15:30 Cheltenham

Friday 16 March 2018

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1)

  • 5YO plus  |   Class 1  |   3m 2f 70y  |   Soft (Heavy in places)  |   15 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 15:30  |   Winning time: 7m 2.9s
Settings
Selected odds by:
Bookmaker logo.
1
Horse silk
American48
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-10| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR:  157
25/1
Delicate sort only seen twice this season. Pulled up at Newbury but produced a better effort when runner-up behind Definitely Red here last time. Won't mind conditions but will struggle to reverse that form.
2
Horse silk
Anibale Flyt40
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: A J Martin| OR:  159
25/1
Won a valuable handicap at Leopardstown two starts back but took a heavy fall at that same course last time out in the Irish Gold Cup and his better performances have come on better ground. This represents a big step up in class and he's opposable.
3
Horse silk
Bachasson74
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-10| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR:  159
25/1
Smart over hurdles and has made in to a better chaser. Followed a Gowran Park success with two Listed wins at Thurles then Tramore. While he won both of those easily enough, this is a big step up in class and he's down the order on jockey booking.
4
Horse silk
Definitly Red48
Age: 9|  Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR:  167| C| D
10/1
Fancied for last year's Grand National when badly hampered but has gone on improving this year and followed up a Grade 2 success at Aintree with another here last time out. Relishes these conditions and should run well.
5
Horse silk
Djakadam40
Age: 9|  Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR:  165
20/1
Placed in this race twice and finished a fair fourth last year. Not himself when pulled up at Leopardstown at Christmas but much better last time at that course and ought to run well again with plenty of course experience on his side. Place chance.
7
Horse silk
Edwulft40
Age: 9|  Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Derek O'Connor| T: J P O'Brien| OR:  164
14/1
Suffered injury when likely to have finished runner-up to Wednesday's Cross Country winner (Tiger Roll) at last year's Festival. Improved for comeback run to land the Irish Gold Cup last time and had some of these behind but more on his plate here.
8
Horse silk
Killultagh Vic40
Age: 9|  Weight: 11-10| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR:  153| C
8/1
Looked a tired horse when falling last time out but he is a classy type and he's the first-string on jockey bookings. Possibly at his best on fast ground thwarts enthusiasm and there's nagging doubt over his stamina so passed over this time.
9
Horse silk
Might Bite80
Age: 9|  Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR:  169| C
7/2
Won last year's RSA but nearly handed the race to a stablemate, hanging towards the stands on the run in. Won all three starts since, including King George at Kempton and has looked more straightforward in the process; high on any shortlist.
11
Horse silk
Native Riverp34
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-10| J: R Johnson| T: C L Tizzard| OR:  166| D
4/1
Third in this last year but has had an interrupted preparation this season. Encouraging comeback run at Newbury last time but second run off a significant absence is concern with the bounce factor. Not one to let loose on the front end if at 100%.
12
Horse silk
Our Duke27
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR:  166| BF
5/1
2017 Irish Grand National winner who stayed on gamely to beat Wednesday's impressive RSA winner at Gowran last time. More at home over this trip and would have run better in Irish Gold Cup if he hadn't have made a bad mistake. Big chance on form.
13
Horse silk
Outlanderp40
Age: 10|  Weight: 11-10| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR:  163
33/1
Runner-up behind Edwolf in the Irish Gold Cup last time out. The Grade 1 form that saw him beat Road To Respect earlier in the season would see him in with a chance but best runs have come away from here and he's probably worth opposing.
14
Horse silk
Road To Respecth78
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-10| J: S W Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR:  167| C
8/1
Classy sort who's still improving but conditions have gone against him here and he was beaten by Outlander in soft ground at Down Royal two starts back. He jumps well and ran better last time but place may be best he can hope for on this ground.
15
Horse silk
Saphir Du Rheut34
Age: 9|  Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR:  158| C
50/1
Ran a mighty race in this last year when fifth of 13, jumping faultlessly but same can't be said on two subsequent runs and even on his best form, he probably needs a sizable chunk of improvement to figure in a strong renewal.
17
Horse silk
Tea For Two48
Age: 9|  Weight: 11-10| J: Lizzie Kelly| T: Nick Williams| OR:  164
50/1
Has failed to finish in three starts at this course including in this race last year. Tailed off here at the Trials meeting and this is plenty tougher.
18
Horse silk
Total Recall40
Age: 9|  Weight: 11-10| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR:  156| D
12/1
Progressive sort and has won all three starts for this yard. Interesting that connections run him here but stable jockey Walsh had picked Killultagh Vic before his injury and the Grand National may be the main target for him.

Non-Runners

6
Horse silk
Double Shuffle80
Weight: 11-10|  Age: 8
T: T R George  J: Adrian Heskin
NR
10
Horse silk
Minella Rocco40
Weight: 11-10|  Age: 8
T: J & A O'Neill  J: M P Walsh
NR
16
Horse silk
Shantou Flyer3
Weight: 11-10|  Age: 8
T: R Hobson  J: James Bowen
NR

Forecasts

Might Bite (7/2), Native River (4/1), Our Duke (5/1), Road To Respect (8/1), Killultagh Vic (8/1), Definitly Red (10/1), Total Recall (12/1), Edwulf (14/1), Djakadam (20/1), Minella Rocco (20/1), Anibale Fly (25/1), American (25/1), Bachasson (25/1), Outlander (33/1), Double Shuffle (33/1), Tea For Two (50/1), Saphir Du Rheu (50/1), Shantou Flyer (100/1)

Verdict

Might Bite returns to the scene of his famous win here and while he hasn't always looked straightforward, his issues have seemingly been ironed out of late. However, it might be worth chancing the improving DEFINITELY RED. Brian Ellison's runner has suffered his fair share of bad luck in his career, badly hampered in both the Grand National and the Charlie Hall subsequently but he was foot perfect here last time when landing a Grade 2 and we may not have seen the best of him yet. Our Duke is another with claims. His form was boosted by Presenting Percy on Wednesday and gives last year's winning trainer/jockey combination a sporting chance of landing consecutive renewals.
  1. Definitly Red
  2. Might Bite
  3. Our Duke

Previous Winners

2024
Weight: 11-10  |Age: 8
10/11
2023
Weight: 11-10  |Age: 7
7/5
2022
Weight: 11-10  |Age: 8
3/1
2021
Weight: 11-10  |Age: 8
9/1
2020
Weight: 11-10  |Age: 8
10/3
2019
Weight: 11-10  |Age: 7
12/1
2017
Weight: 11-10  |Age: 7
7/1

Prize Money

1st: £369,822.002nd: £138,773.003rd: £69,484.004th: £34,612.005th: £17,403.006th: £8,702.00

MOST READ RACING

Sporting Life
My Stable
Follow and track your favourite Horses, Jockeys and Trainers. Never miss a race with automated alerts.
Access to exclusive features all for FREE - No monthly subscription fee
Click HERE for more information

RACING TIPS

Next Off