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15:30 Cheltenham

Friday 16 March 2018

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

Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 7m 2.9s

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Selected odds by:

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.

Form: 6/111-P2

Anibale Fly^t⁴⁰

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.

Form: 42-591F

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.

Form: U/F21-11

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.

Form: U1P-311

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.

Form: 342-2P3

Edwulf^t⁴⁰

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.

Form: 1F1P-P1

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.

Form: 1111/1F

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.

Form: F111-11

Native River^p³⁴

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%.

Form: 21113-1

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.

Form: 121-741

Outlander^p⁴⁰

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.

Form: P-61332

Road To Respect^h⁷⁸

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.

Form: 211-121

Saphir Du Rheu^t³⁴

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.

Form: F215U-3

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.

Form: U1-943P

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.

Form: 105-111

Non-Runners

Double Shuffle⁸⁰

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: T R George J: Adrian Heskin

Minella Rocco⁴⁰

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: Jonjo & A O'Neill J: M P Walsh

Shantou Flyer³

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: R Hobson J: James Bowen

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)

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.