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jcred · Claimer Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Posts: 43 Location: South

Friday 14th March 2008 - Location - Cheltenham

Well those are certain facts but who will win?

Will KS be the reigning champion again or will there be a real challenger this year? If so who? With the market heavily backing another simple victory for KS is there value in some of the longer odds? Exotic Dancer at around 10's to perhaps to go one better in 2008? MWDS to enter the fray? Or a young Denman to repeat the Cheltenham winning performance of 2007?

Whatever the outcome I am sure there will be a great debate ahead of a truly great race!!

On a betting front I cannot back KS at the prices on offer so far off, just don't see the value. Exotic Dancer is my preferred bet but also Ashley Brook at 100's have my early money on the exchanges.

Thinking back a year what price was KS then to win the Gold Cup in 2007?
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shamardal84 · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:50 pm Post subject: Re: Gold Cup

awaywardlad · Group Performer Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 2979

Have backed DENMAN at various odds from a while ago for the 2008 GC as 26F on a tough track is perfect for him.A Kauto Star winning the Tingle Creek he is not but as a relentless galloper and sound jumper I think he's one of the best novices I've seen.
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three out · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:24 pm Post subject:

My Way De Solzen is my idea of a serious threat to KS - and perhaps the only real one. I have gone on far too often about how good his Arkle win was - the speed figure that day was monstrous by my calculations. He won the stayers the previous year so I don't really know how he did it - tremendous. I would also say he is probably a slightly better jumper than KS - although KS is no slouch.

For me Denman could set it up for either of these. I know he is a galloper but he perhaps lacks the traditional speed of a modern day Gold Cup horse. I can see him going all out down the hill with these two a couple of lengths back and taking him between the final two - what a prospect

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YAIYAM · Group Performer Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Posts: 11312

DunDoire · Group Performer Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 1944

That would be the OWL whogot a crazy price on KS last year. What a great punt!!!

DD

Rammy · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:35 pm Post subject:

JDFUNKY · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:11 pm Post subject:

Given the recent trends of Arkle winners/runners and the GC, it can only be MY WAY DE SOLZEN at the moment.
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Binge · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:39 pm Post subject:

My idea of the winner at this early stage is DENMAN.

I take the point that he doesn't have the speed of two of his principal rivals KS & MWDS but rather than one of those two picking him off, I beleive he can make the race the truest test of stamina that these two will have ever encountered over fences.

Nicholls' instructions for Denman will have to be to gallop them into the ground - and then what does he say to connections of KS? I just hope both Denman and KS get to the Festival, both with faultless campaigns behind them either side of the Irish Sea, just to see who Walsh decides to ride.
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Owl of Minerva · Group Performer Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 10089

Swagger · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 1:41 pm Post subject:

Don't Push It and My Way De Solzen, the arkle has been a great trail for the Gold Cup of late. It seems who need a horse who has good speed and is a real athelete to win the race in recent years.

Regards.

Tommythetipster · Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 11:16 am Post subject:

If all horses are injury free, what a race we could have for the 2008 GC. From an early stage all I have said is:

MY WAY DE SOLZEN

What ever he runs in at Cheltenham he will win. He is a horse I think who could be another Best Mate, I rate him so much. I think he will take a lot of beating. 2 miles and Arkle winner, 3 miles and World Hurdle winner, winner over 3 miles on soft. He is very very good. I cannot wait to see him but I am sort of hoping he gets beat so that 9/1 can be pushed out to more like 14/1

Like Swagger said the Arkle is a great trial for the following seasons GC. Hence why I think Tidal Bay will go the Arkle route as Howard Johnson sees him as a future GC horse.

As for others. You have to respect Kauto but that run at Aintree was worrying and I think he will need to win at Haydock as a lot of people are expecting him to win.

But I do not know if anyone has realised this but the 2008 GC, there could be a lot of pace with horses cutting each others throats. Have a look, horses that like to be leading and upfront, Denman, Star De Mohaison, Taranis (if he goes for GC), Neptune Collonges, Aces Four (even though I like him for the Ryanair), The Listener, Ollie Magern. There could be a hell of a lot of pace and could be set up for a horse in behind.

I would love to see the ground be soft heavy in places for The Listener so he would actually have a decent chance but that will never happen.

But my dark horse of the race and my horse out of all the Nicholls lot is Star De Mohaison. If he returns to the course retaining all of his ability. He could be a very nice each way bet I think. He jumps well and stays too. And at 25s, he would be my fancy at the each way prices.

But I am all over MWDS for this but he is too short at 9/1.

So it is:

My Way De Solzen
Star De Mohaison e/w

TTT
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phardy3 · Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 3:16 pm Post subject:

Tommy

Like you I think that noth MWDS and SDM are the best value bets for the Gold cup.

I have small AP portfolio and that includes 5pts on MWDS @ 12-1 and 2pts on SDM at £29 on betfair.

I think that the Arkle has provided some really good pointers to the GC in recent years and must admit that prior to last years I thought 2 miles was going to be too short for MWDS and was glad to be proved wrong.... but was also know that he stays further and has the required turn of foot - watch out Kauto.

As far at SDM - I must be this horses biggest fan - I think he still has huge potential and was gutted to lose the 25-1 GC bet I had ew last year - He loves the track and still has potential to improve.

I may be proved wrong, but I think last season may have taken more out of both ED and KS than their trainers would admit - we just have to look at War of Att and KK to know what winning a GC can do to horses. It is not an easy crown to retain and Best Mate only did so by being protected thoughout the rest of the season.

Roll on March!
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Rammy · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 12:52 pm Post subject:

geordie_racer · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 1:02 pm Post subject:

And here's me thinking Tommy was an Aces four man

I have to say he looked a class act on Saturday in the Charlie hall looked like he could jump for fun and ran very smoothly inded.

I think he travels and jumps well enough to be right in this year's gold cup mix, and am intending to have a look at current prices tonight when I get home.

Ferdy Murphy has a decent festival record, his horses come good in the spring and no way was AF wound up for his run on Saturday. there is a lot more in the tank

I think he has the profile to win this IF Kauto is not the same horse as he was last year [and I dont think he's going to be, sadly]

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