I backed Cue Card. What an amazing race, I also backed Cue Card in the 2016 Chelt Gold Cup.... how on earth did he not see that fence. Still was an amazing horse and long may he live in retirement.
an utterly compelling and magnificent horse race. Such a shame we dont see Vautour or Don Cossack anymore and its Cue Cards last season, "Cue Card is coming", great line
This just makes me so excited for the jumps season 2017! Has to be one of the most interesting ones to date, rather than all the bloodstock and million £ stud nonsense!!
You can pinpoint the exact second when crackle sees the winning post and goes for it, and the crowd realises a second later and roars him on. Fantastic race
I think it's bollocks that they always put a horse down just because of an injury say a broken leg etc and just this week alone I've never seen so many horses get badly injured it's a disgrace tbh
What a fantastic race and such a deserved winner. Cue Card is my favourite horse currently in training and I was cheering my head off as he closed in on Vautour. His return to form this year has been great to watch and he now goes to the Gold Cup with every chance. I'll certainly be cheering him on at Cheltenham! As for Vautour, I think it's most likely that he'll end up in the Ryanair Chase. Which is a shame for a horse of his ability IMO but it just seems the obvious race they'd go for. The Champion Chase would be the more exciting and prestigious target if they decided to drop him in trip but that won't happen as long as Un De Sceaux is around. Willie Mullins doesn't like running his best horses against one another at Cheltenham if he can help it.
+slenjamiah I'd rather take that than the 5's on Don Cossack & esp if Cooper rides...wouldn't have had Cue Card on my mind at the start of the season but can't argue with what he's done, he jumps, loves Cheltenham, Brennan obv gets a tune out of him but will he stay the extra 2f....? I'll take that 100-1, cheers..
This was a high quality race.The best chase I've seen for some time.It was a hard race though. The two principals need the break before Cheltenham.I hope Vautour tries the Gold Cup and not the Ryanair.Terrific training feat By Colin Tizzard to bring Cue Card back to this level this season.What a hand he has for the Festival with Thistlecrack looking a good bet for the World Hurdle also.
First time I've watched this race since Christmas.Vautour ran with the choke out for the first circuit. Settled better when given the lead. Left-handed on better ground, I think he will win the Gold Cup, just getting home.Danger, the best closer with Cheltenham form, Don Poli.
Must be one of the most moving, exciting finishes of all time. A rare defeat for Ruby in a tight finish. The sound and the commentary make it explosive.
What a race, what ever happens vautour is a future star, think cheltenham will bring the best out of him, gold cup gomna be one of the best ever, my view is vatour and cue card to fight it out again but so many might turn up on the day, cant wait for the race now
what a race,cured my hangover ,i was against don cassack on price and ground,and i was against vautour on fitness ,cue card ticked too many boxes for me and was a backable price,vautours first run of the season told me he was way of his peak and we all know willy likes his horses to peak come march,he is still a major contender for the gold cup,cant say he doesn't stay after losing by a hair in a top class king George,he would be my pick for the gold cup at this point at 8/1
+postcardterry crying here with that reply haha..!! I actually for once was sitting on 4/4 in a lucky 31 waiting on Don Cossack. Never cursed more than when he thudded the ground lol, he'd just got along side them too, and surely would have outstayed them !! Either way, can't see these two photo finishers being near it on Gold Cup day, even more emphasis on stamina !
+Luke McCann Why can't you see them being involved? They showed tonnes of stamina and both galloped to the line! That's after Vautour taking it up a mile from home. If Ruby hangs on to him he'll get GC trip. The Don was staying on for sure but that was still a long way from home and there's no guarantee he would found the extra gear Cue Card did...
First time I have watched this since 2015. I had a massive bet on Vautour. Once Don fell I was counting the money. I often lay at 1.1 in running if I have a really big bet. Didn’t think it necessary so cancelled the bet. Which would have been matched. A painful end to the year.
