3.30 Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade One)
Kempton and Cheltenham are two very different courses, but this season’s renewal of the King George at the former venue arguably provides the strongest piece of form in the staying chase division ahead of the Gold Cup.
In a race run at a fast pace from the off, Vautour was only just reeled in by Cue Card in the dying strides, going down by a head.
The efforts of the leading protagonists can be viewed in a particularly favourable light when compared with the time clocked by Tea For Two in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase over the same distance earlier on the card.
Vautour, who ran out such an impressive winner of the Ryanair Chase on the third day of the Festival, was prominent throughout at Kempton and helped force a pace that looked unsustainable. The finish that Vautour, Cue Card and Don Cossack fought out from three out was slower than in the earlier novices’ race, but the final time was still very impressive.
Cue Card and Don Cossack undoubtedly benefitted from sitting a few lengths off Vautour for much of the way, but the debate on the King George has centred on what would have happened if Don Cossack hadn’t fallen at the second-last fence. He did seem to be finding plenty for pressure before exiting.
Gordon Elliott’s runner had looked really good either side of that fall in his victories at Down Royal and Thurles.
However, Cheltenham hasn’t proven a happy hunting ground for him so far. He fell in the 2014 edition of the RSA Chase and was third in last season’s Ryanair Chase after a difficult trip.
Cue Card finished 26 lengths behind Don Cossack in the Melling Chase at Aintree last season, but that campaign saw Colin Tizzard’s star blighted by wind problems.
He’s returned better than ever this season, assuaging many about his ability to stay three miles by racking up victories in the Charlie Hall Chase, the Betfair Chase and the King George. Victory in the Gold Cup will see him land a £1million bonus for his exploits this season.
A triumph in chasing’s blue riband would also be a poignant one as part-owner Bob Bishop passed away less than a week after the win in the King George. This will be the longest trip Cue Card has tried to date, but the lively ground, which Cue Card loves, should give him hope of seeing out the race.
Djakadam did really well to finish second as a very inexperienced horse behind Coneygree in last year’s Gold Cup. He may have been slightly flattered to have finished ahead of Road To Riches that day as he sat further off the brutal early and mid-race pace set by Coneygree.
He was probably still feeling those exertions when finishing second to Don Cossack at the Punchestown Festival.
However, his preparation for the Gold Cup this year has been far from perfect, falling last time out behind Smad Place in the Cotswold Chase.
Ruby Walsh’s mount has now fallen in two of his nine chase starts.
Don Poli won the RSA Chase at last season’s Festival and kicked off the current campaign with a defeat of Grand National winner Many Clouds at Aintree.
The seven-year-old got called some names after his workmanlike win over First Lieutenant in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, but we know he has never been a flashy horse.
Smad Place finished third in the Gold Cup as a five-year-old back in 2012 and was only just touched off in the RSA Chase two years later.
Alan King’s grey has taken his form to a new level this season, winning the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury and claiming the Cotswolds Chase at Cheltenham on his final outing.
He also won on his seasonal debut at Kempton, but his fourth-place finish in the King George was slightly underwhelming.
O’Faolain’s Boy has lost his way since returning from injury, but did manage to beat Smad Place in the RSA Chase as a novice.
On His Own was just a short head away from winning the Gold Cup in 2014, but the form of that race never really stood up to scrutiny.
Verdict:
Don Poli’s supporters will be hoping for a strong early gallop if he is to be seen to his best, but there doesn’t appear to be much in the way of early pace in this race and it could turn out to be a slowly-run affair.
Djakadam is open to major improvement at the age of seven, but he may need to progress on what he showed last season to repel the challenge of Cue Card and Don Cossack. The topography of the track at Prestbury Park may have inconvenienced Don Cossack in the past and his supporters will be hoping that he will find it easier to organise himself and find room to deliver his challenge in this small field.
A pedestrian early tempo would bring Smad Place very much into play, a comment that also applies to 80-1 shot On His Own, who may be overpriced. The latter will need misfortune to befall a couple of the leading players if he is to snatch an unlikely place. As long as at least eight runners line up, the each-way terms of ¼ the odds 1-2-3 that most firms are offering does make plenty of appeal.
Selection: Cue Card (each-way)
