Cheltenham Gold Cup

Henry de Bromhead capped off a remarkable Cheltenham Festival last year with a 1-2 in the blue riband contest. While A Plus Tard was sent-off favourite, it was Minella Indo who came out on top and the stout-staying nine-year-old will look to bring-up a hat-trick of Cheltenham Festival victories.

A Plus Tard lost little in defeat and would perhaps have claimed the crown had his stablemate not kicked-on when he did, as he placed an increased emphasis on stamina while securing prime track position.

Both will have to contend with the progressive Galvin, who landed the National Hunt Chase at this meeting 12 months ago and simply hasn’t looked back since, winning two of his three subsequent starts culminating in a career best effort at Leopardstown in December when defeating A Plus Tard in the Grade 1 Savills Chase.

Protektorat is also a new kid on the block having booked his ticket for this contest courtesy of a facile success in the Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase at Aintree. While it would be remiss not to mention dual Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo, third last year and who will attempt to wrestle his crown back on Friday.

A Plus Tard

A Plus Tard was sent off the 100/30 second favourite last year following a last gasp success in the 2020 Savills Chase, and he lost little in defeat as his stablemate received a fantastic ride and barely put a foot wrong en route to victory.

The Cheveley Park Stud owned eight-year-old could hardly have been more impressive when turning the Betfair Chase into a procession and, although he was beaten by Galvin at Leopardstown, he actually finished roughly the same distance ahead of Kemboy as he did in 2020.

The top class son of Kapgarde has enjoyed the same preparation as last year having not been seen since Christmas and decent ground would certainly be to his liking as his tactical speed - which once saw him defeat Chacun Pour Soi over 2 miles - can be utilised more effectively.

Not many horses have returned to land this race having tasted defeat on their first attempt, but Native River is a recent example that it most certainly can be done.

Galvin

Galvin’s level of improvement has surprised many this year and you could easily argue that the conditions of this race should suit him ideally, which could well lead to yet another career best effort.

Last year’s National Hunt Chase hero conceded weight all round when making a successful seasonal reappearance in Grade 3 company at Punchestown and he was only three-quarters-of-a-length behind 2020 King George victor Frodon when placing second in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal in October.

Minella Indo and Delta Work were third and fourth respectively at Down Royal and there was certainly no shame in being beaten by a fully revved-up Frodon in a race that Paul Nicholls has liked to target over the years.

There was plenty to like about the attitude that Galvin displayed when swooping late to deny A Plus Tard in the Savills Chase at Christmas and not many, if any, will be coming home stronger up the gruelling Cheltenham hill, which makes him a very big player.

Minella Indo

Reigning champion Minella Indo will bid to secure a Cheltenham Festival hat-trick when the tapes rise on Friday and he could prove tough to beat if finding the same relentless rhythm as 12 months ago.

The 2019 Albert Bartlett winner is 0-3 since landing the blue riband contest and was pulled-up in the King George VI Chase after becoming embroiled in heavyweight fight for the lead with 2020 victor Frodon, which ultimately ended badly for both parties.

However, Kempton was never going to suit the stamina-laden son of Beat Hollow, who bounced back to something near his best when chasing home Conflated in the Irish Gold Cup last month.

Minella Indo undoubtedly saves his best for Cheltenham in March and I would expect to see a much more improved performance once again. However, he will need to bring his A-game to fend off the new brigade of Galvin and Protektorat and keep his place on the throne.

Protektorat

Protektorat has always been held in high regard by connections and he enjoyed a very productive campaign as a novice, which culminated in Grade 1 success at Aintree over-two-and-a-half-miles.

The Saint Des Saints gelding once again demonstrated his class when placing second in the Paddy Power Gold Cup off a mark of 154; however, he took a giant leap forwards when stepping-up to 3 miles and Aintree, where he landed the Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase by an impressive 25 lengths.

That performance was enough to persuade connections to put him away with this contest in mind, and understandably so given his unexposed status over this trip.

While this is undoubtedly the biggest test of his career to date, he arrives as an unexposed seven-year-old who is fresh, well, boasts plenty of Cheltenham form and is versatile in terms of ground. Clearly there is plenty to like. 

Al Boum Photo

‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ is most certainly the mantra of Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins when it comes to the mighty Al Boum Photo, as the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero has enjoyed an identical preparation for the fourth consecutive year.

In fairness, why would you want to change a formula that has proven so successful in the past? Yes, the 10-year-old lost his crown when pacing third 12 months ago; however, he got caught in a pocket at a crucial stage of the race and was unable to make up lost ground on the climb for home.

That is certainly worth remembering when you realise that he didn’t lose any further ground up the hill and he may well have got closer to Clan Des Obeaux at Punchestown subsequently but for a mistake at the penultimate fence.

Al Boum Photo doesn’t have many miles on the clock for a horse of his age and it goes without saying that he thrives over this course and distance. He is therefore a huge player once again.

Others to note

King George hero Tornado Flyer is a less than frequent winner, but he could easily run well if seeing out this longer trip. While last year’s Turners Novices’ Chase winner Chantry House is seemingly all about stamina and could finish strongly if in contention turning for home.

Cheltenham Gold Cup 2022 Prediction

Minella Indo most certainly saves his best for Cheltenham and he should launch a bold bid in defence of his crown. While A Plus Tard will bid to emulate 2018 hero Native River by winning this blue riband prize at the second attempt. 

Al Boum Photo has enjoyed the same preparation as in each of the last three years and should run well once more. Paddy Power Gold Cup runner-up Protektorat is completely unexposed over staying trips and could easily opt yet another career best performance. 

However, preference is for last year’s National Hunt Chase hero GALVIN, who appears to be on a steep upward curved judged on his gutsy defeat of A Plus Tard at Christmas.

Elliott’s eight-year-old will relish every yard of this trip and decent ground would really play to his strengths. Trusty partner Davy Russell knows what it takes to land this race and the duo look to hold solid claims.