CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL NEWS: BOODLES CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP – REACTION FROM MORE BEATEN CONNECTIONS
Friday 15th March
Paul Nicholls, trainer of Bravemanshame (5th), said: “To my mind he never went a yard in that ground from the start. I could see he was in trouble and so he's done really well to finish where he has, considering the conditions. You can't choose the ground though can you. It's just a bit unfortunate.
“We'll look at Aintree or Punchestown and pray that the ground is better. If they ever run the Gold Cup on good to firm it will suit him.”
BEATEN JOCKEYS
Charlie Deutsch (L’Homme Presse, fourth): “Really enjoyed that. Jumped brilliantly, I felt I had a good position, was in a good rhythm and I saw Paul was on my outside, so I was pretty happy with where I was. He just got tired jumping the last and coming up the hill, but he’s run well. It’s the first time I’ve ridden him on ground that tacky. Watching the race at Lingfield, he actually has quite a bit of speed – he beat Protektorat that day.”
Harry Cobden (Bravemansgame, fifth): “Delighted with his run really, I thought the ground probably just took the edge off him. Everything was an effort from a long way out. I tried to get him a bit positive with a circuit to go, as I was going nowhere at the time. Maybe a set of cheekpieces at some point.”
Rachael Blackmore (Jungle Boogie, sixth): “He was doing a bit too much under me, but considering he tanked so hard all the way around, he ran very well.”
Patrick Mullins (Monkfish, pulled-up): “He just made a mistake at the second ditch, first time round, and we were on the back foot from there.”
Sam Twiston-Davies (The Real Whacker, pulled-up): “Good spin for a long way, better ground will definitely suit him. He didn’t [stay] today, but I thought with how strongly he finished in the Cotswold Chase, there’s definitely proof that he would stay that kind of trip.”
Darragh O’Keeffe (Gentlemansgame, pulled-up): “He missed at the second last going out on the final circuit and I was on the back foot then.”
Niall Houlihan (Nassalam, pulled-up): “Strong tempo, strong gallop, he’s better off a four-mile pace where he can get in more of a rhythm.”
