Gold Cup Day

Exhausted, emotional and confused after 3 long days. But as Catch Me did not get up under AP in the 2nd today we are still in the game. 2 winning days were followed by a shocker today both as a layer and a bettor. As a bookmaker the Pertemps was the only race we didn't lose on the day. Some relief, the audacious gamble on the JP owned Catch Me just fell short. Big Bucks broke the hearts of Willie Mullins trio and Henderson's Oscar Whisky in the World hurdle today in awesome style. Case closed, he is the greatest stayer of all time! How folly of me to doubt him. Andrew Lynch rode a wonderful race to challenge last on Voler La Vedette, switching to the outside of Big Bucks as he veered left, whilst trying not to eyeball the Dicheat machine. All in vein. Ruby did it the hard way today. Big Bucks was nearly at his most impressive, even after all this time.

A brief few thoughts on Day 4 
Triumph is double dutch to me. Take Countrywide Flame to enjoy better galloping test on good ground ew.

County Hurdle I fancy an Irish winner. Citizenship's form is working out fantastically and I also like the smooth travelling and pacey Redera ew with most firms paying 5 places.


Boston Bob will be the Irish banker on Day 4 in the Albert Bartlett. He excites all the Mullins team but his price reflects the hype.Reminds me of pre So Young last year in the Neptune. I'll take the hugely impressive Brindisi Breeze last time out ew for some value.

Gold Cup 2012
1 Burton Port    Small solid stayer. Jumps well. Stable Flying. Should be placed at least.
2 Carruthers  Quality handiacpper. Races prominently. Good jumper. Not good enough.
3 China Rock  Classy type. Hasn't been himself lately. Excuse latest. Travel real well, won't stay.
4 Diamond Harry  Fragile Horse. V good on his day. Badly out of form. Not the biggest shock though.
5 Kauto Star  Different horse this year. Handling races well, staying gallantly, best form. Nicholls form?
6 Knockara Beau Stays well.Solid handicapper with some excellent hurdling form.Held by Midnight Ch'
7 Long Run  Looks sluggish this year,Jockey the same! Still should be good enough.Henderson......
8 Midnight Chase  Interesting in a poor Gold Cup if soft lead. Won't get breather though.
9 Quel Esprit  Thought Hennessy was awful.Tired horse after.Yet some judges make a case.Surely not
10 Synchronised Impressed by the manner of his victory lto more than the form. If it rains, charge ew
11 The Giant Bolster Solid Handicapper. Am I repeating myself. Cheltenham specialist. Cool Dawn stuff
12  The Midnight Club  Will be staying on. Needs them to go around again though.Out to nick a place
13 Time for Rupert Classy type on his day.Has lost his way.Needs to find himself!Not biggest shock
14 Weird Al  More realistic. Goes well fresh. Unexposed at top class. Short enough now.
15 What a Friend Will travel well.Finds little.Ran well last year.But his lack of battle, place at best.

Conclusion; Do you notice all the negatives! It's that sort of race. Mad to take on Long Run and Kauto Star but by the time you go down through them, process of elimination, your left with nothing! Kauto Star is best this year. If not for age, suspect 3m2f in Gold Cup and Nicholls stable form he'd be the most likely winner by a way. Are we worried about him and the hill or is that bolony?! Twice gold cup winner and all that. Was it his class that made up for lack of stamina all along. This year stamina looks his forte. Long Run should be improving or at least at his peak, but he's been poor this year. If he turns up 100% he wins. I used to defend Sam Waley Cohen. But 2/1 about him this year. Ruby's made him look ridiculous, especially in Haydock. Need to have a bet?! Suppose Burton Port should be placed. Barry Geraghty and Nicky Henderson. Trainer tick, Jockey tick, Recent form tick, Stamina tick, jumping tick, Class; does it matter this year...... Burton Port ew  To make up for spilt whisky today!
Maybe China Rock back to lay. Forget last run, too keen, jumped poorly. Expect him to travel well tomorrow but stamina will be an issue, get out before the hill!!


Foxhunters
Prefer the Irish form. Salsify 1/4 1-4 looks very fair bet.

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Hurdle
Dan Breen and Grandads horse each way. Tough tough race

Grand Annual
Kid Cassidy reading between the lines has been AP's idea of a Cheltenham winner for the past few months. Excited by the prospect of a big field in a handicap going a proper gallop. This may bring out the fact that he's well handicapped. His jumping has got better but is still a worry. So maybe not an each way proposition but win. I'll take Eradicate to fly up the hill for Henderson, again. He is a hardened handicappper that like Kid Cassidy will appreciate the rough and tumble of a festival race, and the good ground.