Gold Cup 2013

[Posts: 34Joined: 23 Jun 2012, 18:41]

Does anyone know what the plan might be with Captin Chris I know last season was a let down but he was staying on up the hill in the Ryanair and perhaps he could a dark horse against all the others. I know he will have to improve a lot and jump better but he could be there abouts.

[Posts: 34Joined: 23 Jun 2012, 18:41]

Does anyone know what the plan might be with Captin Chris I know last season was a let down but he was staying on up the hill in the Ryanair and perhaps he could a dark horse against all the others. I know he will have to improve a lot and jump better but he could be there abouts.

[Posts: 1028Joined: 01 Sep 2008, 13:20Location: Liverpool]

Captain Chris jumps left like Racing Demon used to. It seems like you can't train this out of a horse and I would find him unbackable in any championship race at Cheltenham.

[Posts: 1861Joined: 25 Jul 2011, 05:04]

Hurdy my old china i don't fear LONG RUN this horse will be put in his place by my SIR DES CHAMPS. this horse has it all he travels loves the track got speed and stamina he go off fav. and after 2nd last he go clear he will and jump the last easy as well.

I wish I had your confidence and I bet Willie Mullins does too.

He must be asking himself does SIR DES CHAMPS have the class and would he get the trip?

He could have run him in the Neptune a couple of years back but So Young was supposedly a better horse and this year unlike Cooldine they opted to stick to 2m4f and go for the Jewson this year. Seems to me 2m4f is thought to be his best trip

Of course many horses stay further as they get older and they tend to improve but he like all the novices involved he will have to.

To put it into context had Champion Court met Long Run at any stage last year the Henderson horse would've been unbackable.

Long way to go yet before you can start the flag waving bud.

[Posts: 3580Joined: 08 Jul 2009, 22:10Location: Wexford]

The Mullins camp thought So Young was potentially better than Hurricane Fly at that stage HGM so it's not surprising that he was their Neptune horse. Sir Des Champs is a completely different sort of animal, and I suspect that they didn't know what they had until he did his stuff on the track. For what it's worth I think he's the best horse in the yard, and we haven't seen close to the bottom of him yet.

As regards the trip, Mullins wanted to run him in the RSA but Gigginstown wanted a runner in each race. First Lieutenant was always going to the RSA since when he won the Neptune, and it was logical to reroute Sir Des Champs to the Jewson as he possesses the better turn of foot of the two. He has so much speed that you'd think he'd struggle to get the Gold Cup trip but given his running style and ability to relax in his races I think he'll get it standing on his head.

You'll probably spit out your dinner at this blasphemy but I think he's a more exciting prospect than Sprinter Sacre.

[Posts: 418Joined: 18 Jul 2007, 22:49Location: Preston, Lancs.]

You'll probably spit out your dinner at this blasphemy but I think he's a more exciting prospect than Sprinter Sacre.

There is absolutely nothing to back this up. He hasn't beaten an awful lot- Hidden Cyclone wasn't himself at Leopardstown and was the Jewson much of a better race in 2012 than the year before? I don't think so. Add to that Flemenstar looks a better jumper and I for one can't see why the Mullins horse is so much shorter in the betting.

[Posts: 3580Joined: 08 Jul 2009, 22:10Location: Wexford]

Sprinter Sacre's form is superior Euro, I'm not arguing against that. But the two horses are like chalk and cheese, polar opposites in the way they race. He could have won the Leopardstown race with Hidden Cyclone by a street if Davy Russell so wished, so I wouldn't take the narrow margin of victory as his true level of form. Hidden Cyclone may not have been at his best but in my opinion Sir Des Champs had an enormous amount in hand. At Cheltenham it was the same again, as soon as Davy got after him the race was never in doubt. What Sprinter Sacre and Sir Des Champs do have in common is awesome jumping ability. Sir Des Champs may not be as flamboyant but all you have to do is watch his race in Limerick vs Knockfierna to realise what a super jumper he is. I think Emmet Mullins must have been on the sauce the night before as Sir Des Champs got him out of trouble at most fences. I think he's the perfect racehorse. He jumps brilliantly and economically, he doesn't race keenly and settles beautifully, possesses loads of gears while he also stays well. While there may not be much in the form book to support my opinion Euro, sometimes you just get a feeling about a horse and I've had one about this fella since he won the Martin Pipe. I'd love to see him targeted at the John Durkan over two and a half miles before having a crack at the King George, a race there against Grands Crus would be something to savour.

