[Stewartl]

Lay for me. Doubts about jumping, fell at last years festival and also more importantly about stamina to last out the extra 2 1\2 furlongs on an uphill track.

State of Play could be the one. Improving horse that romped a quality Hennesey field and has been kept fresh for this event by the shrewd Williams camp.

[GavMan_AUFC_1910]

LAY

[Shawfield Stallion]

What's the difference? I'm going to bet on the Gold Cup tomorrow, and am a complete novice when it comes to the nags. I'm looking at Kauto Star, but what's the best/most likely bet to place?

[SaltyTON]

Shawfield Stallion, on Mar 15 2007, 20:00, said:

What's the difference? I'm going to bet on the Gold Cup tomorrow, and am a complete novice when it comes to the nags. I'm looking at Kauto Star, but what's the best/most likely bet to place?

lay means it won't win

[Cabbage]

LAY!

Exotic Dancer is going to win. Many of the horses who have won this week have been behind Exotic Dancer this season.

And with all the fallers we've seen, a horse with Kauto's mistake rate is bound to hit one of those fences too hard. I can see Kauto falling at the second last.

[uberman]

My money is on beef or salmon, its good for a place so e/w it @ 18/1

[bairnPunter]

BUT is Kauto Star not the 'class' horse of the race...?

Only repeating what've I've heard, not really into gambling on horses, but Cheltenham looks a good day out!

[rydo1982]

Kauto is arguably the best horse at the festival.

That said theres enough question marks over it to put me off betting on it. As someone said above the 2nd last fence could prove the downfall- if he hits them like he has done in fences in his last 2 I can't see him standing. Likewise the extra distance could be a downpoint but I'd be lesser influenced by that than the jumping questions.

If Exotic Dancer is available about 4/1 I'd take that each way as it should be a stick on for that, if not the winner (with it being 4/1 it means you are still getting better than evens for it to place- I think it should be quarter the odds for an each way place anyway). Exotic has won round Cheltenham a few times already, but not as far as I'm aware at the festival.

Having said all that if Kauto was to drift in the market I would probably be tempted. I read somewhere last week that someone was of the opinion he may go off at as big as 3/1. I'd find that hard to resist. Current odds would make it a no bet for me.

[H Wragg]

There are doubts about it's jumping consistency, however if we look at the law of averages (no use in horse racing, admittedly!) all the other favourites for the big races have been nowhere so one's got to win eventually. Maybe we should all be backing him.
'Fearless' Freddie Williams on the other hand has said he will "lay the horse until the Bank of Scotland runs dry". Maybe we should therefore all lay.

Who knows?? For what it's worth, I'm doing a lucky 15 today and I'm going to back him.

[ThePARadox]

L'ami 12/1 tenner to win and Idle talk Fiver each way50/1

I only bet twice a year on the horses. It shows.

[Cabbage]

Cabbage, on Mar 15 2007, 18:03, said:

LAY!

Exotic Dancer is going to win. Many of the horses who have won this week have been behind Exotic Dancer this season.

And with all the fallers we've seen, a horse with Kauto's mistake rate is bound to hit one of those fences too hard. I can see Kauto falling at the second last.

Oh well

Exotic did run a big race in second and made me profit.

But Kauto Star/Walsh/Nicholls have just stuck a big V's up at all the doubters.