Cheltenham Gold Cup: The key race trials

Which Races?

•    King George - Kempton
•    Savills Chase - Leopardstown

King George

Clan Des Obeaux wins a second King George! pic.twitter.com/MqHKHUjnJc

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) December 26, 2019

Analysis:  

The withdrawal of Thistlecrack prior to the race left a high class field of five going to post. The betting suggested that this year’s renewal would be a straight shoot-out between Cyrname and Lostintranslation. However, 2019 winner Clan Des Obeaux did not read the script and ran out a comfortable winner by 21l over his stablemate and short priced favourite Cyrname.

Aso, the outsider of the field, on his first try at three miles attempted to make the running before a mistake at the fourth fence saw Cyrname join him at the head of affairs. The two would go on to set honest fractions throughout the whole of the race and were clocked at five seconds quicker than the Novice Grade One on the card from the third fence to the finish line.However, to the surprise of many Cyrname looked to lack his usual zest taking plenty of chances at his fences and despite getting away with a couple of minor errors his tank emptied between the final two fences. Clan Des Obeaux, who had travelled strongly throughout the contest, produced a fantastic leap to hit the front and power away from his rivals for a wide margin victory. The eight-year-old jumped and travelled well throughout and was a deserving winner in a truly run race

How does the winner rate for Cheltenham glory?

The winner, Clan Des Obeaux, was cut into 5/1 favourite for the Gold Cup in March immediately after this race. He is now available at a best price of 15/2.

The form of this win looks suspect though. Lostintranslation made a total of four ground losing errors at his fences and never looked entirely comfortable at any stage during the race; always looking half a yard off the pace. This was his first start on a course as sharp as Kempton with all of his previous runs coming on galloping tracks. Cyrname, the highest rated chaser in training at the time of the race, had earned his lofty rating at Ascot and along with Aso and Footpad was trying the trip of 3m for the first time. 

The horse to take out of the race from a Gold Cup perspective would be Lostintranslation who, at least in my opinion, had a valid excuse with the track not suiting. He wouldn’t be the first horse to be well beaten in a King George and bounce back in a Gold Cup and he still rates a serious contender for the Gold Cup. 

Recent winners:

From 2011 to 2018, the King George has had a total of 76 runners. 25 of those went onto run in the Gold Cup with 7 finishing in the first three.

Only Long Run in 2011 has won the King George in the past 10 years and then gone onto win the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival in the same season. A remarkable statistic! This renewal was also run in January 2011, with a 20 day delay from the original date due to poor weather. 
 

Don’t forget the beaten horses though, Don Cossack fell in the 2015 running of the King George but won the Gold Cup the same season. Bristol De Mai fell in the 2018 running and finished a valiant third in the Gold Cup later that season. Might Bite and Long Run both used this race as a festival prep too. 

Winners Produced: 2 

 Savills Chase 

Epic finish!

Delta Work bounces right back and reels in Monalee to land the G1 Savills Chase at @LeopardstownRC.

What a day for @gelliott_racing, and another memorable call from @jhracingcomm! pic.twitter.com/68NodOAZ54

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 28, 2019

Analysis: 

Delta Work, third in last season’s RSA Chase, showed remarkable improvement from his debut run to get his head in front in this Grade One contest denying Monalee at the finish. Road To Respect followed the pair home in third with growing margins back to the fourth and fifth.

Delta Work had shown an improved jumping technique from that of his debut run and his stamina in the end ultimately won him the race. Monalee put in a career best effort over this trip and filled the same position in this race 12 months ago. His rider lost an iron in the closing stages but last season’s Ryanair fourth jumped well and gave a bold sight from the front.  

Road To Respect coming third gives the form a more solid look to the race after trouncing King George winner Clan Des Obeaux by 4l on his first start of the season and form wise this looks a strong renewal of the Savills Chase.

How does the winner rate for Cheltenham glory?

Delta Work looks to hold strong claims off the back of this performance alone, but to enhance that further he has since won the Irish Gold Cup and his form rates the strongest of them all in the ante-post markets. Gigginstown could have their second Gold Cup winner in ten years with Delta Work.

Recent winners:

Dual winners of this race and the Cheltenham Gold Cup include Synchronised and Bobs Worth, but even the horses beaten in this race have a good record at Cheltenham. 

In 2013 this race produced the Gold Cup winner in the form of Lord Windermere. He could only manage seventh at Leopardstown. 

In 2014 Road To Riches won this race and then went on to finish third at Cheltenham, Don Poli did the same the year after in 2015.

An excellent race to keep an eye out for those Cheltenham Gold Cup chances!

Winners Produced: 3

Who to take from the key trials?

Delta Work and Lostintranslation look the two to take out from either side of the water and it would be folly to think that Delta Work wouldn’t have the better chance considering the background of the key trial he has won. The pair boast course form but I’m of the opinion that Delta Work didn’t get the best ride in last year’s RSA and I think there is plenty more to come from him.

Get more insight and previews for the Festival on our Cheltenham tips page.