Gold Cup Preview

BETFRED CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP CHASE GRADE 1 (CLASS 1) (5yo+)
Distance: 3m2f110y Going: Soft Channel: CH4

There is no Kauto Star now but plenty of rising stars looking land the Festivals blue riband event.

The Nicky Henderson trained BOBS WORTH currently leads the market. He has only been seen out once this season but that was his impressive victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup Chase at Newbury back in early December. Tidal Bay, second that day, landed the Grade 1 Lexus Chase next time out in Ireland by a neck from First Lieutenant who was third in the Hennessy. Bobs Worth has won at the previous two Cheltenham Festivals winning the RSA Chase last year and the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle in 2011.

With no Kauto Star or Denman to run, Paul Nicholls' leading fancy is SILVINIACO CONTI who is going into the race off the back of four straight wins stretching back to the Mildmay Novices Chase at Aintree last April. This season he has put up some impressive performances in the Charlie Hall Chase and the Denman Chase with the highlight being a victory over Long Run in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock. The only negative against this horse would be his lack of course form. He has never run at the Festival before and his only run at Cheltenham was a third behind Menorah in the International Hurdle in 2011.

SIR DES CHAMPS is the main danger from Ireland. Like Bobs Worth he has won at the last two Festivals. He won the Jewson Novices Chase last year and the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap the year before. He was unbeaten over jumps until this season when his first defeat came in the Punchestown Chase behind Flemenstar. He was then a close fourth behind Tidal Bay in the Lexus Chase before finally getting a win on the board this term in the Hennessy Gold Cup Chase at Leopardstown.

The 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner LONG RUN has had a steady preparation finishing second in the Betfair Chase at Haydock before winning the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day. The Nicky Henderson horse has never been outside the first three but it is worth noting his three thirds have all come at Cheltenham. His course form reads 3313. Whether or not he sees out the hill at Cheltenham remains up for debate.

FIRST LIEUTENANT makes up the top five in the betting. The Irish contender has been consistent this term with place runs in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury and the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. He has Festival form winning the Baring Bingham Novices Hurdle in 2011 and a second behind Bobs Worth in last year's RSA Chase. The big worry would be his reluctance to get his nose in front.

Of the rest the 2011 Arkle winner Captain Chris has some good form finishing second to Long Run and Cue Card in his last two outings. Cape Tribulation, who won the Pertemps Final Hurdle last year, won the Argento Chase over course and distance last time out. The Giant Bolster, runner up in last year's renewal has been place twice behind Silviniaco Conti this term and has each way claims.

Verdict
There are a handful of top prospects in this race. Long Run has been here before and must be respected while Irish challengers Sir Des Champs and First Lieutenant have claims but I feel this will come down to a battle between Bobs Worth and SILVINIACO CONTI. I feel the Paul Nicholls runner has improved plenty this term and can take this race.

Ultra competitive heat if you believe the pundits but i think its a one horse race.Bobs Worth is market leader but i cant have him,his Newbury win was solid but a 160 winning mark leaves him with a bit to find,yes the second and third franked it in the Lexus but the fourth and fifth(The Package and Hold On Julio) have hardly pulled trees up.His Festival form is exemplary but hes plenty short enough on what hes done.Silviniaco Conti has performed admirably,three solid wins agasinst a few of these give him sound claims but does he strike you as a 3m2 twice up the Hill performer? Personally i looked on him as more of a King George horseand im not convinced that the Gold Cup test is going to be his cup of tea.Sir Des Champs has excellent Festival form and comes here on the back of a Hennesy win over Flemenstar but the pair of them have been less than convincing and on lines through Tidal Bay Willie Mullins' contender has to find more again to bet involved,i particularly dont like his laboured fencing,sloppy jumping around here gets punished.First Lieutenant ran like a non stayer in the Lexus,he was paddling close home and like one or two others he might find the Hill a bridge too far.That leaves Long Run,a class act.Two King Georges and a Gold Cup,loads of top grade form and although hes been beaten by a few of these in previous runs he looks to be coming here in a better light than last year.Received mixed acclaim after his Boxing Day win but i thought it was a tremendous effort to get back up,he was put into the race far too early and Long Run certainly got his jockey out of a hole.More patient tactics are a certainty here,any drying of the ground will help and his fencing has looked more assured this season.He was 15/8 fav last year,hes 7/1 this yet his form and build up have gone much smoother.Fill your boots.
1.LONG RUN
2.BOBS WORTH
3.SILVINIACO CONTI