Cup will runneth over if Star fails to sparkle

Wonder horse Kauto Star — 24 carat

or Fool’s Gold?

We’ll find out today around 3.25 but

I’m taking him on. I’ve already laid a

£100,000 bet and I’m sure the public

will lump on him today. Many punters

are like herd animals and there is no

doubt Kauto Star is becoming a

‘public’ horse like Desert Orchid.

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Bookmakers are going into Gold Cup

battle with bloating satchels after

another day of carnage for the

majority of punters.

The early days of the week belong to

the County Set with their double-barrelled names and double

chins. Today it’s the sharp-suited City

Slickers up from The Smoke on a

‘jolly’. Roll up boys, we’ll take your

fat bonuses.

Jonjo O’Neill suffered a serious

reverse yesterday when Black Jack

Ketchum came a cropper in the

World Hurdle.

I laid a bet on ‘Jack’ of £180,000 to

£80,000 from one of the betting ring’s

biggest hitters, but winner Inglis

Drever was well backed by the

each-way ‘thieves’ who snapped up the 5-1.

Still, it was a bookies’ benefit

the whole day and the opener set

the tone. I stood New LIttle Bric to

lose £80,000 which was turned over.

On Wednesday night I dined with

Nicky Richards and Tony Dobbin and

they would not hear of defeat for

Monet’s Garden in the Ryanair Chase.

But I didn’t fancy him one jot and laid

the grey to lose a thick wedge.

I took a £10,000 each-way wager on

Our Vic who finished fast into second,

but that didn’t take the icing off the

cake.

I think there will be more shocks in

store today. We had a 100-1 Gold Cup

shocker in 1990 with Norton’s Coin

and I wouldn’t rule out another boil

over today.

I really fancy L’ami, owned by my old

adversary JP McManus, to beat

Kauto Star and my banker bet is

Mountain in the opening Triumph

Hurdle — the vibes from his training

camp at Jackdaws Castle are

extremely positive.

Have fun, but not at my expense.