Argento chase

[Posts: 199Joined: 18 Mar 2008, 20:41Location: Weston super mare]

Entries are out for the race and several bookies have it priced up. Grand Crus is favourite at around 5/2 but the real question is how have VC priced Captain Chris at 6/1! Surely this test will be simpler than the king George and I would have him much closer to Grand Crus. Is his participation in doubt enough to factor in the price? For what it's worth I think grand crus will find this a whole new proposition and I believe he remains susceptible to a classier sort than he's been facing.

[Posts: 1660Joined: 16 Jun 2009, 00:36]

I think TIME FOR RUPERT will win he is my bet at 11/2 apart from RSA always runs well at course.And will run a big race on saturday.

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

I'd love to take some of that 6/1. Rather pointless though, as if he's beaten carrying my money on Saturday, I'll surely have lost my (substantial) Gold Cup money too.

[Posts: 199Joined: 18 Mar 2008, 20:41Location: Weston super mare]

Well ive taken a slice but much the same as you Zark, if crus hoses up I'll lose my AP on him for the RSA at 8's and you'd have to take the beast very seriously in the gold cup which also casts doubt on my AP on the Star.
That being said, I really really like grand crus but he hasn't encountered anything like captain Chris before over fences. Grand Crus is a good old fashioned galloper who exposes the stamina of his rivals but silviniaco conti and Sonofvic are absolutely nothing like the opposition here. I've no doubt captain Chris gets the trip and there may well be improvement to come after his king George run, he didn't seem to travel as well as he can there. He's back at Cheltenham for the Argento and should put his best foot forward against a significantly weaker field. Massive at 6's IMO should be more like 5/2 with Grand Crus similarly priced. Hope he turns up and secures Grand Crus' route in the RSA with a win.

[Posts: 521Joined: 05 May 2009, 01:33]

Hell of a contest. Some very good animals due for this one. Midnight Chase at 8/1 is my selection.

[Posts: 482Joined: 13 Feb 2010, 20:31]

I'm one of the 'let's hope Grands Crus doesn't win, so he'll run in the RSA' brigade.

The horse I think could - could - be the one to beat him is Diamond Harry. He's had a nice rest and, while he's not exactly the most reliable, fitness-wise, he's got class, he jumps nicely, he stays, and that Hennessy win was a good 'un. Can't argue with 11/2.

Of the others, Midnight Chase is interesting, The Minack is going to be an interesting outsider, still not 100 per cent sure Captain Chris is quite a 3miler, and Time For Rupert is a joke.

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

I doubt if the Captain Chris we saw in the King George is the same Captain Chris that will turn up on Saturday.

Take a good hard look at the King George and watch the way he's picking up ground turning for home. He running at them full of beans passes Somserby and is actually travelling faster than the flat out Long Run and gaining on him with every stride. Just for a minute he looks like he's going to pass Long Run then out of the blue his momentum slows like someone just caught him by the tail and the rest is history.

That's not a horse who suddenly tired through his exertions it was too far from home for 1 horse gradually weaken, he hit a brick wall and most likely he blew up because PH never had time to prepaare him as well as he would liked after his set back

This horse has still the potential to be as good as Long Run maye even better and deserves another chance.

If he's as good as I think he should beat Grand Crus with ease.

I like Grand Crus, hard not to but another novice taking on the big boys???

He wins he must go for the Gold Cup IMO but I'll stick with CC.

[Posts: 81Joined: 10 Mar 2011, 22:20]

Here's my two penny worth

I think Diamond Harry & Time for Rupert need it soft to bring the best out of them don't think thats going to happen forecast is dry for the weekend.

Captain Chris was btn 10 lenghts by Silvinico Conti over hurdles at chepstow Oct 2010 Grand Crus bt this horse in the Feltham By 2.25 lenghts.

None of the others appeal to me.

So Grand Crus is my selection missed the 5'2 maybe settle for 9'4

[Posts: 554Joined: 01 Oct 2011, 18:53]

I don't know what to make of CC for this race, simply because of how he beat horses in last seasons Arkle that were beating him before then. I just hope that if he does run, he then runs well enough to get the green light for the gold cup.

[Posts: 199Joined: 18 Mar 2008, 20:41Location: Weston super mare]

This race isn't over hurdles in 2010 or at Chepstow. Monkerhostin beat both Kauto Star and Best mate in the same chase at Exeter in 2005 but I'm sure won't win the gold cup. Sorry to be facetious but top hurdlers don't always make top chasers and vice versa. 2010 was also a long time ago and captain Chris has certainly improved since then as illustrated by his arkle victory. Grand crus is being prices up purely off the back of his feltham time which although looks impressive he won't have the same field to contend with this time out. Don't get me wrong at 6/1 versus CC at 9/4 I'd be on Grand Crus in a shot much the same.

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

Also only the 5th start of his career on soft ground.

[Posts: 298Joined: 15 Jan 2009, 21:41]

I will take an Al Ferof style run from Grand Crus - ensuring he goes for the RSA, and making my ante post vouchers very happy. If he wins, then he goes for the GC surely.

I'll be backing TFR in this. Loves the course, and the extra distance should help. His confidence boost LTO was pretty pleasing.

[Posts: 1039Joined: 12 Feb 2011, 15:34]

Here's my two penny worth

I think Diamond Harry & Time for Rupert need it soft to bring the best out of them don't think thats going to happen forecast is dry for the weekend.

Captain Chris was btn 10 lenghts by Silvinico Conti over hurdles at chepstow Oct 2010 Grand Crus bt this horse in the Feltham By 2.25 lenghts.

None of the others appeal to me.

So Grand Crus is my selection missed the 5'2 maybe settle for 9'4

TFR's best performances have been on good or good to soft.