Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup: Horse by horse guide

Djakadam has finished runner-up in the last two renewals of the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup and he, along with trainer Willie Mullins, certainly deserves a change of luck.

The race for the chasing crown is run over a testing three miles, two furlongs and 70 yards taking in 22 fences. This will be the 89th running and sees Cue Card attempt to atone for last year's fall and become the oldest winner since What A Myth in 1969.

It could be the stuff of legend but up and coming stablemate Native River is just one of those standing in his way.

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BRISTOL DE MAI – Form: 2-2213

Jockey: Daryl Jacob

Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Ran away with the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock in January but this race is a big step up from a Haydock handicap. Did win a Grade 1 as a novice in 2016 but has plenty to find with Native River on his most recent run at Newbury. Rating: 2/10

CHAMPAGNE WEST – Form: FP-311

Jockey: David Mullins

Trainer: Henry De Bromhead

Has bounced back to form in his last two runs, albeit in lower grade, and was an impressive winner of the Thyestes Chase last time out. That form gives him an outside squeak but it is somewhat disconcerting that his last two visits to Cheltenham saw him pulled up, one of those after jumping appallingly. Rating: 4/10

CUE CARD – Form: -43121

Jockey: Paddy Brennan

Trainer: Colin Tizzard

A Gold Cup win for the 11-year-old would surely be this year’s Sprinter Sacre moment. Might have ended up running in the Ryanair if Thistlecrack had not been injured but Cue Card bounced back to win at Ascot after being beaten by his stablemate in the King George on Boxing Day. Comes in with a clear chance and there would be no more popular winner. Rating: 9/10

DJAKADAM – Form: 23-213

Jockey: Ruby Walsh

Trainer: Willie Mullins

Third time lucky for the Mullins raider? Djakadam has finished second to Coneygree and Don Cossack in the last two editions of this race but this year’s field looks a little tougher and he has to bounce back from a surprising December defeat by Outlander. Rating: 7/10

EMPIRE OF DIRT – Form: P11-12

Jockey: Jack Kennedy

Trainer: Gordon Elliott

Runs in the Ryanair on Thursday but still holds a Gold Cup entry. Won a handicap at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival but would appear to need to improve on his three-mile plus form to contend if running again here. Rating: 3/10

IRISH CAVALIER – Form: 151P35

Jockey: Paul Townend

Trainer: Rebecca Curtis

Beaten just over 20 lengths in last year’s Gold Cup and would appear not to have improved since. Did beat Cue Card at Wetherby on the latter’s seasonal debut back in October but has been soundly beaten by that rival twice since and would be a shock winner. Rating: 3/10

MINELLA ROCCO – Form: 21-3FU

Jockey: Aidan Coleman

Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill

Won the four-miler at the Cheltenham Festival last year when Native River finished second. Now both horses clash in chasing’s blue riband race, but Native River appears to have improved more since then and is more likely to be suited by the shorter trip. Not without an each-way chance though. Rating: 7/10

MORE OF THAT – Form: 3-P36U

Jockey: 

Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill

Generally regressive form over fences this season and has a lot of ground to make up on Outlander on Leopardstown running. But he was at least running a better race last time out at the same venue until coming a cropper at the last fence. Rating: 4/10

NATIVE RIVER – Form: 1-2111

Jockey: Richard Johnson

Trainer: Colin Tizzard

Has picked up the Hennessy Gold Cup, Welsh National and Denman Chase this season and also won a Grade 1 at Aintree after his Cheltenham defeat at the hands of Minella Rocco last March. Really flashy jumper and sure to be suited by this test. Could it come down to him and stablemate Cue Card? Rating: 10/10

OUTLANDER – Form: -22F21

Jockey: Bryan Cooper

Trainer: Gordon Elliott

Stayed on well to beat Don Poli and win the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas but that was his first win at three miles and he has never won over further. He’ll most likely be held up well off the pace but you would have a slight worry whether his stamina will hold out. If it does, he’s a big threat. Rating: 8/10

SAPHIR DU RHEU – Form: 5-3F21

Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies

Trainer: Paul Nicholls

Has never truly convinced as a chaser but did manage his first win since 2015 when taking a Kelso race at odds of 1/7 last time out. Would need to improve a great deal on that performance to stand a chance here and his jumping will have to be slicker than he has shown at times. Rating: 2/10

SIZING JOHN – Form: 3-3211

Jockey: Robbie Power

Trainer: Jessica Harrington

Stepped up to three miles for the first time on his most recent run, which ended in a narrow Irish Gold Cup win over Empire Of Dirt. He had spent much of the year before that chasing home Douvan over two miles and there have to be questions whether he will have the stamina for an even longer trip this time. Rating: 5/10

SMAD PLACE – Form: 16-473

Jockey: Wayne Hutchinson

Trainer: Alan King

Hasn’t impressed in his three runs this season, dropping out tamely last time in a race won by the ill-fated Many Clouds over this kind of distance. Was a well-beaten sixth in last year’s Gold Cup and hard to see him improving very much at the age of 10. Rating: 1/10

TEA FOR TWO – Form: 3-5241

Jockey: Lizzie Kelly

Trainer: Nick Williams

Ended 15-month wait for a win last time out in February when easing clear to win at Exeter, but that was an egg-and-spoon race in comparison to this. Did run well in the King George behind Thistlecrack and Cue Card though, and would be a great story for his young jockey Lizzie Kelly to win this prestigious race. Rating: 5/10

Verdict:

For a long time there was talk of a Colin Tizzard 1-2-3 in the Gold Cup. The sad absence of Thistlecrack takes that chance away, but it would be no surprise to see him bring home the first two. The sentimentalists will surely plump for Cue Card, so unlucky when coming down in this race 12 months ago, but he could be outdone by stablemate NATIVE RIVER, who has improved in leaps and bounds since his second over four miles here in 2016. Outlander could fill the frame for the in-form Gordon Elliott yard and look out for a decent run from Minella Rocco, who beat Native River in that four-miler. He might just want a little further than this.