A cracking good renewal of this. Vautour had this won everywhere but the last couple of strides and Cue Card was really game to get up. The Gold Cup is an extra couple of furlongs so Will Vautour see it out? Cue Card probably will and he does seem to be the horse of the moment. But we will see.
Best finish I have seen for Years... especially when I have the horse that comes from a couple of lengths down after the last at Kempton. Been lucky to have backed Cue Card in his last few runs (ignore a couple last season) and after the last win it was a no brainer to back him in the King George. Took 9/2 in the morning with three score on the nose. Paid for a few presents... Checked and the the bookies are offering around 7/1 for the GC, gotta back him but Don Cossack is aiming for March and at the same price I may put on a saver. Happy New Year Cue Card, cheers.
Hmmm.. not totally convinced Don Cossack would have won. He would have been there but just look at the tune Brennan got out of Cue Card coming towards the last.. would Don Cossack have responded like that? Also, Cue Card might have rallied better with Don Cossack breathing down his neck; it's not like Don ever headed him.. Cue Card stuck with him, and wasn't folding.
+MrSmid888 This dude though 😂😂.... Someone always has to have the last word don't they.. Oh RUclips you do bring out some funny characters... Its almost as if by someone saying this was good they're saying channel 4 was bad.... Of course the Channel 4 commentary was better but firstly does it really need to be said? And second while they're still too arsey to put their replays on RUclips we have no choice as to what to listen to on here do we? 😂😂😂
Copper seems to have bad luck all the time on Don Cossack.Same at Cheltenham last year. He Definitely was staying on along side Cue Card . But there there to be jumped. still will keep the faith with him at Cheltenham
+Ninja Skrtel yeah would have stayed harder than the other two..!! They do need to be jumped though. Was waiting on Don Cossack for a 5 timer. Gutting lol
would the Don have outrun Cue Card? a question that needs answering before friday. he didnt have the best round and his jumping as always lets him down. Vautour maybe had a bit extra but lost concentration with nothing around him 2 out. if ruby waits for the iconic Cheltenham turn to step on the gas i cant see anything catching him. thats if Djakadam isnt staying on as hes always likely to.
I don't think so. He was behind the whole time and he fell under pressure. I'd take Cue Card to win the GC in a sprint finish similar to this, he looks a fine horse
Not long now Cue Card,the million pound bonus is upon us with your owner looking down c'mon let's have it.Cue Card won't win this wont stay that,but he does everytime c'mon!!
Don Cossack stays much better than Vatour and Cue Card and was ridden poorly throughout and still would've won the race if he hadn't of fallen. The best horse in the gold cup and he will prove it.
Maybe you can think of a better way to decide which is the best horse other than racing them against each other. Maybe their should be a rule win lose or draw willie Mullins horses are always the best?
i think this race reiterated the ongoing problem of whipping horses-for me its got to be banned completely-the public don't want to see this 'win at all costs and whip it to death' approach-it would be a level playing field without the whipping-it seems at the present time jockeys think it is acceptable in the big races-
+Paul Barlow The fact that you refer to a horse as "it" and not "they" suggests you don't care all that much about them as a starter. Second the whip is an extremely useful aid in order to get a horse balanced, going forward and collected, as well as getting them straightened up on the approach to a fence or flight, and helping them to use their front end over an obstacle. You can see how much horses sometimes run around without the help of a whip and to be totally honest its just plain dangerous not to carry a stick... Especially on juveniles. With regard to effort, the whip really does help a horse extend their stride and give their all and it does not hurt them at all. Moreover the fact that every jockey has a whip means that it already is a level playing field; if the horse isn't responding a jockey won't use the stick any way... It would be totally counter intuitive to give a horse a flip if they aren't responding, and to be honest a jockey is most probably better qualified than you to decide if they're responding or not.....With regard to Paddy's attitude to the whip in this race, yes he broke the rules and deserved his punishment in the eyes of the rules. With that said, he was in a high stakes situation, up against one of the best horses and jockeys in jump racing and trying to win the second leg of a potential triple