Queen Mother Champion chase 2012

[Posts: 1664Joined: 16 Jun 2009, 00:36]

So many questions will Sizing Europe go for race

Finians Rainbow lacks a gear after the last why he got beat in arkle

Ghizao was bad on return

Big Zeb is getting on years

Captain Chris may want further but i feel he could win it.If he goes for it.

I go for a big price if he is ok from his injury i give

FLAT OUT at 25/1

Jump very well last year was travelling well last time out vs Realt Dubh and Noble Prince before is fall.If he comes back well from injury i like is chance.

[Posts: 1058Joined: 25 Mar 2011, 11:32Location: Catterick, N Yorkshire]

Sizing Europe will go for the race and have the same sort of build up as last season, try further and increase his stamina and then 'hose up' in the QMCC

Simples - I hope anyway

[Posts: 17Joined: 07 Mar 2011, 00:49]

Any idea if this race is the target for Realt Dubh? Think he looks overpriced but just not sure if he's gonna go for the Ryanair chase instead.

[Posts: 640Joined: 06 Nov 2008, 22:31]

It is so obvious that Captain Chris is the right horse for the QM and should be clear favourite for this. I sincerely hope that connections understand this and move in this direction, I suspect Philip Hobbs does favour the QM and will eventually move this way. The King George should be avoided at all costs.

The admirable and still slightly underated Big Zeb will I fear be too old to regain and whilst Sizing Europe will be a threat, the power and verve that Captain Chris displayed in the Arkle (course & distance) was a performance rarely seen by a novice. CC was so full of run at the line it was startling...some rationalised this power and potential reserve as a need for a longer trip but actually he can just run a lot faster at 2 miles.
If the race was tomorrow I would make him a hot favourite, hopefully he will run in the QM...he will win.

[Posts: 1551Joined: 04 Mar 2010, 10:15Location: Huddersfield]

Anyone heard anything regarding Finians Rainbow? Solid profile, on the upgrade, thing he could progress nicely against the veterans.

[Posts: 2205Joined: 20 Oct 2008, 05:28Location: Kildare]

What did Willie say about Flat Out in his stable tour?

[Posts: 640Joined: 06 Nov 2008, 22:31]

What did Willie say about Flat Out in his stable tour?

"...he's come back very strong and will resume over fences. He's back in fast work and will be out next month. He might have a run over hurdles first and is a horse with plenty of pace."

[Posts: 3324Joined: 20 May 2009, 03:40]

Horses for courses. Sizing Europe for me. Finian's Rainbow my main concern. Him and Henry De Bromhead.

[Posts: 938Joined: 28 Feb 2011, 13:01]

The yard and owners seem set on a KG attempt for Cap Chris and if he wins that - he has every chance of doing so imo (3 from 4 at Kempton) - there's a strong possibility he will turn up in the Gold Cup.

The owners have Wishfull Thinking and if he wins the Tingle Creek he'd be the obvious one for the Champ Chase.

[Posts: 1953Joined: 20 Feb 2006, 12:12Location: Bristol]

Even at this early stage of the season, I get the impression that this race could easily cut up quite considerably and, of those who appear certain to run (barring injury), it's hard to look beyond Sizing Europe and Finian's Rainbow, with Big Zeb approaching the twilight of his career.

Captain Chris, Master Minded, Wishfull Thinking, Noble Prince and Kauto Stone will more than likely head for alternative assignments over further, although this could quite easily change tomorrow after Sandown.

I was surprised by just how much Finian's Rainbow found at Aintree. He had previously been defeated on each attempt at the highest level after travelling better than anything approaching the business end of the race.

I suppose there is still a doubt surrounding his ability to get up the hill at Cheltenham. Look back at his respective Festival defeats in the Neptune Investment and Arkle - they are almost indentical regarding how he was approaching the final bend only to find little for pressure.

However, 8/1 is quite tempting given the lack of apparent of depth in this division. It will look even more tempting if any of the aforementioned candidates fail to sparkle in the Tingle Creek and are pretty much ruled out of the two mile championship in favour of a greater test of stamina.

Sizing Europe has been good to me at previous Festivals and thrives around Prestbury Park, but if Finian's Rainbow continues to improve (only ten starts under rules) then he could prove a serious threat.

[Posts: 938Joined: 28 Feb 2011, 13:01]

After today, it's hard to see what will beat SE at Cheltenham.

[Posts: 3324Joined: 20 May 2009, 03:40]

Everything rotates around Finian's Rainbow, I'd have thought. But yes, very difficult to envisage him getting beaten.

[Posts: 3324Joined: 20 May 2009, 03:40]

Just 2 cracks of the whip, softer ground than he'd have liked, only 1 month after being bottomed out by running over 3 miles. The performance gets better with every replay. Couple of months off now, prep in the same race as last year & then back to Prestbury Park.