This year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup features an intriguing clash between some rising stars and some heroes of the past. Nicky Henderson’s Bobs Worth was elevated to favouritism last November after winning the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. His preparation has not gone entirely to plan and this will be his first start since that race. Although Henderson always intended a light campaign for the eight-year-old, he would certainly have preferred to get one more race into him.
Challenging Bobs Worth in the Gold Cup betting is the leading Irish hope Sir Des Champs, trained by Willie Mullins. He has been a leading contender since winning the Jewson Novices’ Chase at the festival last season and has continued to progress throughout the season. He was staying on dourly when beaten under a length in a thrilling Lexus Chase before defeating Flemenstar in the Irish Hennessy. Third favourite is the Paul Nicholls-trained Silviniaco Conti, unbeaten this season in three starts. He side-stepped Cheltenham last year and was most impressive at Aintree and has added victories at Wetherby, Haydock and Newbury. The biggest question mark against him is his lack of experience at the course.
First Lieutenant is arguably held on form by Bobs Worth but he has enjoyed an uninterrupted campaign and run consistently well for Trainer Mouse Morris. He runs in the same colours as Sir Des Champs and holds an alternative engagement in the Ryanair Chase but his trainer has made no secret of the fact that he favours a tilt at the Gold Cup.
Following the late withdrawal of Imperial Commander due to a lung infection, Long Run is now the only previous winner in the field. Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old won this race in 2011 and finished third last year. He was made to work hard to beat Captain Chris in the King George and his careful jumping still costs him valuable ground at his fences. The Lambourn trainer is fitting him with cheekpieces this year in an effort to sharpen him up. Captain Chris tried his heart out at Kempton but that flatter track may have drained his stamina to the limit and he is unproven over Cheltenham’s three and a quarter miles. Cape Tribulation got the better of Imperial Commander in the Argento Chase in January. That race was on very soft going but trainer Malcolm Jefferson is confident that Cape Tribulation will be competitive on a better surface and he has attracted solid each-way support.
Of the outsiders, The Giant Bolster returns to the scene of his excellent second to Synchronised 12 months ago. His form has been below par since then but trainer David Bridgwater has not lost faith in him and expects a big run.
Summary
Much of the interest will centre on the three rising stars; Bobs Worth, Sir Des Champs and Silviniaco Conti. All three have the potential to win a Gold Cup and Bobs Worth would probably be a shorter price had he not missed his intended prep race. First Lieutenant would come into the reckoning if the trainer is granted his wish to run here in preference to the Ryanair and could still represent some each-way value at around 12-1.
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