crown. Furthermore the horse responded and he got Cue Card up.... It's doubtful he'd have got Cue Card up without a stick. Also Cue Card was neither marked nor distressed after the race and was completely sound after his exertions. Colin Tizzard and Mr and Mrs Bishop were all happy with the use of the whip after the race and were not in anyway dis pleased with Paddy's ride; (and to be honest, the latter own the horse, so what they think probably means most). With regard to Ruby's ride on Vautour, yes he broke the rules and didn't win, but again, no-one was displeased with his ride in the Vautour camp and the horse was neither hurt or distressed after the race, and he was within only a head of victory. The other jockeys were all within the rules. This notion that jockeys don't care about horses is false. Jockeys become jockeys because they love horses, however a jockey's job is to get the horse to try their best and the whip is a harmless and useful aid in doing that. No horse was distressed or lame after the race so they all did their job. Also, the "win at all costs" statement is somewhat mis-leading, the £157 riding fee doesn't change whatever race and wherever you finish, so to whip a horse when there is no chance of victory is counter productive, hence why Noel pulled Conti up before three out... Yes jockey's receive around 10% of the prize money but the average race price is around £9,000 or so, so there's not really much point in getting at a horse that won't win because after tax and levy there's not much money in it anyway.... Take it from someone who knows :L. With regard to public attitude, I would suggest any members of the public who like racing but are offended by the whip try to educate themselves as best they can; maybe talk to trainers and jockeys, anyone who knows something about the sport to better understand the reasons behind why the stick is used in National Hunt Racing.... If after this it still distresses them then maybe they shouldn't watch and look for another sport to be interested in; they don't have to watch. It should also be noted that the RSPCA (y'know the people who actually are professionally qualified in analysing animal cruelty), are in agreement with the BHA that the current guidelines and rules are fair, just and reasonable, and that also the whip does not harm a horse at all. I hope this response provokes some thought, and I am quite happy to hear some eloquent and well written counter arguments.... Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I should lastly point out that what I am saying only applies to National Hunt racing, as that is all I know and have experience in.
+Paul Barlow if a human was denied the chance to do what they were good at because there was a 1% fatality rate then every human rights group would be up in arms saying that it was against their human rights to do what they love and what they're good at and express themselves. Horses are beautiful creatures that have a unique passion and talent for racing... So what about their rights? Or are you saying that they should be denied the right to display their unique talent and do what they love? Do you think that horses aren't equal to humans.....? Because to really believe what you say, you must....
it's not the fatality rate I'm talking about-itys the euthanasia of race horses-greyhounds and the rest of it-once the industry has finished with them-they're not all Kauto Stars you know-its the dark side of racing that no fucker talks about
anyone who think for certain they know what an outcome would have been is clueless at the point cossack fell vatour was cruisng. he looked the winner until the last yard..... Also jumping is part of the game and if you cant do that you cant win. Vautour will win at cheltenham
+slenjamiah hardly 100%! Cossack was clearly a tired horse he had been pushed for the last mile. If cooper diddnt ask him for a big one at the second last he would have got in tight and popped it and lost a couple of lengths and again at the last… your the mug!
+slenjamiah You deleted your foolish comments off Ivanovich Gorbatovs video. You are and after timing mug ! The irish will hammer the english in a few weeks! Hon Mullins
+slenjamiah mug punter coz i think vautour will win the gold cup..... vautour has won last 2 times at cheltenham, vautour has the best trainer in the game who will have him ready. cossack is a great horse but he hasnt won at cheltenham.....horses for courses!
i do cue card is a danger but cossack doesnt jump well under pressure and hasnt won at cheltenham.....vautour is going the way it prefers at cheltenham loves the course plus it will be spot on for it.
+slenjamiah Whatever Ruby rides will win the gc. What has Cossack beaten? whenever asked he folds and runs into his fences…. If you take end of season form as face value well good luck to you!
