Andy Holding takes a look at the Cheltenham Gold Cup market after some intriguing results at the DRF.
Gold Cup
An intriguing contest on paper beforehand and it produced an impressive winner in the shape of Fact To File, who bounced back to his very best in no uncertain terms.
The gallop was even from the start, but nothing spectacular, highlighted by the fact the novice chase won by Romeo Coolio reached the second last from the fence going away from the stands 7.7 quicker than the three-mile Grade 1.
That said, it still proved a test many found too demanding with the likes of Spindleberry and Affordale Fury both pulling up before coming out of the back straight and last year’s Gold Cup hero, Inothewayurthinkin, so tired, he couldn’t even get over the last.
On Gavin Cromwell’s inmate, it is hard to know where connections go from here with a horse who looks a shadow of the one who strode majestically up the Cheltenham hill to Gold Cup glory.
The only hope to cling onto is based on the son of Walk In The Park, just as he did last season, coming alive in the spring on better ground, but that happening is very much an ‘if’ with a capital I at this moment in time.
As for the winner, Willie Mullins’ inmate laid to rest his poor effort in the King George by turning in arguably the best performance of his career and at the same time, he proved that he does stay three miles extremely well – unlike some of his previous attempts at the trip.
His victory did, however, throw a spanner in the works regarding his ultimate Cheltenham destination as due to reasons only those closely associated with the horse can answer, he was inexplicably not even entered for the Gold Cup at the last forfeit stage.
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Prior to his scintillating success at the Dublin venue, all roads seem to be going down the route of him retaining his Ryanair crown but just as connections did last year with Inothewayurthinkin, it would come as no surprise if they were to regroup and supplement him on the Saturday before the blue riband in March.
Chasing him home was stable mate Gaelic Warrior, and he did his Cheltenham credentials no harm with a performance alongside many others at the highest level.
Much maligned, it is easy to forget the eight-year-old has dined at the very top table for three seasons and he hardly ever puts in a bad shift.
The only question to answer now is does he have a crack at the Gold Cup, or do connections seek the easier pickings in the Ryanair.
A good deal will depend on the mindset of Rich Ricci nearer the time but surely every owner’s burning desire is to have the winner of the Gold Cup?
If the flamboyant owner was prepared to let Royal Pagaille take his chance three years in a row on ground he didn’t like, then it would be a bit of a head scratcher if his famous pink colours weren’t donned in the biggest prize of all by the son of Maxios, who has much more stronger claims for glory.
| Horse | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Fact to File | 5/1 | QuinnBet |
| Jango Baie | 5/1 | Bet365 |
| The Jukebox Man | 6/1 | Bet365 |
| Gaelic Warrior | 7/1 | Bet365 |
| Haiti Couleurs | 10/1 | Bet365 |
| Galopin des Champs | 10/1 | Bet365 |
| Spillanes Tower | 14/1 | Bet365 |
On to Galopin Des Champs and it is probably fair to say we might have seen the best of the dual Gold Cup winner based on the evidence here and over the last year or so.
By no means was this a poor effort from Willie Mullins’ star, far from it, but he has such a good record at the Dublin-based venue bigger things were expected after his encouraging seasonal bow and surely now he will head to Cheltenham only in hope of regaining his crown rather than with any great confidence.
Of the rest, Monty’s Star deserves plenty of credit for forcing the issue for such a long way and it was only turning for home when Henry De Bromhead’s inmate began to flag.
It is also worth pointing out he comes from a stable currently going through a quiet spell (0-29) and some of his better form has often come in the spring, so he is one to bear in mind when the weights come out for the Grand National.
Firefox was a big eye-catcher back in fourth and the way he stayed on in the final half a mile on his first try over three miles bodes well for the future.
Gordon Elliott’s inmate is entered in both the Ryanair and Gold Cup but he too, might also be given a Grand National entry on the back of this display.
I Am Maximus ran below the level of his previous effort in the Savills but that won’t bother his connections, as getting a few pounds back should make him competitive again in the Grand National – a race he has won and finished second in the last two renewals.
This weekend sees the final preparations for both Jango Baie and Haiti Couleurs as they clash in the Denman Chase and it will be fascinating to see how that race develops and who comes out on top.
At this stage, the pair look viable contenders for the Gold Cup and when you throw in the likes of The Jukebox Man, Grey Dawning and Spillane’s Tower, it could easily turn out to be one of the most wide-open renewals in recent memory.
