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15:30 Cheltenham

Friday 17 March 2023

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

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 6m 45.46s

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Selected odds by:

Ahoy Senor⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 166| C

14/1

Initially found the transition from top novice to contender at the highest level a bit of a struggle, but he pieced it all together with a defeat of Sounds Russian, Noble Yeats and Protektorat in the Cotswold Chase here in January. More needed now but his yard is in flying form.

Form: 21-5351

A Plus Tard^t¹¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 180| BF| CD

4/1

One of the best Gold Cup winners of recent years when beating stable-companion Minella Indo by 15 lengths 12 months ago. Pulled up in Betfair at Haydock in November on his only outing since. Clearly hard to be confident but a threat to all if back on song.

Form: 12/121-P

Bravemansgame⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 172

6/1

Disappointed in Aintree Grade 1 novice on final start last season but that's his only defeat in 7 outings over fences, taking his form to another level in King George at Kempton in December, well in control when left clear at last. Saved for this since. Big player.

Form: 1114-11

Conflated⁷⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 168

22/1

Top-class chaser who has been kept fresh for this since readily landing the Grade 1 Savills at Leopardstown over Christmas. That wasn't the strongest of Grade 1s, though, and he'll need a bigger performance here. Not a certain stayer, either.

Form: 11F2-31

Eldorado Allen^p,t³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 161| C

100/1

Very smart but his limitations have been exposed at the highest level. Did too much too soon under a change of tactics when fading into a below-form fifth in Denman Chase at Newbury last month. Big outsider.

Form: 37-2245

Galopin Des Champs⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 173| C

7/5

Would be unbeaten over fences but for coming down at last when clear in the Turners at this meeting 12 months ago. Proved himself at 3m with an 8-length defeat of Stattler in Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown last month. Another 2f further to travel now but he'll be hard to beat if his stamina holds.

Form: 11F1-11

Hewick^p¹⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: J C Gainford| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 170

40/1

Has got better and better over fences, ending last season with win in bet365 Gold Cup and adding Galway Plate in July. Landed another significant victory when taking Grand National Hurdle in America in October. Couldn't have found a much tougher task for first venture into Graded company, though.

Form: P1-21U1

Minella Indo⁷⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 168| CD

20/1

Won this in 2021 and chased home stablemate A Plus Tard 12 months ago. Only scrambled home in receipt of 8 lb from Stattler in Tramore Grade 3 on his reappearance on New Year's Day but his very good Festival record (2 wins and 2 seconds from 4 runs) means it would no shock if he goes well.

Form: 3P22-P1

Noble Yeats^p⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: E Mullins| OR: 167

14/1

Last season's Grand National winner and has progressed again over conventional fences this time round, winning Wexford listed and Aintree Grade 2 before third to Ahoy Senor (Sounds Russian second) in Cotswold here. Cheekpieces back on for the first time since Aintree. Each-way claims.

Form: 91-P113

Protektorat^t⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 170| BF| C| D

25/1

Expertly trained to gain a second Grade 1 success of his career in Betfair Chase on return at Haydock in November. Not at best when fourth of 6 to Ahoy Senor in Cotswold here in January but no surprise were he to bounce back and record another good run in this (third last year).

Form: 2134-14

Royale Pagaille⁸¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 163| D

50/1

High-class chaser who was a creditable 14 lengths second to Bravemansgame in King George on his reappearance but he's finished sixth and fifth in the last 2 runnings of this race and it's likely he'll find at least a few too strong again.

Form: 21255-2

Sounds Russian⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 161| D

50/1

Hasn't looked back since sent over fences, gaining a fourth success in Kelso handicap on reappearance. Better form in defeat since, notably 1½ lengths second to Ahoy Senor (Noble Yeats third, Protektorat fourth) in Cotswold Chase at this course (25f, good to soft) last time. Vulnerable here, though.

Form: 12-1422

Stattler⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 163| BF| C

16/1

National Hunt Chase winner at this meeting last year and has improved again in defeat this time round, only narrowly failing to concede 8 lb to Minella Indo on his reappearance before chasing home stablemate Galopin Des Champs in Irish Gold Cup. Slightly longer trip now will play to his strengths.

Form: 3/111-22

Forecasts

Galopin Des Champs (7/5), A Plus Tard (4/1), Bravemansgame (6/1), Noble Yeats (14/1), Ahoy Senor (14/1), Stattler (16/1), Minella Indo (20/1), Conflated (22/1), Protektorat (25/1), Hewick (40/1), Royale Pagaille (50/1), Sounds Russian (50/1), Eldorado Allen (100/1)

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS would be unbeaten over fences but for falling at last year's Festival. The way he forged clear in the Irish Gold Cup suggests the slightly longer trip this afternoon should be within range and he's very much the one to beat. Bravemansgame is another who has suffered only one defeat over fences and is feared most after his impressive King George success. Last year's National Hunt Chase winner Stattler will relish the return to a longer trip and looks best of the rest.