Betvictor Gold Cup 2018 Winner Odds & Predictions

Can Rather Be turn the tables on Mister Whitaker?

Horse Racing Betting

It will be all eyes on Cheltenham for one of the most prestigious races in the National Hunt Calendar, the Betvictor Gold Cup on Saturday, November 17th, 2018. This is a big test of stamina and is something of a primer for the bigger stakes at the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Just back in 2008 Imperial Commander won this and followed it up in the following March with the Gold Cup too.

Betvictor Gold Cup Winner Odds*

Rather Be 9/2
Mister Whitaker 6/1
Kalondra 8/1
Baron Alco 10/1
Le Prezien 12/1
Benatar 14/1
Kings Socks 14/1
Frodon 14/1
Happy Diva 14/1
Romain De Senam 14/1
West Approach 16/1
Full Glass 16/1
Aso 20/1
Javert 20/1
Movweithtetimes 20/1
Shantou Village 20/1
Top Gamble 20/1
Guitar Pete 20/1
Sizing Granite 20/1
Ballyandy 25/1
33/1 bar
* (betting odds taken on November 14th, 2018 at 4:59 pm)

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The Reigning Champion

Splash of Ginge is a favourite around Cheltenham and always like a run out at the Gloucestershire track. He just held on at the end of last season’s challenge from Starchitect to land the success at 25/1 odds by a neck. That was a big coup for local trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies who has Splash Of Ginge back in the field for this year’s renewal. However, he will be 7lb heavier and with no form behind him, not having won anywhere since his victory twelve months ago. All three wins during his career have been at Cheltenham over the fences but he doesn’t look a challenger this time. For Twiston-Davies he has Ballyandy and Crievehill also out in the running and neither of them looks too likely to give the trainer his fifth success at the race at all.

The 2018 Favourite

Rather Be is the 9/2 favourite for the race win* (betting odds taken on November 14th, 2018 at 4:59 pm) as he looks to step up it up from his novice efforts last season. Experience isn’t on his side but he did come up with a good effort in a second place finish to Mister Whitaker at Cheltenham back in March. That was by a head only and it was a good outing which showed plenty of promise. Can he step up it up to the big time though for Nicky Henderson on the weekend?

He will be opposing Mister Whitaker again who is carrying some good form. He has won his last three outings (including the Cheltenham Festival win over Rather Be) and is a serious threat in his first BetVictor Gold Cup run. He took back to back wins at Cheltenham earlier in the year and had his first outing at the start of November at the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase where he produced a strong win over Happy Diva. Mister Whitaker goes at 6/1 odds* (betting odds taken on November 14th, 2018 at 4:59 pm). He’s going at a huge 9lb heavier than Rather Be though on the weekend.

Worth a look

Kings Socks took a fifth-place finish in March at Cheltenham but it was a decent enough run from him to at least pique some serious interest for the BetVictor Gold Cup certainly if he can be picked up around the 16/1 odds each way* (betting odds taken on November 14th, 2018 at 4:59 pm). There is a lot of room for improvement and he will be lower weighted than he was for that Cheltenham effort when finishing behind The Storyteller and Splash of Ginge. Full Glass looks like a good steady and strong jumper after coming out at Ayr for his British debut back in April. He was tracking the leaders well but didn’t have enough to keep it up at the last.

Javert collected a win at Uttoxeter in September when he got the better of the aforementioned Crievehill. That was his first run in over two years but it was a strong return full of encouragement there and despite a loss to Frodon at Aintree in his last outing, it was another competitive challenge from him. The handicapping isn’t really in his favour for this outing at Cheltenham on the weekend, nor for Frodon who is going off at top weight. But it needs just one top drawer run from either and they could be in the mix.

More in the Mix

Le Prezien was the third-place finisher here last year although that was from an effort of 6lb lighter than he will be on the weekend. Still, he will be fancied to come up with something strong again. If he can cut out some mistakes then he could find himself in the picture at least for another place. Movweiththetimes is a horse full of potential but lacking the focus, highlighted by a pull-up and an unseated rider in his last two runs which won’t exactly install a lot of trust.

Kalondra looks a pretty decent fit to be having a look at for the weekend. This is a horse which has shown plenty of improvement along the way, despite a fall at Galway on the last run. Kalondra was making really good headway in the race really and looks to have plenty of travelling quality and stamina in spades. He has been out at Cheltenham before when he took on the Silver Trophy in April and took a third-place finish there, looking over-excited in his early running.

Predictions

It is another blockbuster race line up and one of the highlights is going to be the rematch between Mister Whitaker and Rather Be after their line up at Cheltenham earlier this year in the Close Brothers Novices Handicap Chase. Because of the weights for the weekend, the advantage could shift over to Rather Be even though the one with the form is Mister Whitaker. That is going to be a fascinating duel. But both can be beaten.

Kalondra has done so much improvement over the fences that and has the handicapping on-side as well. At the odds of 8/1, there is enough there to have a very good look at* (betting odds taken on November 14th, 2018 at 4:59 pm).

Frodon out at the longer 14/1 odds* (betting odds taken on November 14th, 2018 at 4:59 pm) has some each way offering appeal even though he will be going at top weight. He got a good win at Cheltenham in January and after a recent operation looks to have come back strongly.