WITH just a month of the jumps season proper behind us, it’s a case of all change and a reassessment of one of the highlights of the 2023 season is needed.

Fastorslow was a late arrival to the Grade 1 scene last year but few would have expected the Gold Cup form, so highly regarded last March, to have taken knocks, and at the hands of two horses such as Gentlemansgame and Royal Pagaille. One was a lower level novice last season who had just one beginners’ chase win to his name and the other had progressed from heavy ground handicaps but had been well beaten in three Gold Cups.

The 2023 Gold Cup finish - Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame jumping the last together after perfect rounds of jumping and the winner racing away to the line - had seemed to be outstanding form and was assessed as thus by all the racing analysts and ratings providers. But what now? Who goes forth for 2024? The talk is of how the race ‘left a mark’ on its main protagonists.

Perhaps Shishkin was watching all this and, hearing the suggestions that he should go for the Gold Cup, decided, “Eh lads, I will in my a** get the head run off me in that, good luck. Shishkin says no, I’m staying put.”

But simply saying “the Gold Cup left a mark” is not really a satisfactory explanation for two horses returning with what seems like a deterioration in form.

The same excuse was given the previous year when A Plus Tard lost all his form after his impressive win in 2022. And that race was after his gallant second to Minella Indo the previous year, in which he surely had just as hard a race.

Horses are athletes, fit and trained to the minute. No different to a marathon runner or any other athlete preparing for the biggest contest of their career. You don’t hear a marathon runner use the excuse – “I’m still feeling last year’s race in my system”. Rest and recuperation surely brings the body back to full strength after a few months’ break.

Direct contrast

And this scenario seems to be in direct contrast to the Grand National, arguably a much stiffer task for a horse, both of jumping and stamina. Yet there we welcome back those who have run well previously, expect them to run well again, and usually they do.

The 70s, 80s and 90s were littered with ‘National regulars’, horses like Red Rum, Greasepaint, Durham Edition and State Of Play, who gave their all each year and it never ‘left a mark’ on them? And often they carried more weight each year. Where does that fit into this Gold Cup trend?

Don Cossack, Coneygree and Sizing John suffered injuries so they did not return to try a second Gold Cup.

Native River didn’t run to the same level again though he put up many good performances, and nor did Minella Indo run to his Gold Cup form again. Yet Al Boum Photo had shaken off the trend in winning a second Gold adding to Best Mate’s wins in the last decade. Kauto Star and Denman continued at the top level late into both their careers.

At the beginning of this season, Gold Cup betting had Galopin Des Champs a clear favourite. Now wins by Gentlemansgame, Fastorslow and Royal Pagaille have seen all change.

Tough races

So what now? Bravemansgame has had four tough races where he has been beaten and goes to defend his King George title, now just disputing favouritism with Gerri Colombe, not something you would have expected just a month ago.

Saturday’s winner Royal Pagaille is still available at 14s for Kempton. Something odd there? And who will Willie send? Allaho is the obvious one?

On the Gold Cup scene, a month ago you could have backed Fastorslow at a best 16s, now he’s a best 6/1. Gerri Colombe has shorted from 7s to 4/1. The Real Whacker was best 20s and now 33. There was no sight of Gentlemansgame – now best priced at 25s.

Strange as it now seems, after what looked like an outstanding Gold Cup, it looks like there could be a fair few changes in that market still to come.