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The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the Blue Riband of the Festival but it is difficult to get an angle on the race given the first five in the betting have only run seven times between them this season! Imperial Commander was impressive last year and currently heads the market but are the dangers the new kids on the block – the King George and Hennessy winners Long Run and Diamond Harry – or the old guard – Kauto Star and Denman?
| Time | Race | Distance | Link |
| 1:30 |
Triumph Hurdle |
2m 1f |
 |
| 2:05 |
County Hurdle |
2m 1f |
|
| 2:40 |
Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle |
3m |
|
| 3:20 |
Cheltenham Gold Cup |
3m 2 1/2f |
|
| 4:00 |
Foxhunters Steeple Chase |
3m 2 1/2f |
|
| 4:40 |
Conditional Jockeys Hurdle |
2m 4 1/2f |
|
| 5:15 |
Grand Annual |
2m 1/2f |
|
Diamond Harry received no less than 26lbs from
Denman (btn 15l) at Newbury but he travelled through the race like a
class act although it should be noted he has disappointed in the last
two Festivals and trainer Nick Williams has suggested on more than one
occasion in recent days that the horse is not pleasing him in his work
in the build up to the race.
Little Run didn’t jump well enough on his two previous starts at
Cheltenham but he was magnificent in the King George and is the one to
beat if his jumping holds up… but that is a big if.
Of Paul Nicholls’ old warriors and former winners, Denman looks the
stable’s number one candidate with the trainer reporting he has had a
small operation to improve his breathing since finishing third in the
Hennessy.
The current Champion Imperial Commander is 5 from 6 over fences at
the track and again looks the one to beat. He could hardly be described
as impressive in his sole start this term at Haydock but his trainer
suggested he left a bit to work on that day and he is the benchmark on a
course he obviously adores.
Zarkandar looked a juvenile hurdler going places when winning at Kempton on his British debut but this looks a wide-open JCB Triumph Hurdle; do note we are betting ¼ odds 4 places from Tuesday 1st March until the 48-hour declaration stage.
Back In Focus was visually very impressive when scoring at Haydock from Court In Motion
on his first start for Howard Johnson but the ground was barely
raceable on that occasion and he is unlikely to be as effective on
better ground. At a bigger price Sybarite
blundered his way around Kempton last time and could reward each way
support if his jumping holds up. He is certainly one to consider when he
goes novice chasing next season.
The Martin Pipe conditional has yet to be won by David Pipe but goodness knows how Ashkazar
got beat in the race last year off a mark of 136 when he recently
dotted up off 152 and is now rated 161! Dynaste could be the stable’s
number one, although you could go dizzy trying to second guess the
Festival plans from Pond House.
If we’re still in trouble by the last – The Grand Annual Chase – we’re probably doomed although I have long had a soft spot for Shoreacres
who has run well in two previous Festivals and made a successful
comeback on ground softer than ideal at Taunton returning from a
twelve-month lay off.
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