+ed kelly its a fact willie has his horses fitter for march remember last year how bad vautour was before cheltenham, willie worked on him and said he was spot on and he won easy on the bridle (best performance of the week). To get beat by a nose hair in the king george and to say the horse doesnt stay is crazy, Vautour is the best horse class wise in the gold cup and i know ruby will be on vautour
RIP Cue Card. Absolute legend. Run free lad.
First thing I watched as soon as I heard news
'As the field tuuurrrrn for home!'
Quality commentary
Quality horses
Quality crowd noise
Quality finish
Quality race!!!
That crowd reaction send shivers down the spine..!! Happy to lose for that drama - racing at its finest..!!
+Luke McCann A classy renewal, Grade 1 winners all over the place and a thrilling race.
It was Don Cossack I was on, made it sound like it was Vautour 😄🙈❤️
same
Rest in peace to a horse of a lifetime
The crowd noise , the commentary, the finish, the horses. The best I've ever seen.
This will never not give me goosebumps.
Sad Cue Card has left us, fantastic horse that always wanted to win RIP
I backed Cue Card. What an amazing race, I also backed Cue Card in the 2016 Chelt Gold Cup.... how on earth did he not see that fence. Still was an amazing horse and long may he live in retirement.
atmosphere like a football match, racing perfection
Andrew Harman brilliant hearing the crowd roar up when cue cards step changed after the last
What a great career Cue Card had. Seemed like he was around forever. Always gave 100 per cent. Miss him a lot
God I miss Vautour what a lovely boy he was
One of my favourite races of all time
Never has a race had my adrenaline going as much as this one
Rest easy, CC. Legend
what made the race was the commentator...probably best race I have seen!
One of the finest finishes ever in my 40 odd years at the sport, the crowd were amazing , it bought a shudder to my spine
.
Still sends a shiver down my spine, awesome stuff
an utterly compelling and magnificent horse race. Such a shame we dont see Vautour or Don Cossack anymore and its Cue Cards last season, "Cue Card is coming", great line
This lineup would have to be one of the best king Georges of all time and maybe even one of the best races ever as well!
What a race, two top horses, the crowd man!! Cue card decent!
This just makes me so excited for the jumps season 2017! Has to be one of the most interesting ones to date, rather than all the bloodstock and million £ stud nonsense!!
You can pinpoint the exact second when crackle sees the winning post and goes for it, and the crowd realises a second later and roars him on. Fantastic race
I don't think I've heard a better atmosphere at a race course
Vautor R.I.P.
I think it's bollocks that they always put a horse down just because of an injury say a broken leg etc and just this week alone I've never seen so many horses get badly injured it's a disgrace tbh
What a fantastic race and such a deserved winner. Cue Card is my favourite horse currently in training and I was cheering my head off as he closed in on Vautour. His return to form this year has been great to watch and he now goes to the Gold Cup with every chance. I'll certainly be cheering him on at Cheltenham!
As for Vautour, I think it's most likely that he'll end up in the Ryanair Chase. Which is a shame for a horse of his ability IMO but it just seems the obvious race they'd go for. The Champion Chase would be the more exciting and prestigious target if they decided to drop him in trip but that won't happen as long as Un De Sceaux is around. Willie Mullins doesn't like running his best horses against one another at Cheltenham if he can help it.
Brilliant race - brilliant finish - brilliant winner and to think he fell in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
You don't get too many races like this - Rewilding at Royal Ascot 2011 was close but Cue Card was amazing
This was an absolutely brilliant race. Hopefully the pair can lock horns in the King George 2016.
Best commentary ever
The roar of the crowd!! Best finish since Neptune won the national
Got to love Cue Card, that was so gutsy, want to see him go on & win the GC now...
+Gabriella Grummitt no chance
+slenjamiah not true, he's got about a 7-1 chance...
+Gabriella Grummitt I will give you 100\1
+slenjamiah I'd rather take that than the 5's on Don Cossack & esp if Cooper rides...wouldn't have had Cue Card on my mind at the start of the season but can't argue with what he's done, he jumps, loves Cheltenham, Brennan obv gets a tune out of him but will he stay the extra 2f....? I'll take that 100-1, cheers..
