Denman or Kauto Star?

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by Hwjb

Monet's Garden was receiving 14 lb and beat Kauto Star 1.25 lengths at Aintree earlier in the year when Kauto was patently in need of the run more than Monet's, so he'd effectively need Kauto to fall to come out on top. The two meet today in the Ascot Chase over 2m5f off level weight and it will be a major shock if Kauto is beaten, even though he won't be spot on for this with Cheltenham just 4 weeks away, whereas I believe Monet's Garden is being kept for Aintree in April, and so is more likely to be trained to the day for this race, which he won 12 months ago. Racing Demon should be suited by the track, however, and I think he can be the one to chase Kauto Star home today. We'll see!

I don't agree about the point you made that Kaudo was more in need of the run than Monet's at Aintree at all. Everything about the race suggested that Kauto was by far the the fitter that day, including on paddock looks.

Kauto will win today if he stands up, but the race at Aintree was certainly interesting and although Nicholls said he was "thrilled" with that run, he was pretty down after that and so were quite a few of the staff, as they thought he was "buying money" that day!

[brockguy]

kauto wins as he pleases today.. all set for cheltenham. I have to note Neptune Collonges performance today at Wincanton giving a stone and more to his rivals.. I think he can come 2nd in the Gold Cup - a seriously underrated horse...

[my miss storm cat]

Sporting Life...

KAUTO RUMOURS SURFACE


By PA Sport Staff



A number of bookmakers have suspended betting on the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup amid rumours about the wellbeing of favourite Kauto Star.

Paul Nicholls' reigning champion was an impressive winner of the Commercial First Ascot Chase on Saturday afternoon, seeing off Monet's Garden by eight lengths.

However, the Racing Post later reported that Nicholls' stable star has sprained a fetlock and that the trainer will issue an update on his wellbeing on Sunday.

Stan James, totesport and Paddy Power were among the bookmakers to stop taking bets on the March 14 feature.

[NoChanceToDance]

I can't see him making the line up to be honest. Paul Nicholls is not one to rush horses, especially good horses like him.

The betting told you all you needed to know last night; Denman Evens and Kauto Star almost 4/1.

I hate to sound horrible or negative but in a strange sort of way, it spices up the Gold Cup a bit now.

[brockguy]

cant agree with you here at all.. if Kauto, Denman and Exotic get there sprinkled with a few other good horses, it'll be the best Gold Cup certainly in my lifetime watching racing.. Kauto not going would be an absolutely devestating blow for everyone in racing and would do anything but spice up the gold cup.

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by brockguy

cant agree with you here at all.. if Kauto, Denman and Exotic get there sprinkled with a few other good horses, it'll be the best Gold Cup certainly in my lifetime watching racing.. Kauto not going would be an absolutely devestating blow for everyone in racing and would do anything but spice up the gold cup.

We're going to have to agree to disagree. I can't stand races where one or two automatically stand out from the rest, especially high calibre races with only one or two realistic winners. I was impressed with Kauto yesterday and was starting to come round to terms with the fact he was going to be very difficult to beat at Cheltenham. With the possibility of the Gold Cup without him, it brings much more competition to the race in my opinion. That's the way I prefer it.

I don't think Cheltenham looks that good at all this year. I've been so depressed with the NH season so far I haven't bothered to watch half of it. Usually at this time of the year I'm getting excited about Cheltenham...... not this year. Maybe it's just me, but you look at the races and nothing stands out.

A weak champion hurdle, a weak looking arkle, a three or four horse gold cup, a sun alliance chase where no form is working out at all, a one horse world hurdle (by the looks of it)

[Hwjb]

How can anyone not be excited by the thought of this most intriguing of Gold Cups, when, in Kauto Star, you've got the best chaser since Desert Orchid and, in Denman, one who is already just about on a par with the likes of Master Oats and See More Business and remains open to further improvement, with the top-class Exotic Dancer there to keep the pair of them honest. I'm as excited about this renewal as I have been about any race I can remember, although I've got a nagging feeling that one of them will either fall early or step on a stone on the morning of the race.

As for the other races, one does get the feeling that many of the divisions aren't quite up to their usual level this season. Still, the Gold Cup makes up for that in itself! Plus the weights haven't come out for the handicaps yet. Wait until we've had a chance to get stuck into them!