but has Hendo ever improved a horse's jumping. Josses Hill never improved his fencing.
 
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Double J said:
Minella I’d have no issues getting up the hill. Was pissing around with Allaho after the last, when Champ actually went past Minella, he chased after him.
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The year between novice and chapinionship is a huge development opportunity for this type of horse, he looks to have developed physically, I have no doubts either about trip
 
Euronymous said:
Gold Cup means more fences. I see this as a negative for Champ. Wouldn't rule him out though. If he was with Nicholls I'd be less sure of being against him but has Hendo ever improved a horse's jumping. Josses Hill never improved his fencing.
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If he manages to put it all together he is potentially the strongest stayer. He does have questions as you say.
 
At the moment I find it difficult to see a reason why it should not be fought out by this year’s principals. Of those ABP and Santini were trained to the minute but, on the evidence of the way Tizzards other runners performed, LIT may have been a little short.
 
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Historically a good RSA will provide at least one of the principals for the following year's Gold Cup.

Last year Santini
the year before ABP
the year before that Might Bite
 
barjon said:
At the moment I find it difficult to see a reason why it should not be fought out by this year’s principals. Of those ABP and Santini were trained to the minute but, on the evidence of the way Tizzards other runners performed, LIT may have been a little short.
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Valid point regards LIT which I think some will hang on. I had doubts regards trip going in and think he will be found wanting again even if he gets his ground.
 
Agree about the RSA and the Gold Cup.

Which is why I backed Topofthegame for both the Ladbrokes and Gold Cup when the entries for the former were announced.
 
As a sure fire sign that the pandemic affects mental health, I'm going to have a small ante post nibble at the 90 machine price about Native River coming back in the same form he was in February and getting his ground next March.

True it's hard to see an 11 year old winning but he's due back in the Many Clouds that he won so well last year so I'll know my fate pretty quickly, as if he puts in the same kind of performance he'll be half those odds in two weeks time.

Tizzard sounded pretty bullish in the stable tours and classed the injury that kept him out in March as minor, also stating that he's not being targeted at the National this year with all roads leading to the Gold Cup.
 
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wilsonl said:
Tizzard sounded pretty bullish in the stable tours and classed the injury that kept him out in March as minor, also stating that he's not being targeted at the National this year with all roads leading to the Gold Cup.
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From the ATR stable tour item, early October:

He is back in full work and won’t run until December when he goes back up to Aintree for the Many Clouds which he bolted up in last year. He doesn’t owe us a thing and he’s a hell of a chap. We will look after him a bit and pick and choose our way. He will have an entry in the Grand National, but it will be up to the owner if he goes there.

He only won a Gold Cup because Might Bite didn't stay. However, if he's still around the 172 mark, he shouldn't be 90. Probably fair enough to have him onside at that price as you can lay it off should he shorten and zero your risk.
 
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From RP Stable tour

We had one of the wettest winters and the wettest February on record but when Native River ran at Newbury in the Denman Chase the ground was quick. We thought about pulling him out of the race but felt we had to run – and he won – but he picked up a small injury that eventually forced him out of the Gold Cup. It was a big shame because he was in brilliant form. He's not finished at all and he's in great form again at the moment. We want to give him two runs before the Gold Cup, and if it's soft ground there it will help him. There aren't too many races before then for him anyway as he'd be carrying a stone more if we went back to something like the Welsh National, so we'll look to go back to the Many Clouds at Aintree, which he won last year. The Grand National isn't on the owners' agenda, everything is geared up to getting him to the Gold Cup. He's forgotten about a bit but he's a brilliant stayer – not many horses have finished first, third and fourth in a Gold Cup.

If you can rely on trainer quotes.

It's unlikely he can win this but a repeat of either run last season + soft ground and he has a better than one in ninety chance IMO.
 
Ruby suggesting Melon will be stepped up in trip again. Could Melon be going Cuppin?
 
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Listening back to the show now. A point struck me.

Imagine the excitement if there was no Marsh chase, and we would have Envoi Allen vs Shisken build up beginning now.
 
HawkWing said:
Listening back to the show now. A point struck me.

Imagine the excitement if there was no Marsh chase, and we would have Envoi Allen vs Shisken build up beginning now.
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Shishkin would get a lovely lead in to the race!
 
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