+Gabriella Grummitt no chance cue card will out stay Cossack over gold cup distance, no way whatsoever, don't be a mug punter...
This was a high quality race.The best chase I've seen for some time.It was a hard race though. The two principals need the break before Cheltenham.I hope Vautour tries the Gold Cup and not the Ryanair.Terrific training feat By Colin Tizzard to bring Cue Card back to this level this season.What a hand he has for the Festival with Thistlecrack looking a good bet for the World Hurdle also.
happy and long well deserved retirement to a great horse Cue Card
Rest easy old boy
Thee best commentary ever ?
One of the best ever King George's..who knows what would have happened if Don Cossack had stood up
First time I've watched this race since Christmas.Vautour ran with the choke out for the first circuit. Settled better when given the lead. Left-handed on better ground, I think he will win the Gold Cup, just getting home.Danger, the best closer with Cheltenham form, Don Poli.
What a ride from Paddy
Must be one of the most moving, exciting finishes of all time. A rare defeat for Ruby in a tight finish.
The sound and the commentary make it explosive.
Best race ever
Goosebumps
What a race, what ever happens vautour is a future star, think cheltenham will bring the best out of him, gold cup gomna be one of the best ever, my view is vatour and cue card to fight it out again but so many might turn up on the day, cant wait for the race now
What an atmosphere
what a race,cured my hangover ,i was against don cassack on price and ground,and i was against vautour on fitness ,cue card ticked too many boxes for me and was a backable price,vautours first run of the season told me he was way of his peak and we all know willy likes his horses to peak come march,he is still a major contender for the gold cup,cant say he doesn't stay after losing by a hair in a top class king George,he would be my pick for the gold cup at this point at 8/1
+therobbieunited funny that, I felt the same after Frankel won on his debut. I told everyone he would retire unbeaten after 14.
+postcardterry crying here with that reply haha..!! I actually for once was sitting on 4/4 in a lucky 31 waiting on Don Cossack. Never cursed more than when he thudded the ground lol, he'd just got along side them too, and surely would have outstayed them !! Either way, can't see these two photo finishers being near it on Gold Cup day, even more emphasis on stamina !
+Luke McCann Why can't you see them being involved? They showed tonnes of stamina and both galloped to the line! That's after Vautour taking it up a mile from home. If Ruby hangs on to him he'll get GC trip. The Don was staying on for sure but that was still a long way from home and there's no guarantee he would found the extra gear Cue Card did...
postcardterry the same as what?
+Jaygud - Spot on Jaygud ! The fact is we don`t know what would have happened if Don had stayed up.
First time I have watched this since 2015. I had a massive bet on Vautour. Once Don fell I was counting the money. I often lay at 1.1 in running if I have a really big bet. Didn’t think it necessary so cancelled the bet. Which would have been matched. A painful end to the year.
Knew cue would stay forever tipped him on Friday in work
Gosh I am not sure if I can pick a race to beat this. Vautour looked unbeatable and then this happened.
listen to the roar as they cross the line. That's what racing is about!
A cracking good renewal of this. Vautour had this won everywhere but the last couple of strides and Cue Card was really game to get up. The Gold Cup is an extra couple of furlongs so Will Vautour see it out? Cue Card probably will and he does seem to be the horse of the moment. But we will see.
+StationOfdreams Best renewal for some time, race of the season so far and it ended with a thrilling finish.
I bloody love this horse won 7 or 8 times on him bring on Cheltenham he going to smash them all up #comeoncuecard
Best race I ever seen Vautor I git sick lol
my friend put a bet on this race in order to help pay for his ill cats vet bill. He used to be a tipster. We cried what a race
RIP Cue Card 23 Dec. 2022
could anybody tell me the race time
Every Tiime you watch this you think, Vautor!
