A potential Gold Cup horse kicks-off Thursday of the Cheltenham Festival and here’s hoping Henry De Bromhead’s Sizing Gold (1.30) can start the day with a double figure price.
The 7-y-o was always going to come into his own over fences and looked awesome on his debut at Navan and was even better when chasing home Foxrock over three miles, making ground at every fence but ultimately beat by the trip and the ground.
He should be much better suited on good ground over two and a half miles and here’s hoping he can jump the field into submission; Wonderful Charm and Oscar Whisky very much respected and appear the dangers.
Fingal Bay (2.05) is a neither flash, nor difficult selection in the Pertemps and should be a much better horse than his rating of 148 suggests. Phillip Hobbs’ 8-y-o had an unsuccessful time of things over fences last year but remains the only horse to beat Simonsig under rules and remains incredibly well handicapped.
In a race such as this there are plenty of plots afoot and it wouldn’t be surprising to see If In Doubt (second to Fingal Bay last time out) and Grand Vision out-run their respective prices.
Last year’s Jewson hero Benefficient (2.40) looks set to follow up in the Ryanair, kept fresh for the race since his win at Leopardstown over Christmas. He beat the pair of Arvika Ligeonniere and Hidden Cyclone last time out and that form looks strong and he should once again beat David Pipe’s Dynaste – as he did at the festival last year.
Annie Power and Big Bucks are the two superstars at the head of the World Hurdle betting but the more I looked at the race, the more I lean towards At Fishers Cross (3.20) for Rebecca Curtis and AP McCoy.
He was the most impressive winner of the G1 novice races over three miles at Cheltenham and Aintree last year and has steadily been brought along by Curtis and unfortunate to not win last time out in the Cleeve Hurdle.
The trainer has always insisted that her charge needs good ground and with the pair of Zarkander and Celestial Halo likely to make the running, the race could easily fall into his lap; fully wound up and guaranteed to stay.
Champion Court is a very interesting runner from top weight in the Byrne Group Plate; back to handicap company after game efforts in higher grade, however last year’s winner Carrickboy (4.00) looks the one to side with for Venetia Williams and Liam Treadwell.
He has been running on unsuitable slow ground all winter but showed signs of coming back to life when third last time out. Despite being at a 4lb higher mark he clearly thrives on spring ground and should be suited by the strong festival pace.
There are plenty of fancied horses at the top of the market in the Kim Muir with Indian Castle, Cause of Causes to name but two horses well supported in the ante post books however I like the look of Roberto Goldback (4.40) for Sam Waley Cohen and Nicky Henderson.
Despite taking plenty of stick Waley-Cohen is an amateur with a Gold Cup and two King George’s to his name and clearly the best in his field and can hopefully steer the top weight to victory. The key to the 12-y-o is dry ground, seen with his last win at Ascot from a mark of 150.
He has spent the early part of the season running in desperate ground however returns to a mark 6lb below that win 18 months ago and can pounce for a trainer that remains in good form, despite just the one winner on the opening two days of the festival.
1.30 - Sizing Gold (Nap)
2.05 - Fingal Bay
2.40 - Benefficient
3.20 - At Fishers Cross
4.00 - Carrickboy
4.40 - Roberto Goldback
For all the latest odds go to BetVictor.com
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