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| Horse | FSF | Comments
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| Kauto Star | 162 | Kauto Star failed to impress in both the paddock and the Gold Cup itself. He was unable to get into his usual rhythm, and whilst not making any serious mistakes, was far from fluent over several fences, crucially the fourth last. Perhaps the tacky ground was to blame or he may have been feeling the effects of the extremely fast time he produced at Ascot. His FSF rating achieved in this race was 155, 7lb below his best performance. As for the future, Kauto Star has now run fifteen times over fences; numerically, a high number of runs for a horse campaigned at this level. In addition, he will have to overcome the dreaded hoodoo that no horse has ever regained the crown, having been beaten in the race, after winning it.
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| Master Minded | 162 | Master Minded put up, in my opinion, the performance of the week in the Champion Chase. Jumping for fun, he led at the seventh fence; from that point onwards, it was clear that something special would be needed to beat him. Voy Por Ustedes ran within a couple of pounds of his best FSF rating which serves only to display just what sort of performance this was. Master Minded is reportedly running at Punchestown, which should give him enough time to recover from this effort. However, it should not be forgotten he is only a five-year-old, long-term a holiday maybe the right move. As with all the best two-mile chasers, he goes well fresh. I hope he will not be over-raced or stepped up in distance, merely to satisfy members of the press eager to set up another “Heavyweight Clash” of some description.
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| Denman | 159 | Denman put up an exhilarating round of jumping and power to gain a well deserved Gold Cup victory. He led at the twelfth fence and put in an amazing surge of speed that carried him away from his rivals. It was clear at the second last he was not for catching, unless he tied up dramatically. Despite getting tired on the run in, understandably given the injection of pace, he had put to the race some way from home, he held on in convincing fashion. He will return next year, bar injury, the horse to beat. My feeling at this time is that realistic dangers will not come from those that finished behind him on this occasion.
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| Neptune Collonges | 155 | Neptune Collonges ran his best ever race at Cheltenham in the Gold Cup. Always in the firing line, he was simply unable to go the pace to keep tabs on Denman when that fellow opened up. Nevertheless, he did remarkably well to rally to such effect from the final obstacle. Punchestown is on the agenda now and he will take some stopping in a race he won last year. A year younger than Denman, he should have more improvement to come. Whether he will ever be able to produce his best round Prestbury Park is another question.
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| Our Vic | 153 | Our Vic gained just reward for some sterling efforts this season. The blinkers clearly woke him up and Timmy Murphy rode an exquisite race from the front. What you see is what you get with Our Vic; he is a credit to himself and all concerned with him.
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| Voy Por Ustedes | 150 | Voy Por Ustedes ran his heart out but was simply unable to match the pace and power of Master Minded. I hope Alan King can persuade connections to step him up in distance, as the Ryanair Chase would be right up his street in 2009.
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| Tidal Bay | 147 | Tidal Bay put up a super performance to blitz his rivals in the Arkle Chase. He clearly has an excellent relationship with Denis O’Regan. His record of three wins and two seconds at Cheltenham, displays his liking for the course. One wonders if connections will try to avoid Master Minded if all goes to plan over the summer. The majority of his jumping was good and he flew the last fence, before storming away up the run in. Long-term he could make up into a viable Ryanair candidate.
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| Mossbank | 144 | Mossbank ran as though he needs further, though he was far from disgraced on his first visit to the UK in the Ryanair Chase. Softer ground would have suited him better and so far, he has only won going right-handed. Punchestown awaits this improving chaser.
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| Fair Along | 142 | Fair Along showed all his guts and determination to finish third in the Champion Chase, having looked likely to finish nearer last than third at one stage. A step up in distance now beckons, though he is just short of Grade One class.
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| Turko | 141 | Turko failed to jump with any fluency and did well to finish third to Our Vic in the Ryanair Chase. A much better performer on a flat track, there is more to come from this fellow.
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| Noland | 138 | Noland disappointed in the paddock prior to the Arkle. He ran well enough in the race and looks ready for a step up in distance. Considering his stop start preparation this season, he has done well to achieve the level of form he has attained. If all remains well with him, he should come back an even better performer next season. Races such as the Paddy Power Gold Cup should be on his “Hit List.”
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| Thyne Again | 137 | Thyne Again just failed to land the each-way money for his supporters in the Arkle. Soft ground and two and a half miles are his optimum conditions.
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| Kruguyrova | 135 | Kruguyrova, as always, ran a game race in the Arkle. She did not jump as well as she can and deserves great credit for battling back to snatch second place. A credit to her connections she will need her summer holiday when it comes round.
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| Alberta’s Run | 134 | Alberta’s Run travelled supremely well in the last third of the race and is clearly blessed with an abundance of stamina. He can come on and off the bit in his races; however, when McCoy made his mind up he quickly became the 2008 SunAlliance Chase hero. He does not strike me as a potential Gold Cup horse; nevertheless whenever stamina is at a premium, he will be hard to keep out of the fun.
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| Roll Along | 132 | Roll Along finished with a flourish to take second place in the Sun Alliance Chase. A mistake at the second last did not help his cause, and he may be a bit better than the form suggests. Lightly raced, he has always gone best when fresh.
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| Silverburn | 131 | Silverburn failed to stay and connections must be ruing the decision to reroute him from the Jewson Handicap.
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| Battlecry | 130 | Battlecry has had a good season; however, he was legless on the run in when third to Alberta’s Run. Perhaps connections would be wise to give this good-looking young chaser a holiday.
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