Best finish I have seen for Years... especially when I have the horse that comes from a couple of lengths down after the last at Kempton. Been lucky to have backed Cue Card in his last few runs (ignore a couple last season) and after the last win it was a no brainer to back him in the King George. Took 9/2 in the morning with three score on the nose. Paid for a few presents...
Checked and the the bookies are offering around 7/1 for the GC, gotta back him but Don Cossack is aiming for March and at the same price I may put on a saver.
Happy New Year Cue Card, cheers.
Rip Vautour
Suggestion - leave the video on until the winner is announced!
Vautor had it won except on the line. Quite incredible.
Love crackle had money on him for the million pounds bonus in bits when he fell in the gold cup so pleased he got up ♥️♥️♥️
OIIIOIIII THE DON!!! OIIIOIIII THE COSSACK!!!
Hmmm.. not totally convinced Don Cossack would have won. He would have been there but just look at the tune Brennan got out of Cue Card coming towards the last.. would Don Cossack have responded like that? Also, Cue Card might have rallied better with Don Cossack breathing down his neck; it's not like Don ever headed him.. Cue Card stuck with him, and wasn't folding.
Great commentating there
+UKCALLING99 And, they're off, Mark Johnston.
He got a bit too excited right at the end though no? 😂😂
+UKCALLING99 the ch4 commentating was far superior to this.Was Simon Holt I think.
+MrSmid888 This dude though 😂😂.... Someone always has to have the last word don't they.. Oh RUclips you do bring out some funny characters... Its almost as if by someone saying this was good they're saying channel 4 was bad.... Of course the Channel 4 commentary was better but firstly does it really need to be said? And second while they're still too arsey to put their replays on RUclips we have no choice as to what to listen to on here do we? 😂😂😂
What on earth was that ride on Valseur Lido ?
Andy Fisher what do u mean m8
What a fucking race!!
Great race. Cue Card had Cossack covered, even had time for an error at the last. Very unlucky not to confirm the form at Cheltenham.
5:01 race winning move I think
Copper seems to have bad luck all the time on Don Cossack.Same at Cheltenham last year.
He Definitely was staying on along side Cue Card . But there there to be jumped. still will keep the faith with
him at Cheltenham
+Ninja Skrtel yeah would have stayed harder than the other two..!! They do need to be jumped though. Was waiting on Don Cossack for a 5 timer. Gutting lol
Betting in running approaching the 2nd last - Vautour 1/8 - Cue card 6/1 , ohh how did he lose this race!!
Cue Card always had his number. If Cue Card jumps the last better he wins by 2 lengths
Ruby Walsh was as weak as water in finish
would the Don have outrun Cue Card? a question that needs answering before friday. he didnt have the best round and his jumping as always lets him down. Vautour maybe had a bit extra but lost concentration with nothing around him 2 out. if ruby waits for the iconic Cheltenham turn to step on the gas i cant see anything catching him. thats if Djakadam isnt staying on as hes always likely to.
I don't think so. He was behind the whole time and he fell under pressure. I'd take Cue Card to win the GC in a sprint finish similar to this, he looks a fine horse
Not long now Cue Card,the million pound bonus is upon us with your owner looking down c'mon let's have it.Cue Card won't win this wont stay that,but he does everytime c'mon!!
I will still never know how vautour got beaten
vautour, don poli. GC rfc
Don Cossack stays much better than Vatour and Cue Card and was ridden poorly throughout and still would've won the race if he hadn't of fallen. The best horse in the gold cup and he will prove it.
+mrmeadfoot not really
Fuck that!!
yes my horse won
Cue Cards coming, hes coming hard, too close to call.................
Cossack can't jump, that is his only down fall. Shame as he's got some gear change on him
It make me laugh when people say vatour didn't stay, he did, he was just beaten by a better horse.
Idiot
+slenjamiah lol who could disagree with such a well crafted argument.
Maybe you can think of a better way to decide which is the best horse other than racing them against each other. Maybe their should be a rule win lose or draw willie Mullins horses are always the best?
