Sam Thomas and Denman

I'm fairly confident Ruby will pick Kauto - most interviews with Nicholls, Hales, Barber etc all point in that direction. There's been no decision made on Denman's jockey in the Gold Cup yet - but Racing Post said that Mccoy had not been approached (yet) to ride Denman. Fact is, if Ruby did pick Denman, Thomas would not get the ride on Kauto (Clive Smith already replaced Thomas on his horses after Thomas had some bad rides). Its a shame, he doesn't deserve it but as an owner, you can understand their concern. I guess you wouldn't play an out of form football player in the Champions League Final...
 
I do feel for Thomas, but, this is a huge day for Denman, and I'm sure connections have their reasons for their choice of jockey today.

I have to say, I am incredibly nervous for the big lad, and I hope and pray he comes home safe and well. A win would be a bonus.
 
i am frankly amazed that newbury is on cos i dont live that far from there and ther is still snow on all the fields round here and marlborough had a blizzzard yesterday. has anyone checked cos that report in the link is from monday . but as for sam, that is racing, and it will never change. he will be gutted by i reckon as well that ruby wll chose kauto at cheltenham.
 
Meant to say they have moved to Kempton
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well that horse just cantered over Denman, even allowing for the fact he hasnt run for ages. i am still backing kauto for cheltenham.
 
Madison du Berlais gave Tom Scudamore a well-earned fee I'd say. He looked like he was barely holding him after the first fence and still barely holding him after the last! I never really liked the horse but might have to change my mind. Not sure where Joe Lively went to, bit disappointed in him really.

Denman - not sure what to say really. Never really looked all that interested, but jumped well and stayed. Didn't see Ruby doing a whole lot with him towards the end but I suspect he knew that Madison had him by then.

Haven't watch the post-match analysis (rugby on the other side!) but I can see some blame being put on it being a right-handed track.
 
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Denman - not sure what to say really. Never really looked all that interested, but jumped well and stayed. Didn't see Ruby doing a whole lot with him towards the end but I suspect he knew that Madison had him by then.

Haven't watch the post-match analysis (rugby on the other side!) but I can see some blame being put on it being a right-handed track.

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i agree ^^^ i dont really have any knowledge in racing,i just really really like denman, shame he got beat, but he just looked a little race rusty to me and stuffy!! Wish he had won,
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but tbh have to say fair play to the winner was impressive!!
 
and the winner beat him easy he was winning after one circuit IMO and has won a henessy himself so is no slug. i am sure the right handed coursewill be blamed or the going or something but i reckon all the connections will be disapointed in that deep down.
 
I'm sure this is fairly controversial but in my opinion, shouldn't a horse who is truly great win going either way? Didn't Best Mate? Dessie? Kauto? I know they would prefer running one way or the other but shouldn't a true great be able to adapt to circumstances. Master Minded has won both ways. I think Denman is fab but I don't believe he didn't win because he was going right handed. I think he didn't win because he didn't want to play - he never looked like the Denman of last year. Harry Findlay said on At the Races this morning that he thought that maybe the Gold Cup 'broke Denman's heart' last year - does he mean that it took too much out of him?
 
As far as the jockey bookings go, Ruby has always ridden him unless his first choice is another. That article is more sensationalist rubbish, dredging up poor Sam's rough patch.

Today, Denman was never travelling, and the only time his stride changed to looking like a good horse was when he was on the sand section of the track.
Something's wrong. He chipped at the early fences and was choppy between them, and looked rather ordinary. I don't buy for a second the 'off for 10 months' excuse. That wasn't a horse needing the race blowing up, that was a horse struggling.
I watched his Lexus win earlier today, and he had horses that KS on form would have blown out the water quite close to him.
History will tell, but his Hennessy performance and Gold Cup performance may turn out to be his career bests.

I can't see Ruby getting off KS now.
 
He didn't look right at all today and was even blowing in the box whilst being saddled! Not overly blowing but enough for me to think he was maybe a little under cooked?
Madison de Berlais has turned out to be quite a little horse. Prior to his two wins this season I had him down as nothing out of the ordinary. Time may yet prove that he still is though.
I say Gold Cup atm is wide open if KS doesn't show his form on the day. KS has the form to beat this season I reckon as I just cannot put my finger on one that that will offer the biggest challenge.
Maybe we will know more later this month after some more trials.
I did think Albertas Run maybe a force to be reckoned with as Sun Alliance chase winners have faired pretty well in Gold Cup's, however he may turn out to be an ordinary winner as he has achieved nothing this season to suggest he has a chance of lifting the gold cup.
Denman was all wrong today. Not just maybe undercooked but didn't look happy. I saw him change legs at one point too which to be honest I cannot remember seeing him do before. I dunno maybe he won't be the same horse again but imo he has a mountain to climb to lift the gold cup now.
KS is the likely winner on paper at this stage unless something comes out of the woodwork between now and then either from UK or Ire.
 
If I had to use one word to describe Denmans performance today, it would be 'lacklustre'.

I am a HUGE fan, and when he was on form last year, he was unbeatable, but I agree that on seeing him today, even in his stable, he never looked like the horse he was.

Connections are reportedly gutted by his performance today.
 
Mmmmm. Very disappointing, but in his interview on Channel 4 Paul Barber was extremely apprehensive and said he'd never been so nervous before a race. I suspect he suspected Denman might not be up to scratch today. One can talk about the right handed track, ground not right, needing the run, all of which might be true but he just never looked as if he was firing. To be defeated by such a distance is concerning. I just hope we hear no more of the Grand National.

Well done Madison. He ran a cracker and such a shame about the Tizzard's star who cut into a tendon and is out for the rest of the season.

And AP must be wondering if he'll ever win a race again!!
 
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And AP must be wondering if he'll ever win a race again!!

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LOL!!
But he'll win the Champion Hurdle on Binocular, so missing the odd winner here or there..........
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Didn't know that about Joe Lively........
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Hope to god he's OK, not top class but as straight as they come........

Now, here's the if. IF they think Denman is never going to be the horse of old, he'll still never get a better shot at the National. I think he'll run. On today's effort, he might even bypass the GC.
 
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Harry Findlay said on At the Races this morning that he thought that maybe the Gold Cup 'broke Denman's heart' last year - does he mean that it took too much out of him?

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That is a possibility, it's happened to other horses in the past, that after a great win they never went on to do much (not just in racing, horses have gone sour in Showjumping as well)

I'm just glad the Tank got home safe and sound, I was worried about him re his heart condition. He may well do better next time out
 
I have to admit to thinking when I saw him in the saddling box that there was something missing.

In the past just the sight of him walking in the paddock made hairs on the back on my neck stand up, but on Saturday he looked like a "normal" horse, he looked small and weak in comparison to the horse he was last year.

I am probably taking nonsense, can't really explain it but I had a sinking feeling as to how the race would go.

I love the horse and really hope that the true tank returns in time for the gold cup, but maybe last years gold cup broke him
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At least he came back safe and sound
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