[Posts: 494Joined: 20 Feb 2009, 01:49]

Sprinter Sacre's form is superior Euro, I'm not arguing against that. But the two horses are like chalk and cheese, polar opposites in the way they race. He could have won the Leopardstown race with Hidden Cyclone by a street if Davy Russell so wished, so I wouldn't take the narrow margin of victory as his true level of form. Hidden Cyclone may not have been at his best but in my opinion Sir Des Champs had an enormous amount in hand. At Cheltenham it was the same again, as soon as Davy got after him the race was never in doubt. What Sprinter Sacre and Sir Des Champs do have in common is awesome jumping ability. Sir Des Champs may not be as flamboyant but all you have to do is watch his race in Limerick vs Knockfierna to realise what a super jumper he is. I think Emmet Mullins must have been on the sauce the night before as Sir Des Champs got him out of trouble at most fences. I think he's the perfect racehorse. He jumps brilliantly and economically, he doesn't race keenly and settles beautifully, possesses loads of gears while he also stays well. While there may not be much in the form book to support my opinion Euro, sometimes you just get a feeling about a horse and I've had one about this fella since he won the Martin Pipe. I'd love to see him targeted at the John Durkan over two and a half miles before having a crack at the King George, a race there against Grands Crus would be something to savour.

I love SDC, but my cocern is that we don't know how the novices stack up. I don't know of any significant form-lines with the older horses, remember what a poor bunch last year's turned out to be

[Posts: 1861Joined: 25 Jul 2011, 05:04]

The Mullins camp thought So Young was potentially better than Hurricane Fly at that stage HGM so it's not surprising that he was their Neptune horse. Sir Des Champs is a completely different sort of animal, and I suspect that they didn't know what they had until he did his stuff on the track. For what it's worth I think he's the best horse in the yard, and we haven't seen close to the bottom of him yet.

As regards the trip, Mullins wanted to run him in the RSA but Gigginstown wanted a runner in each race. First Lieutenant was always going to the RSA since when he won the Neptune, and it was logical to reroute Sir Des Champs to the Jewson as he possesses the better turn of foot of the two. He has so much speed that you'd think he'd struggle to get the Gold Cup trip but given his running style and ability to relax in his races I think he'll get it standing on his head.

You'll probably spit out your dinner at this blasphemy but I think he's a more exciting prospect than Sprinter Sacre.

Spit out my dinner? I worry about your sanity!

If Sir Des Champs or anything else is going to win a Gold Cup they better do so this coming season, because come Xmas 2013 Sprinter Sacre will take the King George before going for the Gold Cup. Even Arkle would have had problems with this fellow he's so good.

Keep taking the tablets you'll be fine in time

[Posts: 62Joined: 28 Aug 2012, 21:27]

Why has everyone buried Grands Crus? Scanning through the posts no one seems to take him seriously not even the bookies at 20/1 I say thank you. He was vying for second favourite at the gold cup last year as a novice now one bad run and he is out the window. He I quite certain he did not run his race in the RSA last year he never travelled like he used to and you could tell a way out he was not going to win which to me make it obvious he did not turn up on the day which is excusable for any horse once a while. I think couple of races into the season and that 20/1 will be long gone. I`m not saying he is a shoe in for the gold cup but I with a good chance if he turns up on the day. And not handling Cheltenham, well I still think he is the only horse to give big bucks a run for his money even though that was over hurdles, he did get a nose in front at the run in but of course big bucks is another form of beast!

[Posts: 3580Joined: 08 Jul 2009, 22:10Location: Wexford]

I've never seen Grands Crus as a Cheltenham horse Solar, and that was before the RSA. I confidently backed against him in the RSA last year and will do so again in the Gold Cup this year. I also think that he won't stay well enough to win a Gold Cup.

However, he's got King George written all over him, at a track where his high cruising speed and accurate jumping saw him turn the Feltham into something of a procession. Quite a few of us on here availed of William Hill's 8/1 at the end of last season and I still believe that he's the one to beat there.

Mind you, if Sir Des Champs travels to Kempton then he'll be running for second

[Posts: 62Joined: 28 Aug 2012, 21:27]

thehorsesmouth, I purposely did not bring up the king George as well I think it a bit a late the Xmas present even at the current about 5/1. I can understand betting against him last year in the RSA as he was quite short though I admit I thought he`d walk it but I think it`s quite brave taking him on @20/1. I say I`d give him another crack at Cheltenham as I still think seeing him in the world hurdle he did not appear to have any issues with Cheltenham the RSA well I`ll put a line through it and looking at it like that well.....

SDC does look like a worthy favourite I must agree but I have GC a lot closer, anyway I`ll keep wagering my spare pennies on him all the way till 10/1 or shall I say till the bank

[Posts: 3580Joined: 08 Jul 2009, 22:10Location: Wexford]

Best of luck Solar, I agree even at 5/1 he's a big price for the KG, and there are probably worse 20/1 shots for Cheltenham, you'd be hoping he represents some trading value at that price at any rate