Thought it was money in the bag after the last, I can't watch again it's too painful 😭
hate these sort of finishes, I had a horse that was like 15 lengths ahead with a furlong to go and the jockey looked like he wanted to lose it
+tom crooks Though if he did want to lose it, he probably wouldn't have put himself in a 15 length lead with just a furlong to go.
+tom crooks they're ok when you win them it's the ones that lose that are the bastards!
Bukattingi1 racing has been proven to be fixed before mate....
+tom crooks hahahahaa
votour not done the distance. don't Cossack wants soft ground . that make s him top candidate
vautour missed the last he was full of running turning in
+niall dawson So did Cue Card, and still caught him.
tipped him again at chelt, unlucky to fall or probably would have won
How could you say he'd probably of won if your saying that the same could be said here cause don Cossack was eating the ground up before he fell
cue card will win Cheltenham gold cup
willie is the master at getting his horses fit for cheltenham....
its just which on djakadam or vautour......
Grade One races not Group One, Michael.
They're Group One on the flat, which is what he is involved in & what he is advertising. Not his fault RUK put this ad before and after a NH race.
Nothing worse than a smart arse
RetroJ Frank There are many things worse. And it hardly takes a smart arse to know the most basic of information.
C McG was actually on your side haha
Doesn't matter. Both my previous comments still stand.
Superb action, then you get dullard Michael Owen at the end of it
If you watch Cue Card doesn't bascule. Jumping is not really his thing.
that was my best bet of the month. £500 at 5/1
Chris esech and his wife are also a dog and Dadday and mammy Tom and the new home are all about
i think this race reiterated the ongoing problem of whipping horses-for me its got to be banned completely-the public don't want to see this 'win at all costs and whip it to death' approach-it would be a level playing field without the whipping-it seems at the present time jockeys think it is acceptable in the big races-
+Paul Barlow Hippy
+Paul Barlow The fact that you refer to a horse as "it" and not "they" suggests you don't care all that much about them as a starter. Second the whip is an extremely useful aid in order to get a horse balanced, going forward and collected, as well as getting them straightened up on the approach to a fence or flight, and helping them to use their front end over an obstacle. You can see how much horses sometimes run around without the help of a whip and to be totally honest its just plain dangerous not to carry a stick... Especially on juveniles. With regard to effort, the whip really does help a horse extend their stride and give their all and it does not hurt them at all. Moreover the fact that every jockey has a whip means that it already is a level playing field; if the horse isn't responding a jockey won't use the stick any way... It would be totally counter intuitive to give a horse a flip if they aren't responding, and to be honest a jockey is most probably better qualified than you to decide if they're responding or not.....With regard to Paddy's attitude to the whip in this race, yes he broke the rules and deserved his punishment in the eyes of the rules. With that said, he was in a high stakes situation, up against one of the best horses and jockeys in jump racing and trying to win the second leg of a potential triple crown. Furthermore the horse responded and he got Cue Card up.... It's doubtful he'd have got Cue Card up without a stick. Also Cue Card was neither marked nor distressed after the race and was completely sound after his exertions. Colin Tizzard and Mr and Mrs Bishop were all happy with the use of the whip after the race and were not in anyway dis pleased with Paddy's ride; (and to be honest, the latter own the horse, so what they think probably means most). With regard to Ruby's ride on Vautour, yes he broke the rules and didn't win, but again, no-one was displeased with his ride in the Vautour camp and the horse was neither hurt or distressed after the race, and he was within only a head of victory. The other jockeys were all within the rules. This notion that jockeys don't care about horses is false. Jockeys become jockeys because they love horses, however a jockey's job is to get the horse to try their best and the whip is a harmless and useful aid in doing that. No horse was distressed or lame after the race so they all did their job. Also, the "win at all costs" statement is somewhat mis-leading, the £157 riding fee doesn't change whatever race and wherever you finish, so to whip a horse when there is no chance of victory is counter productive, hence why Noel pulled Conti up before three out... Yes jockey's receive around 10% of the prize money but the average race price is around £9,000 or so, so there's not really much point in getting at a horse that won't win because after tax and levy there's not much money in it anyway.... Take it from someone who knows :L. With regard to public attitude, I would suggest any members of the public who like racing but are offended by the whip try to educate themselves as best they can; maybe talk to trainers and jockeys, anyone who knows something about the sport to better understand the reasons behind why the stick is used in National Hunt Racing.... If after this it still distresses them then maybe they shouldn't watch and look for another sport to be interested in; they don't have to watch. It should also be noted that the RSPCA (y'know the people who actually are professionally qualified in analysing animal cruelty), are in agreement with the BHA that the current guidelines and rules are fair, just and reasonable, and that also the whip does not harm a horse at all. I hope this response provokes some thought, and I am quite happy to hear some eloquent and well written counter arguments.... Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I should lastly point out that what I am saying only applies to National Hunt racing, as that is all I know and have experience in.
