GOLD CUP DAY!!!

This is what we have been waiting for since..well..March 15th 2019!

If you’re heading to the track today, you are one of the luckiest people around.

Today is the greatest day in racing that exists on this planet!

The Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup is finally here.


3 miles and 2 furlongs of the trickiest fences, the stamina sapping undulations and that uphill finish that has continually found out the big hype horses who nail it at Kempton. Haydock or Ascot but fall short where it matters.

Carvill’s Hill, One Man, Florida Pearl, Beef Or Salmon and Silviniaco Conti were amazing horses in their own right but just couldn’t quite land the killer blow up that infamous hill.

But then you think of Arkle, Desert Orchid, Master Oats, Imperial Call, Best Mate, Kauto Star, Denman, Don Cossack and Native River.


The true nature of being a genuine Gold Cup horse is then revealed.

It takes speed, stamina, guts and sheer determination to triumph in this race. A horse needs to be special.

Al Boum Photo for trainer Willie Mullins will be hoping that he can be the first horse to win back to back Cheltenham Gold Cups since Best Mate.

But the task will not be easy.

Santini, Delta Work, Lostintranslation, Clan Des Obeaux, Kemboy and Bristol De Mai have all proved themselves in one way or another over the last few months and as a result we are in for an absolute treat.

Strap yourselves in people, this is the big one.

Welcome to Gold Cup Day at Cheltenham Festival 2020!

RACES SCHEDULE

1.30pm JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 179y £125,000 ITV

2.10pm Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 179y £100,000 ITV

2.50pm Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y £125,000 ITV

3.30pm THE MAGNERS CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP (Grade 1) 3m 2f 70y £625,000 ITV

4.10pm St James's Place Foxhunter Chase 3m 2f 70y £45,000 ITV

4.50pm Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2m 62y £110,000

5.30pm Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (0-145) 2m 4f 56y £70,000

1.30pm The JCB Triumph Hurdle

Goshen (3/1 William Hill, Betfair, Bet Victor, Paddy Power) has dominated the ante post markets for some time.

Allmankind (4/1 Bet365, William Hill, Betfair, Bet Victor, Paddy Power, Coral) also in the mix but we fancy Solo for Paul Nicholls after his blistering performance at Kempton last time out.


Looks to have the scope and running style to be a chaser long term but is definitely good enough to land this. 100/30 with Betfair, Bet Victor and Paddy Power.

TIP: Solo to win 100/ 30 with Betfair, Bet Victor and Paddy Power.

2.10pm Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle

This cavalry charge of a handicap hurdle is always great entertainment if a little challenging to find the winner!

The JP McManus colours are found on the favourite, Ciel De Neige (7/1 Betfred, paying places 1-6) and with the way things have been going for the enigmatic Irish owner this week, you couldn’t go far wrong with this pick.

However, we fancy the Gordon Elliot entry Thatsy who looks well handicapped for a decent price at 16/1 (William Hill, Betfair, Bet Victor, Paddy Power, Coral).

TIP: Thatsy each way at 16/1 William Hill, Betfair, Bet Victor, Paddy Power, Coral

2.50pm Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

Philip Hobbs will want to banish the memory of Defi Du Seuil’s Champion Chase capitulation from Day 2 and his entry in this contest, Thyme Hill (9/2 Bet Victor, paying places 1-4), may just accomplish that.


He’s got a great record at Cheltenham having kept within 2 lengths of Envoi Allen in last year’s bumper and has been solid over course and distance this season.

Dangers will come from Latest Exhibition (11/2 Betfred) and Monkfish (13/2 Bet Victor, paying places 1-4).

TIP: Thyme Hill to win with Bet Victor at 9/2 paying places 1-4

3.30pm THE MAGNERS CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

AL BOUM PHOTO

The Willie Mullins trained current champion is the best hope for a horse to win back to back Gold Cups for quite some time. His preparation has been perfect, the horse is well and his win last year in a tough renewal was emphatic.


He’s the one they all have to beat.

4/1 William Hill, Bet Victor, Unibet, Coral, Betfred.

SANTINI

Nicky Henderson is having a superb week and ambitions for this horse greatly improved after his excellent win over Bristol De Mai in The Cotswolds Chase at Cheltenham Trials Day.


He’s guaranteed to stay but needs to improve further to land this.

4/1 Bet Victor, Paddy Power, Unibet, Coral, Betfred.

DELTA WORK

This is Gordon Elliott’s best chance of winning racing’s blue riband since Don Cossack’s triumph in 2016.


His form took a major boost when winning The Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup last month, beating Kemboy by 2 lengths.

Still a bit to find but should be there or thereabouts.

6/1 with Unibet.

LOSTINTRANSLATION

Not a good week for Colin Tizzard so far but the same could be said for when Venn Farm triumphed in 2018 with Native River.

Ran the race of his life in The Betfair Chase last November and if he repeats that kind of form, he has every chance.


However, his capitulation in The King George is a major worry.

13/2 with William Hill, Bet Victor, Betfred.

CLAN DES OBEAUX

Extremely hard to judge what this Paul Nicholls trained superstar will produce today.

He didn’t quite stay last season in The Gold Cup but connections believe the tactics were ill planned in hindsight.


His King George win was arguably the staying chase performance of the season in this country and Ireland.

The plan with Clan Des Obeaux has been strategically altered this season so as to give him a fresh run for this race.

Paul Nicholls is a superb tactician and this move might just seal a Ditcheat triumph for the first time since Kauto Star in 2009.

8/1 with Coral. 

OTHERS TO NOTE

Kemboy (10/1 William Hill) has always been highly regarded by Willie Mullins and Bristol De Mai (25/1 Bet 365 with free bet for all ITV race winners 4/1 plus) has to be the each way choice providing he sorts out his jumping, but he always travels smoothly.

TIP: Clan Des Obeaux to win 8/1 with Coral

1610 St James's Place Foxhunter Chase

Traditionally the race where racegoers put the kettle on after the excitement of The Gold Cup but always worth a fun punt!

Minella Rocco, runner up in The Cheltenham Gold Cup of 2016 obviously knows the track well and wouldn’t need to produce too much to land this at 6/1 with William Hill.

TIP: Minella Rocco to win at 6/1 with William Hill

RECAP

1330 The JCB Triumph Hurdle
Solo to win 100/ 30 with Betfair, Bet Victor and Paddy Power

1410 Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle
Thatsy each way at 16/1 William Hill, Betfair, Bet Victor, Paddy Power, Coral

1450 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
Thyme Hill to win with Bet Victor at 9/2 paying places 1-4

1530 THE MAGNERS CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP
Clan Des Obeaux 8/1 to win with Coral
Bristol De Mai each way at 25/1 Bet365 with free bet for all ITV race winners 4/1 plus

1610 The St James's Place Foxhunter Chase
Minella Rocco to win at 6/1 with William Hill

MORE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL!

• How To Bet on the Cheltenham Festival!
• How To Bet on Horse Racing!
• How To Win at Cheltenham Festival!
• Cheltenham Festival 2020 Betting Offers!
• Cheltenham Festival 2020 Events Page! 

Please note all odds are correct at the time of publishing (5:30pm 12th March 2020) and are subject to change.

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