Eighteen horses will line up for the Gold Cup on Friday, the feature race of the Cheltenham Festival. Silviniaco Conti is a clear favourite following his King George romp. Can anything beat him?
Bobs Worth
Slogged to Gold Cup glory in 2013, one of the great slow-motion finishes in racing history. That made him a Grade One winner at three straight Festivals and meant he was unbeaten in five runs at Cheltenham, while some also noted that he had never been beaten after hitting the front. But he is not a big horse, his races always took a lot out of him and he has only once been able to run to something like that form in the past two years. Looked uncomfortable on a dry surface late in last year’s Gold Cup, when fifth, and would be hard to fancy if the going turned out to be similar. Now 10 and therefore older than any Gold Cup winner since 1998.
Boston Bob
Long had a big reputation and put up two fine efforts in defeat at past Festivals. Won a pair of Grade Ones at Aintree and Punchestown last spring and would be easy to like if in anything like that form but has been disappointing this winter. Perhaps drier ground will help him once more. Now 10 and therefore older than any Gold Cup winner since 1998.
Carlingford Lough
Has kept improving since landing the Galway Plate in the summer of 2013, reaching a new peak last time by landing the Hennesy Gold Cup at Leopardstown, the Irish equivalent of this race. Tony McCoy rides and has a fair chance of a fairytale exit from the Festival here but you could worry about the number of mistakes Carlingford Lough made on his only previous visit to Cheltenham. He was a novice at the time and is entitled to fare better now.
Coneygree
A novice chaser, which makes him an object of curiosity as such runners are rare in this most demanding of tests over fences. And yes, I do believe this race is generally more demanding of a horse than the Grand National, largely because of the quality of opposition. So what is a novice doing here after just three starts over fences? Coneygree had injury issues earlier in his career and, although a novice, is already eight. Only three of the last 10 Gold Cup winners were older than that, so connections wish to strike while the iron is hot. They were also hoping there would be plenty of rain by Gold Cup time and may get their wish judging by forecasts for the night before. Coneygree could easily be worth his place, judged on his extraordinary performances this winter, maintaining a tempo which forced others into mistakes while his own jumping has been splendid. These rivals will be harder to shake but he looks a player.
Djakadam
Has morphed into Willie Mullins’ main contender since an impressive display to win a major Irish handicap under top weight in January, his last run. That was on bottomless ground, so this will be different again and Djakadam has been disappointing on two previous visits to Britain. He fell as a novice at the last Festival, when his jumping gradually deteriorated, and was stuffed as favourite for Newbury’s Hennessy in November. He’s just six, so it may be worth forgiving those blips but he still has a bit to prove.
Don Cossack
Ran third in Thursday’s Ryanair and declared a non-runner on Friday morning.
Holywell
Not the most convincing on looks but a winner at the last two Festivals, beating big fields in three-mile handicaps over hurdles and fences. He also won a Grade One novice contest at Aintree last spring by 10 lengths. A couple of early-season flops probably mean nothing much, as he’d done similar things before coming good in previous years. Hosed up in a weak race last time and can’t be far off the necessary standard. Victory for this one would be tough on Tony McCoy, who often rides him. Richie McLernon is in the saddle now, as for the past two Festivals.
Home Farm
Has ground to make up with a few of these after finishing seventh, beaten 22 lengths, in the Irish Hennessy. His only success over fences since his beginners’ chase was rather gifted to him when a key rival fell. Tackles Cheltenham for the first time.
Houblon Des Obeaux
Consistently runs to a high level in good company but actual successes have been hard to come by. Strictly on the book, he ought to turn round Newbury Hennessy form with the winner, Many Clouds, given that they meet at level weights this time, but the suspicion is that Many Clouds is the more progressive. Had no answer to Coneygree last time and beaten seven lengths after a game effort. Beaten 24 lengths into ninth in last year’s Gold Cup and is only one from seven at the track.
Lord Windermere
A stunning winner of last year’s Gold Cup at 20-1 after the first two in the betting had led over the last. That possibly shouldn’t have been as surprising, since he’d won a Grade One novice race at the previous Festival, but he’d shown nothing in between. He’s been better this season, while still losing all three races. Has eight lengths to make on the first two from the Irish Hennessy but not at all beyond him to manage that if his trainer has got him to peak in mid-March for the third year in a row.
Many Clouds
Having a great season, landing the Hennessy at Newbury by three lengths and following up in a January race here that has sometimes been a helpful Gold Cup trial. Looks the right type and probably has more to give. Might be found wanting for pace if the surface dried out but a healthy amount of overnight rain is in the forecast and that will help him. Hard to fault.
On His Own
Failed by about an inch in last year’s Gold Cup after suffering interference and was arguably the deserving winner. That followed two impressive efforts in the previous two months, so it is a concern that he is not in the same form this time, having been very disappointing three times from his last four. Still ran a fine race on the other occasion, when second to Road To Riches in the Lexus. Aged 11 now, so would be the oldest Gold Cup hero since 1969.
River Choice
Declared a non-runner on Thursday afternoon.
Road To Riches
Saved for this since winning the Lexus at Leopardstown over Christmas, his second Grade One success on the bounce. Last year’s Galway Plate winner (by 11 lengths), he has repeatedly shown top-class form and looks a strong contender. Disappointing on his only previous British foray but that was over hurdles at Aintree before he was the horse he is now. His trainer, Noel Meade, has famously struggled at the Festival, where his four wins have all been in novice hurdles, and he is doubtless itching to stop people saying so.
Sam Winner
Has three Festival disappointments to his name, having twice started favourite, but had a good season over fences, including a handicap win here under top weight in November when the runner-up was The Druids Nephew, a winner here on Tuesday. Nicked a soft race at Aintree and then ran a cracker in the Lexus, leading from four out before giving way on the run-in to be a tired third. Tongue tie and cheekpieces have both been worn before but not at the same time and perhaps that will help but 0/4 in Grade Ones over fences and hurdles so far.
Silviniaco Conti
Hoping for third time lucky in this race, having fallen three-out when travelling sweetly in 2013 and then finished fourth last year. He looked the winner when sailing over the last in front that day but wandered badly on the run-in and may possibly have been sent for home too soon. Has won four of his last five starts in Grade Ones, including an authoritative King George win (his second). Cheekpieces may have helped his concentration since being fitted two runs ago. Seems sure to go well.
Smad Place
Placed at the last three Festivals and only beaten a neck in last year’s RSA, which is encouraging to a point but still leaves him without a Grade One win in eight attempts. Again ran well here when second to Many Clouds in January but carried 8lb less then and shoulders the same weight as that rival this time. Game but likely to come up short once more.
The Giant Bolster
Second, fourth and third in the last three Gold Cups, beaten less than a length last year. Has three course wins to his name, albeit never at the Festival. Reunited with Tom Scudamore, who has not been aboard since the last Gold Cup. Now 10 and therefore older than any Gold Cup winner since 1998 and may now be feeling his age, having been comfortably held in all three starts this season.
