NEWS – Freebetting Horse Racing Betting
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Grand National may have claims to be the most famous steeplechase in the world but the Cheltenham Gold Cup is, without doubt, the “Blue Riband” event of the National Hunt season in Great Britain and Ireland. The best staying chasers from both sides of the Irish Sea and occasionally from across the English Channel (as in the case of The Fellow in 1994) compete over 3 miles 2½ furlongs and 22 demanding fences on the New Course at Prestbury Park with the name of the winner likely to become etched in racing folklore.
One horse who has already guaranteed his place in history is, of course, Kauto Star (8/11 with Sporting Bet), who has won no fewer than 13 Grade 1 races in his career, including four consecutive victories in the King George VI Chase at Kempton and two in this race. Kauto Star looked better than ever when cruising home by 36 lengths in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day this time around and although he has an absence of 83 days to overcome he is following the same route as last year. Then, he followed an impressive victory at Kempton with an equally facile success in this race and it would take a brave man to suggest that it will not be the same story this year. If he is successful, he will be following in the footsteps of Best Mate and, of course, the legendary Arkle, who were the last horses to win three Cheltenham Gold Cups.
On paper, Kauto Star looks home and hosed; he is rated fully 11lbs higher than his nearest rival, Denman and 19lbs higher than Imperial Commander, who is next best according to official ratings. Denman (4/1 with Bet 365, Sky Bet, Totesport, Boylesports, Victor Chandler, Paddy Power, Ladbrokes, Coral and William Hill) is also trained by Paul Nicholls and has the distinction of being the only horse to beat Kauto Star in a Cheltenham Gold Cup. He handed a 7-length beating to his more illustrious stablemate (who was favourite on that day, too) in this race back in 2008, when Neptune Collonges completed a memorable 1-2-3 for the Nicholls stable.
Both Kauto Star and Denman have improved since, according to official ratings, but whilst Kauto Star has gone up to 193 from 180, Denman has gone up to just 182 from 176. Kauto Star reversed the 2008 form in no uncertain terms last year, beating Denman 13 lengths, so whilst Denman cannot be written of entirely he makes little appeal at the odds on offer. His victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury under 11st 12lbs was admirable enough, but he may or may not have won the Aon Chase at the Berkshire track but for falling three from home; he was under strong pressure at the time, so despite the presence of A.P. McCoy he looks one to take on.
Supporters of Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Imperial Commander (8/1 generally) will be hoping that he recaptures the form that saw him beaten just a nose by Kauto Star at level weights in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park in November on his reappearance. The pair subsequently met again in the King George VI Chase, but Imperial Commander failed to give his running and trailed in fifth, fully 64 lengths behind Kauto Star. That was obviously disappointing, but punters should take note that Imperial Commander has won five times at Cheltenham and has been beaten just twice going right-handed. He still has something to find with Kauto Star even on his best form, but if there is to be a surprise in the race he could be the one to supply it.
If it is difficult to enthuse about anything else in the race, such is the gulf in class between them and Kauto Star. Paul Nicholls apparent third string Tricky Trickster (16/1 with # Betfred, Coral and William Hill) may be good enough to fill a place, whilst last year’s Grand National winner Mon Mome (150/1 with Coral, William Hill and Extrabet) could belie his odds by running well as he heads for another crack at the Aintree marathon. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is not the race for ifs, buts and maybes, however, so it has to be Kauto Star for win purposes and perhaps an each-way saver on Imperial Commander or a reversed forecast with favourite.
It would be ironic if the 9-year-old Cerium or 11-year-old Mr Pointment (both 500/1 generally with the bookmakers, but 949/1 with Betfair) were to cause the biggest upset in racing history insofar as both are former Nicholls’ inmates now trained by Paul Murphy at Middleham, North Yorkshire. All credit to connections of both horses, but entering them in the Cheltenham Gold Cup is quixotic in the extreme.