you write alot about the nice humane side of racing-what about all the euthanasia-respond to that
+Paul Barlow if a human was denied the chance to do what they were good at because there was a 1% fatality rate then every human rights group would be up in arms saying that it was against their human rights to do what they love and what they're good at and express themselves. Horses are beautiful creatures that have a unique passion and talent for racing... So what about their rights? Or are you saying that they should be denied the right to display their unique talent and do what they love? Do you think that horses aren't equal to humans.....? Because to really believe what you say, you must....
it's not the fatality rate I'm talking about-itys the euthanasia of race horses-greyhounds and the rest of it-once the industry has finished with them-they're not all Kauto Stars you know-its the dark side of racing that no fucker talks about
don cossack cant jump to the same level as the rest. travels so so well but is let down by the jumps.
+lukaku20wba looked to handle it well enough at Cheltenham
Cossack would have won 100%, anyone who thinks otherwise is clueless!
anyone who think for certain they know what an outcome would have been is clueless at the point cossack fell vatour was cruisng. he looked the winner until the last yard.....
Also jumping is part of the game and if you cant do that you cant win. Vautour will win at cheltenham
LOL! you are the definition of a mug punter!!!! Vautour wins the gold cup ??? LOL!
+slenjamiah hardly 100%! Cossack was clearly a tired horse he had been pushed for the last mile. If cooper diddnt ask him for a big one at the second last he would have got in tight and popped it and lost a couple of lengths and again at the last… your the mug!
+slenjamiah You deleted your foolish comments off Ivanovich Gorbatovs video. You are and after timing mug ! The irish will hammer the english in a few weeks! Hon Mullins
+slenjamiah mug punter coz i think vautour will win the gold cup.....
vautour has won last 2 times at cheltenham, vautour has the best trainer in the game who will have him ready.
cossack is a great horse but he hasnt won at cheltenham.....horses for courses!
Say Don Cossack would've won if he had to stay up
Vautour got given too easy of a ride by ruby here he would of won this by a mile
The don had the race won,stays and gallops.only for the terribly over rated cooper he would have pissed home.all is forgiven Davey Russell.
CRAIG SNEDDON THINKS VAUTOUR WILL WIN THE GOLD CUP!!!!! LMAO
i do cue card is a danger but cossack doesnt jump well under pressure and hasnt won at cheltenham.....vautour is going the way it prefers at cheltenham loves the course plus it will be spot on for it.
Do you realise that vautour hasn't got the stamina to win over 3m 2f ?
+slenjamiah how do you know????
+slenjamiah Whatever Ruby rides will win the gc. What has Cossack beaten? whenever asked he folds and runs into his fences…. If you take end of season form as face value well good luck to you!
+ed kelly its a fact willie has his horses fitter for march remember last year how bad vautour was before cheltenham, willie worked on him and said he was spot on and he won easy on the bridle (best performance of the week). To get beat by a nose hair in the king george and to say the horse doesnt stay is crazy, Vautour is the best horse class wise in the gold cup and i know ruby will be on vautour
Don Cossack would have won if he didnt fall.
Vautour won. That is all.