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15:30 Cheltenham
Friday 17 March 2017
All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30
Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1)
- 5YO plus  |  Class 1  |  3m 2f 70y  |  Good  |  13 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 15:30Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 6m 36.3s
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Just a six-year-old and this could well come a year too soon for him but on some of his form this year he deserves to take his chance in this. Has disappointed on a couple of occasions this year and did just that in the Denman Chase last time out when he was hammered by Native River. Looked unhappy that he couldn't lead on that day and will face competition up front again and that could lead to another below par display. Most of his best form has come at Haydock, although he did run well to finish second in the JLT at the Festival last year.
Has always looked a talented individual but his jumping was always frail and he ended last season with form figures of PFP. Switched to his current yard he's given the impression this season that his jumping problems are for the most part behind him. He ran a sound third on his stable debut but it's his next two runs (both wins) that have seen him come firmly into the Gold Cup picture. The latest of the two wins being particularly impressive when taking the Thyestes Chase, making all with only one bad error. There is still a question mark over his jumping at the highest level and he won't get an easy lead here either.
Turns up at what will be his sixth Festival and he's pretty much been there, seen it and done it - apart from winning this contest. He would surely have gone close last year if he hadn't fallen three out but will have to break the age statistics if he's to win here as no 11-year-old has won since 1969. He's won two Grade 1's (latest over reduced trip) either side of proving no match for stablemate Thistlecrack in the King George en route back here. He looks likely to give it a good shot again but age may well just be catching up with him.
Has a love/hate relationship with this course having fallen twice here but also finished second in two Gold Cups and a repeat of either of those runs would put him in with a major chance. He hasn't quite been at the top of his game this year although he has beaten Outlander over 2m4f before that one turned the tables in the Lexus over Christmas. He's not been seen since then and despite those two second places in this race a lingering doubt remains about his stamina in what could be a real test.
Capable of some smart form on his day and won the Charlie Hall Chase earlier in the season, beating Cue Card amongst others. Not in the same sort of form since and has plenty to find with the principles at this level.
The conqueror of Native River in last year's National Hunt Chase over 4m, a race that has produced plenty of successes but little has gone right for this one. His form figures since then reading FU and they are hardly the sort of runs that you want to be coming into a Gold Cup off. His stable does come alive in the spring though and he's hard to write off completely.
The 2014 World Hurdle winner has had something of an in-and-out career since being sent chasing and this season is no exception. Made favourite for the BetVictor Gold Cup after a wind operation he was pulled-up after never travelling and he's looked below his best on most of his subsequent starts. He did however show that he might be coming back to form unseating his rider at the last in the Irish Gold Cup, another wind operation having been apparently more successful. On that run and his hurdling form, if he were physically back to his best, he would be of interest in this.
Ran a fine second last year at the Festival in the National Hunt Chase behind Minella Rocco and has not stopped improving since then. A real galloper who is hard to pass and loves to make the running, he's unbeaten over fences this year having won the Hennessy then the Welsh Grand National. He warmed up for the Gold Cup by winning the Denman Chase at Newbury, beating a below-par Bristol De Mai. His will to win is admirable as is his sound jumping and he comes here with a good chance of landing this major prize.
A slow burner who has progressed steadily and now with his new trainer appears to be running better than ever. Gained the biggest win of his career so far when taking the Lexus Chase beating Don Poli and Djakadam over 3m. Given a break since then this extra 2f will test his stamina even further but he keeps improving and has only finished out of the first two when falling.
Despite some very good chasing form he's never quite reached the same heights over fences as he did over hurdles. Has disappointed on a few occasions over fences despite the handicapper giving him a chance and he would need to improve on his latest run, a win at Kelso, to have even a place chance here.
Must have been sick of the sight of Douvan as he finished second to him on so many occasions but a move up in trip for his new trainer has seen him gain a new lease of life. A win over 2m4f at Thurles persuaded connections to try him over 3m in the Irish Gold Cup and that proved to be an inspired move that was rewarded with a victory over Empire Of Dirt. On his bare form he will need to improve a little again and prove himself over the extra distance but he has produced his best form at the Festival before and deserves to take his chance.
Had his best season last year when he won three times taking the Hennessey and Cotswold Chase before finishing a below-par sixth in this race. Not quite at his best this season in three starts and was well beaten here last time out in a race he had won the previous season and best watched for now at this level.
Has shown some high-class form over fences and his best run came in the King George when under 4L fourth behind Thistlecrack. Even after winning last time out his form still leaves him something to find here and all eight of his wins have come on right-handed tracks.
Non-Runners
5
Empire Of Dirt33
Weight: 11-10|Â Â Age: 10
T: G Elliott  J: J W Kennedy
NR
Forecasts
Djakadam (3/1), Native River (7/2), Cue Card (9/2), Sizing John (7/1), Outlander (10/1), Empire Of Dirt (10/1), More Of That (14/1), Champagne West (14/1), Bristol De Mai (16/1), Minella Rocco (18/1), Saphir Du Rheu (33/1), Tea For Two (40/1), Smad Place (50/1), Irish Cavalier (66/1)
An open and interesting Gold Cup with none of the runners having a rock solid profile despite there being some likeable types amongst them. Cue Card would be a very popular winner but would have to break a long established age trend to carry off what would be a deserved victory in the race. His trainer probably has more chance with the younger and very tough Native River who bids to give the form of the National Hunt Chase from last year a further boost, if he can find a rhythm in front he will be hard to pass. Djakadam bids to improve on his two seconds in the race but he’s come up short before and it may well be a place is the best that he can hope for again. Both Sizing John and Outlander would be plausible winners but they do have to prove their stamina for what will be their most demanding test yet. This could come a year or two too soon for Bristol De Mai and there are still question marks over the jumping ability of Champagne West. The Jonjo O’Neill stable often comes to life in the spring and he saddles two in this with Minella Rocco and MORE OF THAT. Both have Festival wins to their name but it’s More Of That who is the better fancied of the duo and if he came back to his hurdling best he may just be able to build on the spark he showed last time out to land this famous prize.
- More Of That
- Native River
- Sizing John
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £327,462.002nd: £122,878.003rd: £61,525.004th: £30,648.005th: £15,410.006th: £7,705.00
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